Striking implement for ''CAROM'' games and method of propelling such implement

Abstract

A striking implement for use in a “Carom” game comprising a lightweight disc-shaped structure having formed in a center of a top surface thereof a concave recess and a button member coupled in the concave recess for providing a discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area positioned about a center of gravity of the lightweight disc-shaped structure to significantly enhance the airfoil properties of the lightweight disc-shaped structure when propelled by a finger of the player therefrom. Furthermore, the striking implement has an alternate discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area behind the button member within the concave recess for propelling the striking implement therefrom. The method of propelling the striking implement utilizes the discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area or the alternate discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area to exert a force of pressure to propel the striking implement forward.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A striking implement for use in a “Carom” type game, comprising: 
 a lightweight disc-shaped structure having formed in a center of a top surface thereof a concave recess; and  
 a button member coupled in said concave recess for providing a discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area positioned about a center of gravity of said lightweight disc-shaped structure significantly enhancing the control of the lightweight disc-shaped structure when propelled by a finger of the player therefrom and to eliminate scratch marks on the playing surface.  
 
     
     
         2 . The striking implement of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said concave recess has an upper hollow region which is frustro-conically contoured and a lower hollow region containing therein said button means.    
     
     
         3 . The striking implement of  claim 1 , wherein the “Carom” type game has a playing field with vertical surface walls, further comprising: 
 buffering means circumferentially coupled to a circumferential outer perimeter surface of said lightweight disc-shaped structure, eliminating colliding noises of said lightweight disc-shaped striking implement with another playing object and softening collisions of said lightweight disc-shaped structure with the vertical surface walls of the playing field of the “Carom” type game.  
 
     
     
         4 . The striking implement of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said buffering means is an  0 -ring made of resilient material.    
     
     
         5 . The striking implement of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said lightweight disc-shaped structure, said button member and said buffering means have in combination a weight of about four and a half (4.5 g) grams.    
     
     
         6 . The striking implement of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said structure has a bottom surface;    and wherein: 
 said bottom surface of said structure has centrally formed therein a circular recess.  
   
     
     
         7 . The striking implement of  claim 1 , wherein said button member comprises: 
 a lower button disc member and an upper button disc member, said upper button member having a top surface;    and wherein: 
 said top surface of said upper button disc member is concave, providing said discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area.  
   
     
     
         8 . The striking implement of  claim 1 , wherein said button member comprises: 
 a lower button disc member and an upper button disc member, said upper button member having a top surface;    and wherein: 
 said top surface of said upper button disc member is convex, providing said discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area.  
   
     
     
         9 . The striking implement of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said button member is made of resilient material for eliminating unpleasant sensations experienced by the finger when such finger exerts a force of pressure to said discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area to propel forwardly said lightweight disc-shaped structure.    
     
     
         10 . The striking implement of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said lightweight disc-shaped structure having said button member recessed therein is constructed and contoured to provide a ratio of weight to surface area which serves to maximize airfoil properties thereof as said lightweight disc-shaped structure traverses a surface of a playing field of said “Carom” type game, while providing a sufficient weight to provide a striking force which is capable of dispersing a plurality of playing objects of the “Carom” type game arranged together at the start of the “Carom” type game.    
     
     
         11 . A striking implement for use in a “Carom” type game, comprising: 
 a lightweight disc-shaped structure having formed in a center of a top surface thereof a concave recess; and  
 a button member coupled in said concave recess for providing a discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area positioned about a center of gravity of said lightweight disc-shaped structure from which to sharply release a finger therefrom to propel said lightweight disc-shaped structure and providing an alternate discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area in a rear of said button member in said concave recess from which to sharply release said finger therefrom to propel said lightweight disc-shaped structure.  
 
     
     
         12 . The striking implement of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said concave recess has an upper hollow region which is frustro-conically contoured, and a lower hollow region containing therein said button means.    
     
     
         13 . The striking implement of  claim 11 , wherein the “Carom” type game has a playing field with vertical surface walls, further comprising: 
 buffering means circumferentially coupled to a circumferential outer perimeter surface of said lightweight disc-shaped structure for eliminating colliding noises of said lightweight disc-shaped striking implement with another playing object and for softening collisions of said lightweight disc-shaped structure with the vertical surface walls of the playing field of the “Carom” type game.  
 
     
     
         14 . The striking implement of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said buffering means is an  0 -ring made of resilient material.    
     
     
         15 . The striking implement of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said structure has a bottom surface with a circular recess centrally formed therein.    
     
     
         16 . The striking implement of  claim 11 , wherein said button member comprises: 
 a lower button disc member and an upper button disc member, said upper button disc member having a top surface;    and wherein: 
 said top surface of said upper button disc member is concave, providing said discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area.  
   
     
     
         17 . The striking implement of  claim 11 , wherein said button member comprises: 
 a lower button disc member and an upper button disc member, said upper button disc member having a top surface;    and wherein: 
 said top surface of said upper button disc member is convex, providing said discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area.  
   
     
     
         18 . A method of propelling a striking implement with a finger for playing “Carom” type game, comprising the following steps: 
 providing a striking implement having a lightweight disc-shaped structure having formed in a center of a top surface thereof a concave recess;  
 providing a button member coupled in said concave recess centered about a center of gravity of said lightweight-disc-shaped structure for providing a discrete finger contacting area positioned about the center of gravity;  
 placing the finger on said discrete finger contacting area of said button member wherein said finger is somewhat perpendicular to the hand;  
 sharply rotating said finger in a direction which would align said finger parallel to said hand; and  
 exerting a force of pressure via said finger to a surface of said discrete finger contacting area as said finger rotates in said rotating step to propel said striking implement.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein steps “b” and “e” further comprise the following steps: 
 (b-i) providing a button member coupled in said concave recess centered about a center of gravity of said lightweight-disc-shaped structure for creating a zone between a circumferential surface of said concave recess and a circumferential surface of an upper button disc member of said button member; and  
 (e-i) exerting a force of pressure via said finger to said circumferential surface of said upper button disc member of said button member as said finger rotates in said rotating step to propel said striking implement.  
 
     
     
         20 . A striking implement for use in a “Carom” type game, the “Carom” type game having a playing field with vertical surface walls, comprising: 
 a lightweight disc-shaped structure having formed in a center of a top surface thereof a concave recess, said concave recess has an upper hollow region which is frustro-conically contoured, and a lower hollow region containing therein said button means;  
 a button member coupled in said concave recess for providing a discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area positioned about a center of gravity of said lightweight disc-shaped structure from which to sharply release a finger therefrom to propel said lightweight disc-shaped structure and providing an alternate discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area in a rear of said button member in said concave recess from which to sharply release said finger therefrom to propel said lightweight disc-shaped structure, said button member further including 
 a lower button disc member and an upper button disc member, said upper button disc member having a top surface, said top surface of said upper button disc member being concave, providing said discrete pre-positioned finger contacting area; and  
 buffering means circumferentially coupled to a circumferential outer perimeter surface of said lightweight disc-shaped structure for eliminating colliding noises of said lightweight disc-shaped striking implement with another playing object and for softening collisions of said lightweight disc-shaped structure with the vertical surface walls of the playing field of the “Carom” type game, said buffering means being an  0 -ring made of resilient material.