Tabletop Game with Clear Sideboards

Abstract

The present invention provides a tabletop game with a non-distorted view of the playing field. In particular, the present invention provides clear sidewalls that our substantially flat and extended. The extended sidewalls inhibit a game piece from leaving the playing surface without distorting the view.

1 . A tabletop game, comprising: 
 a playing surface;    at least one substantially flat sidewall extension substantially bordering the playing surface; and    the at least one substantially flat sidewall extension comprising a majority of translucent material, wherein a player has the ability to view the playing surface without distortion while the playing piece is inhibited from leaving the playing surface where the at least one substantially flat sidewall extension borders the playing surface.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tabletop game comprising a hockey game.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one substantially flat sidewall extension comprises an opaque base portion.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one substantially flat sidewall extension substantially surrounds the playing surface.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one substantially flat sidewall extension comprises two substantially flat sidewall extensions arranged along a length of the playing surface providing at least two gaps in along a width of the playing surface.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the tabletop game comprises a air hockey game.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one substantially flat sidewall extension comprises at least one opaque section.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one opaque section comprises at least one opaque section at each corner of the tabletop game.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one substantially flat sidewall extension comprises a plurality of substantially flat sidewall extensions and wherein the plurality of substantially flat sidewall extensions are connected by at least one opaque section.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one substantially flat sidewall extension is perpendicular to the playing surface.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 at least two goal frames on the playing surface; and    at least one goal lamp on each of the at least two goal frames.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a superstructure; and    a scoreboard attached to the superstructure, wherein the superstructure comprises at least one vertical leg and at least one horizontal crossbar and wherein the at least one substantially flat sidewall extension allows a player to view the scoreboard substantially without distortion.    
   
   
       13 . A tabletop hockey game, comprising: 
 a stand comprising a base and a plurality of legs;    a playing surface residing on the stand;    a plurality of representative hockey players residing above the playing surface and connected to a plurality of control rods;    a pair of goals residing on the playing surface;    at least one substantially flat sidewall section bordering the playing surface; and    the at least one substantially flat sidewall section being substantially comprised of translucent material, wherein the at least one substantially flat sidewall section inhibits a game piece from leaving the playing surface without substantially distorting a view of a player.    
   
   
       14 . The tabletop hockey game of  claim 13 , wherein the stand comprises a stand sidewall that extends slightly above the playing surface and borders the playing surface.  
   
   
       15 . The tabletop hockey game of  claim 13 , further comprising a goal lamp on each of the pair of goals, wherein the goal lamp lights when a goal is scored.  
   
   
       16 . The tabletop hockey game of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one substantially flat sidewall comprises a plurality of translucent section connected by at least one opaque section.  
   
   
       17 . The tabletop hockey game of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one opaque sections comprise at least four opaque sections residing at each corner of the tabletop hockey game.  
   
   
       18 . A tabletop hockey game, comprising: 
 a playing surface;    a plurality of representative players residing above the playing surface;    a plurality of control rods connected to the plurality of representative players to allow a user to control the plurality of players;    a pair of goals residing on the playing surface and arranged at opposite ends of the playing surface;    a goal lamp on each of the pair of goals; and    at one light circuit, the at least one light circuit to cause the goal lamp to be illuminated when a goal is scored.    
   
   
       19 . The at least one light circuit being associated with the goal lamp and a score switch that provides a score signal to the at least one light circuit.