U.S. patent application number 10/991700 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-16 for pool table.
Invention is credited to Giroux, Clement.
Application Number | 20050130753 10/991700 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34596835 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050130753 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Giroux, Clement |
June 16, 2005 |
Pool table
Abstract
A pool table which comprises a planar playing surface and having
conventional indent sidewalls and pockets associated therewith, the
improvement wherein there is provided a center bumper which is
located substantially centrally of the playing surface. Preferably,
the center bumper partially surrounds a centrally located
pocket.
Inventors: |
Giroux, Clement; (Ascot
Corner, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Eric Fincham
316 Knowlton Road
Lac Brome
QC
J0E 1V0
CA
|
Family ID: |
34596835 |
Appl. No.: |
10/991700 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63D 15/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/004 |
International
Class: |
A63D 015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 26, 2003 |
CA |
2,450,952 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A pool table comprising: a planar playing surface; first and
second end walls and first and second sidewalls surrounding said
playing surface, each of said first and second sidewalls and end
walls having bumpers thereon; pockets located at corners where said
sidewalls and end walls meet; a center bumper located substantially
centrally of said playing surface.
2. The pool table of claim 1 further including first and second
side pockets located in said first and second sidewalls
respectively, said first and second side pockets being located
midway along the length of a respective sidewall, and a center
pocket, said center pocket being located midway along a line
extending between said side pockets, said center pocket being
partially surrounded by said center bumper while permitting access
to said center pocket by a playing ball.
3. The pool table of claim 1 wherein said center bumper comprises
first and second half bumpers, each half bumper being a mirror
image of the other, a passageway extending between said first and
second members, each of said first and second half bumpers having
an outer outline of an arcuate configuration.
4. The pool table of claim 3 wherein said passageway extends
parallel to said sidewalls.
5. The pool table of claim 3 further including a cover member
extending over said center pocket, said cover member being secured
to said first and second members.
6. The pool table of claim 4 further including light means
associated with said center bumper, sensor means associated with
said center pocket to sense the entry of a ball therein, and
control means to cause said light means to flash when said sensor
means detect a ball.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a pool table and more
particularly, relates to a novel structure for a pool table.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The use of pool tables is well established in the art. In
this respect, the term "pool table" generally denotes a table
having a flat planar surface with side bumpers and a plurality of
pockets into which balls are shot. As used in here, the term "pool
table" includes what are also referred to as billiard tables and
snooker tables, all of which are of a similar structure.
[0003] The game of pool, as aforementioned, is well known and
extremely popular. Whether the games be pool, snooker, billiards,
or a variation thereof, the game usually consists of using a cue to
hit a cue ball which in turn will hit one or more balls on the
table. The traditional arrangement for all such games has consisted
of four corner pockets, one at each corner of the rectangular table
and a pair of side pockets.
[0004] There has also been proposed in the art certain variations
of pool tables to enable them to be utilized for other games. Thus,
as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,128, there is provided a pool table
which is designed to allow various poker games to be played by
utilizing card values which are marked on the balls. The Patentee
teaches the use of a pool table having enlarged ends and having ten
different pockets.
[0005] A pool table of a similar configuration is shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,765,828 and wherein the central area is designed to
simulate a golf hole. Thus, each table has a planar surface with
raised peripheral side edges with both resilient and non resilient
bumpers. In this instance, there is only provided a single
pocket.
[0006] A still further arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,461,476 wherein a substantially conventional pool or billiard
table is utilized but with the addition of a central pocket. The
pockets are each provided with sliding horizontal trap doors and
the pool table may be used for games such as golf as well as
conventional pool or billiards games.
[0007] Notwithstanding the above proposals, the games of pool and
billiards have recently become less popular. This loss of
popularity is possibly due to the game not evolving over the
years.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel
pool table which can be utilized in a different manner to provide
variations of the game of pool or billiards.
[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
pool table which provides greater visual stimulation and attracts
attention.
[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a pool table comprising a planar playing surface, first
and second end walls and first and second sidewalls surrounding the
playing surface, each of the first and second sidewalls and end
walls having bumpers thereon, pockets located at corners where the
sidewalls and end walls meet, a center bumper located substantially
centrally of the playing surface.
[0011] As previously mentioned, the term "pool table" is used
herein in a general fashion and is meant to encompass similar
tables such as billiard tables and the like. Generally, such tables
come in standard sizes having a width of four feet, four and a half
or five feet, with the length being twice the width. Usually,
pockets are provided at the four corners with an additional pocket
being located along each sidewall substantially midway between the
ends of the sidewalls.
[0012] The pockets vary in structure according to the manufacture
of the table and the end use of the same. Thus, most pockets for
the residential marketplace will comprise a sack into which the
balls will drop. Commercial pool tables, on the other hand, usually
allow the balls to return through a channel underneath the table to
a central location. It suffices to say that the present invention
can be utilized with any of the above configurations.
[0013] The cloth used for the surface and the structure of the
bumpers along the side and end walls is again well known in the art
and need not be detailed herein.
[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided an additional pocket which is located centrally of the
table surface. In other words, the center pocket would be aligned
with the two side pockets.
[0015] The center pocket is partially surrounded by at least one
bumper and preferably two bumpers to provide a symmetrical aspect.
Between the two bumpers, there is provided a passageway to which
access may be had to the center pocket. Preferably, the center
pocket has an arcuate bumper structure on the exteriorly facing
side thereof while the internally facing side is substantially
flat. With such an arrangement, the game becomes substantially more
difficult as any ball banked off the arcuate bumper will rebound at
an angle which depends on the tangential line at the point of
contact. Thus, a difference of an inch will make a substantial
difference in the rebound path of a ball striking the bumper.
[0016] In one aspect of the present invention, it would be possible
to eliminate the central pocket and merely provide a bumper
structure centrally located on the table.
[0017] In a further aspect of the present invention, the table is
provided with visual indicators to call attention to the
achievement of certain goals. In one such arrangement, a plurality
of lights may be provided about the periphery of the table, with
the lights flashing once a ball has entered one of the pockets. The
provision of suitable contacts and control means for achieving the
same are well known in the art and need not be detailed herein.
[0018] In a further embodiment, the central pocket may be provided
with a cover structure over the bumper and which would incorporate
flashing lights. These lights can be activated through the use of
sensors when a ball enters the center pocket.
[0019] The lights may be any suitable such as are well known in the
art. To this end, florescent lights and/or LED's are preferred.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Having thus generally described the invention, reference
will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an
embodiment thereof, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pool table according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the table surface thereof;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the table surface showing the
use of lighting elements;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the central bumper member;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the bumper member;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a view of the underside of the pool table;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an alternative central bumper
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0028] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of FIG.
7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring to the drawings in a greater detail and by
reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a pool
table which is generally designated by reference numeral 10.
[0030] Pool table 10 includes a table portion 12 which is of a
rectangular configuration and generally measures either 4 feet by 8
feet, 5 feet by 10 feet, or 6 feet by 12 feet. There are provided
cutouts which form corner pockets 14 and a pair of side pockets 16.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a center
pocket 18 which comprises an aperture located midway between the
sides and midway between the ends.
[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there
are provided lights 20 along the sides and ends of the table.
[0032] Table portion 12, in a conventional manner, is mounted on a
base 22 which is supported by legs 24.
[0033] Surrounding center pocket 18 is a center bumper member
generally designated by reference numeral 26. Center bumper member
26 is comprised of a first bumper element 28 and a second bumper
element 28'. Bumper elements 28, 28' are secured together by
connecting member 30.
[0034] As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, each of bumper elements 28,
28' have an arcuate side surface 32, 32' respectively. There is
provided a center passage 34 between elements 28, 28' to permit
passage of a ball therethrough.
[0035] Thus, as may be seen in FIG. 1, the game will become
substantially different with the provision of center bumper member
26. In playing the game, one must take into account the arcuate
bumper sides 32, 32'. Also, the center pocket 18 can be used in a
number of different manners. For example, in one embodiment, it is
only the 8 ball which can be sunk in the center pocket 18. However,
it may be understood that any number of different rules may be
arranged for the novel structure of the instant pool table.
[0036] In one embodiment, as may be seen in FIG. 6, the underside
of the table is provided with a plurality of ball return passages
36. Each ball return passage has an associated micro switch 38
which is operatively connected to a control box 40. In turn, lights
20 are connected thereto such that when a ball activates a micro
switch, the lights 20 may be activated. Located centrally is a
counterweight 42.
[0037] Apart from the use of lights with contact sensors, one may
utilize other visual effects. Thus, for example, there could be a
smoke generating means or like device.
[0038] In one particularly preferred embodiment, the table is
provided with lights 25 mounted proximate the band of the table.
Lights 25 are preferably colored and may be arranged so as to
represent the different colored balls. They may be designed to
flash sequentially or all at once. As an alternative, the lights
may be placed under the bumpers of the table. It is particularly
preferred that the lights be positioned at the three points between
the pockets to indicate the shooting angles.
[0039] In the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, there is illustrated a
modified central bumper structure which comprises two half bumpers
62, 62' and wherein each half bumper is a substantial mirror image
of the other. As may be seen in FIG. 7, half bumper 62 is provided
with a substantially straight outline adjacent central pocket 18
while on in the other side, there is provided an arcuate sidewall
66 which joins straight section 64 through curved half bumper
section 68.
[0040] There is provided a top cover 70 which comprises a planar
upper portion 72 with downwardly extending side portions 74 and
terminating in substantially horizontal portions 76. A pair of
lights 78 are provided.
[0041] It will be understood that the above described embodiment is
for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications
may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
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