U.S. patent number 3,610,625 [Application Number 04/819,009] was granted by the patent office on 1971-10-05 for simulated pool game apparatus.
Invention is credited to Judy L. Erno, Lyle W. Erno.
United States Patent |
3,610,625 |
Erno , et al. |
October 5, 1971 |
SIMULATED POOL GAME APPARATUS
Abstract
A simulated pool game apparatus comprising a table having a
playing surface with resilient upstanding sidewalls extending
therefrom and surrounding the playing surface, and also including a
single cue-actuated generally disc-shaped playing piece having a
resilient band surrounding its periphery and spaced from the upper
and lower surfaces of the cue-actuated playing piece; a central
bearing supporting the bottom of the cue-actuated playing piece
generally above the surface of the table; and the plurality of
second disc-shaped playing pieces having central bearings
supporting the bottom surfaces thereof slightly above the playing
surface of the board, and a cue stick provided with a hollow
resilient tip adapted to impinge upon the cue-actuated playing
piece to cause its resilient band to impinge upon the peripheries
of any one of the plurality of second disc-shaped playing
pieces.
Inventors: |
Erno; Lyle W. (Phoenix, AZ),
Erno; Judy L. (Phoenix, AZ) |
Family
ID: |
25226989 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/819,009 |
Filed: |
April 24, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/126R;
473/588; 273/129R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
67/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
67/04 (20060101); A63f 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/2,3,9,126,128,129,130,67,68,70 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Brown; Theatrice
Claims
We claim:
1. In a simulated pool game apparatus, the combination of:
a table provided with a recessed top plate having a horizontal
playing surface; resilient upstanding sidewalls surrounding said
top plate; pockets in and below said sidewalls of said table; a
cue-actuated playing piece having a body of circular disc shape,
said body provided with upper and lower surfaces; a central bearing
projecting below said lower surface of said body and disposed at
the center thereof, said bearing adapted to tiltably and rotatably
support said cue-actuated playing piece on said playing surface,
said actuated playing piece having a peripheral portion; a
resilient band secured to and surrounding said peripheral portion
of said cue-actuated playing piece, said resilient band having
upper and lower edges spaced respectively from said upper and lower
surfaces of said cue-actuated playing piece so that when said
cue-actuated playing piece tilts over said central bearing that a
peripheral edge of said playing piece body may slide on said
playing surface without permitting said resilient band to touch
said playing surface, said body of said playing piece being of
relatively nonresilient material as compared to said resilient
band; a second playing piece provided with a body of circular disc
shape having upper and lower surfaces; said second playing piece
smaller in diameter than said cue-actuated playing piece; a second
central bearing disposed at a central portion of said second
playing piece and projecting below the lower surface thereof for
tiltably and rotatably supporting said body of said second playing
piece above said playing surface, said second playing piece being
of material which is relatively nonresilient as compared to said
resilient band of said cue-actuated playing piece, the exposed side
edge surface of said piece being comprised entirely of said
relatively nonresilient material, said playing surface having a low
coefficient of friction relative to said cue-actuated playing piece
and said second playing piece.
2. In a simulated pool game apparatus, the combination of:
a table provided with a recessed top plate having a horizontal
playing surface; upstanding sidewalls surrounding said top plate;
pockets in and below said sidewalls of said table; a cue-actuated
playing piece having a body of circular disc shape and having upper
and lower surfaces; a central bearing projecting below said lower
surface and disposed at the center of said cue-actuated playing
piece, said bearing disposed to tiltably and rotatably support said
cue-actuated playing piece on said playing surface; said
cue-actuated playing piece having a peripheral portion; a resilient
band secured to and surrounding said peripheral portion of said
cue-actuated playing piece; said resilient band having upper and
lower edges spaced respectively from said upper and lower surfaces
of said cue-actuated playing piece so that when said cue-actuated
playing piece tilts over said central bearing that a peripheral
edge of said playing piece body may slide on said playing surface
without permitting said resilient band to touch said playing
surface; said body of said playing piece being of relatively
nonresilient material as compared to said resilient band; a second
playing piece provided with a body of circular disc shape having
upper and lower surfaces; said second playing piece of lesser
weight than said cue-actuated playing piece; a second central
bearing disposed at a central portion of said second playing piece
and projecting below said lower surface thereof for tiltably and
rotatably supporting said body of said second playing piece above
said playing surface; said second playing piece being of material
which is relatively nonresilient as compared to said resilient band
of said cue-actuated playing piece; the exposed side edge surface
of said piece being comprised entirely of said relatively
nonresilient material, said playing surface of said table having a
low coefficient of friction relative to said cue-actuated playing
piece and said second playing piece.
3. The invention, as defined in claim 2, wherein: small granules of
antifriction material are disposed on said playing surface to
reduce friction between said cue-actuated and said second playing
pieces, and the playing surface of said table.
4. The invention, as defined in claim 2, wherein: structure of said
horizontal playing surface is integral with said upstanding
sidewalls, and wherein horizontal ledge structure is integral with
said upstanding sidewalls and extending in an opposite direction
from said sidewalls relative to said playing surface; and skirt
structure integral with said ledge structure; said skirt structure
extending downwardly from said ledge structure and generally
surrounding said table; and supporting legs coupled to said skirt
structure.
5. The invention, as defined in claim 2, wherein: a cue stick is
adapted to propel said cue-actuated playing piece; said cue stick
having a hollow resilient tubular tip adapted to be impinged upon
and to thereby propel said cue-actuated playing piece which in turn
is adapted to impinge said resilient band thereof upon the
periphery of any one of a plurality of said second playing
pieces.
6. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: small granules of
antifriction material are disposed on said playing surface to
reduce friction between said cue-actuated and said second playing
pieces, and said playing surface.
7. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said playing
surface structure of said table is integral with said upstanding
sidewalls, and wherein ledge structure is integral with said wall
structure at the upper portions thereof, said ledge structure
extending outwardly in an opposite direction from said wall
structures relative to said playing surface; and skirt structure
integral with said ledge structure and extending downwardly
therefrom in surrounding relation with said ledge structure; and
legs secured to said skirt structure for supporting said table.
8. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a cue stick is
provided with a hollow resilient tubular tip adapted to be impinged
upon and to thereby propel said cue-actuated playing piece which in
turn, is adapted to impinge said resilient band thereof upon the
periphery of any one of a plurality of said second playing pieces.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The game of pool utilizing spherical playing pieces has been very
popular and has required expensive apparatus, particularly the
apparatus of the conventional pool table itself.
With the advent of public pool emporiums, the game of pool has
become increasingly popular, however, pool tables which provide
good playing action are quite expensive.
In conventional pool tables, the surface of the table, as well as
the rail bumpers, and various mechanical features of the pool table
must be very precise for the purpose of obtaining accurate action
with spherical playing pieces, and due to the necessity of
maintaining such accuracy, conventional pool table apparatus is not
only expensive, but oftentimes difficult to maintain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a simulated pool game apparatus
involving a very inexpensive table having a playing surface with
integral or generally resilient surrounding sidewalls, and simple
disc-shaped playing pieces, one of which is a cue-actuated playing
piece having a central bearing holding the lower surface of said
playing piece slightly spaced from the playing surface of the
table, said cue-actuated playing piece having a peripheral
resilient band to provide for action relative to the sidewalls of
the table and relative to second playing pieces which are
relatively light and/or small in diameter compared to the
disc-shaped cue-actuated playing piece, said second playing pieces
being provided with a central bearing supporting them at their
lower surfaces in slight spaced relation with the upper surface of
the game board or table; the table having a relatively coefficient
of friction compared to the peripheries of the playing pieces and
the surface of the board is provided with granules of low
coefficient or antifriction material so that the playing pieces may
slide and rotate on the surface of the table about their central
bearings and at their peripheral portions, all of which provides
very good playing action simulating the game of pool without the
use of expensive apparatus.
A novel cue stick is provided with a hollow cylindrical resilient
tip adapted to be impinged against a resilient band surrounding the
cue-actuated playing piece so as to provide resilient action of the
cue-actuated playing piece relative to the cue, and also resilient
action of the cue-actuated playing piece relative to the second
playing pieces, and to the resilient sidewalls of the table
structure which surrounds. the playing surface thereof; the table
is provided with pockets in and below the upstanding sidewalls of
the table which surround the playing surface so that the second
playing pieces may be propelled into the pockets by the
cue-actuated playing piece which is in turn, impinged upon and
propelled by the hollow tubular resilient tip of the cut stick of
the invention.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
very simple and economical simulated pool game apparatus which
provides extremely good playing action of the cue, the table and
the playing pieces involved.
Another object of the invention is to provide a simulated pool game
apparatus which is sufficiently economical so that it may greatly
enhance the public interest in the playing of a game similar to
conventional pool.
Another object of the invention is to provide a simulated pool game
apparatus which is very simple and easy to use, and which will be
very durable and reliable in operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel combination
of cue-actuated and second playing pieces, together with a
resilient band around the cue-actuated playing piece, and the
resilient tubular tip on the cue stick, and further resilient
sidewalls surrounding the playing surface of the game board, as
well as antifriction granules on the board to permit resilient
action and movement of the playing pieces relative to the cue stick
and to each other, and to permit the playing pieces to tilt about
central bearings on the bottom portions thereof so that they may
rotate, as well as slide, on the surface of the table, all of which
affords extremely good action in the playing of the simulated
game.
Other objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from
the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an upper portion of a
game table forming part of a simulated pool game apparatus of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the
line 2--2 of FIG. 1, showing in elevation a pair of game-playing
pieces on the playing surface of the table, and showing
antifriction granules thereon;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the
line 3--3 of FIG. 1, showing structure of the pool table and
playing piece receiving structure of the table;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the same
plane as that shown in FIG. 2, showing structural details of the
cue-actuated playing piece of the invention relative to one of a
plurality of second playing pieces of the apparatus of the
invention;
FIG. 5 is a plan view taken from the line 5--5 of FIG. 4, showing
the playing surface of the table fragmentarily, and showing the
cue-actuated playing piece relative to one of a plurality of second
playing pieces of the apparatus;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the cue stick of
the invention, showing portions thereof broken away and in section
to amplify the illustration; and
FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the tip of the
cue stick, shown in FIG. 6, and taken from the line 7--7 of FIG.
6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the apparatus of the invention
comprises a table 10 having a playing surface 12 on which a
cue-actuated playing piece 14 and several secondary playing pieces
16 may be activated to simulate a game of pool.
The playing top or surface 12 is an upper surface of a top plate 18
of the table 10, and this plate 18 is integral with and surrounding
sidewalls 20 which are disposed in upstanding and integral
relationship with the plate portion 18. These sidewalls 20 for the
purposes of definition herein, are to be construed as side and end
walls surrounding the plate 18, and the upper surface 12 thereof.
The integral sidewalls 20 are flexible and resilient, and function
relative to the playing pieces 14 and 16, as will be hereinafter
described in detail.
Integral with upper portions of the sidewalls portions 20 are
horizontal ledge portions 22 which in turn, are integral with
downwardly extending skirt portions 24 supported by legs 26, shown
best in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The entire table top,
including the plate 18, upstanding sidewalls 20, horizontal ledges
22, and skirts 24 may be molded of a single piece of resilient
plastic, or other suitable resilient material, as desired.
The plate 18 may be substantially more rigid than the sidewalls 20
to maintain a substantially flat surface 12 on which the playing
pieces 14 and 16 may be activated, as will be hereinafter described
in detail. Disposed in the sidewalls 20 and extending therebelow
are integral pockets 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 43, all as
shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.
As shown in detail in FIG. 3, each of the pockets 28, 30, 32, 34,
36, 38, 40 and 43 is similar to the pocket 40, shown in section in
FIG. 3, and which is recessed below the playing surface 12 of the
plate 18.
The cue-activated playing piece 14 is generally a disc-shaped
structure, as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, and this
cue-activated playing piece 14 is generally circular and provided
with a periphery 42 surrounded by a resilient band 46 which is
adhered or otherwise fixed to the periphery 42 of the playing piece
14.
The cue-activated playing piece 14 is provided with an upper
surface 48 and a lower surface 50. The lower surface 50 is
generally maintained in slightly spaced relationship from the upper
surface 12 of the plate 18 by means of a central bearing 52
centrally disposed and connected or molded integral with the
playing piece 14 at its middle portion and projecting from the
lower side 50 so as to maintain said lower surface normally and
slightly spaced from the playing surface 12.
The resilient ring 46 may be made of rubberlike material and is
provided with an upper edge 54 spaced from the upper edge 48 of the
playing piece 14, and the resilient ring 46 is provided with a
lower edge 56 spaced from the lower surface 50 of the playing piece
14 so that the periphery of the playing piece 14 at its lower
annular edge 58 may slidably and rotatably contact the upper
playing surface 12 of the table top plate 18. The upper surface 12
has a low coefficient of friction relative to the lower surface 50
of the playing piece 14, and particularly at the peripheral edge
58.
The spaced relation of the lower edge 56 of the resilient member or
resilient ring 46 is such that when the peripheral edge 58 at the
lower portion of the playing piece 14 slidably and/or rotatably
contacts the playing surface 12, that the resilient ring 46 at its
lower portion 56 cannot touch the playing surface 12 to create
friction.
It will be understood that the cue-activated playing piece 14 may
thus be propelled in a sliding and/or rotary sliding motion about
the axis of the central bearing 52 which has a generally convex
surface 59 in contact with the playing surface 12.
On the playing surface 12, the apparatus includes movable
antifriction granules 60 which may be small particles of wax or any
other small particles which will roll and/or reduce frictional
contact between the playing pieces 14 and 16 and the playing
surface 12 of the top plate 18 of the table 10.
A plurality of second playing pieces 16 are generally disc shaped
and somewhat smaller and/or lighter than the playing piece 14.
These second playing pieces 16 are circular, as shown in FIGS. 5,
and of material which is relatively harder than the resilient ring
46 of the cue-actuated playing piece 14.
Each disc 16 is provided with an upper surface 62 and a lower
surface 64 normally held in slight spaced relation with the upper
surface 12 of the plate 18 by means of a bearing member 66 which is
centrally disposed and connected to or molded integral with the
playing piece 16 and which projects from the lower surface 64 so as
to permit rotary and/or sliding action of the playing piece 16 on
the upper surface 12 of the top plate 18 of the table 10.
A peripheral lower edge 68 of each playing piece 16 may rotate
and/or slide in contact with the surface 12 during action of the
various playing pieces 16 on the playing surface 12 and the
coefficient of friction between the surface 12 and said peripheral
edge 68 is low.
It will be seen that each of the secondary playing pieces 16 is
smaller in diameter and preferably of lesser weight than that of
the cue-activated playing piece 14.
The antifriction granules 60 are also capable of serving as movable
low coefficient of friction bearings under the bearings 66 and
peripheral edge 68 of each of the second playing pieces 16.
A cue stick 70, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, is provided
with a substantially rigid elongated handle 72 having resilient
hollow tubular sleeve 74 secured to one end thereof, such that the
hollow tubular resilient sleeve 74 has a hollow tubular projecting
resilient end 76 adapted to be impinged against the periphery of
the resilient ring 46 of the cue-activated playing piece 14. The
cue stick 70 is provided with a handle portion 78 at the opposite
end thereof from the hollow resilient tubular end portion 76 and
the handle portion 78 may be manually grasped to activate the cue
stick longitudinally of its axis and to impinge the hollow tubular
resilient end structure 76 against the resilient peripheral ring 46
of the cue-activated playing piece 14 so as to cause it to impinge
the periphery of said resilient ring 46 against a peripheral
portion 80 of one or more of the second playing pieces, as will be
hereinafter described.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
circular playing pieces having central bearings supporting central
portions of the bodies of the playing pieces slightly above the
playing surface 12 provides for tilting and/or rotary sliding
action of the playing pieces relative to each other and the surface
12 of the table and that the cue-activated playing piece 14 may
simulate the action of a cue ball of pool, while the second playing
pieces 16 may simulate the action of the remaining balls of a pool
game apparatus.
When peripheral portions 80 of the secondary playing pieces 16
impinge upon the sidewall portions 20, the resilient character of
these sidewall portions 20 causes bouncing reaction of the playing
pieces 16 and they may bounce, rotate, and/or slide on the upper
playing surface 12 and the antifriction granules 60 and may
tiltably move over the central bearings 16 thereof and cause the
peripheral edge 68, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, to
slidingly and rotatingly contact the granules 60, as well as the
low friction surface 12 of the table top 18.
The resilient action of the hollow tubular end 76 of the cue stick
72, when impinged against the periphery of the resilient ring 46
causes resilient propulsion of the cue-activated playing piece 14,
and this playing piece 14 due to its additional weight, drives the
second playing pieces at substantial reactive velocity due to the
compressive and resilient action of the resilient ring 46 as it
strikes any one or several of the second playing pieces at their
peripheries 80.
The resilient sidewalls 20, the resilient band 46, and tiltable
and/or rotary slidable action of the playing pieces on the low
friction surface 12 and with the antifriction granules 60 affords
considerable and very exciting action of the playing pieces, when
initiated by impingement of the resilient hollow tubular end 76 of
the cue stick 72, as hereinbefore described, which is used to
propel the cue-activated playing piece 14.
It will be understood that only one cue-activated playing piece 14
is used for the game of the invention, and that ten second playing
pieces 16 are used, there being two sets of five, so that five of
the second playing pieces 16 may be colored red and five of them
may be colored black. Extra black and red playing pieces 16 may be
provided for use according to the rules of the game, as hereinafter
set forth.
The object of the game is for a player to clear the board of all of
the second playing pieces 16 of one color which are assigned to him
before his opponent clears the board of all of the playing pieces
16 of the other color assigned to said opponent.
RULES OF THE GAME
1. Five of the second playing pieces 16 which are colored red may
be numbered with respect to four of the pockets 28, 30, 32 and 34,
and one of the red playing pieces may be numbered so that it may be
located in one of a pair of triangles designed 90 and 92 printed on
the upper surface 12 of the table 10. Thus, each player will have
four playing pieces located adjacent four respective pockets in the
sidewalls of the table, and one playing piece in one of the
triangles 90 or 92. Thus, the red colored playing pieces 16 will be
placed adjacent respective pockets 28, 32, 43 and 38, and the four
black playing pieces will be placed adjacent four respective
pockets 30, 34, 40 and 36, and one of each of the red and black
pieces will be placed in the triangular locations 90 or 92, as
hereinbefore described.
2. Players each select the playing pieces 16 of one color and the
cue-actuated playing piece 14 is located on the surface 12 between
lines running across the surface 12 at the apices of the triangles
90 and 92.
It being understood that these triangles are merely in color and do
not project above the smooth playing surface. Each player plays in
turn by projecting the cue stick 72 to cause impingement of the
hollow tubular resilient portion 76 on a cue-actuated playing piece
14 and to project it against one of the playing pieces 16 for the
purpose of forcing or propelling the respective playing piece 16
into its respective numbered pocket. As long as one or more discs
or playing pieces 16 is projected or propelled into the correct
pocket without making any penalty, the active player continues to
impinge the cue-activated playing piece 14 upon the respectively
colored playing pieces 16, as hereinbefore described.
3. If at any time, a player moves his secondary disc 16 from its
respective triangle 90 or 92, the disc must be replaced on the
triangle and any disc which has been impinged into a pocket during
the concurrent play must be respotted in front of the pocket it was
impinged into. Additionally, a penalty of spotting another disc of
the player's color adjacent a side pocket on the table or at an end
pocket if the side pockets are full.
4. The red discs are always related to four of the pockets
correspondingly numbered and the black discs are always related to
correspondingly numbered pockets. If all the pockets are full, the
disc to be spotted as a penalty may be located behind the secondary
disc in the respective triangle 90 or 92 depending upon the color
of the player's playing pieces. In the event the player does not
impinge a disc into a pocket, he is only required to spot one disc
as a penalty in front of a respective pocket.
5. If the cue-activated playing piece 14 is impinged into a pocket,
this is called a scratch shot, and if the cue-activated playing
piece 14 is knocked off the table, any secondary playing piece 16
is impinged into a pocket on that shot plus one more playing piece
16 of the player's color, must be respotted as a penalty at the
respective location adjacent respective pockets. The player's turn
in this event is lost and the competing player places the
cue-activated playing piece 14 in the middle of the playing surface
12, as hereinbefore described, and proceeds.
6. Any secondary playing piece 16 that is flipped over and lands
upside down must be spotted in front of a respective pocket,
however, there is not penalty for this condition.
7. If the cue-actuated playing piece 14 should land upside down, it
must be placed in the middle of the table playing surface 12 and
the player may continue shooting with no penalty.
8. If a secondary playing piece 16 is impinged into the wrong
numbered pocket, said secondary playing piece 16 must be spotted
adjacent its respective pocket, and an additional one of the
player's secondary playing pieces 16 must be spotted adjacent its
respective pocket.
9. When all four side and corner playing pieces 16 of a player's
particular color are impinged into their respective pockets, the
player's secondary playing piece 16 may be impinged into any
pocket, however, the player must before shooting at the playing
piece in the respective triangle 90 or 92 call the number of the
pocket into which he intends to impinge the respective playing
piece 16 from the respective triangle 90 or 92, and if the player
thus fails to call the number of the pocket, he looses the game.
However, if the player does impinge the playing piece from the
triangular area 90 or 92 into a wrong pocket, he also looses the
game.
10. If the player succeeds in impinging the secondary disc 16 from
its respective triangle 90 or 92 after calling the number of the
pocket into which he intends to impinge it, he is the winner of the
game. However, if he fails to drive the last playing piece 16 from
the triangle into the called pocket, play continues until one of
the players impinges his respective playing piece 16 from the
respective triangle 90 or 92 into the one of the pockets he has
called.
11. As hereinbefore noted, all of the shots are made by impinging
the resilient hollow tubular end 76 of the cue stick 72 against the
resilient ring 46 on the periphery of the cue-activated playing
piece which in turn, impinges upon the periphery of the respective
secondary playing piece which is being impinged into a respective
pocket.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various
modifications of the apparatus and game of the invention may be
resorted to within the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *