Pool Table Handling Device

Abstract

An adjustable frame for handling and transporting various sizes of pool tables. The adjustable frame includes structure that is telescopically adjustable and securably clampable to a pool table.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to load handling devices and, more specifically, to adjustable pool table handling devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A preliminary patentability search revealed the following U. S. patents. Raynor U.S. Pat. No. 667,575; Peacock U.S. Pat. No. 1,608,419; Askeris U.S. Pat. No. 2,219,609; Edixon U.S. Pat. No. 2,733,929; and Hill U.S. Pat. No. 3,104,890. None of the above patents show or suggest the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards overcoming the problems in handling and transporting pool tables. The concept of the present invention is to provide a pool table handling device which is adjustable to fit various sizes of pool tables, that can be placed on the pool table while the pool table is in a playing position, that can be substantially secured to the pool table, and that can be easily guided and handled while the pool table is in a transporting position.

The handling device consists of an adjustable frame having two end members telescopically fitted together. The first end member includes transverse bars for a pool table to rest upon. The second end member includes one transverse bar to force the pool table against a corresponding transverse bar of the first end member and thereby prevent lateral movement of the pool table. Restriction means and clamp devices are provided on each end member to coact with each other to prevent horizontal movement of the pool table. Ground engaging means are provided on the first end member to allow movement of the adjustable frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention showing a pool table in phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the present invention as taken on line II--II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the present invention as taken on line III--III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the present invention taken as on line IV--IV of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the present invention taken as on line V--V of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The pool table handling device 11 of the present invention consists of an adjustable frame 13 having a first end member 15, a second end member 17 telescopically joined to first end member 15, and clamp devices 19 attached to the first and second end members 15, 17. The first end member 15 includes front side member 21 and rear side member 23 having tubular horizontal portions 25 and vertical portions 27 respectively integrally joined to the horizontal portions at their ends. Transverse supporting bars 29 are provided on tubular horizontal portions 25 of the front and rear side members 21, 23 for supporting a pool table T. The supporting bars 29 are fixedly attached to horizontal portions 25, as by welding or the like. A transverse retaining bar 31 is provided across the vertical portions 27 of the front and rear side members 21, 23 (being fixedly attached thereto, as by welding or the like) for restraining lateral movement of the pool table T. The transverse supporting bars 29 and the transverse restraining bar 31 serve the additional purpose of joining the front and rear side members 21, 23 together. A restriction means 33 is provided on the rear side member 23 of the first end member 15 to coact with the clamp devices 19 to provide horizontal confinement of the pool table T. The restriction means 33 includes a horizontal portion 35 and a vertical portion 37 integrally joined together at their adjacent ends. The horizontal portion 35 is attached to the vertical portion 27 of the rear side member 23 and the vertical portion 37 is attached to the horizontal portion 25 of the rear side member 23, as by welding or the like. A tubular structure member 39 is spaced above the horizontal portion 25 of the front side member 21 in parallel relationship therewith and is joined to the vertical portion 27 of the front side member 21, as by welding or the like. A vertical brace member 41 is in spaced parallel relationship with the horizontal portion 25 of the front side member 21 and the tubular structure member 39, as by welding or the like.

The second end member 17 includes a front side member 43 and a rear side member 45 having horizontal portions 47 and vertical portions 49 respectively integrally joined to the horizontal portions at their ends. The horizontal portions 47 are adapted to telescopically slide respectively into the tubular horizontal portions 25 of the first end member 15. A transverse restraining bar 51 is provided across the vertical portions 49 of the front and rear side members 43, 45 (being fixedly attached thereto as by welding or the like) to coact with the transverse restraining bar 31 of the first end member 15 to provide lateral confinement of the pool table T. A restriction means 53 is provided on the rear side member 45 of the second end means 17 to coact with the clamp devices 19 to provide horizontal confinement of the pool table T. The restriction means 53 is provided with a horizontal portion 55 and a vertical portion 57 joined together, as by welding or the like, at adjacent ends. The horizontal portion 55 is fixedly attached to the vertical portion 49 of the rear side member 45 and the vertical portion 57 is fixedly attached to the horizontal portions 47 of the rear side member 45, as by welding or the like. A structural member 58 is spaced above the horizontal portion 47 of the front side member 43, is joined to the vertical portion 49 of the front side member 43, and is adapted to telescopically slide into the tubular structure member 39 of the first end member 15. An additional transverse support bar 29 is fixedly attached between members 43, 45 for aiding in the support of the pool table T.

The clamp devices 19 include transverse rail members 59 extending across the bottom of the horizontal portions 25 of the first end member 15, across the outside of the upper part of the vertical portions 27 of the first end member 15, and across the outside of the upper part of the vertical portions 49 of the second end member 17, and with the parts being respectively attached together, as by welding or the like. Tee members 61 are slidably mounted on the transverse rail members 59. The tee members 61 include threaded openings 63 that are perpendicular to the rail members 59. Threaded rod members 65 are adapted to be screwed into the openings 63 in the tee members 61 and against the transverse rail members 59 and thereby secure the tee members 61 and the rod members 65 to the rail members 59. Casing members 67 surround the distal end of the rod members 65 to provide a cushion between the rod members 65 and the pool table T.

Slide members 69 are provided beneath the horizontal portion 35 of the front and rear side members 21, 23 of the first end member 15 and around the transverse rail members 59 extending across the horizontal portions 25 to slidably support the adjustable frame 13. The transverse rail members 59 extending across the horizontal portions 25 may be of tubular construction to receive axles 71. Wheels 73 are attached to the ends of the axles 71 for rollably supporting the adjustable frame 13. It will be understood that it is optional as to whether there is slide support, in which case wheels 73 are removed, or rolling support, in which case wheels 73 are placed on axles 71. Also, if desired, wheels 73 may be used on another position shown as at 71' where the axle extends across side members 21, 23.

A flexible belt 75 is provided for passing around the vertical brace member 41 of the first end member 15 and around the vertical portion 49 of the front side member 43 of the second end member 17 to positively connect the first and second end members 15, 17 together. An adjustable device 77 is provided on the flexible belt 75 to allow adjustment of the flexible belt 75 to different lengths of pool tables T.

The operation of the adjustable frame 13 is quite simple. While a pool table T is in the playing position, the adjustable frame 13 is lifted and turned so that it can be placed on the pool table T and the second end member 17 is adjusted in the first end member 15 to correctly fit the pool table T. That is, the second end member 17 is slid inside the first end member 15 until the pool table contacts both the transverse restraining bar 31 of the first end member 15 and the transverse restraining bar 51 of the second end member 17. The clamp devices 19 are then adjusted to the proper dimension by the threaded rod member 65 being loosened from the transverse rail member 59 and the tee members 61 with the threaded rod members 65 attached thereto are slid against the pool table T until the pool table T contacts both the rod members 65 and the restriction means 33, 53 of both the first end member 15 and the second end member 17. The threaded rod members 65 are then screwed against the transverse rail members 59 thereby securing the clamp devices 19 in the proper location. The pool table T is then turned on its side with the adjustable frame 13 contacting the ground through wheels 73 or slide members 69. The pool table T is then ready for handling and transporting.

In order to maximize weight reduction of the adjustable frame 13, the first and second end members 15, 17 and the clamp devices 19 are preferably made of tubular construction.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. An adjustable frame for handling and transporting pool tables, said frame comprising first end means for supporting a pool table, second end means telescopically fitted into said first end means to substantially restrain the pool table between said first and second end means, and clamp means on said first and second end means for forcing the pool table against one side of said first and second end means and thereby prevent motion of the pool table in said frame, said clamp means including rail means attached to and transverse of said first and second end means, tee means slidably mounted on said rail means, and threaded rod means turnably mounted in said tee means perpendicular to said rail means and turnable against said rail means thereby securing said tee means and said threaded rod means to said rail means.

2. The frame of claim 1 in which said first end means comprises spaced front and rear side members including tubular horizontal portions and vertical portions joined at adjacent ends, supporting bar means between said horizontal portions of said front and rear side members for supporting the pool table, restraining bar means between vertical portions of front and rear side members for restraining lateral movement of the pool table, and restriction means attached to said rear side member for coacting with said clamp means to provide horizontal confinement of the pool table, and in which said second end means comprises spaced front and rear side members including horizontal portions and vertical portions joined at adjacent ends, said horizontal portions being adapted to telescopically slide into said tubular horizontal portions of said first end means, restraining bar means between said vertical portions of front and rear side members for coacting with said restraining bar means of said first end means to provide lateral confinement of the pool table, and restriction means attached to said rear side member for coacting with said clamp means to provide horizontal confinement of the pool table.

3. The frame of claim 2 in which said clamp means comprises rail means extending across the upper part of said vertical portions of said front and rear side members of said first and second end means and across said horizontal portions of said front and rear side members of said first end means, tee means slidably mounted on said rail means, said tee means including threaded openings perpendicular to said rail means, and threaded rod means turnably mounted in said openings in said tee means and against said rail means thereby securing said tee means and said threaded rod means to said rail means and for forcing the pool table against said restriction means of said first and second end means.

4. The frame of claim 3 in which slide means are provided beneath said horizontal portions of said front and rear side members for slidably supporting said frame and for protecting said bar means extending across said horizontal portions of said front and rear side members.

5. The frame of claim 3 in which said rail means extending across said horizontal portions of said front and rear side members of said first end means comprises tubular body means including axle means passing therethrough, said axle means having wheel means attached thereto for rollably supporting said frame.

6. The frame of claim 3 in which said first end means includes tubular structure means spaced above said horizontal portion of said front side member and attached to said vertical portion of said front side member, and includes brace means between said horizontal portion of said front side member and said tubular structure means; and in which said second end means includes structure means spaced above said horizontal portion of said front side member, attached to said vertical portion of said front side member, and adapted to slide into said tubular structure means of said first end means.

7. The frame of claim 6 in which said first and second end means are positively connected by flexible belt means including adjustment means, said belt means passing around said brace means of said first end means and around said vertical portion of said front side member of said second end means.

8. The clamp means of claim 3 in which said threaded rod means includes casing means surrounding the distal end thereof for cushioning said threaded rod means against the pool table.

9. The frame of claim 1 in which said first end means, said second end means, and said clamp means are of tubular construction for maximum weight reduction of said frame.

10. An adjustable frame for handling and transporting pool tables, said frame comprising first end means of tubular construction having transverse bar means for supportingly contacting a pool table and having restriction means for providing horizontal confinement of the pool table; second end means of tubular construction telescopically fitted into said first end means having transverse bar means for coacting with said bar means of said first end means for providing lateral confinement of the pool table and having restriction means for providing horizontal confinement of the pool table; and clamp means of tubular construction for forcing the pool table against said restriction means thereby preventing horizontal motion of the pool table in said frame, said clamp means including rail means attached to and transverse of said first and second end means, tee means slidably mounted on said rail means, and threaded rod means turnably mounted in said tee means prependicular to said rail means and turnable against said rail means thereby securing said tee means and said threaded rod means to said rail means.