Game table with lights

• US 20040067796A1
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indian Industries Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sop Services Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Inventors: Allshouse, James R., Thomas, Scott, Murrey, Patrick W., Guerzini, Mike, Schreiber, Jerry
• Granted Patent: US 7,611,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/4
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/00 Billiards, e.g. carom billiards or pocket billiards; Billiard tables bagatelle A63D13/00

Abstract

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a game table, such as a billiards table, with lights. Preferred embodiments and features provide for lights mounted around the periphery of a game table or mounted on the sides of a game table. The lights may be internally or externally powered from the table. Certain preferred embodiments provide one or more power sources mounted to the game table to power the lights. Other preferred embodiments provide one or more solar panels to recharge the power source(s) mounted to the game table. In some preferred embodiments, the game table includes indirect lighting, such as downward or outward facing lights mounted on the sides or apron of a billiards table. In an alternate preferred embodiment, rope lights are mounted around the periphery of a table.

Claims

1. A game table with lights, comprising:

a game table;

one or more power sources mounted to said game table; and

one or more lights mounted to said game table and powered by said one or more power sources.

2. The game table of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said lights is mounted around the periphery of said game table.

3. The game table of claim 1 wherein said one or more lights provide indirect lighting.

4. The game table of claim 3 wherein said one or more lights are downward facing.

5. The game table of claim 2 wherein said one or more power sources includes one or more batteries.

6. The game table of claim 5 comprising a plurality of independent circuits wherein each circuit includes at least one power source and at least one light.

7. The game table of claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of circuits further comprises a solar panel operable to charge said at least one power source.

8. The game table of claim 5 having at least one power source providing power to more than one light.

9. The game table of claim 1 wherein at least one power source is rechargeable.

10. The game table of claim 9 further comprising at least one solar panel coupled to said at least one rechargeable power source.

11. The game table of claim 1 wherein said game table is suitable for outdoor use.

12. The game table of claim 1 wherein at least one of said lights is incandescent.

13. The game table of claim 1 wherein at least one of said lights is a light emitting diode.

14. The game table of claim 1 further comprising a controller configured to automatically switch said one or more lights on or off in response to predetermined conditions.

15. The game table of claim 14 wherein said controller switches said lights on when the ambient light falls below a threshold.

16. The game table of claim 15 wherein said controller switches said lights off when the ambient light rises above a threshold.

17. The game table of claim 15 wherein said controller switches said lights off a pre-set amount of time after said controller switches said lights on.

18. A game table with lights, comprising:

a game table having an external periphery with a top and at least four vertical side portions; and

,

a plurality of lights mounted around the external periphery of said game table with at least one light mounted on each of said at least four vertical side portions.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said lights are downward facing.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein at least one of said lights is incandescent.

21. The game table of claim 18 wherein at least one of said lights is a light emitting diode.

22. The game table of claim 18 wherein said lights are formed with at least one light source dispersed via fiber optic strands.

23. The game table of claim 18 wherein the game table is for playing billiards.

24. A billiards table, comprising:

a billiards table having a top, two vertical end portions and two vertical side portions;

at least one light mounted to one of said vertical side portions and oriented to provide indirect lighting.

25. The billiards table of claim 24 further comprising a plurality of indirect lights mounted to said end portions and said side portions of said billiards table.

26. The billiards table of claim 25 further comprising a plurality of solar panels mounted to said billiards table.

27. A billiards table, comprising:

a billiards table with a playing surface wherein said playing surface includes a surrounding rail;

an upper apron with an outside portion mounted to said rail;

a lower apron mounted to said billiards table and offset horizontally inward from said upper apron outside portion; and

one or more lights mounted in the horizontal distance between said lower apron and said upper apron outside portion.

28. The billiards table of claim 27 wherein said lights are directed downward.

29. The billiards table of claim 27 further comprising a power source mounted to said table and coupled to said lights.

30. The billiards table of claim 29 wherein said power source is rechargeable.

31. The billiards table of claim 30 further comprising one or more solar panels operable to recharge said power source.

32. The billiards table of claim 31 further comprising a light sensor and a switch operating to turn said lights on when the ambient light falls below a minimum level.