Pool game table

• US 5,135,218 A
• Filed: 12/21/1990
• Issued: 08/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McGovern, James R.
• Original Assignee: McGovern, James R.
• Inventors: McGovern, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US07/633,392
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 273/2, 273/3 R, 273/3 A, 273/3 B, 273/4 R, 273/14
• US Class Current: 473/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/00 Billiards, e.g. carom billiards or pocket billiards; Billiard tables bagatelle A63D13/00

Abstract

An improved circular pool table comprised of a flat surface rimmed by a ball rebound cushion comprised of a plurality of rubber tipped bumper segments, any one of which can be pivoted to an upright position to expose a segment pocket. Each segment is combined with a rotatable ring which encircles the playing surface and which carriers a plurality of tabs which correspond with a bumper segment. Each tab is provided with game point indicia to display game point values and is in 1 to 1 correspondence with a respective segment. Each time the ring is rotated the point value associated with each segment/pocket is changed. When a bumper segment is disposed horizontally the line of sight to its tab is blocked by a flap that is fastened to the bottom of each bumper segment, and when a segment is raised to a vertical position to form a segment/pocket the line of sight to its corresponding tab is unobstructed and the point value associated with the pocket is visible and readable.

Claims

1. An improved pool table comprising, a pool table having a circular playing surface, a vertically upstanding circular wall member completely encircling said playing surface, said wall member being spaced from the periphery of said playing surface to define an annular ball drop area therebetween, said ball drop area extending below the level of said playing surface;

a plurality of arcuate bumper segments arranged around the entire periphery of said playing surface, said bumper segments being pivotally mounted to said wall member, each of said bumper segments being manually pivotable independently of each other from a horizontal position overlying said ball drop area and forming a ball rebound cushion to a vertical position to form a pocket with said ball drop area for a ball rolling on said playing surface, said bumper segments being functional to prevent a ball from being projected from said playing into said ball drop area when all of said bumper segments are horizontal and further been functional to permit a ball to be projected into said ball drop area when any one of said bumper segments is disposed vertically;

in combination with the improvement of;

a rotatable game point ring assembly comprised of a ring member which completely encircles said playing surface, bracket means attaching said ring member to said vertical support intermediate said vertical support and said wall member and for allowing manual rotation of said ring member in a substantially horizontal plane about said playing surface;

a plurality of substantially vertically extending flexible tabs attached to said ring member, each said tab being in alignment with a respective one of said plurality of arcuate bumper segments, each of said tabs having game point number indicia, bonus point background colors and bonus point symbols for conveying a point value associated with a pocket formed when a said bumper segment is in a said vertical position;

an opaque line of sight obstruction flap is attached to the underside of each said bumper segments, whereby the line of sight to the tab corresponding to a said bumper segment is blocked when said bumper segment is in said horizontal position, and when said bumper segment is pivoted to said vertical position said line of sight to said tab in unobstructed and game points are displayed on said tab;

a plurality of pins extending vertically upwards from said ring member;

a detachable handle means for manually engaging said pins whereby said ring can be rotated; and

reference mark on said handle for providing alignment of said tabs with said flaps so that when said ring is rotated and stopped with said handle reference mark in alignment with a space between any two adjacent bumper segments, the line of sight to each said tab is blocked by said flap on its corresponding bumper segment.

2. The improved round pool table of claim 1 wherein each said bumper segment is consecutively numbered so that when said bumper segment is a pocket formed vertically disposed said bumper segment will be identified by a reference number.

3. The improved round pool table of claim 1 wherein said flexible tabs will bend from the substantially vertical when a projected ball passes over it and then flex back to its substantially vertical position.

4. The improved round pool table of claim 1 wherein said tabs are interchangeable, revisable, and replaceable.