Convertible game table

• US 6,502,819 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hedstrom Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hedstrom Corporation
• Inventors: Hanson, Steven, Rieber, Frederick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US09/861,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20020098896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 273/317, 273/317.1, 273/108, 273/108.1, 273/108.5, 273/109, 273/309, 273/126.R, 273/127.R, 273/352, 273/118.A, 273/118.R, 273/123.R, 273/127.C, 473/1, 473/9, 473/10, 473/475, 473/115, 473/14, 473/116, 473/157-160, 473/FOR.112, 473/FOR.113, D21/317-323
• US Class Current: 273/126.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/04 Billiard tables convertible into other tables, or the like into beds A47C17/62
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/0011 Target bowling or skee ball

Abstract

A convertible game table which can be used to play a SKEE-BALL type game, a re-bound hockey or shuffle board game and pool or billiards utilizing different-size playing areas spaced at different elevations above the floor.

Claims

1. A game table comprising

a generally rectangular, pan-like base having a bottom wall and opposite side walls and opposite first and second end walls extending up from the bottom wall, said bottom wall including a ramp section having opposite side edges, a foot spaced from the first end wall and a head adjacent to the second end wall and at least one ball return gutter extending between one of said side walls and an adjacent side edge of the ramp section, and means defining keyways in said first end wall opposite the foot of the ramp section;

a plurality of similar legs releasably connected to the corners of the base to support the base above a support surface;

an elongated planar extension member having opposite sides and opposite first and second ends and being dimensioned and adapted to fit within the confines of said base, and

an additional leg having the same length as each of said similar legs removably connected to the extension member at the first end thereof to support the first end of the extension member above the support surface, the second end of the extension member being adapted to key into said keyways so that the extension member abuts the foot of the ramp section and forms an extension of the ramp section.

2. The game table defined in claim 1 wherein

each of the plurality of legs comprises separable upper and lower segments, and

said additional leg has the same length as one of said lower segments.

3. The game table defined in claim 1 wherein

the ramp section includes side rails at the opposite side edges of the ramp section, and

the extension member includes an end rail at the first end thereof and side rails at the opposite sides thereof which form extensions of the ramp section rails when the extension member is keyed to the base.

4. The game table defined in claim 3 and further including

an elastic rebound member extending between the sides of the extension member adjacent to the second end thereof, and

scoring indicia inscribed on the extension member adjacent to the first end thereof.

5. The game table defined in claim 4 and further including a plurality of pucks for sliding along the extension member.

6. The game table defined in claim 1 and further including an upwardly inclined target section removably positioned on the second wall of the base adjacent to the head of the ramp section, said target section being dimensioned and adapted to fit within the confines of the base and including

a bottom wall having a front facing the ramp section, a pair of opposite sides and a rear;

a plurality of scoring holes in the bottom wall, and

trough means under the bottom wall for connecting said scoring holes to said at least one gutter adjacent to the second end if the base so that when a ball is received by any one of the scoring holes, it is conducted to said at least one gutter and rolls towards the first end of the base.

7. The game table defined in claim 6 and further including

a wall surrounding each of said holes so that when a ball lands within a said wall, it is conducted to the corresponding hole, and

a fence extending around the sides and rear of the bottom wall.

8. The game table defined in claim 7 and further including

switch means for detecting when a ball is received in each of said holes;

signaling means, and

electronic control means responsive to said switch means for controlling the signaling means to signal a score depending upon which holes receive balls.

9. The game table defined in claim 8 and further including a plurality of balls for rolling along the extension member up the ramp section and into the scoring holes.

10. The game table defined in claim 7 and further including a generally rectangular cover member having substantially the same length and width dimensions as said base, said cover member including a bottom wall having four corners and opposite sides;

a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of opposite end walls extending up from the bottom wall, the counterfacing surfaces of the side and end walls defining rails;

a plurality of pockets interrupting the bottom wall and rails at the corners of the bottom wall and midway along the sides thereof, and

means for releasably securing the cover member to the base so that the cover member covers the bottom, side and end walls of the base.

11. The game table defined in claim 10 and further including

a plurality of pool balls, and

at least one pool cue.

12. A game table comprising

a generally rectangular, pan-like base having a bottom wall and opposite side walls and opposite first and second end walls extending up from the bottom wall, said bottom wall including a ramp section having opposite side edges, a foot spaced from the first end wall and a head adjacent to the second end wall and means defining keyways in said first end wall opposite the foot of the ramp section;

a plurality of similar legs releasably connected to the comers of the base to support the base above a support surface;

an elongated planar extension member having opposite sides and opposite first and second ends and being dimensioned and adapted to fit within the confines of the base;

an additional leg having the same length as each of said similar legs removably connected to the extension member at the first end thereof to support the first end of the extension member above the support surface, the second end of the extension member being adapted to key into said keyways so that the extension member abuts the foot of the ramp section and forms an extension of the ramp section;

an elastic rebound member extending between the sides of the extension member adjacent to the second end thereof, and

scoring indicia inscribed on the extension member adjacent to the first end thereof.

13. The game table defined in claim 12 wherein

the rebound member comprises

an elastic band having opposite ends releasably attached to the bottom wall of the base at opposite sides of the base adjacent to the first end wall of the base;

means are provided for attaching the elastic band substantially at or near its midpoint to the table adjacent to the second end of the extension member so that segments of the elastic band on opposite sides of the fastening means define an acute angle;

the extension member includes an end rail at the first end thereof and a side rails at the opposite sides thereof, and

scoring indicia is inscribed on the extension member adjacent to the first end thereof.

14. A game table comprising

a generally rectangular, pan-like base having a bottom wall and opposite side walls and opposite first and second end walls extending up from the bottom wall, said bottom wall including a ramp section having opposite side edges, a foot spaced from the first end wall and a head adjacent to the second end wall, a pair of ball return gutters extending between the side walls of the base and the adjacent side edges of the ramp section and a transverse all-return channel extending between the head of the ramp and the second end wall of the base and connecting corresponding ends of the ball return gutters, said channel having a bottom wall which is higher in the middle of the channel then at the ends thereof;

a plurality of similar legs releasably connected to the corners of the base to support the base above the support surface;

an elongated planar extension member having opposite sides and opposite first and second ends and being dimensioned and adapted to fit within the confines of the base;

an additional leg having the same length of each of said similar legs removably connected to the extension member at the first end thereof to support the first end of the extension member above the support surface, the second end of the extension member being adapted to key into said base so that the extension member abuts the foot of the ramp section and forms an extension of the ramp section, and

an upwardly inclined target section removably positioned on the second wall of the base adjacent to the head of the ramp section, said target section being dimensioned and adapted to fit within the confines of the base and including a bottom wall having a front facing the ramp section, a pair of opposite sides and a rear, a plurality of scoring holes in the bottom wall, and a trough mounted to the underside of the bottom leading from said scoring holes to said channel so that when a ball is received by any one of the scoring holes, it rolls along the channel to one or the other of said gutters.

15. The game table defined in claim 14 and further including

a generally rectangular cover member having substantially the same length and width dimension as said base, and

mean for releasably securing the cover member to the base so that when the extension member and the target section are placed within the confines of the base, and the cover is secured to the base, the cover member covers the extension member and target section as well as the bottom side and end walls of the base thereby forming a protective enclosure.

16. The game table defined in claim 15 wherein said cover member includes a bottom wall having four corners and opposite sides;

a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of opposite end walls extending up from the bottom wall, the counterfacing surfaces of the side and end walls defining rails, and

a plurality of pockets intercepting the cover member bottom wall and rails at the corners of the bottom wall and midway along the sides thereof.