1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a table game and more specifically, to a table game adapted to be played based upon the rules of table tennis, however combining the effects and variety of other paddle games from platform tennis, squash and racket ball.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are many sports, both table top and field sports, which incorporate a barrier in the form of a net over which a ball must pass. Such sports include field tennis, platform tennis, and ping pong. Further, there are many sports in which the ball is played against a wall, such as hand ball, racket ball and squash, and the players must anticipate the various angles at which the ball will return from the end wall and side walls.
The present invention incorporates and combines the skills required for table tennis, ping pong and tennis with those required for racket ball, squash, and hand ball, in a table top game. Specifically, this invention relates to a game table having a substantially horizontal extending surface having an adjustably angled barrier extending transversely thereof defining opposing fields of play for simultaneous competition by a plurality of players using a single ball. The game table having opposed upright deflector walls extending lengthwise on opposing sides, the length of the deflector walls substantially equal to the length of the transverse barrier, the ball, being struck by the players with a paddle, the game surface including the substantially horizontally extending surface of the table, the angular adjustable sides of the barrier, and the deflector walls. The plurality of adjustable and fixed rebounding surfaces combined to require the players to use the skills of tennis, ping pong, squash, and racquet ball for the playing of the game.
An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game which simulates a number of paddle ball games for use in relatively confined quarters, wherein the playing surfaces are maximized, using not only the conventional horizontal playing surface, but also walls and a traversing barrier.
A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game which will afford the effect of a considerable amount of room available for play, but which nevertheless can be played in a relatively confined space, the ballistic characteristics of the ball in relation to the paddle and the playing surface enabling the novel game to be played either relatively fast or relatively slow.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game which requires the players to propel the ball by means of paddles across a transverse barrier, which barrier also forms part of the playing surface, together with the table top and the side walls.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game in which the traversing barrier is angularly adjustable with respect to opposing players thereby affecting the path and the rebound of the playing ball and the difficulty of the game.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game which is unitary in construction including playing surfaces and leg supports.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game in which the adjustable traversing barrier and the deflector side walls are adapted for conversion of a standard ping pong table to a barrier ball table of the type described hereafter.
The present invention provides for a playing surface which should be substantially rectangular in nature and oriented at the height of a standardized table, the playing surface having an adjustable transverse angular divider or barrier bisecting the playing area and side deflector walls extending upwardly from the lateral sides of the playing surface, the game being played by propelling a perforated hollow ball from one side of the playing surface to the other by means of paddles, the playing surface, transverse barrier, and side walls all being part of the playing surface.
These and other objects of the present invention will become evident particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:
In the preferred embodiment, the table top would be approximately 8 feet long and 5 feet wide, and elevated approximately 2½ from the underlying substrate. The barrier wall members would be angularly adjustable with respect to each other, as more fully described hereafter, so as to allow for greater angular shooting strategy by the players. The height of the deflecting walls with respect to the height of the playing surface would preferably be a height of 2½ feet. The length of the deflecting walls in the preferred embodiment would be 2 feet on either side of the barrier walls so as not to interfere with the swinging of a players arms and paddle 19 when engaging the ball 21.
The unitary dedicated barrier ball table illustrated in
Deflector walls 62 and 64 have secured in each of their lower corners 70, a thumbscrew bracket 72 which is slidably received on the underside 74 of the ping pong table 51 surface, the thumb screw brackets 72 being tightened to secure the deflector walls 62 and 64 and the attached cross-brace 52 in position on the ping pong table 51.
The existence of the barrier wall 14 welcomes the use of a variety of strategies. As a player gets used to the game and improves to the point where he can accurately put the ball 21 where he desires, he can then utilize the barrier wall 14 at will. The barrier wall 14 can be used to set up shots, break an opponent's concentration; or if a player has to reach for a ball 21 that takes him out of position, he can aim for the barrier wall 14 and get back into position and take the second shot.
The forty-five degree angle gives a player the ability to choose the speed and/or height of the return. The deflector walls 18, 62 and 64 also may be used in conjunction with the barrier wall 14.
The skill involved with intentional use of the barrier wall 14 is based on geometrical principles. The barrier wall 14 creates the existence of an infinite amount of possible combinations and angles of return, influencing the speed of the game.
The adjustability of the angles of barrier wall 14 introduces further variables into the game based upon a change in geometrical angles as discussed hereafter. It allows for players having advanced skill in playing the game to introduce an angular modification to the barrier wall 14 which will effect the manner in which the ball 21 reflects from the barrier wall 14 and hence introduce variable strategies into the game.
Referring to
The deflecting walls 18 are formed of transparent plastic. The height of the deflecting walls with respect to the plane of the surface of the table top is two and one half feet. The length of the deflecting walls 10 is set to extend the full length of the barrier zone 15. In this embodiment, it is fixed to be four feet. By forming the deflecting walls 10 of a transparent plastic material permits spectators to view the play of the game. It also assists novices to the game in watching skilled players play the game such that the novices can more quickly gain insight into the strategies of play.
The game is played by two players each having a paddle 19 which is designed to allow it to return perforated balls 21 between the barrier zone 15 and deflector walls 18. The paddle 19 has a batting portion on each side and an integral handle portion. The batting portions are each provided with a soft plastic covering for ball control. The paddle 19 is constructed of wood, light metal or celluloid, or any other suitable material having the required lightness and strength to withstand the blows struck against the plastic ball.
In the returning of the ball 21, the player may use the surfaces of the vertical deflector walls 18; the angular barrier wall 14; as playing surfaces as well as the playing surface formed by the table top 12.
The service is developed by the server holding the ball 21 in an outstretched, open palm and either tossing the ball 21 up or just dropping it. The server must then strike the ball 21 before it makes contact with service zone 17 on the playing horizontal surface 12. As the player's paddle 19 makes contact with the ball 21, it must then bounce behind the server's service zone 15. The ball 21 must then cross the barrier wall 14. Deflector walls 18 may be used to allow the ball 21 to bounce within the opponent's service zone 17. Should the ball go beyond the opponent's service zone 17 on the serve, it is considered “long” and the server automatically loses his serve. Should the ball bounce correctly in the server's service zone 17 but totally pass over his opponent's service zone 17, it is also “long” and results in an automatic loss of serve. Should the ball bounce correctly in the server's service zone 17 but fall short of his opponent's service zone 17 it is ruled “short” and the server gets a second serve. If he serves any type of a bad serve on his second serve, he loses his serve and the opponent gets one point automatically. The use of the barrier wall 14 is prohibited during a serve. If the ball 21 makes contact at all with the barrier wall 14 on the serve, it is also ruled “bad” and results in the automatic loss of the serve. An opponent may not under any circumstances (anticipation of long, short or good serve) return a serve on a fly. If this occurs, a point is awarded to the server.
In this invention, the game involves hitting the ball 21 back and forth over the barrier wall 14 until one player misses his opponent's shot; cannot hit his opponent's shot before the ball bounces a second time; or returns his opponent's shot but hits it off the playing surface before it bounces on his opponent's horizontal playing area. A player may return a shot before or after it bounces on his horizontal playing area. Any combination of vertical deflector walls 18, barrier wall 14, or horizontal surfaces 12 may be used. However, the ball 21 may only bounce one time on horizontal surface 12 during a combination. As the player then attempts to return the ball 21 once his paddle 19 makes contact with the ball 21, it cannot bounce on that player's horizontal surface. However, he may use the vertical deflector walls; since they have no center line and their entire area may be utilized by both players either returning or pursuing a shot. Should the ball 21 not clear the barrier wall 14 and bounce back, the player has the opportunity to take one more shot at the ball 21; but only one time while he is in possession of the volley. Should this type of shot occur as the ball 21 bounces back off the barrier wall 14, it is treated as if the opponent returned the shot and the same rules apply. If on the second shot the ball 21 hits the barrier wall 14 but goes over to the opponent's playing area, it s ruled “good”.
The playing of the game has been described with respect to
While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particularly, it will be recognized that the angular adjustment of the barrier wall members may be mechanical accomplished by means other than described. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.
Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/335,886, filed Jan. 14, 2010.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110172037 A1 | Jul 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61335886 | Jan 2010 | US |