FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to tabletop games. More specifically, the present invention is beer pong tabletop game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Beer pong is a popular drinking game that can be played anywhere, at any type of party, and by player of varying ages. A common issue with beer pong, however, is the frequent and constant misplacement of ping pong balls throughout the game. Unless the ping pong balls make it directly into a cup of the opposing team, the ping pong balls bounce off of the cups and ricochet away from the table. Not only is time wasted looking for the misplaced ping pong balls but finding the misplaced ping pong balls becomes increasingly difficult over the course of the game and may be difficult given the surround environment of the area of the beer pong game.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide seamless game play for a beer bong game. The present invention is a beer pong tabletop game that keeps ping pong balls connected to the table at all times without limiting the range of motion for the ping pong balls and the players. The present invention is easy to install and serves as a universal tool for beer pong games. Furthermore, the present invention may be engaged with tables of varying lengths and be adjusted to accommodate tables with larger lengths.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-section view taken along line 6-6 in of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention with an adhesive layer.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention with a mount.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the present invention with at least one bitt.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a beer pong tabletop game that facilitates continuous rounds of beer pong. The present invention keeps ping pong balls tethered to any desired tabletop surface, thereby preventing the loss of the ping pong balls and lost time locating any misplaced ping pong balls throughout the game time. In order to tether the ping pong balls to a tabletop, the present invention may comprise at least one anchoring disk 1, a first elastic string 10, a second elastic string 11, a first ping pong ball 14, a second ping pong ball 15, and a pull tab 16, seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. The at least one anchoring disk 1 connects the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 with each other and a tabletop. The range of the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15 is not limited with the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11, respectively, as the at least one anchoring disk 1 may comprise a disk body 2, a first channel 3 and a second channel 4. The disk body 2 defines the position of the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 with respect to each other and across the tabletop. The first channel 3 and the second channel 4 define a path for the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11, respectively, through the body. The first elastic string 10 connects the first ping pong ball 14 with the at least one anchoring disk 1, and consequently a position along the tabletop. Likewise, the second elastic string 11 connects the second ping pong ball 15 with the at least one anchoring disk 1, and consequently a position along the tabletop. Furthermore, the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 allows the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15, respectively, to freely move according with the type of shot made by a user. The first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15 are therefore tethered with the tabletop. The first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15 are used by player to be shot into cups positioned along opposite ends of the tabletop. In various embodiments of the present invention, an outer surface of the first ping pong ball 14 and an outer surface of the second ping pong ball 15 are phosphorescent, further identifying the location and position of the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15 in dark environments. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15 are not hallow, but rather solid plastic balls. The pull tab 16 allows a user to evenly adjust the overall length of the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 between the first ping pong ball 14 and the at least one anchoring disk 1 and between the second ping pong ball 15 and the at least one anchoring disk 1, respectively.
The overall configuration of the aforementioned components allows the present invention to accommodate various sized tabletops. The structural integrity of the at least one anchoring disk 1 is preserved while connecting the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 with the disk body 2 as the first channel 3 and the second channel 4 traverse through the disk body 2, seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6. The at least one anchoring disk 1 may be secured at the end of a tabletop for one player or one team or may be secured in between two ends of a tabletop for two players or both teams as the first channel 3 is positioned adjacent with the second channel 4. In order to lengthen or shorten the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 with the at least one anchoring disk 1, the first elastic string 10 is slidably engaged through the first channel 3, and the second elastic string 11 is slidably engaged through the second channel 4. The first ping pong ball 14 remains connected with the at least one anchoring disk 1 throughout use in the game as the first ping pong ball 14 is fixed with a distal end 13 of the first elastic string 10, seen in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6. The distal end 13 of the first elastic string 10 is positioned away from the adjacent end of the tabletop. Similarly, the second ping pong ball 15 remains connected with the at least one anchoring disk 1 throughout use in the game as the second ping pong ball 15 is fixed with a distal end 13 of the second elastic string 11. The distal end 13 of the second elastic string 11 is positioned away from the adjacent end of the tabletop. The overall length of the first elastic string 10 and the overall length of the second elastic string 11 remain equal with each other as a proximal end 12 of the first elastic string 10 and a proximal end 12 of the second elastic string 11 are fixed with the pull tab 16. This arrangement provides the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15 an equal amount 24 of slack and freedom of movement with the at least one anchoring disk 1.
The first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15 are effectively oriented towards a desired set of cups as the first channel 3 and the second channel 4 may each comprise a lateral portion 5, a central portion 6, an inlet 7, and an outlet 8, seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6. The lateral portion 5 orients the portion of the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 attached to the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15, respectively. Whereas the central portion 6 oriented the portion of the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 attached with the pull tab 16. The lateral portion 5 and the central portion 6 therefore allows the pull tab 16 to be simultaneously connected to the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11. The inlet 7 provides passage of the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 to traverse into the first channel 3 and the second channel 4, respectively. The outlet 8 provides passage of the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 to exit the first channel 3 and the second channel 4, respectively. The first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 continuously traverse through the first channel 3 and the second channel 4, respectively, as the lateral portion 5 is positioned adjacent with the central portion 6. The overall length of the first elastic string 10 between the first ping pong ball 14 and the at least one anchoring disk 1 equals the overall length of the second elastic string 11 between the second ping pong ball 15 and the at least one anchoring disk 1 as the central portion 6 is oriented parallel with a central diameter 9 of the at least one anchoring disk 1. Moreover, the inlet 7 is positioned adjacent with the lateral portion 5, opposite the central portion 6, and the outlet 8 is positioned adjacent with the central portion 6, opposite the lateral portion 5. The pull tab 16 is positioned adjacent with the outlet 8, thereby providing ample freedom of movement for the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15, and easy access to the pull tab 16 for the user. It is understood that the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 may be both lengthened through the first channel 3 and the second channel 4, respectively, by pulling the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15. Conversely, the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 may be shortened and evened out through the first channel 3 and the second channel 4, respectively, by pulling on the pull tab 16.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, the lateral portion 5 is oriented at an interior obtuse angle with the central portion 6, seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. In this first embodiment of the present invention, the at least one anchoring disk 1 comprises a first anchoring disk and a second anchoring disk to be positioned at either ends of a tabletop. The interior obtuse angle therefore orients the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15 towards either side edges of the table so that two players on a team may use the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15, respectively. In order to maintain the interior obtuse angle throughout use of the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15 during a game, the first embodiment further comprises a guide 17. The guide 17 maintains the adjustment of the overall length for the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 as the guide 17 may comprise a first tube 18, a second tube 19, and a connecting plate 20. The first tube 18 and the second tube 19 orient the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11, respectively. The connecting plate 20 secures the position and orientation of the first tube 18 and the second tube 19. The interior obtuse angle is preserved as the first tube 18 and the second tube 19 are positioned offset from each other, the connecting plate 20 is fixed between the first tube 18 and the second tube 19. More specifically, the first tube 18 and the second tube 19 are oriented at an obtuse angle with each other. The first elastic string 10 may still be pulled while engaged with the guide 17 as the first elastic string 10 is slidably engaged through the first tube 18. Similarly, the second elastic string 11 may still be pulled while engaged with the guide 17 as the second elastic string 11 is slidably engaged through the second tube 19.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the lateral portion 5 is oriented perpendicular with the central diameter 9, seen in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6. In this second embodiment of the present invention, the at least one anchoring disk 1 is positioned in the center of a tabletop between both players and both teams. The first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15 may be aligned as desired across a tabletop as long as the first ping pong ball 14 and the second ping pong ball 15 are equidistant from adjacent ends of the tabletop.
In order to facilitate the adjustment of the overall length of the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11, respectively, the present invention may further comprise a plurality of first markers 21 and a plurality of second markers 22, seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. The plurality of first markers 21 and the plurality of second markers 22 identify the appropriate point along the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 for the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 to be respectively pulled according to the total length of the tabletop. The corresponding points along the first elastic string 10 are visually identified as each of the plurality of first markers 21 are laterally inscribed around the first elastic string 10. Moreover, the plurality of first markers 21 is positioned offset from each other along the first elastic string 10 and is positioned offset from the pull tab 16 along the first elastic string 10. This arrangement corresponds to the appropriate slack needed to freely shoot the first ping pong ball 14 across a tabletop of specific length. Similarly, the corresponding points along the second elastic string 11 are visually identified as each of the plurality of second markers 22 are laterally inscribed around the second elastic string 11. Moreover, the plurality of second markers 22 is positioned offset from each other along the second elastic string 11 and is positioned offset from the pull tab 16 along the second elastic string 11. This arrangement corresponds to the appropriate slack needed to freely shoor the second ping pong ball 15 across a tabletop with a specific length.
In order to secure the at least one anchoring disk 1 onto a tabletop, the present invention may further comprise an adhesive layer 23, seen in FIG. 7. The disk body 2 may comprise a first base 26 and a second base 27. The first base 26 is oriented upwards towards the user, and the second base 27 is oriented against a tabletop. The first base 26 is positioned opposite the second base 27 about the disk body 2. The adhesive layer 23 is fixed across the second base 27 as the second base 27 is positioned adjacent with the tabletop. Alternate embodiments of the present invention comprise a mount 24 to secure disk body 2 onto a tabletop. The mount 24 ensures the tabletop is not damaged with the attachment of the at least one anchoring disk 1 with the tabletop and allows for easier removal and adjustment of the positioning of the at least one anchoring disk 1. The mount 24 is preferably a suction cup, seen in FIG. 8. Similar with the adhesive layer 23, the mount 24 is fixed onto the second base 27 as the second base 27 is positioned adjacent with the tabletop.
In order to prevent the first elastic string 10 and the second elastic string 11 from tangling with each other, alternate embodiments of the present invention further comprise at least one bitt 25, seen in FIG. 9. The at least one bitt 25 is positioned adjacent with the pull tab 16 and is peripherally fixed to the disk body 2. This position further separates the first elastic string 10 from the second elastic string 11.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Patent Application
20220305360
