BACKGROUND
Beer pong is a game in which teams stand at opposite ends of the game table and take turns throwing balls at cups on the other side of the table. When the ball makes it into a cup, that cup is removed from the table and the first team to have all their cups removed loses the game. The game is often played in environments with many people and a list is needed for future players. When a person or team wants to play they add their names to the end of the list, and whenever a team loses they are replaced by the next on the list. Traditionally, the list is kept with paper and pen.
This list can be subject to water damage, misplacement, tampering or illegibility. The pen could be misplaced or stop working. The system of digital name entry adds a level of reliability to the list-keeping which is unique to a product of this type and improves gameplay. The placement of the list as displayed in the surface of the table is designed to be in the expected location of a paper list and pen in most beer pong tournament environments.
SUMMARY
By including an embedded electronic system for keeping score and a players list, that list is guaranteed to remain in its location, a prospective player is always able to add a name to the list as long as the list is not full, and the list cannot be altered in any way after being entered. The size, material, and features of the table can be customized to owner specifications but consists of some central elements. There is a keyboard mounted inside the table accessible to a user standing at one side of the table in the center area. The players list is displayed next to the keyboard, visible from where a user would stand. At each player's side, there is a display for their name, current score, and number of wins. Each player side has a set of two buttons, a green button and red button, which control their scores and end each game. Optional lighting features may react to the win count and other in-game events.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
In the following detailed portion of the present description, the teachings of the present application will be explained in more detail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top view of the overall construction,
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the overall construction, and
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the overall construction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
FIG. 1 depicts a top view of the game table. The flat top surface (11) is a continuous, rigid, transparent planar sheet serving as the playing surface. This surface is bonded to a structural framing around the edges (10) which supports the overall enclosure. The structural frame is affixed to the playing surface using rivets or flat top screws (9) spaced evenly around the perimeter. The long sides of the table are both flat, to be kept free of protrusions so that the table may be stored resting on its side. Once the power switch has been turned on, a player may initiate a game session by beginning to enter his or her name. There is a keyboard (4) which is of stainless steel construction, rated to be tamper-proof and waterproof. Each element is designed and installed such that the table is entirely waterproof and washable. The keyboard is mounted under the top surface such that it can be used while standing at the edge of the table and is easily visible though the top surface. The keyboard's output is displayed on the list (5) which is oriented in the same plane as the keyboard to be legible from the point of view of a player at the side of the table. The list consists of a plurality of displays. When the player presses the ‘Enter’ key. the name is captured and will be displayed on the player-side display (3) designated for the first player. This display will be legible from a player standing at their end of the end of the game table. and a set of buttons is accessible for adjusting the score and ending a game. The score is shown on the player-side display along with their name as entered, and the number of concurrent wins if there is at least one. From the player's perspective, the left button (1) is red and the right button (2) is green. A player's score is initiated at zero and kept for reference.
The only way to adjust score is using the buttons so that the players always have final determination over what constitutes a point or not. The table's scorekeeping elements will never attempt to make a determination on an outcome in the game or supersede a player. The second player to enter their name on the list will see their name moved to display on the opposing end of the table on the second player-side display (6). In keeping with the left-right convention, the second player will see their red pushbutton (7) on the left side and the green button (8) is on the right from this position. Similarly, the red button will decrement the current score to a minimum value of zero, and the green button will increment the score to a maximum value which is determined to exceed the maximum score in a reasonable game. Once there are two players entered on the table, a game session is considered to be initiated and timekeeping may begin at that moment. When the game ends, the winner will hold their green button while the loser holds their red button on the opposite end of the table. This system of player consensus is one of the features of the design intended to preserve the integrity of the gameplay, prevent tampering, and ultimately facilitate a fair tournament. One player on their own may not conclude a game. Those opposing red and green buttons must be held simultaneously for an amount of time to trigger an internal clock which begins counting when a win condition is noted. A win condition is only valid when all of the following is met: the winner's green button is depressed, the winner's red button is not depressed, the loser's red button is depressed, and the loser's green button is not depressed. This has only two possible end-game states, so that when one win condition is detected by the internal electronics, the counter begins, and only when the condition is held for a duration of approximately 2 seconds does the table process the win. At this time, the winning player's win count will increment, their score will return to zero, and the losing player's name is erased from their player-side display. If a third name is entered on the list, it will automatically be moved so that it is now displayed on the loser's player-side display and both score and win count are initiated at zero. The list will be advanced so that each name entered on the list at the time the win signal is being sent will move up one space after processing and the new player's name will no longer appear on the list.
FIG. 2 features an embodiment of the table from an isometric view. The top surface (11) is seen to be flush at the edges of the table with the side. The skirt (13) of the table extends below the surface of the table and is of a flat rigid material such as a plexiglass which is waterproof, washable, and has some holes drilled into it for mounting. The skirt is mounted to the structural frame using rivets or flat-top screws. When lighting is specified, it will be mounted on the inside of the skirt surface visible underneath the top plane. These lights, depicted in the drawing by a dashed line (17), can react to game conditions such as score changes or wins. The player-side buttons (1) are mounted in the skirt, affixed by screws from the inside and sealed at the exterior such that the enclosure remains waterproof. The legs are joined to the main body of the table by screw at the top of the legs to the underside corners of the main body (14). This way the overall profile of the table may be reduced for shipping or storage. The legs (15) are of rigid structural material, also preferably aluminum. A footing (16) is provided at the bottom of the legs made of rubber, plastic, or similar which serves to protect the floor from scratching and prevent the table from sliding. The keyboard (4) can be seen to be mounted within a cavity from this angle. The cavity is enclosed on all sides except one, open on the side of the table seen in FIG. 2 from where a user would access. The keyboard's cord runs through a wall of this cavity to reach the electronics where its signal is processed. That poke-through is sealed so that the cavity remains waterproofed. The keyboard is of a type having mounting holes installed at its corners so that screws affix the keyboard to the underside of this cavity. The opposing player-side displays (6) are both seen to be mounted on the same side of the table along with the buttons. This is because these elements are only accessible from the underside of the table by opening a hinged joint. The hinged side is the same side that these elements are installed on so that when that underside is opened, the cables are minimally stretched and don't require extra length.
FIG. 3 shows the underside view of an embodiment of the table. The footings (16) are shown at the corners where the legs screw into the main body of the table. An outer edge piece (18) is affixed to the structural frame and consists of a flat planar surface installed to be flush with the access door (19). The hinges (20) allow the access door to swing open so that maintenance can be performed. The circuit boards, keyboard, list, and player-side displays are all mounted to the top-side of the access door, so everything is accessible when it is opened. One would open the door using the latch (21) which is joined to the outer edge such that it is impossible to undo by accident while the table is upright and may be in use.
Patent Application
20220305371
