GAME TABLE WITH PIVOTING BARS AND ROTATING PLAYERS

Abstract

A game table comprises first and second substantially parallel player sides extending along a length direction, first and second substantially parallel goal sides extending along a width direction and a game playing surface defined within the player and goal sides. The game table includes at least one pivoting handle assembly connected to the game table via a pivot connection. The handle assembly includes at least one turning rod carrying at least one player member, and a handle engaged with the turning rod whereby turning the handle operates to rotate the player to strike a playing piece. The handle assembly is configured to pivot about the pivot connection above the game playing surface in a pivot plane substantially parallel to the game playing surface.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game table, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of game table players according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a game table, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the handle portion of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a game table, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pivot connection of an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A game table, comprising: a game table including first and second substantially parallel player sides along a length direction, first and second substantially parallel goal sides along a width direction and a game playing surface defined within said player sides and said goal sides, wherein each of said goal sides includes a goal; andat least one pivoting handle assembly pivotally connected to said first player side of said game table via a pivot connection and extending to said second player side, wherein said pivoting handle assembly includes at least one turning rod carrying at least one player member for striking a game playing piece, wherein said pivoting handle assembly further includes a handle engaged with said turning rod whereby turning said handle operates to rotate said player member;wherein said pivoting handle assembly is configured to pivot with respect to said pivot connection above said game playing surface in a pivot plane substantially parallel to said game playing surface.

2. The game table of claim 1, wherein said player member includes a body portion engaged with said turning rod and a rotating portion configured to rotate in a rotation plane about a rotation axis, said rotation axis being substantially perpendicular to said turning rod and said plane being substantially parallel to said game playing surface.

3. The game table of claim 2, wherein said body portion of said player member includes a gear transmission configured to rotate said rotating portion upon turning of said handle and said turning rod.

4. The game table of claim 1, wherein said handle assembly is configured to translate said player member along the width direction above said game playing surface by moving said handle toward and away from said pivot connection.

5. The game table of claim 4, wherein said handle assembly is a telescoping assembly including an inner rod configured to be received within said turning rod, said inner rod including a pivot end and being engaged with said pivot connection at said pivot end.

6. The game table of claim 5, wherein said pivot connection is a ball bearing connection including a ball bearing engaged with said pivot end of said inner rod received in a socket in said first player side.

7. The game table of claim 1, wherein said player member is configured to spin with rotation of said turning rod in a spinning plane substantially perpendicular to said game playing surface to contact a game playing piece and urge the game playing piece towards a goal.

8. The game table of claim 1, wherein said second player side defines a slot and said turning rod extends through said slot, wherein said turning rod is moveable within said slot to allow for pivoting of said handle assembly.

9. The game table of claim 1, wherein said pivot connection is a ball bearing connection including a ball bearing engaged with said handle assembly received in a socket in said first player side.

10. A game table, comprising: a game table including first and second substantially parallel player sides, first and second substantially parallel goal sides and a game playing surface, said player sides extending along a length of said table and said goal sides extending along a width of said table, wherein each of said goal sides defines a goal; andat least two pivoting handle assemblies including a first handle assembly and a second handle assembly, wherein each of said handle assemblies is pivotally connected to said game table via a pivot connection, each of said handle assemblies including a handle opposite said pivot connection, at least one rod extending along a rod axis and engaged with said handle, and at least one player member positioned on said rod between said handle and said pivot connection, wherein said player member is configured to spin with rotation of said rod about said rod axis to strike a playing piece and urge the playing piece towards a goal;wherein said first handle assembly is pivotally connected to said first player side and extends through and beyond said second player side, wherein said second handle assembly is pivotally connected to said second player side and extends through and beyond said first player side, wherein each of said handle assemblies is configured to pivot with respect to said corresponding pivot connection above said game playing surface in a pivot plane substantially parallel to said game playing surface; andwherein each of said handle assemblies is configured to translate said corresponding player member across the width of said table above said game playing surface by moving said handle toward and away from said corresponding pivot connection.

11. The game table of claim 10, wherein at least one of said handle assemblies is a telescoping assembly including an inner rod configured to be received within said turning rod, said inner rod being engaged with said corresponding pivot connection.

12. The game table of claim 10, wherein at least one of said pivot connections is a ball bearing connection.

13. The game table of claim 12, wherein said ball bearing connection includes a socket defined in said corresponding player side and a ball bearing engaged with said handle assembly configured to be moveably received in said socket.

14. The game table of claim 10, wherein each of said player members is configured to spin with rotation of said corresponding turning rod in a spinning plane substantially perpendicular to said game playing surface to contact a game playing piece and urge the game playing piece towards a goal.

15. The game table of claim 10, wherein each of said player sides defines at least one slot for passage of said corresponding turning rod, wherein each of said turning rod is moveable within said corresponding slot to allow for pivoting of said corresponding handle assembly.

16. A handle assembly for use with a game table having a game playing surface, comprising: an outer turning rod telescopically engaged with an inner rod, said inner rod being slidably received in said outer turning rod, wherein said inner rod includes a pivot end having a ball bearing and said turning rod extends along a turning rod axis;at least one player member carried by said turning rod, wherein said player member is configured to spin with rotation of said turning rod about said rod axis to strike a game playing piece and urge the game playing piece towards a goal of the game table; anda handle engaged with said turning rod;wherein said ball bearing is configured to be moveably received in a socket in the game table at a pivot point such that said inner rod, said outer turning rod, said player member and said handle are pivotable with respect to said pivot point in a pivot plane substantially parallel to the game playing surface of the game table;wherein the handle assembly is configured to translate said player member across the width of the game table above the game playing surface by telescoping extending and retracting said outer turning rod over said inner rod.

17. The handle assembly of claim 16, wherein said player member is configured to spin in a spinning plane substantially perpendicular to the game playing surface of the game table.

18. The handle assembly of claim 16, wherein said player member includes a spinning portion configured to spin in a spinning plane substantially parallel to the game playing surface of the game table.

19. A game table, comprising: a game table having a game playing surface; andat least one handle assembly extending across said game table above said game playing surface, wherein said handle assembly includes at least one turning rod carrying at least one player member for striking a game playing piece, wherein said handle assembly further includes a handle engaged with said turning rod whereby turning said handle operates to rotate said player member;wherein said handle assembly is configured and moveable such that said player member is continuously adjustable within a zone of movement, wherein said zone of movement includes a cross-section in a plane substantially parallel to said game playing surface, wherein the periphery of said cross-section includes two opposing diverging pivot lines from a pivot point, wherein said pivot lines are substantially straight, and two offset arcuate segments of concentric circles with different radii of curvature from a pivot point, wherein said arcuate segments connect said pivot lines.

20. The game table of claim 19, wherein said player member is configured to spin with rotation of said turning rod in a spinning plane substantially perpendicular to said game playing surface to contact a game playing piece and urge the game playing piece towards a goal.