This disclosure relates generally to gaming equipment and, more specifically, to foldable tables for playing games. The features disclosed herein may be numerous in nature and may be employed in various different ways to provide the same or similar results. The following description may refer to a gaming table, a table, a folding table, a foldable gaming table or other apparatus all of which refer to the same element or mechanics in its use.
Disclosed are systems, devices, and/or methods of use thereof regarding gaming equipment and, more specifically, foldable tables for playing games. In various aspects, a foldable gaming table may include a tabletop comprising a first half and a second half, with each of the first half and the second half having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a sidewall extending therebetween. The first half may be hingedly connected to the second half. The foldable gaming table may also include a pair of legs, where a first leg of the pair is connectable to the bottom surface of the first half and a second leg of the pair is connectable to the bottom surface of the second half of the tabletop. The foldable gaming table may further include a rail having a first half and a second half, with the first half of the rail disposed on the top surface of the first half of the tabletop and the second half of the rail disposed on the top surface of the second half of the tabletop.
In some embodiments, the first half of the rail matches a shape or outline of the first half of the tabletop and the second half of the rail matches a shape or outline of the second half of the tabletop. Additionally, ends of the first half and the second half of the rail may flushly abut each other when the foldable gaming table is in an upright configuration. In other words, ends of the first half and the second half of the rail may be even with each other when the table is in the upright configuration.
In other aspects, a foldable gaming table may include a tabletop having a first half hingedly connected to a second half. The tabletop may have a top surface, a bottom surface, and a sidewall extending therebetween. The foldable gaming table may also include a pair of legs connectable to the bottom surface of the tabletop, and a rail having a first portion hingedly connected to a second portion. The first portion of the rail may be disposed about a perimeter of the first half of the tabletop and the second portion may be disposed about a perimeter of the second half of the tabletop. The foldable gaming table may further include a tray receivable within a groove defined by the first portion and the second portion of the rail. The tray may be slidable within the groove to various positions about the rail and the tabletop.
Other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as features and advantages of various aspects of the disclosed subject matter, should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
In the drawings:
Many types of games (e.g., board games, card games, role-playing games, etc.) require a surface upon which to play. For example, board games require a surface upon which to place the gaming board, move gaming pieces, and roll dice. Role-playing games can require a surface upon which to roll dice, move gaming pieces or characters, play cards, etc. Conventional tables usually provide a good surface for game play. However, conventional tables are generally heavy and not portable. Additionally, conventional tables have open or flat perimeters that match the same planar surface as the table itself, meaning it can be easy to lose various gaming pieces off the edges of the table, which can frustrate game play. Further, conventional tables do not provide any storage for game pieces.
Embodiments of the present disclosure address these and other problems with game play. In various aspects, a foldable gaming table may include a tabletop comprising a first half and a second half, with each of the first half and the second half having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a sidewall extending therebetween. The first half may be hingedly connected to the second half. The foldable gaming table may also include a pair of legs, where a first leg of the pair is connectable to the bottom surface of the first half and a second leg of the pair is connectable to the bottom surface of the second half of the tabletop. The foldable gaming table may further include a rail having a first half and a second half, with the first half of the rail disposed on the top surface of the first half of the tabletop and the second half of the rail disposed on the top surface of the second half of the tabletop. The rail may extend around a periphery of the table.
In some embodiments, the first half of the rail matches a shape or outline of the first half of the tabletop and the second half of the rail matches a shape or outline of the second half of the tabletop. Additionally, ends of the first half and the second half of the rail may flushly abut each other when the foldable gaming table is in an upright configuration. In other words, ends of the first half and the second half of the rail may be even with each other when the table is in the upright configuration.
In other aspects, a foldable gaming table may include a tabletop having a first half hingedly connected to a second half. The tabletop may have a top surface, a bottom surface, and a sidewall extending therebetween. The foldable gaming table may also include a pair of legs connectable to the bottom surface of the tabletop, and a rail having a first portion hingedly connected to a second portion. Or rather, the rail may simple be attached to the table and the two halves of the table are hingedly connected that allows the rail to sit flush when the table is “unfolded” and in an upright position and the rails may not be hinged at all. The first portion of the rail may be disposed about a perimeter of the first half of the tabletop and the second portion may be disposed about a perimeter of the second half of the tabletop. The foldable gaming table may further include a tray receivable within a groove defined by the first portion and the second portion of the rail. The tray may be slidable within the groove to various positions about the rail and the tabletop.
In some embodiments, the sidewall 15 approximates a perimeter or outline 17 of the tabletop 10. The sidewall 15 and/or the perimeter 17 may define a shape of the tabletop 10. As illustrated, the tabletop 10 is substantially rectangular, though other shapes (e.g., circular, trapezoidal, etc.) are contemplated herein. A height of the sidewall 15 may impart a thickness to the tabletop 10.
The rail 30 may be disposed around a periphery or perimeter 17 on the top surface 13 of the tabletop 10. In some embodiments, the rail 30 includes a first portion 31 disposed on the top surface 13 of the first half 11 of the tabletop 10. The rail 30 may also include a second portion 32 disposed on the top surface 13 of the second half 12 of the tabletop 10. A shape of the rail 30 may match or correspond to the perimeter 17 of the tabletop 10. For example, as illustrated, the rail 30 is substantially rectangular to match the substantially rectangular perimeter 17 of the tabletop 10. In some embodiments, the first and second portions 31, 32 of the rail 30 are substantially U-shaped; together, the U-shaped first and second portions 31, 32 create the substantially rectangular shape of the rail 30.
When the table 100 is in the upright configuration 104, as illustrated in
The continuous configuration of the rail 30 allows various accessories to be attached to the rail 30 and slid around the rail 30 and, thus, around the table 100. The continuous configuration of the rail 30 also minimizes the risk of items catching (e.g., clothing, dice bags, etc.) on seams or discontinuities within the rail 30, as well as minimizing the risk of items being scratched (e.g., user's skin or hands, game boards, etc.) by discontinuities within the rail 30.
Additionally, the rail 30 (or sidewalls 35 of the rail 30) may be substantially flush or continuous with the sidewall 15 of the tabletop 10. In this way, the rail 30 may provide a bumper or ridge surrounding the perimeter 17 of the tabletop 10. This may prevent elements of game play (e.g., characters, dice, etc.) from falling off edges of the tabletop 10 and may provide a platform for users to rest their arms on. Alternatively, the rail 30 may be positioned about the sidewall 15 of the tabletop 10 such that the rail 30 may be flush with the top surface 13 of the tabletop 10.
As illustrated in
The rail 30 (i.e., the first portion 31 and/or the second portion 32) may be permanently adhered or attached to the tabletop 10 and/or about the perimeter 17 of the tabletop 10. Specifically, the bottom surface 34 of the rail 30 may be disposed on the top surface 13 of the tabletop 10. For example, the rail 30 (i.e., the first portion 31 and/or the second portion 32) may be hingedly attached to the tabletop 10. In some embodiments, the groove 36, or channels, defined in the bottom surface 34 of the rail 30 may hingedly connect the rail 30 to the tabletop 10. The rail 30 may be attached to the tabletop 10 in such a way that the rail 30 can be pivoted or hinged off the top surface 13 and folded under the bottom surface 14 of the tabletop 10. Such a connection or attachment allows the table 100 to be hinged and folded into a fully folded configuration 103 (see
The bottom surface 34 of the rail 30 may be smooth, or planar, without a channel 36 and simply provide a means for adhering the bottom surface 34, and thus the entire rail 30, to the table 100.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the rail 30 may be removably attached to the top surface 13 of the tabletop 10. In such embodiments, the rail 30 may be removed from the tabletop 10 prior to folding the table 100 into the fully folded configuration 103, or the rail 30 may be removed after fully folded and kept as a separate piece to the table 100 (and even consideration is made to have it fixed to the table 100 in an easy carry mode). The rail 30 may be attached to the tabletop 10 via adhesives, fasteners, clips, snaps, adhesive, screws, barbed screws or projections mating with apertures on the tabletop 10, barbed screws or projections mating with apertures on the rail 30, etc.
In some embodiments, the rail 30 is an aluminum extruded rail 30. In some embodiments, the rail 30 may be constructed from extruded carbon, carbon fiber, aluminum alloys, thermoplastic, acrylic, and/or combinations thereof. In all embodiments, the rail 30 is configured to match or correspond to a perimeter 17 of the tabletop 10, such that the rail 30 may be positioned about (e.g., turn) corners of the tabletop 10. In other words, the rail 30 may “curve” around the corners of the table 100 to allow a continuous rail 30 around the entire table 100.
In the alternate, single linear rails 30 may be utilized to cover each perimeter 17 of the tabletop 10 with an “end piece” that may be decorative or may be a single curved rail piece that is attached to match, and sit flush with, the linear pieces. In the “end piece” configuration that does not include a “bend” or “curve,” the rail 30 may not allow for a contiguous channel 36 around a corner or curve of the table 100. Additionally, the rail 30 may reside on each of the first half 11 and second half 12, or alternatively the rail 30 may run the length of the tabletop 10 and be attached once the table 100 is in the open configuration 104.
A portion of the body 41 may be positioned within the groove 36 to attach the tray 40 to the rail 30. For example, the body 41 may include a tab or projection (not illustrated) that is sized and shaped to mate with the groove 36 of the rail 30. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the tray 40 may include bearings or wheels to facilitate sliding of the tray 40 within the groove 36. In some embodiments, the groove 36 may include a receiver (a snap, clip, fastener, etc.) which receives a portion of the tray 40 to thereby attach the tray 40 to the rail 30.
Regardless of how the tray 40 is attached to the rail 30, the tray 40 may be slidable within the groove 36. In this way, the tray 40 can be moved to various positions about the rail 30 and the table 100. For example, the tray 40 may be positioned in front of a first player, who may take their turn such as by rolling dice within the trough or one of the cups 42. After the first player has taken their turn, the tray 40 may be slid along the rail 30 to a position in front of a second player, who may then take their turn. The trough, or the plurality of cups 42, may be for holding items specific to a game such as cards, figures, pencils, paper, or rolling dice or facilitating other game play for various players.
Additionally, the tray 40 may attach to the rail 30 such that the tray 40 is hidden from view when the table 100 is in a fully folded configuration 103 (see
Referring to
The tray 40 may be constructed of any appropriate material For example, the tray 40 may be constructed from wood, carbon fiber, plastic, acrylic, thermoplastics, and/or combinations thereof. The trough or plurality of cups 42 may be of a first material (e.g., plastic, etc.) and the body 41 may be of a second material (e.g., wood).
Further, as seen in
Returning to
It will be appreciated that the gaming table 100 may also be combined with another gaming table to create a larger playing surface. Referring to
While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It should also be noted that some of the embodiments disclosed herein may have been disclosed in relation to particular gaming equipment (e.g., a table); however, other equipment (e.g., a mat, a bench, a worktable, etc.) are also contemplated.
Recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments of the present disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member may be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. It is anticipated that one or more members of a group may be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.
Although this disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the claims that follow, but merely as providing illustrations of some embodiments of elements and features of the disclosed subject matter. Other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, and of their elements and features, may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of any of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. Accordingly, the scope of each claim is limited only by its plain language and the legal equivalents thereto.
A claim for priority to the Jul. 25, 2023 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/528,716, titled GAMING TABLE is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). The entire disclosure of this Provisional Application is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63528716 | Jul 2023 | US |