Patent Application
20060073921
This invention relates to the field of playing a table game, in particular to the field of playing a game by striking a ball off of a table surface to another, as in table tennis.
Table tennis, also known as “ping pong”, is a game that is very well known, involving using a paddle to strike a ball from one side of a table to the other. The table is divided into two sides by a net passing across the middle of the table. It can be played with two players, or as a team game with up to four total players.
Different shapes and designs of tables have been proposed to increase difficulty. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,622,156 to Pugsley the net has been removed completely and the table surface has been split into two sections, each of a rounded, triangular shape. The surfaces remain joined to each other by a connecting device attached to a leg from each table surface and so are not fully disconnected. The game is played across a gap present between the two joined table portions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,619 to Cooper depicts a rectangular playing table surface having two portions joined by bridge members and provided with elevation means within the legs so that these two playing surfaces may be angled slightly upwards towards each other forming a shallow “V” formation. No playing surface is present between these two portions where the bridging members extend.
U.S. Pat. No. of 4,900,022 to Maggio depicts a rectangular playing table surface divided into two portions joined by bridge members and having a soft sponge or net present between the two separated portions. This provides a region between the two table portions which is not playable.
There still remains a need to further increase the difficulty and challenge of the typical table tennis game. This invention addresses that need.
The invention in its general form will first be described, and then its implementation in terms of specific embodiments will be detailed with reference to the drawings following hereafter. These embodiments are intended to demonstrate the principle of the invention, and the manner of its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more specific forms will then be further described, and defined, in each of the individual claims, which conclude this Specification.
The “Island Pong”-™ game of the invention provides a new experience in the field of table tennis. The game-playing surface comprises at least two portions, preferably circular, which are respectively mounted on independent supports that allow the playing surfaces to be separated from each other. Such playing surfaces may be fully disconnected from each other. Further, such playing surfaces may or may not lie in a common plane. This provides a number of consequences.
No net is required to divide the table playing surface portions; the gap separating the respective perimeters of the table surface portions defines a no-play zone in a manner similar to a net. The ability to separate the playing surfaces introduces a new challenge to the game. Increased separation reduces the effective target area, while providing more time for players to respond that while the ball is in transit. Being circular, the remote, central, a outer edges of the playing surfaces become more prominent as targeted areas because hits so-directed provide a lengthened target area that is more tolerant of accuracy errors. Eventually, at substantial separations, transit time delays become more nearly akin to those occurring in tennis, changing the dynamic of the game. In these respects, a playing experience distinctly different from that of traditional “Ping-Pong” is created.
An additional convenience is created through the use of two circular playing surface portions of identical diameters. Such portions may be moved and stored individually more conveniently than a single, monolithic, table surface portion. Being circular, they it may also be moved and stored more conveniently than table surface portions in the form of a regular or polygonal surface. By reason of their circular dimensions, such surfaces may be conveyed by rolling them on their circumferential edges. Being symmetrical to each other, such table surface portions of may be assembled face-to-face, or with their playing surfaces in parallel planes but facing away from each other, to provide for more compact storage. Inter-table connection means may be provided to facilitate this procedure.
According to one variant, the outer perimeters of the respective table surfaces may be placed approximately contiguously to each other, separated by a moderate gap, in order to allow the players to commence to play a game of table tennis. The table surfaces together with their supports may then be further separated to permit the game to be played with a larger gap present between the playing surfaces, and the process repeated. This separation may be adjusted during or between the playing of a game and may preferably be enlarged to provide a gap between the playing surfaces which is equal to, twice, three times or more in size than the width of an individual circular playing surface portions. For the purposes of creating a separation between the table playing surfaces, no interconnection need be present between such playing surfaces other than through the floor or ground surface upon which they rest.
By reason of the absence of an interconnection between the playing surfaces, it becomes possible to play the game with an intervening obstacle present in the gap separating the playing surfaces. Thus, when played indoors, a piece of furniture may be present in such gap. Preferably, such an obstacle would not protrude significantly above the plane within which either of the separated playing surfaces lie. This allows the playing tables to be set up in rooms that otherwise would not be large enough to accommodate a traditional Ping-Pong table.
According to another variant of the invention, the playing surface portions need not be circular but may be of any shapes, preferably shapes wherein such playing surface portions are bilaterally symmetrical about the central line that separates the two surfaces. Preferably, the outside edge portions of each respective playing surface portion remote from the opposing playing surface portion, are also bilaterally symmetrical about a longitudinally extending, vertical mirror plane passing through both table surfaces and the centroid of area for each respective playing surface. Such outer edge portions may taper towards each other, proceeding away from the two playing surface portions. Thus, in this configuration, the orientations of the table surface portions may be generally seem to be the reverse of that in U.S. Pat. No. 3,622,156.
The playing surface portions may be supported in various manners. This can include three or more individual legs, a pedestal, or even an available support surface such as a piece of furniture. Embodiments which include legs may include means whereby each leg is foldable into a compact position against the underside of the playing surface.
Such support means may be adjustable to permit the playing surface portion to be elevated at varying heights and with different orientations with respect to the horizontal plane that the respective playing surfaces would normally share. In this form a table height adjustment means can be provided which will serve to accommodate unevenness in the ground surface, ensuring alignment of the playing surfaces in a common, horizontal, plane or in alternate orientations with respect to each other. The adjustment means may also be used to accommodate players who are taller or shorter than the average player, such as children. Thus each leg may be provided with adjustment means whereby the length of such leg may each be adjusted to alter the height of the overlying playing surface portion which it supports.
Such adjustment means may be discreet, allowing coarse adjustments this may be combined with fine adjustment means which allow for continuous adjustment. A support of a continuously variable character may be provided by telescopic leg portions which may slide into each other and then be locked in place through use of a threaded, wedge-shaped collar or collet system. Alternately, legs may be adjustable by the presence of an eccentric-cam locking mechanism which frictionally engages the sections of the legs; through the use of a threaded coupling between leg portions, or through the use of any other mechanism which allows the continuously variably adjustable locking of two leg sections. In any of such cases, locking means is provided to stabilize the selected length for the leg during the playing of the game.
Continuously variable adjustable supports may also incorporate or be combined with structures to allow discrete height adjustments in order to increase in the range of permissible height adjustments. Discrete height adjusting means may allow the user to lock the legs at a predetermined height through the use of a pin and hole system, through a ball-detent locking mechanism, or through the use of any device which allows the legs to be set to a predetermined level. By combining the continuously variable height adjustment means with the discrete height adjustment means, it is possible to allow the players to set the tables at the same height using the discrete adjustment means, and then to make adjustments to the continuously variable adjustment means in order to ensure that the tables are in the same horizontal plane in order to allow the players to play on uneven ground.
It is also possible to set the tables at the same height using the discrete adjustment means and tilt one or both of the tables in order to increase the difficulty of the game by adjusting the continuously variable height adjustment means on two of the legs in order to tilt the table in a given direction. Finally, It is possible for the tables to be changed to different heights, as for example during play, in order to increase the difficulty of play for the players.
Another embodiment of the game system may rely on support means in the form of a pair of posts, either to be inserted into a weighted base, or with a threaded base end to be screwed into the ground. The playing surfaces are then respectably mounted on the top of each post.
In use, according to one embodiment, the invention addresses a method for playing a game comprising the steps of providing at least a pair of players each with a paddle for striking a ball, providing at least two tables that are disconnected from each other each having a playing surface, positioning such surfaces a predetermined distance apart which distance is at least greater than 12 inches, more preferably the width of each table surface portion, whereby the players may engage in playing a game of table tennis using their respective paddles to strike the ball towards the opposite player's table playing surface. Optionally, each player may be replaced by a team consisting of multiple players for each side of the table.
In a further embodiment, as indicated above, the method of the invention may further comprise the step of increasing the difficulty of the game by increasing the distance of separation between the tables. This may occur either in distinct stages between games, or while the game is in progress.
In the foregoing description, the use of two playing surfaces has been referenced. The method of the game may also be carried out using three or four or more playing surfaces and a corresponding number of players or player teams.
The foregoing summarizes the principal features of the invention and some of its optional aspects. The invention may be further understood by the description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the drawings, which now follow.
The game may also be played with an intervening object, such as a sofa, present between the two tables 14 as in
Each table 12 as shown in
As can be seen in
Alternately, the inner leg portion 22 of the leg 18 may incorporate an eccentric cam system as depicted in
The separate tables 12 with individual adjustment of the height of the playing surface 20, also allows for the playing surfaces 20 to be set up at a different height than the other table 12, or at different angles that are not necessarily parallel with the ground. This allows for many different changes to the game.
Two tables 12, particularly two round tables 12, with their legs 18 in folded positions, can be coupled together when the legs 18 are folded as seen in
In the preferred embodiment a 3-inch long, hollow tubular socket 33 is fixed to the leg base 34. When it is desired to couple the tables together, one end of a 6 or 7-inch long coupling tube 36 is slid into the socket 33, as shown in
To take the tables apart, it is sufficient to release the tubes 36 from the sockets 33 on one table 12. The rods 36 can remain in the sockets 33 on the other table 12 during play so that they will not get lost.
As can be seen in
In use, the tables 12 are positioned a set distance apart, preferably at the commencement of the game by a minimum of typically around half a table diameter, e.g. 2 feet of separation, or further if desired, although a shorter intervening gap may be employed initially. As the players grow more skilled and wish to increase the difficulty of the game, the tables 12 may be separated even further, either between games, or progressively during the course of a game. With the tables 12 separated 8 feet apart or more, for example, the time that the ball 14 is in the air is increased, allowing for more time to set up a return shot.
As mentioned earlier, it may be desired to play outdoors, in which case a different type of ball 14 may be preferable, such as one with holes throughout it, to cut down on the wind affecting the flight of the ball. Other alterations, such as racquet ball paddles and balls may also be used. This would allow for harder shots and a faster game.
It is understood that suitable modifications and equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The foregoing has constituted a description of specific embodiments showing how the invention may be applied and put into use. These embodiments are only exemplary. The invention in its broadest, and more specific aspects is further described and defined in the claims, which now follow.
These claims, and the language used therein, are to be understood in terms of the variants of the invention that have been described. They are not to be restricted to such variants, but are to be read as covering the full scope of the invention as is implicit within the invention and the disclosure that has been provided herein.
This application claims the benefit of US of provisional patent application Ser No. 60/608,165 filed Sep. 9, 2004 (09/09/2004).
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60608165 | Sep 2004 | US |
