This invention relates to a modified multi-level table game apparatus and method, useful in, for example the playing of table games such as pool. Such an apparatus and method is disclosed in several forms in U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,710. The apparatus illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,710 is a multi-level game for pool having two or more generally horizontal, game piece supporting playing surfaces or levels supported in stack relation, spaced sufficiently apart from one another to allow player access to lower surfaces to impart movement to the game piece along said surfaces. Each surface may have one or more piece receiving pockets. Conduits extend between pockets at adjacent surfaces to provide pathways between such adjacent surfaces. In one form of the apparatus that has three or more playing surfaces, the conduits associated with a pocket at an intermediate playing surface provides both upward and downward pathways from that intermediate surface. Those conduits include guides that interact with a piece entering the pocket aligned with those conduits to direct the piece either to a higher surface or a lower surface, dependent upon, among other factors, the speed of the piece. The device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,710 provided flippers or so-called “shooters”: movable parts operable to assist the pool ball in going up to and down from one playing level to another. Such flippers were positioned within conduits connecting the playing surfaces. What is desirable is such a game table preserving the multi level playing action yet eliminating the need for moving parts.
In general terms, the apparatus illustrated herein is an improved multi-level game for pool, or similar games, having two or more generally horizontal, game piece supporting playing surfaces or levels supported in stack relation, spaced sufficiently apart from one another to allow player access to lower surfaces to impart movement to the game piece along said surfaces. Each surface may have one or more piece receiving pockets. Conduits extend between pockets at adjacent surfaces to provide pathways between such adjacent surfaces. In one form of the apparatus that has three or more playing surfaces, the conduits associated with a pocket at an intermediate playing surface provides both upward and downward pathways from that intermediate surface. Those conduits include guides that interact with a piece entering the pocket aligned with those conduits to direct the piece either to a higher surface or a lower surface, dependent among other factors, upon the speed of the piece.
The apparatus and method illustrated below include a number of changes or modifications from the apparatus and method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,710. First, the shape of the conduit is one of a range of curvilinear shapes, and most especially generally spiral The conduit back wall is shaped first in a tightly curved lower section and then in a shallowly curved upper section, both to conserve space and provide better upward acceleration for a game piece without the use of moving parts. Moreover, a transition ramp included in the curvilinear conduit shape further obviates the need for any moving parts to enable level transition. Using the modified conduits as provided herein, game piece-accelerating flippers or shooters are no longer required at the intermediate levels.
The configuration, size and shape of the conduits have also been modified to enhance performance. The back wall of each such conduit has been widened to maximize the allowable shooting angle of the game piece. The side portions of the conduit back wall are angled at about 15° in each direction so that game pieces angling to the side 15 degrees or less will strike the back wall directly and be more likely to proceed upwardly to the next higher level. Said another way, the back of the conduit is configured such the at 15 degree hit off center can assume a tangent on impact with the conduit back wall
On the game playing surface, accelerator plates are provided at the pockets on the surfaces surrounding the pockets. The accelerator plates are made of a smooth low-friction material such as plastic, metal or the like. Each plate is slightly angled—within a range of about +3 to −3 degrees—toward the associated pocket. In the preferred embodiment for the game of pool, a positive angle of about 1 degree is used when the players seek a moderately challenging game. Negative angles changes the play as the game piece tends to change levels more easily. A positive angle of about 1 degree add inhibition to motion thereby preventing the ball or other playing piece from spontaneously entering into the pocket based on extraneous movement (jarring the table as a whole, for example). Moreover, the said 1 degree angle provides a slight ramp which has the effect of aiding in upward level change. Each accelerator plate aprons the pocket opening mouth. Further, the accelerator plate may have a slightly conically shape, such shape tending to direct a game piece into the center region of the associated pocket. The angle of the accelerator plate and the slight conical shape together with accelerator plate's smooth surface (relative to the higher friction surface of the remainder of the playing surface which may covered with felt or a like material) combine to direct the game piece and cause an acceleration of a game piece when the piece reaches the accelerator plate moving toward the associated pocket. This increase in acceleration improves the ability of the game piece to travel upwardly rather than downwardly when entering a pocket at an intermediate surface at a higher velocity. In the case where the player strikes the game piece more softly, the game piece will travel down the conduit. The overall effect is creating a game apparatus where skill of the player may be refined and developed.
Further improvements include the provision of overhangs of the conduits at the pockets; such conduit upper region extending toward the adjacent playing surface so as to better control the game pieces and prevent them from flying up and off of the table. The conduit overhang on levels other than a top or bottom level also includes an additional piece guide extending downward from the overhang toward the playing surface, operable to guide the playing piece.
Also improved is the region immediately adjacent to the pocket, by means of the addition of a “director” region: the director region is provided by an extended plastic (or the like) part at the pocket rim. The director region extends from the playing surface at approximately 45 degrees, has a width of approximately 3A of an inch and angles downward toward the opening of the hole. The director region aids in directing the bounce of playing pieces as such pieces descend from the games piece director in the conduit wall, and specifically reduces the likelihood a playing piece will drop from highest to lowest playing level of a multilevel game without exiting on a intermediate level. By means of the director region, the corner of the table where the hole is located is lowered approximately 0.1″ lower than the raised bump on the game piece director. In the event the playing piece descends into pocket region without contacting the bump on the game piece director, the lowered about 45 degree director region aids in causing the game piece to bounce back up onto the nearest playing surface rather than hitting an un-chamfered playing surface edge and deflect in such a way as to continue dropping to a lower level.
Improvements to the playing surface include an invertible design—the playing surface itself may be inverted, making the top the bottom, and making the bottom the playing surface. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom surface includes a honey comb design, that affords structural integrity to the playing surface in addition to providing a surface upon which game pieces may be placed. In another embodiment, the playing surface may be modified by means an insert-able sheet of a low friction material fitting flush with and covering some or all of the playing surface. Such insert-able sheet changes the surface characteristics, permitting games such as hockey, as well as the use of game pieces having shapes other than substantially spherical.
Further improvements include use of a stick or other means to impart motion to game piece where the length of such stick is more than 30 (thirty) inches.
Also provided is the tool-free assembly and disassembly of the game table. Molded, mate-able alignment pins and receiving regions along with snap connectors permit snap assemblage under guiding pressure from human hands.
In the case when the table game played is pool, and the game piece (also referred to herein as “playing piece” or “game playing piece”) correspondingly is generally spherical (referred to herein as a “ball”) the players may utilize means such as a cue stick and a cue ball to strike the playing balls so as to cause the playing balls to enter the pockets (game piece receiving regions) at the corners of the playing surfaces. The aligned pockets at each corner are connected to one another by the generally upright conduits 136. The conduits 136 between the pockets at the uppermost level and the intermediate level allow balls to travel downwardly from the upper level to the intermediate level and upwardly from the intermediate level to the uppermost level. The conduits between the pockets at the intermediate level and lower level allow balls to travel in either direction to between the lower level and the intermediate level. It will be noted that the pockets at the intermediate level connect both to the conduits extending upwardly to the uppermost level and to the conduits extending downwardly to the lowermost level. A ball or other game piece entering such a pocket from the intermediate level can be made to selectively travel either upwardly or downwardly by virtue of the speed imparted to that ball. If a ball moves sufficiently slowly, it will go downwardly to the lowermost level. If a ball has sufficient speed, it will travel upwardly to the uppermost level. The same is true of the lowermost level where a high-speed ball can be made to travel upwardly while a low-speed ball will travel downwardly from a pocket to a reservoir or collector.
As seen in
As also illustrated best in
As may be easily seen in FIGS. 1629 and 30, the inventive playing table permits “tool free’ construction, featuring coupleable alignment and structural securing elements.
Moreover, the scalability—reducing to miniature sizes, for example, is inherent in the design.
Such various sizes can include all or any combinations of features taught herein. Although movement may be imparted to game playing pieces using hands or any device,
The playing surface itself may be changeably modified. The playing surface itself may be inverted 102 (see
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/583,194 by the same inventors, filed Jun. 25, 2004 and which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US05/22075 | 6/23/2005 | WO | 3/23/2006 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60583194 | Jun 2004 | US |