TABLE TENNIS GAME HAVING A PLAYING SURFACE DIVIDED INTO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT PLAYING STATIONS BY INTERSECTING RIGID BARRIERS

Abstract

A game table for playing variations of table tennis using at least one ball includes a table top having a playing surface and a plurality of generally identical, intersecting, equiangularly-spaced, rigid barriers positioned atop the playing surface and radiating from a center point thereof, the rigid barriers dividing the playing surface into at least three and no more than four independent playing stations, all of which are of identical size and shape. The table top of one embodiment is made of four interfolding pieces which are supported by four folding leg assemblies and a storage/transport dolly. That of another is made of three or four separate pieces, which are shaped to fit together, in regions beneath the barriers, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. That of another is divided into hingeably intercoupled halves which can be folded together for storage, with each half corresponding to two playing stations.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment new game table, taken from the dolly end thereof;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the first embodiment new game table, taken opposite the end where the dolly is installed;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the first embodiment new game table, showing primarily the underside thereof;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment new game table;

FIG. 5 is an isometric, almost side elevational view of the first embodiment new game table;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the first embodiment new game table in a semi-stowed state;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the first embodiment new game table in a semi-stowed state;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the first embodiment new game table in a semi-stowed state, viewed from the outer end of the dolly;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment new game table in a semi-stowed state;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the first embodiment new game table in a nearly-stowed state, taken opposite the end where the dolly is installed;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment new game table in a nearly-stowed state;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the first embodiment new game table in a fully-stowed state, taken opposite the end where the dolly is installed;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment new game table in a fully-stowed state;

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the first embodiment new game table in a fully-stowed state, taken opposite the end where the dolly is installed;

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the first embodiment new game table in a fully stowed state, taken from the end where the dolly is installed;

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a single barrier of the first embodiment new game table;

FIG. 17 is an outer end elevational view of the barrier of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the barrier of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view of the barrier of FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of the barrier of FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is top plan view of a quarter-section piece of the table top of a second embodiment new game table;

FIG. 22 is an exploded top plan view of the table top of the second embodiment new game table, consisting of four identical quarter-section pieces as shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a top plan view of an assembled table top of the second embodiment new game table;

FIG. 24 is an isometric view of an assembled second embodiment new game table, showing primarily, the underside thereof and a conventional card table to which it is strapped;

FIG. 25 is an isometric view of a quarter-section piece of the second embodiment new game table suspended over a strap attachment bracket which will be attached thereto;

FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of a quarter-section piece of the second embodiment new game table fitted with a strap attachment bracket;

FIG. 27 is a top plan view of the table top of a third embodiment new game table;

FIG. 28 is an elevational end view of the table top of FIG. 27, folded at the center line;

FIG. 29 is an elevational side view of the table top of FIG. 27, folded at the center line;

FIG. 30 is an isometric view of a single barrier for use in combination with either the second or third embodiment new game table, showing primarily the upper, side and outer end surfaces;

FIG. 31 is an isometric view of the single barrier of FIG. 30, showing primarily the lower and side surfaces thereof;

FIG. 32 is a bottom plan view of the single barrier of FIG. 30;

FIG. 33 is a top plan view of the barrier of FIG. 30;

FIG. 34 is a outer end elevational view of the barrier of FIG. 30;

FIG. 35 is a top plan view of an assembled second or third embodiment new game table;

FIG. 36 is an isometric view of an assembled second or third embodiment new game table, showing primarily the top surface and attached barriers thereof;

FIG. 37 is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment new game table;

FIG. 38 is an isometric view of a single barrier of the fourth embodiment new game table, showing primarily the upper, side and outer end surfaces;

FIG. 39 is an isometric view of the single barrier of FIG. 38, showing primarily the lower and side surfaces thereof;

FIG. 40 is a bottom plan view of the single barrier of FIG. 38;

FIG. 41 is a top plan view of the barrier of FIG. 38;

FIG. 42 is an outer end elevational view of the barrier of FIG. 38;

FIG. 43 is a top plan view of an assembled fourth embodiment new game table;

FIG. 44 is an outer end elevational view of a barrier having an equilateral triangular cross section;

FIG. 45 is an outer end elevational view of a barrier having a parabolic cross section;

FIG. 46 is an outer end elevational view of a barrier having a half-hyperbolic cross section;

FIG. 47 is an outer end elevational view of a barrier having an equilateral trapezoidal cross section;

FIG. 48 is an outer end elevational view of a barrier having an equilateral cross section that is uniformly sloped on the sides thereof and curved to an apex in the center; and

FIG. 49 is an outer end elevational view of a barrier having a cross section that is an equilateral, inwardly-sloping polygon.

Claims

1. A game apparatus for use with a projectile and comprising: a playing surface having at least two and no more than three lines of symmetry about which said playing surface is bilaterally symmetrical, said lines of symmetry having a point of intersection;a plurality of generally identical, intersecting, equiangularly-spaced, rigid barriers positioned atop said playing surface and radiating from said point of intersection to an outer edge of said playing surface, said rigid barriers dividing said playing surface into at least three and no more than four independent playing stations.

2. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said rigid barriers is bilaterally symmetrical about a vertical plane passing longitudinally therethrough.

3. The game apparatus of claim 2, wherein an upper outer surface portion of each of said rigid barriers is a generally semicylindrical.

4. The game apparatus of claim 2, wherein a cross section through a major portion of each rigid barrier, taken perpendicular to said vertical plane, is a conical section.

5. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein, for a four independent playing station embodiment, said playing surface is divided into four individual quarter-section pieces, each quarter-section piece corresponding to an individual playing station, and wherein a first pair of quarter-section pieces on one side of a line of bilateral symmetry is not directly coupled to a second pair of quarter-section pieces on the other side, the quarter-section pieces of each pair being hingeably coupled together such that an outer quarter-section piece of each pair folds on top of an inner quarter-section piece of that pair, and wherein the inner quarter-section pieces of both pairs are adjacent one another, said game apparatus further comprising: a folding leg assembly attached to each quarter-section piece, said folding leg assembly being movable between extended and retracted positions, said folding leg assembly supporting the quarter-section piece to which it is attached when it is in the extended position when said apparatus is set up for use in a playing configuration, said folding leg assembly rotating to a retracted position against an underside of said quarter section piece when said apparatus is folded up for storage or transport;a dolly positioned beneath said surface between both inner quarter-section pieces;a first support member hingeably coupled to both a bottom portion of a first side of said dolly and to a bottom surface of the inner quarter-section piece of said first pair; anda second support member hingeably coupled to both a bottom portion of a second side of said dolly and to a bottom surface of the inner quarter-section piece of said second pair; andwherein each pair of quarter-section pieces is rotatable to a near-vertical position so that it can be stored on one side of said dolly.

6. The game apparatus of claim 5, wherein said dolly further comprises a pair of horizontal parallel rails on a top portion thereof, and each inner quarter-section piece has a groove which fits over one of said parallel rails, thereby providing alignment and support of said first and second quarter-section pairs when said apparatus is set up for use in a playing configuration.

7. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the rigid barriers has at least one projection on a bottom surface thereof which mates with at least one corresponding aperture in said playing surface, said at least one aperture being positioned between a pair of independent playing stations.

8. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein all rigid barriers are substantially identically shaped, with each having an intersecting end pointed, said pointed end having an interior angle equal in degrees to 360 divided by the number of independent playing stations, such that all rigid barriers fit together with no significant gaps between the pointed intersecting ends, the points of which meet at said point of intersection.

9. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said playing surface has a plurality of brackets extending beneath a lower supporting surface thereof, said brackets enabling said playing surface to be strapped to a top of a foldable card table.

10. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said playing surface comprises at least three and no more than four separate pieces, each corresponding generally to an independent playing station and shaped to as to fit together, in regions beneath the rigid barriers, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

11. A game table for playing variations of table tennis using paddles and at least one table tennis ball, said table comprising: a table top having a playing surface;a plurality of generally identical, intersecting, equiangularly-spaced, rigid barriers positioned atop said playing surface and radiating from a center point of said playing surface, said rigid barriers dividing said playing surface into at least three and no more than four independent playing stations, all of which are of identical size and shape.

12. The game table of claim 11, wherein each of said rigid barriers is bilaterally symmetrical about a vertical plane passing longitudinally therethrough.

13. The game table of claim 12, wherein an upper outer surface portion of each of said rigid barriers is a generally semicylindrical.

14. The game table of claim 12, wherein a cross section through a major portion of each rigid barrier, taken perpendicular to said vertical plane, is a conical section.

15. The game table of claim 12, wherein an outer surface of each rigid barrier comprises a pair of upwardly sloping planar surfaces interconnected by a semicylindrical surface.

16. The game table of claim 11 wherein, for a four independent playing station embodiment, said table top is divided into four individual quarter-section pieces, each quarter-section piece corresponding to an individual playing station, and wherein a first pair of quarter-section pieces on one side of a playing surface line of bilateral symmetry is not directly coupled to a second pair of quarter-section pieces on the other side, the quarter-section pieces of each pair being hingeably coupled together such that an outer quarter-section piece of each pair folds on top of an inner quarter-section piece of that pair, and wherein the inner quarter-section pieces of both pairs are adjacent one another, said game apparatus further comprising: a folding leg assembly attached to each quarter-section piece, said folding leg assembly being movable between extended and retracted positions, said folding leg assembly supporting the quarter-section piece to which it is attached when it is in the extended position when said game table is set up for use in a playing configuration, said folding leg assembly rotating to a retracted position against an underside of said quarter section piece when said game table is folded up for storage or transport;a dolly positioned beneath said surface between both inner quarter-section pieces;a first support member hingeably coupled to both a bottom portion of a first side of said dolly and to a bottom surface of the inner quarter-section piece of said first pair; anda second support member hingeably coupled to both a bottom portion of a second side of said dolly and to a bottom surface of the inner quarter-section piece of said second pair; andwherein each pair of quarter-section pieces is rotatable to a near-vertical position so that it can be stored on one side of said dolly.

17. The game table of claim 16, wherein said dolly further comprises a pair of horizontal parallel rails on a top portion thereof, and each inner quarter-section piece has a groove which fits over one of said parallel rails, thereby providing alignment of said first and second quarter-section pairs.

18. The game table of claim 11, wherein each of the rigid barriers has at least one projection on a bottom surface thereof which mates with at least one corresponding aperture in said playing surface, said at least one aperture being positioned between a pair of independent playing stations.

19. The game table of claim 11, wherein said table top comprises at least three and no more than four separate pieces, each corresponding generally to an independent playing station and shaped to as to fit together, in regions beneath the rigid barriers, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

20. The game table of claim 11, wherein for a four independent playing station embodiment, said table top is divided into identical hingeably intercoupled halves, each half corresponding to two independent playing stations, such that said halves can be folded together for storage.