The invention relates generally to table tennis tables. In particular, the invention relates to a table tennis top that can be easily located on and removed from an existing table or structure.
Table tennis is a popular indoor game that is played with two or four players, each having a paddle or racquet. The players endeavor to hit a ball back and forth to each other on a table, in a manner similar to tennis. The rules are slightly different, but the concept is very similar. Ball spin, speed, placement, strategy and tactics play an important part in competitive table tennis matches.
A standard table tennis table is 274 cm×152.5 cm×76 cm high (9 ft×5 ft×30 inches high). Because such a table takes up considerable space, table tennis tables for home use are typically of a fold-up design. However, prior art foldable table tennis tables have a number of deficiencies that have detracted from their desirability. Many of the prior art foldable table tennis tables have a complex structure that is expensive to fabricate and may be difficult to assemble. Such prior art tables typically must be shipped in large, bulky containers which take up substantial space in storage and in transit thereby increasing the shipping costs. For example, some of the prior art foldable table tennis tables such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,149 to Kruissink, U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,269 to Kinn, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,901,304 to Fihe disclose foldable table tennis tables having a relatively complex welded wheel support unit that is both expensive to fabricate and difficult to package and ship to a customer. Additionally, prior art foldable table tennis tables of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,957 to Dadbeh have a relatively complex structure with a wide wheel base, which makes the table expensive to manufacture and difficult to store in confined spaces.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a table tennis table that is relatively inexpensive to fabricate, easily packaged and shipped in a compact, minimally sized package. The table should be easily assembled by the customer by hand without the need of any tools. The table should be easily set up and taken down. And the table should be capable of being stored in a relatively compact arrangement that takes up a minimal amount of space.
A removable top for a table tennis game is described herein. The table top has a first side having a first panel adjacent to a second panel, the first panel and the second panel having a baseline side and a net side. A second side of the table top has a third panel adjacent to a fourth panel, the third panel and the fourth panel having a baseline side and a net side.
When placed adjacent to one another, the first panel and the second panel define a first longitudinal seam therebetween. Similarly, the third panel and the fourth panel define a second longitudinal seam therebetween when placed adjacent to one another.
A connector beam is provided that preferably has a cross sectional shape of an I-beam. The connector beam has a first side and a second side. The first side of the connector beam is for receiving the net side of the first panel and the second panel of the first side. The second side of the connector beam for receiving the net side of the third panel and the fourth panel of the second side. The connector beam spans across the first longitudinal seam and the second longitudinal seam when the connector beam receives the first panel and the second panel on the first side of the connector beam and when the connector beam receives the third panel and the fourth panel on the second side of the connector beam. The connector beam preferably has a length that is a few inches shorter than a width of the table when the first panel and the second panel are placed adjacent to one another.
In a preferred embodiment, the first panel and the second panel are hingedly connected to one another and the third panel and the fourth panel are hingedly connected to one another. In one embodiment, the hinged connections are facilitated by a plurality of metal hinges, although other hinged connections are also possible.
The first panel, the second panel, the third panel and the fourth panel have a top surface and a bottom surface. A pad may be affixed to the bottom surface of each of the first panel, the second panel, the third panel and the fourth panel to protect the table or other structure onto which the table top is set.
A first net post is affixed to a first clamp for removably affixing to a side of the table adjacent to the first end of the connector beam. A second net post is affixed to a second clamp for removably affixing a side of the table adjacent to the second end of the connector beam. A first end of a net is affixed to the first net post and a second end of a net is affixed to the second net post.
FIG. I is a perspective view of the table tennis table top of the invention shown separated from a supporting table structure, which is shown in phantom lines.
Referring now generally to
Removable top 10 additionally has a second side 30 (
In a preferred embodiment, protective pads 29 (
A connector beam 46 is provided for facilitating the connection of first side 12 and second side 30 of removable top 10. Connector beam 46 preferably has a cross-sectional shape of an I-beam. Connector beam 46 has a first side 48 and a second side 50. First side 48 of connector beam 46 is sized to receive net end 24 of first panel 14 and second panel 16. Second side 50 of connector beam 46 is sized to receive net end 40 of third panel 32 and fourth panel 34. Preferably, connector beam 46 spans across first longitudinal seam 18 and second longitudinal seam 36 when connector beam 46 receives first panel 14 and second panel 16 on first side 48 of connector beam 46, and also when connector beam 46 receives third panel 32 and fourth panel 34 on second side 50 of connector beam 46. Additionally, it is preferred that connector beam 46 have a length that is several inches shorter than the width of removable top 10, i.e., a length slightly shorter than the width of the first panel 14 and second panel 16 when first panel 14 and second panel 16 are placed adjacent to one another. However, shorter or longer lengths of connector beam 46 are also possible. Connector beam 46 has a first end 52 and a second end 54.
Referring now to
Therefore, the removable table top 10 of the invention provides table tennis equipment that is inexpensive to fabricate, primarily due to the replacement of typical supporting structure with a user's existing structure, e.g., a table. The table top of the invention may be easily packaged and stored, since the table top is easily separated into first side 12 and second side 30, each of which may be folded about a hinged connection, resulting in two folded panels of quarter-table dimensions. The connector beam 46 ensures a uniform joining of first side 12 and second 30 and further ensures that hingedly connected panels 14 and 16 and panels 32 and 34 are oriented in a completely flat configuration.
Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.
This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/295,583 entitled “TABLE TENNIS TABLE TOP,” filed Jan. 15, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61295583 | Jan 2010 | US |