TABLE-TOP PAD, IN PARTICULAR FOR GAMING TABLES

Abstract

A covering pad for tables, in particular for gaming tables, suitable to be associated to a table top, is shaped so as to substantially match the shape of the top and includes a surface cloth bonded to a cushioning mat. In particular, the pad also includes a semi-rigid support panel, bondable to the surface of the cushioning mat opposite to the one on which the surface cloth is bonded so that the cushioning mat and the surface cloth are maintained stretched when the pad is coupled to the table top.

Description

The present invention is relative to a pre-formed table-top covering pad, in particular, but not exclusively, for traditional gaming tables used for playing poker or black-jack.

Generally, the traditional gaming tables include a playing top consisting of a suitably shaped wooden panel on which is applied a thin soft mat made of felt or foamed polymeric material having essentially the function of preventing or limiting the bouncing of the chips and dampening their noise, and of offering the players the traditional “resilient” response when they deal the cards and press them on the table; finally, the surface of the gaming table is covered with an decorative fabric on which may be printed, for example, the layout of the game, logos and slogans, or the name of the gaming house.

A finishing frame, preferably rubber-lined, may be applied on the perimeter of the playing top, framing the playing area of the same and providing a soft support on which the players can rest their wrists.

The operations required to apply the soft mat and the surface cloth to the playing top are normally carried out by an expert upholsterer who, after having spread both components on the surface of the table, turns down the edges under the playing top, and fixes them in place by means of staple guns.

Due to the often complex geometries of the gaming tables, which are provided for example with a recess for the croupier and various internal openings to insert the chip holders, these operations are rather complicated and time-consuming.

Obviously, the surface cloth is subject to wear; moreover, often it may be soiled with spilled drinks or damaged by cigarette ash. Thus it must be frequently replaced.

This, in addition to being a cost for the gaming house, also represents a loss in economic terms for the house since, until the upholsterer arrives and during the operations for changing the cloth, the gaming table remains unused.

As a partial solution of the above problems, the document WO01/87438 discloses a pre-formed flexible pad for gaming tables suitable to be spread on the playing top; said pad is made up of a soft mat, made of rubber or foam plastic material, on which is previously bonded or permanently joined a surface cloth, as is done in the production of mouse pads.

The resulting pad, already pre-cut to the size of the table on which it is to be applied, can be rolled up and thus easily carried and stored. When it is to be used, the unrolled pad is spread on the table-top and anchored to the edges of the table with suitable fixing means.

Although in this manner the times required to remove and replace the worn or damaged cloth have been considerably shortened, there remains the difficulty of having to accurately lay down the pad, suitably spreading it out so that the surface cloth is perfectly stretched; in addition, due to the flexibility of the pad, it can be accidentally wrinkled in the course of the game being played on its surface, causing the undesirable wrinkling of the cloth.

The main objective of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by devising a covering pad for tables, in particular for gaming tables, that further simplifies the application of the surface cloths to the table top, so that their replacement can be an extremely fast and simple operation, as it can be carried out by anyone without requiring particular skills and/or attention.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a pad for gaming tables that is versatile and that can be customized as required.

A further purpose of the invention is to devise a table-top pad that is simple and economic to make with customary, well-known plants, machinery and equipment.

The above objective and purposes, and others that will become more evident below, are achieved with a covering pad for tables, in particular gaming tables, as defined in claim 1. Further characteristics of the system are defined in the subsequent dependent claims.

Advantages and advantageous characteristics of the invention will become more evident from the description which follows, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view from above of a table top on which is applied a pad according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in cross section B-B of the table top of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the circled detail of FIG. 2 suitably enlarged;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a table top to which is associated a pad according to the invention, and

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged detail of FIG. 4.

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, a table covering pad will be illustrated, in particular for gaming tables, according to the present invention. Generally, a traditional gaming table, for example one suitable to be used in a gaming house, includes one or more support elements (not shown) such as legs or blocks, that support a playing top 10. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, said playing top 10 is made up of a plane or support 4 whereon is generally arranged a covering pad 100.

Said top 4 is made of any material suitable to support a covering pad, for example a suitably shaped wooden panel on the basis of the specificity of the game that will be played, and is directly joined to the support elements of said gaming table. A frame 5, made for example of wood, preferably covered with a layer of soft or elastically deformable material, can be applied to the perimetric edge of the playing top 10, to frame the playing area and provide a comfortable support on which the players can rest their wrists.

As can be better seen in FIG. 3, the playing pad 100 according to the present invention is made up of a plurality of layers of different materials, each having a specific function: in particular, the pad 100 includes a top cloth 3, a thin cushioning mat 2 and a semi-rigid support panel 1.

Said top cloth 3 preferably consists of a wear-resistant fabric on which can be printed, for example, the different game layouts, logos and slogans, etc. The top cloth 3 is firmly attached with known and conventional means to said cushioning, elastically deformable, mat 2, made for example of natural or synthetic felt, and preferably of foamed polymeric material or rubber, having the function of preventing or limiting the bouncing of the chips and dampening the noise, as well as offering the players the traditional “resilient” response of the playing surface when they deal the cards and press them down on it.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the surface of said cushioning mat 2 opposite to the one on which the surface cloth 3 is attached is firmly associated to a thin, semi-rigid, support panel 1, advantageously consisting of a composite polymeric material or pressed carton and/or suitably treated to obtain characteristics of water repellence and fire resistance.

Advantageously, unlike prior art pads, when the pad 100 of the present invention is associated to the base plane 4 of the table top, it is not necessary to resort to any specific tensioning operations since, thanks to the presence of the semi-rigid support panel 1, the pad 100 is already perfectly stretched; moreover, even during the playing actions, the support panel 1 prevents the pad from bulging or deforming locally, thus avoiding the consequent formation of undesired wrinkling of the surface cloth 3.

Preferably, a pad 100 made as disclosed above has an overall thickness of about 3-5 mm.

The production of said pad for gaming tables 100 is carried out industrially, forming large surfaces of the same with the help of suitable machinery that perfectly couple the different layers, in the order illustrated above, and taking care that the surface cloth 3 is perfectly tensioned.

Subsequently, the pad 100 can be cut out from this surface in the desired shape, matching substantially the shape of the table top 4, preferably using a precision laser cutting method. In this phase it is also possible to define openings in internal areas of the pad 100, where, for example, chip holders or other devices to be arranged in the playing area can be housed.

Alternatively, the pad 100 thus obtained can be advantageously shaped on-site, i.e. applied to a gaming table and subsequently cut, for example by means of a cutter, following the perimeter shape of the table top 4 whereon the pad is applied, possibly cutting on-site also the openings arranged in internal areas, making the operation of the application of the pad 100 fast and extremely easy.

If necessary, as is better shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of suitably spaced holes 6 can be provided, preferably at the perimetric edges of the pad 100: said holes 6 are suitable to be crossed by a corresponding plurality of fastening means 7, such as appropriate pins, provided to join the outer frame 6 to the table top 4; however, the presence of said pins 7 does not have the function of tensioning the pad 100, since the latter, as already mentioned, includes a support panel 1 that keeps it constantly stretched and prevents any wrinkling of the same.

From the above, it is evident how a covering pad 100, in particular for gaming tables, according to the present invention achieves the initially foreseen purposes and advantages: in fact, thanks to the advantageous configuration of the pad 100, and in particular to the presence of a semi-rigid support panel 1 on which are attached, in order, the cushioning mat 2 and the surface cloth 3, the operations necessary to replace a damaged or worn surface cloth are further simplified, and may be carried out by anyone without requiring particular skills, and thus significantly lowering the relative replacement labour costs.

Moreover, thanks to the ease of applying and removing a gaming table pad 100, the times required for replacing the same can amount to only a few minutes, thus making up for the loss of income of the gaming house due to the necessity of carrying out the maintenance on the table. Furthermore, the mat can be replaced as soon as the first signs of wear are noticed on the surface cloth, thus without having to wait for more evident deterioration, which could hurt the prestige of the gaming house.

Also, a pad 100 according to the invention guarantees the greatest versatility in choosing the type of surface cloth, which is applied directly by the manufacturer based on the requirements of the customer.

It is also evident that pads 100, made as described above, are also interchangeable: in fact, the customer can keep in stock said pads 100 having different surface cloths 3, as he can quickly and easily replace them should he wish to change the decoration of the gaming house, for example in the preparation for a particular tournament.

Advantageously, the presence of said semi-rigid support panel 1 prevents the pad 100 from locally bulging, shifting or becoming deformed during the playing activities, thus avoiding any undesirable wrinkling of the surface cloth 3.

Naturally, the present invention is susceptible to many applications, modifications or variants without thereby departing from the scope of patent protection, as defined in the enclosed claims.

Furthermore, the materials and equipment used in the present invention, as well as the shapes and sizes of the individual component, can be the most suitable to meet the specific requirements.

Claims

1. A covering pad for tables, suitable to be associated with a table top, said pad being shaped so as to substantially match the shape of said top and comprising a surface cloth attached to a cushioning mat, wherein it also comprises a semi-rigid support panel, bondable to the surface of said cushioning mat opposite to the one to which said surface cloth is associated, so that said cushioning mat and said surface cloth are maintained stretched when said pad associated to said table top.

2. The covering pad according to claim 1, wherein said semi-rigid support panel is made from a composite polymeric material or from pressed carton and treated to provide characteristics of water repellence and fire resistance.

3. The covering pad according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning mat is made of elastically deformable material.

4. The covering pad according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of through holes arranged at the perimetric edge of the table top, suitable to be crossed through by a corresponding plurality of fastening means to connect a frame to the edges of said table top.

5. The covering pad according to claim 1, having an overall thickness of 3 to 5 mm.

6. A gaming table comprising a covering pad according to claim 1.