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Title:
A BILLIARDS TABLE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2007/083220
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
This invention relates to kit for a games table, particularly a billiards game table (1 ), comprising a plurality of modular constructional elements. The table is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. The elements include four upright elongate corner sections (2), interlocking sidewall elements (3), a ball return system (51 ), four table legs (5) and four elongate rail sections (4). The sidewall elements (3) may consist of a channel section (7) manufactured from extruded aluminium, one flange (9) having an inwardly directed locking slide (11 ) and the other flange (13) having an outwardly extending engaging guide (15) for the slide (11) on an adjacent constructional element.

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Inventors:
CONWAY BARRY JOHN (ZA)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2007/000117
Publication Date:
July 26, 2007
Filing Date:
January 17, 2007
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
CONWAY BARRY JOHN (ZA)
International Classes:
A63D15/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO1995011733A21995-05-04
WO2005018383A12005-03-03
Foreign References:
US3489410A1970-01-13
FR2641197A11990-07-06
US3100556A1963-08-13
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
BOWMAN GILFILLAN INC. (JOHN & KERNICK) (2146 Sandton, ZA)
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Claims:
CLAIMS

1. A kit for a games table including a plurality of modular constructional sidewall elements each consisting of a channel section, one flange having an inwardly directed locking lip and the other flange having an outwardly extending engaging guide for the slide on an adjacent constructional element.

2. A kit as claimed in claim 1 , in which the locking lip is a slide slidably receivable inside the guide.

3. A kit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including four elongate corner sections each consisting of a post having a locating formation extending along at least a length thereof for receiving a sidewall panel formed by a plurality of interlocking constructional elements.

4. A kit as claimed in claim 3, in which the post has two perpendicularly disposed spaced apart locating formations.

5. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including four elongated top rail sections.

6. A kit as claimed in claim 5 in which the rail sections have cutouts shaped and dimensioned for receiving a billiards ball.

7. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including modular cushion rails manufactured from extruded aluminium.

8. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including cross members dimensioned to span between opposite wall panels.

9. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including four legs engageable to the sidewall panels via leg plates connectable to operatively adjacent sidewall panels.

10. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each modular element is manufactured from profiled extruded aluminium

11. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each modular element is manufactured from a plastics material.

12. A kit for a billiards table including a ball catchment system consisting of a flexible sheet spaced from ball pockets extending through the table top shaped to guide a ball to a predetermined outlet.

13. A kit as claimed in claim 12 in which the outlet may be defined by a hole in the sheet which, in use, is located above a ball collection tray.

14. A kit as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 including a plurality of modular constructional sidewall elements each consisting of a channel section, one flange having an inwardly directed locking slide and the other flange having an outwardly extending engaging guide for the slide on an adjacent constructional element.

15. A kit as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14 including a locking bracket, the width of the bracket being smaller than the groove formed in between the locking slide and the engaging slide and the length of the bracket being longer than said groove but shorter than the groove formed between the flanges.

16. A games table made from the kit claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

17. A billiards table made from a kit claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13.

Description:

A BILLIARDS TABLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a kit for a games table. It also relates to a kit for a games table. Particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a table for a billiards table (for example, pool tables, snooker tables and carom tables) or other games tables (for example, soccer tables and table tennis tables) intended for both indoor and outdoor use. The invention extends to a games table, particularly a billiards table.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Billiards tables are common and are used for playing billiards games indoors, such as pool, snooker or carom. They consist of a table, usually rectangular, covered with felt or other similar material and have resilient rails along the perimeter which are similarly covered. The rails permit balls to bounce against them while preserving, to a certain extent, their kinetic energy and their geometric path, normally with the main aim of to sinking the ball/s in a predetermined way into the pockets located near the periphery of the table.

Existing outdoor billiards tables which are usually made from concrete, stainless steel, plastic, moulded fibreglass, and aluminium sheet are expensive and cumbersome to transport.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide a table, particularly a billiards table, that may be used outdoors as well as indoors and that may be shipped in kit form so as to take up minimum space. It is also an object of the invention to provide a games table which may be more easily transported and stored than existing tables. It is further an object to provide a games table that may be more easily assembled on site than existing table and at a price that compares favorably to existing products supplied.

In this specification, the term "games table" shall be understood to mean a table for use in playing games, such as billiards tables, for example, pool tables, snooker tables and carom tables or other soccer tables and table tennis tables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a kit for making a games table including a plurality of modular constructional sidewall elements consisting of a channel section, one flange having an inwardly directed locking element and the other flange having an outwardly extending engaging guide for the locking element on an adjacent constructional element. The locking element may be a slide.

In accordance with a second aspect of this invention there is provided a kit for a billiards table including a ball catchment system consisting of a flexible sheet spaced from ball pockets extending through the table top to guide a ball to a predetermined outlet. The sheet outlet may be defined by a hole which, in use, is located above a ball collection tray.

The kit may include four elongate corner sections each consisting of a post having a locating formation extending along at least a part of the length thereof for receiving a sidewall panel formed by a plurality of interlocking constructional

elements. Preferably, the post has two perpendicularly disposed spaced apart locating formations.

The kit may further include four elongated rail sections which may have cutouts shaped and dimensioned for receiving a billiards ball.

The kit may further include cross members dimensioned to span between opposite wall panels.

The kit may also include four legs engageable to the sidewall panels via leg plates connectable to operatively adjacent sidewall panels.

Each element may be manufactured from profiled extruded aluminium, a plastics material or galvanized metal.

The kit may further include a locking bracket, the width of the bracket being smaller than the groove formed in between the locking slide and the engaging guide and the length of the bracket being longer than said groove but shorter than the groove formed between the flanges.

In accordance with a second aspect of this invention there is provided a games table made from the kit as described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a billiards table , in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of a modular constructional sidewall element of the table in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of an end modular constructional sidewall element of the table in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of a sidewall panel of the table in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of two modular constructional sidewall elements of the table in Figure 1 ;

Figures 6 shows a perspective view of a plurality of interlocking sidewall elements in Figure 2;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a ball collecting tray of the table in

Figure 1.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a corner section connected to a sidewall panel of the table in Figure 1 ;

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a corner section connected to two sidewall panels of the table in Figure 1 ;

Figure 10 to 14 show perspective views the table in Figure 1 in various partially assembled conditions;

Figure 15 shows a perspective view of a hinge connection between the modular sidewall and a cross beam for the table in Figure 1 ;

Figure 16 shows a perspective view of a corner of a table top assembly for the table in Figure 1 ;

Figure 17 shows a cross-sectional view of a rail for the table top assembly ' taken through XVII in Figure 16;

Figure 18 shows a perspective view of a length rail for the table top assembly in Figure 16;

Figure 19 shows a perspective view of the top corner of the table in Figure 1 ;

Figure 20 shows a cross-sectional view of a modular cushion rail of the table in Figure 1 ;

Figure 21 shows a perspective view of a locking bracket in a loose, a locked position and an intermediate position; and

Figure 22 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative modular constructional sidewall element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A rectangular billiards table 1 is shown in Figure 1 and comprises standard modular interlocking elements forming part a games table kit, in this embodiment a billiards table kit, in accordance with the invention. The elements include four upright elongate corner sections 2, a plurality of modular interlocking horizontal sidewall elements 3 extending between adjacent corner sections 2, four table legs 5 and four elongate rail sections 4 above each section 2. Sidewall elements 3 are provided in two lengths, being a longer length 3.1 and a shorter length 3.2, depending on which side of the rectangular table they form part.

Assembly of the billiards table begins by forming four sidewall panels. Referring to Figures 2 to 6, a modular constructional sidewall element 3 is shown, the profile consisting of a channel section 7 manufactured from extruded aluminium. One flange 9 has an inwardly directed locking slide 11 and the other flange 13 an outwardly extending engaging guide 15 for the slide 11 on an adjacent sidewall element 3. The flanges 9 and 13 are slightly inclined relative to the web 17 so that the flange 9 with the locking slide 11 is at a slightly acute angle relative to the web 17.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the sidewall panel 19 includes one sidewall end element 21 , which, similar to the other sidewall elements 3 has a web 22, a first flange 23 with an inwardly directed locking slide 25 extending from a free edge of the web 21. It differs from the other sidewall elements 3 in that its second flange 27 is spaced from the other free edge of the web 21. The second flange 27 bends outwardly to provide an engaging guide 29.

The spacing between the slides 11 and 25 and guides 15 and 29 and the web 11 and 22 is such that, when the sidewall elements 3 and 21 are in an assembled condition, the outer surface of the web forms a continuous plane. Once all four sidewall panels 19 have been assembled, they may be secured in an assembled condition by fastening a number of slides and guides together.

Referring to Figure 7, a ball collection tray 31 is secured at each side to a pair of brackets 33. Each bracket 33 has two mounting arms 35 with an L-shaped groove (not shown) extending therethrough for receiving the guide 29 on one of the longer sidewall end elements 21. The brackets 33 are thus mounted to the guide 29 and slid along the length of the end sidewall element 21 into their operational position.

The sidewall panels are then attached to the corner sections. Referring to Figure 8, each corner section 2 consists of a post formed by a plate 37 which is arcuate

in plan view. At either edge of the arc there is a receiving section 39 formed by U- shaped channel 41 for slidably receiving a sidewall panel 19. The groove 43 defined in the channel 41 is wide enough so that the sidewall panel 19 forms a snug fit. The inner flange 45 of the channel 41 has holes 47 extending therethrough for receiving pop rivets (not shown). In this embodiment, there are three holes 47 but it will be readily appreciated that there may be more or fewer holes.

A leg plate 49, spanning each pair of adjacent sidewall panels 19, is then secured to the end sidewall element 21. It is locked in position using pop rivets or other fastening means. The table legs 5 are then fastened to leg plates 49 as shown in Figure 12.

As shown in Figure 13, the ball return system 51 consisting of a flexible sheet material 53, typically a net, is then fastened to the sidewall panels 19 using locking brackets 55. Referring to Figure 21 , each locking bracket 55 consists of a rectangular block of plastics material with a hole 56 for a bolt extending therethrough. The width of the bracket 55 is smaller than the gap 59 formed in between the locking slide 11 and the engaging guide 15 on the modular sidewall element 3 while the length of the bracket 55 is longer than said groove 59 but shorter than the gap between the flanges 9 and 13. The bracket 55 is inserted in between the slide 11 and guide 15 and secured thereinside by locating the bolt into a suitable hole extending through the sidewall panel 19. The bracket 55 is then swiveled into a secured position and the bolt is tightened thereby further locking adjacent sidewall elements 3 together.

The sheet 53 hooks over predetermined mounting brackets 55 so that it slopes downwardly from the bracket 55 to the ball collection tray 31. It is also fastened to the corner sections 2. The mounting brackets 55 serves a dual function as they secure adjacent modular sidewall elements 3 to one another and provide a hook for locating the sheet 53.

The sheet 53 has a hole 61 extending therethrough near its edge. In use, the hole 61 is located above a ball collection tray 31.

Four cross beams 63 spanning the short length of the table 1 are then fastened to the uppermost sidewall element 3 with a pop rivet or other suitable fastener. As shown in Figure 15, after they have been fastened to the sidewall panel, the outer beams 67 are mounted with a bracket 69 which provides, near and parallel the edge of the table, a hinge 71 , for receiving a hinge pin.

Referring to Figures 16 to 19, the top rail assembly 73 is then assembled. It consists of four modular corner elements 75 and four modular rails 77. The corner elements 75 comprise two rectangular tubes 78 joined perpendicular to one another with an outer beveled corner 79. A strengthening web 81 extends from the inner to the outer corner 79.

The rails 77 comprise a lipped channel section 83 split longitudinally into two compartments 85 and 87 by a divider 89. The rectangular tubes 78 are slid into the outer compartment 85 where they form a snug fit. They are locked into position using pop rivets or other suitable fastening means. The inner compartment 87 has three extruded slots 93, for receiving a bolt.

One rail 77 carries two hinge pins 97 spaced along its length for cooperating with the hinge 71 on the brackets 69 on the two outer cross beams 67. After the top rail assembly 73 has been assembled, the pins 97 are slid into the hinge 71 and the rail assembly 73 is swung into closed position as shown in Figure 14.

Referring to Figure 19, eight cushion rails 95 are then nailed to the inside of the top assembly 73. A cross-section of the rail 95 is shown in Figure 20 and includes a rectangular rebate 96.

Finally, a table playing top, manufactured from a suitably waterproof material such as slate, is placed within the top assembly and supported on the cross beams.

The sections are preferably extruded from aluminium, but they may be extruded from an aluminium alloy or from a plastics material or other extrudeable materials or they may be fabricated from mild steel.

It will be readily appreciated that the billiards table is relatively easily assembled and disassembled since there are few modular components, which are easily fitted and fastened together by way of locking brackets or other appropriate fastener. They may accordingly be readily assembled by a relatively unskilled person without the need for expensive and sophisticated tooling. The table 1 is transported in a disassembled condition, thereby permitting an optimal use of space. It will further be appreciated that the application of this invention is not confined to billiards tables and may be used for a variety of other games tables. It will further be appreciated that this invention provides a games table which is able to withstand humidity, cold and heat.

The invention is not confined to the particular embodiment described above and it will be appreciated by a skilled person that many variations may be made without departing from its scope. It will further be appreciated that the application of this invention is not confined to billiards tables and may be used for a variety of other games tables. Also, the modular sections may have any suitable cross section as a number of other interlocking profiles may be made without falling outside the scope of this invention. An alternative modular sidewall element 103 is shown in Figure 22. The elements are also formed by a channel section having a web 105 and two flanges 106. The first flange has an inwardly directed locking lip 107 while the other has a outwardly extending guide 109 complementarily shaped to the lip 107. Adjacent elements 103 are shown pop-riveted together.