Technical Field

The present invention relates to a playing apparatus for a shuffleboard.

Background of the Invention

The game of shuffleboard, or table shuffleboard, is traditionally played on a long wooden table. Each player throws one plastic-capped metal puck in turn from one end of the table down towards the opposite end of the table until all the pucks of an innings or frame have been thrown. The scores are usually determined at the end of each frame according to the rules of the game.

Table shuffleboard is growing in popularity and can be increasingly found in public spaces, such as bars and entertainment complexes. However, such environments can become crowded and make it difficult to advance gameplay. Furthermore, the ideal playing surface height for a shuffleboard causes the player to bend slightly when throwing the puck. This low surface does not lend itself to the bar environment where players typically have to stand around the table in order to view and participate in the game play.

An object of the present invention is to improve the shuffleboard playing environment for use within bars and entertainment complexes.

Summary of Invention

According to a first aspect there is provided a shuffleboard apparatus comprising: a sliding surface on which pucks can slide, having a first end and a second end; a playing platform on which a user can stand, the playing platform arranged at a first end of the sliding surface; a viewing area arranged between the first and second end alongside the sliding surface; wherein the playing platform is arranged at a greater height than the viewing area. In this way, the player may stand on the playing platform when it is their turn to throw the shuffleboard puck, with the opposing players positioned within the viewing area. Having a playing platform that is higher than the viewing area causes the player throwing the puck to be at an elevated height with respect to the opposing players in the viewing area. Advantageously, this creates the impression of a podium on which the player is standing, creating a spectacle as they standout with respect to the other people within the bar, enabling all participants to be able to see the player throwing the puck. The viewing area may be arranged on one side of the sliding surface. In other embodiments there may be a plurality of viewing areas. For instance, they may be either side of the sliding surface. The viewing area may comprise one or more seats, and/or bar stools. This allows the opponents to take a seated position whilst they are waiting for their turn to play.

Preferably, the shuffleboard apparatus further comprises one or more supports extending between the sliding surface and a floor on which the shuffleboard apparatus is arranged, wherein the playing platform is attached to at least one of the one or more supports.

In this way, having the playing platform attached to the one or more supports means that the platform remains positioned at the first end of the sliding surface throughout the game, with each player standing on the platform when throwing the puck.

In some embodiments the playing platform may be integral to at least one of the one or more supports. The playing platform and one or more supports may be made from a unitary piece of material. Alternatively, the playing platform may be removably attached to the one or more supports. For instance, the attachment may be through a screw attachment, or complementary fit attachments located on the platform and the supports. This enables the platform to be replaced through continual wear, and may aid in the easy transportation of the shuffleboard apparatus. As the shuffleboard playing surface is usually at a preferred height relative to the floor on which the player throwing the puck is standing, when standing on the playing platform the player will be raised from the floor level. Thus, the sliding surface is preferably raised from the floor level higher than in conventional shuffleboard apparatus. For instance, the sliding surface may be at a height of around 1 m relative to the floor on which the shuffleboard apparatus is arranged, or more preferably, 1.06m. This ensures that the player standing on the platform is at the same height relative to the sliding surface, as in a conventional shuffleboard table. In other words the sliding surface has been raised by the height of the playing platform relative to the height of a conventional table. In other embodiments, rather than the sliding surface and platform being raised relative to the floor level, the viewing area may instead be at a lower height relative to the floor on which the shuffleboard apparatus is arranged. In other embodiments the sliding surface may be anywhere between 0.8 to 1.5 m in height, with the size of the platform adjusted accordingly. For instance the sliding surface may be any of 0.85, 0.90, 0.95, 1.00, 1.05, 1.10 m in height.

In both cases, as the viewing area is lower than the playing platform, the sliding surface is at an optimum position that enables the players within the viewing area to have an unobstructed view of the sliding surface, bringing the table closer to the eye line of the players in the viewing area. This helps promote uninterrupted conversation between the players in the viewing area, whilst being able to easily glance over to the sliding surface to view the gameplay. There may be any number of supports. For instance, in one embodiment there may be one support that supports the sliding surface. In other embodiments there may be two, three, or four supports, as the skilled person would understand. Preferably, the shuffleboard may further comprise an outer box arranged around the perimeter of the sliding surface, and a ledge attached to the outer box, the ledge for holding drink receptacles. In this way, the ledge provides a convenient location to hold drink receptacles, food items, or other possessions, belonging to the players, in a similar way to a bar or table within a conventional bar environment. It further provides somewhere to place items when it is the player's turn to throw the puck. Conventional shuffleboards have an outer box, also known as the cradle. In other embodiments the ledge may be attached to other sections of the shuffleboard apparatus. For instance, to the one or more supports, or to the underside of the sliding surface. The top of the box may be at a height of 1.1 m. However, the height of the box may vary depending upon the height of the sliding surface.

Preferably, the ledge may extend along a portion of the viewing area between the first end and the second end of the sliding surface. In this way, a bar like environment is created within the viewing area. As the viewing area is at a lower height than the height of the sliding surface and the playing platform, the ledge is at the ideal height relative to the sliding surface, similar the height to a ledge on a normal bar, upon which the players in the viewing area can place their food and drink items. In addition, having the ledge at the height of a normal bar means that items, including drink receptacles, are less likely to be knocked onto the sliding surface.

Alternatively, or additionally, the ledge may extend along a portion of the first end of the sliding surface. This provides a convenient location adjacent to the platform for the player to place items when it is their turn to throw the puck.

Preferably, the ledge is tapered towards the sliding surface at the first end of the sliding surface. In other words, the ledge is tapered when viewed from above relative to the sliding surface.

In other words, a first end of the ledge proximal to the first end of the sliding surface is not perpendicular to the axis of the sliding surface running between the first end and the second end of the sliding surface. Thus, the profile of the ledge is not rectangular. Alternatively, the tapered profile may be a curved or rounded profile. This may comprise a single curve or a plurality of different curves.

In this way, the ledge does not comprise a sharp point or corner that extends out from the shuffleboard apparatus. Thus, when players move from the viewing area to the playing platform, they are less likely to injure themselves on the ledge. This type of profile also provides an aesthetic appeal to the shuffleboard apparatus. Preferably, the platform is configured to support at least four people. In other instances, the platform may be configured to support more than six people. The size of the platform is preferably at least 0.095m high, 0.24m deep, and 0.5m wide. In this way, the platform can accommodate many players at any one time. Therefore, a whole team of players can be on the platform when it is their chance to throw the puck. This enables the whole throwing team to be elevated to a greater height than the opposing team within the viewing area, such that the whole throwing team are clearly visible.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front cross sectional view of a shuffleboard scoring system in an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the shuffleboard scoring system shown in Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the shuffleboard scoring system shown in Figure 1. Detailed Description

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 and 3, a shuffleboard apparatus 2 has a sliding surface 4 on which a puck 6 can be thrown. The sliding surface 4 has a throwing end 8 and a scoring end 10. Surrounding the sliding surface 4 is a box 12 which extends around the perimeter of the shuffleboard surface creating a well 14 between the sliding surface 4 and the box 12. Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view such that the side of the box 12 is removed so that the well 14 is visible. The shuffleboard apparatus is supported by two supports 16 from the floor 18. Although it cannot be seen from the Figures, the supports 16 extend across the width of the sliding surface 4. However, it can be understood that any arrangement of supports 16 could be used. The sliding surface 4 is at a height H1 relative to the floor 18 on which the shuffleboard apparatus 2 is arranged. H1 in this embodiment has a value of 1.05m. The top of the box 12 in this embodiment is at a height of 1.1 m.

The shuffleboard table shown in the figures has a length of 16 feet. However, the shuffleboard table may be anywhere between 12 to 22 foot in length.

A playing platform 20 is positioned at the throwing end 8 of the sliding surface 4. The platform 20 is attached to the support 16 nearest to the throwing end 8 of the sliding surface 4, through attachment 22. A viewing area 24 is positioned to the side of the sliding surface 4, between the throwing end 8 and the scoring end 10. The viewing area 24 is at the same height as the floor 18 on which the shuffleboard apparatus 2 is arranged. The playing platform 20 is elevated at height H2 relative the viewing area 24. H2 may have a value of 0.095m.

Although it cannot be seen in Figure 1 , a ledge 26 is attached to the box 12 adjacent to the sliding surface 4, as can be seen from Figures 2 and 3. The ledge 26 is directly above the viewing area 24, such that when in the viewing area 24, the players can place items, such as drink receptacles, upon the ledge 26. The end of the ledge 28 nearest the throwing end 8 is tapered, such that the end of the ledge 28 is not perpendicular to the length of the sliding surface 4. As the end of the ledge 26 is tapered, such that the ledge 26 has no sharp edges, players are less likely to injure themselves between turns when moving between the platform 20 and the viewing area 24.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3 a trigger line 30 may be provided at a predetermined length away from the throwing end 8 to define the limit of a throwing zone. One or more previously validly thrown pucks 6A may be positioned on the sliding surface 4 beyond the trigger line 30. One or more previously validly thrown pucks 6B can also be positioned in a well 14 that surrounds the sliding surface 4. Previously validly thrown puck 6B has fallen off the side of the sliding surface 4. Three lines 32A-32C are provided to define three different scoring sections 32A- 32C. Alternative use of one or more lines to define scoring sections or zones would readily occur to a person skilled in the art for use in shuffleboard games involving one or more scoring zones. For example, a game may only have one line to define a single scoring zone. Alternatively, there may be provided five scoring sections. Having more scoring sections provides a larger area over which a player may score points than compared to conventional tables. The one or more lines are also not restricted to being straight and can be curved or used to form different shapes.

When play begins, the player or team of players whose turn it is to throw, step onto the platform 20 and can throw the puck 6 down the sliding surface 4, in the same manner as is conventional for table shuffleboard games. Whilst the player is standing on the platform 20 the opposing players can be seated or standing within the viewing area 24. As the viewing area 24 is lower than the height of the platform 20, the player on the platform 20 is easily visible to, and elevated above, the opponents within the viewing area 24. The ledge 26 within the viewing area 24 provides the function of a table or bar, for holding drink receptacles and food items.