Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Table-tennis table
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-17
2002-04-30
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Table-tennis table
C463S023000, C463S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06379273
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention concerns a gameboard, especially for playing table ball games, e.g. table tennis, having a playing surface which touches the ball during play and a support frame supporting the playing surface and placed on the floor.
PRIOR ART
Traditional table ball games require relatively large play area, and therefor these games can not be played in smaller rooms or other places with a limited space. Numerous solutions have been suggested with the aim of creating versions of popular ball games that require only a small space to play. In most cases these games are only miniaturised versions of the traditional table ball games. Several solutions teaches the use of additional playing surfaces to limit the playing field, e.g. side plates, or an upper plate facing the lower playing surfaces.
Such games are described in the patent specifications U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,734, U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,385, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,210. A common disadvantage of the suggested solutions that they do not meet the demands raised by the modem age. Especially, either the games do not require substantially less space than the traditional table tennis, or the trajectory of the ball is very irregular, making it very difficult to follow the ball. This leads to reduced playing satisfaction.
A further game is disclosed in the document U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,681. Here, the players are standing on the same side of the playing field. The ball is rebounding from the playing field after multiple bounces. The space needed for the game have been reduced, but the players may disturb each other, and the ball is following an irregular path.
A gameboard for playing a game somewhat similar to table tennis is disclosed in the document WO 97/07863. This gameboard is provided with three playing surfaces which the ball touches during play. The playing surfaces define a partly open playing field. The gameboard also comprises a support frame supporting the playing surfaces and positionable on the floor, and the support frame has support means for supporting an upper playing surface in an essentially horizontal position and essentially above at least one lower playing surface. The two lower playing surfaces are in an inclined position relative to the floor, facing up and each other. This gameboard provides for a ball game where the trajectory of the ball makes a loop, rebounding once from each playing surface. Due to this loop, the overall length of the gameboard and the area around the gameboard which is required for playing may be reduced significantly, as compared with a standard table-tennis table. While the play with this gameboard have been found to provide good exercise in most cases, the gameboard can not be used for other playing modes, e. g. playing modes where the ball do not make a loop, or where only a single player intends to play or exercise with the gameboard. Also, some players found that the play is not fast enough.
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to eliminate at least some of the disadvantages of the known gameboards. In particular, it is sought to provide a game that requires fast play, hard exercise and increased rate of movement, but at the same time needs little play space, and may be played preferably in any apartment, and provides good entertainment and exercise. Also, it is the object of the invention to provide a game which eliminates at least some of the disadvantages of the known table games, and provides a well-defined ball trajectory in combination with a multiple-plane playing fields so that the following of the ball will be easy even after multiple reboundings from the playing surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the above objects are realised with a gameboard having
a, at least two playing surfaces which the ball touches during play and which define a partly open playing field between them,
b, a support frame supporting the playing surfaces and positionable on the floor, the support frame comprising
c, support means for supporting
i, an upper playing surface in an essentially horizontal position and essentially above at least one lower playing surface, and further
ii, at least one lower playing, surface in an inclined position relative to the floor.
According to the invention, the support means is provided with means for supporting at least one lower playing surface in an inclined position where the playing surface is facing up and towards the support frame, and further the support means is provided with means for supporting at least one lower playing surface in an inclined position where the playing surface is facing up and away from the support frame.
In a preferred embodiment, the support means comprises a pair of lower support means for supporting at least one lower playing surface in the inclined position where the playing surface is facing up and towards the support frame, and further the support means comprises a pair of upper support means for supporting at least one lower playing surface in the inclined position where the playing surface is facing up and away from the support frame.
Advantageously, the support frame comprises a pair of lower support means and a pair of upper support means supporting the neighbouring sides of the two lower playing surfaces, where the playing surfaces present an A-shape when supported by the upper support means and the playing surfaces present a V-shape when supported by the lower support means.
Advantageously, the playing surfaces arranged in an A-shape or V-shape or horizontally are at least partly supported by a crossbar attached preferably perpendicularly to a leg part of the support frame.
In a further preferred embodiment, the lower playing surfaces arranged in A-shape are inclined with respect to the floor surface with an angle of 15-30 degrees, preferably 21 degrees, while the lower playing surfaces arranged in a V-shape are inclined with respect to the floor surface with an angle of 20-40 degrees, preferably 29 degrees.
By a further improvement, the inclination angle of at least one playing surface may be varied continuously or stepwise in the range of 10-80 degrees, preferably 20-40 degrees.
Preferably, the playing surfaces are foldable into a vertical position with respect to the plane of the floor. In this manner the gameboard occupies small space when not in use, and may be stored conveniently. Optionally, the playing surfaces and/or the support frame are constructed in a foldable and/or dismountable manner.
In a further preferred embodiment, the support frame comprises means for moving the lower and/or upper playing surfaces perpendicularly to the plane of the floor. This facilitates the use of the gameboard by persons being taller or smaller than the average, e.g. children.
Optionally, the gameboard may comprise a net limiting the playing field from the side of the leg parts of the support frame, and the playing surfaces may be provided with different markings, preferably with colour markings for dividing the playing surfaces and/or enhancing the edges of the playing surfaces.
With other words, there is provided a gameboard, especially for playing table ball games, e.g. table tennis, having a playing surface which touches the ball during play and a support frame for supporting at least three playing surfaces and placed on the floor, and further having an at least partly open playing field formed by the playing surfaces, further having at least two playing surfaces inclined to the horizontal plane and an upper playing surface positioned parallel to the floor and above the lower playing surface. According to the inventive concept, the lower playing surfaces are connected to the support frame in a manner fixable in different positions, and the playing surfaces are applicable for different play modes in the different positions.
Preferably the gameboard comprises two substantially equal sized lower playing surfaces, and further a support frame for supporting the lower playing surfaces in an A-shape or V-shape, with one side of the lower playing surfaces is adjacent to the
Layno Benjamin H.
Mendiratta V K
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