Games using tangible projectile – Billiards or pool – Adapted to be played on floor – ground – or court
Utility Patent
1998-04-13
2001-01-02
Passaniti, Sebastiano (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Billiards or pool
Adapted to be played on floor, ground, or court
C473S010000, C473S004000
Utility Patent
active
06168533
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable pool/golf game that combines elements of both golf and pool and, more particularly, to a portable pool/golf game using a golf-style ball striking instrument together with a pool table style surface configuration.
Portable pool/golf games are known. For example, a known game, Executive Putterpool™, makes use of sixteen golf balls that are printed like pool balls. The game uses six high-impact plastic putting cups, numbered one through six, which can be randomly arranged on a floor surface or configured as pockets of a billiard table. A major disadvantage of this known pool/golf game is that no boundaries are provided to truly simulate a pool table surface. Further, the plastic putting cups have excessively wide openings and very little height such that they likewise do not realistically simulate a billiard pocket.
Other U.S. patents, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 278,341, 1,845,531, 3,138,387 disclose various games resembling miniature golf or pool. These games are all designed with unique features such that they do not realistically simulate either a pool or a golf game. Other combined pool/golf games are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,578,321, 4,957,288, 4,579,342 and 5,591,087. These pool/golf game devices have various disadvantages. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,578,321 and 4,579,342 require a solid base such as concrete (U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,342) or plywood (U.S. Pat. No. 3,578,321). While these bases provide a sturdy support for the game device, they disadvantageously are not portable nor easy to assemble. By contrast, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,957,288 and 5,591,087 describe the use of a mat such as carpeting or felt to form the surface of the game. However, the use of such mats presents its own problems as the players tend to rumple or disturb the playing surface when in use. This disturbs the play of the game and requires frequent repositioning of the game surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable pool/golf game that combines elements of both golf and pool.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable pool/golf game with bumpers having bumper characteristics realistically simulating a conventional pool/billiard table.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a portable pool/golf game that sits at floor level such that players can stand within the game surface to execute shots. Alternatively, the present invention is versatile enough to be assembled and used on a table top such as a table tennis or other similar table top surface in which case billiard cue sticks can be used in lieu of a golf-style putter.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable pool/golf game having an interlocking rail system which prevents detachment of the game components that otherwise may occur due to high velocity shots.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a portable pool/golf game that has pockets which prevent balls from popping back out onto the playing area to more realistically simulate a pool/billiard table, without requiring the pockets to extend below the playing surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pool/golf game that uses a floor covering that can be rolled up and used either indoors or outdoors. The floor covering is secured primarily to the rails of the pool-style surface configuration such that it is not displaced by the user when in use.
Still another objective is to provide a pool/golf game that requires no tools or permanent fasteners to assemble and secure.
Yet another objective is to provide a pool/golf game that can be used with regular golf putters and balls for putting practice.
It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a pool/golf game that is not permanently attached to any surface and can be assembled and disassembled for storage or removal.
These objects are accomplished by providing a portable pool/golf game including a plurality of rails each having first and second rail ends; a plurality of ball pockets, each ball pocket being arranged between adjacent ones of said plurality of said rails; a plurality of male/female connectors coupling the plurality of rails and the plurality of ball pockets together, the connected plurality of rails and plurality of ball pockets defining a boundary; and a playing surface member having a top surface, a bottom surface and lateral edges; wherein the boundary formed by the plurality of rails and the plurality of ball pockets is arranged at the lateral edges on the top surface of the playing surface member; and a fastener is arranged on a bottom surface of the plurality of rails to secure the boundary to the top surface of the playing surface member.
Advantageously, the playing surface of the invention is removably secured to each side rail and end rail to maintain its relative position with respect to the rails when in use. The playing surface is secured to the rails via a hook and loop-type of fastener such as the commercially available Velcro® fastener.
The present invention provides a sports and leisure game combining elements of golf and pool and having the appearance of a pool/billiard table top. The present invention is designed to be played on the floor. Alternatively, the game can also be assembled on a table top such as a table tennis or similar table top surface provided the table top is of a sufficient size, for example, 4 ft.×8 ft., and is reasonably sturdy. It can be played indoors or outdoors. The invention is totally portable and can be stored away for convenience. Furthermore, it has four corner pockets, two side pockets, pocket ramps, rails with bumpers, all attached to a playing carpet surface. Various games are played with the present invention using a set of sixteen miniature pool balls, two safety golf putters for making shots and a golf ball for putting practice. When used as a table top game, conventional pool cue sticks can be used instead of the golf putters.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Aryanpour Mitra
Camara Games Inc.
Evenson, McKeown, Edwards & Lenahan P.L.L.C.
Passaniti Sebastiano
LandOfFree
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