Portable game table

Details Portable game table Portable game table

2002-01-02

2003-10-21

Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)

Amusement devices: games

Games accessories

Game supporting tables or surfaces

C273S283000, C273S284000, C273S285000, C273S287000, C446S478000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06634646

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game table and, more particularly, to a portable game table which, when in the closed position, has a protective outer surface.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Game tables are a popular form of entertainment. Generally, a game table is a game which is free-standing, e.g., it has legs or a base which maintains a game surface at a height which is roughly the same height as a regular table, so that players that are standing adjacent to the game table are suitably positioned to manipulate the game elements on the game surface. Still other game tables do not have legs or a base, and therefore are not free-standing. Instead, they have a game surface which is configured to be placed on an existing flat table top.
Some of the most popular game tables are football, billiards or pool, table or air hockey, etc. For example,
FIG. 1
illustrates the game table
10
referred to as “football”. In this game, a flat, horizontally-disposed game surface
12
is supported at a height of about three feet by four legs
14
. The flat game surface
12
has two vertically-disposed side walls
16
extending upwardly from two opposite outer edges
12
a
of the flat game surface
12
and another two vertically-disposed end walls
18
extending upwardly from the remaining two opposite outer edges
12
b
of the flat game surface
12
. The side walls
16
have corresponding through-holes
20
. Axially rotatable rods
22
are disposed through the hole
20
of each of the side walls
16
. At least one end
22
a
of the rods
22
has a handle
24
which is grippable by a user. The rods
22
also have figures
24
non-rotatably mounted thereon in the region above the flat game surface
12
. Each of the end walls
18
has a centrally-disposed opening
26
which functions as a goal.
To play, at least one player (although sometimes more than one player) stands along each of the side walls
16
and grips the handles
24
of the rods
22
. Typically, half of the rods
22
are manipulatable by players on one side of the game surface (e.g., these players make up a first team), while the other half of the rods
22
are manipulatable by players on the other side of the game surface (e.g., these players make up a second team). A round ball
28
is placed on the flat game surface
12
, and the players of each team manipulate their respective rods
22
in order to strike the ball
28
with the figures
24
mounted on the rods
22
. The objective of the game is to strike the ball
28
through the opening
26
, or goal, corresponding to the opposing team.
Due to the popularity of these game tables, it is often desirable for them to be portable, so that players can take the game table along with them when they travel. However, most game tables are not sturdy enough to endure the rough handling that they are subjected to when being transported from one location to another.
Thus, there exists a need for an improved apparatus and method for transporting a game table.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, in accordance with one example embodiment thereof, relates to a portable game table having a protective outer surface when in the closed position. The portable game table includes a game table having an outer surface. Advantageously, the game table includes a game surface configured to have a game (e.g., football, air hockey, billiards, etc. ) played thereon when in an open position. A case is configured to attach to the game table. The game table and the case are configured such that a portion of the outer surface of the game table comprises a portion of the protective outer surface. In this manner, the size and weight of the case may be reduced, making the game table more practical for transporting to various locations.


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