Abstract:
A convertible game table which can be used to play a SKEE-BALL type game, a re-bound hockey or shuffle board game and pool or billiards utilizing different-size playing areas spaced at different elevations above the floor.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/263,156 filed Jan. 22, 2001 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to children&#39;s games. It relates more particularly to a convertible game table which may be used to play a version of the bowling game marketed under the brand name SKEE-BALL, as well as other games such as rebound hockey, pool and billiards. 
     Convertible game tables per se have been on the market for many years. Usually the games that can be played with such tables are fairly similar in that they are played within the same play area and at the same elevation above the floor. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,760 discloses a game table which can accommodate Foosball, basketball and glide hockey, all which are played within the same table area. U.S. Pat. No. 1,979,177 depicts convertible game apparatus for playing billiards, croquet, roque and clock golf. Again, all of these games are similar and are played within the same field or game surface and at the same elevation above the floor. Other game tables for playing different game combinations are known in the art, see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 462,843; 512,337 and 552,786. Since the games that can be played on these prior tables are so similar, they may not hold the players&#39; interests over the long term. 
     Also, some prior convertible game tables typified by the ones disclosed in the above patents are relatively complex and difficult to make and to assemble. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable if there existed a compact convertible game table which can be used to play several completely different games on a variable playing surface which may be positioned at different elevations above the floor depending upon the particular game being played. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved convertible game table. 
     Another object in the invention is to provide such a table which can be used to play several different games on different-area playing surfaces at different elevations above the floor. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a convertible game table such as this, all of whose parts can be stored compactly in a single base unit which may function as a carrying case. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a table of this type which provides audio and visual indications of game scores. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a convertible game table which can be manufactured in quantity at relatively low cost. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a table which can be assembled quite easily by the consumer without requiring any special tools. 
     Other objects will, in part, be obvious, and, will in part, appear hereinafter. The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the following detailed description and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
     Briefly, the present convertible game table can be used to play a SKEE-BALL-type game, a rebound hockey or shuffle board game and pool or billiards, which utilize different playing areas and may be played at different elevations above the floor. In a SKEE-BALL-type game, a player rolls balls along a relatively flat runway or alley towards an upwardly curving ramp which, if the balls are rolled with sufficient momentum, will cause the balls to become airborne and land in an upwardly angled target area situated beyond the ramp. The target area contains different size receptacles, the receptacles receiving the balls determining the score. A portable SKEE-BALL-type table is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,919. 
     However, to applicant&#39;s knowledge, such a game is not incorporated into a game is table capable of being used to play other completely different games such as pool and billiards. This is because a SKEE-BALL-type game requires a much longer playing surface than pool and is usually played closer to the floor than pool because the player has to roll the ball along the runway underhand as in bowling. As will be seen, the present table is able to be used for both of those games, as well as for a version of hockey or shuffle board in which a player slides a puck along a runway or alley to a rebound surface which causes the puck to rebound towards its point of origin to one of several target areas, the score being determined by the area in which the puck comes to rest. That game may be played at different elevations above the floor depending upon the heights and desires of the players. 
     As will be seen, when this game table is not being used, all of its components can be contained within a base which may function as a case to facilitate shipping and storing the table. The game table is composed of a minimum member of parts to accomplish its objectives, all of which parts can be made in quantity relatively inexpensively. Therefore, the game table should prove to be a highly marketable play item. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which; 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a convertible game table according to the invention, the table being shown in its pool or billiards play mode; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view on a larger scale showing the components of the table that enable its use for playing rebound hockey or shuffle board and a SKEE-BALL-type game; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the base component of the FIG. 1 table and the separate extension component thereof; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing the assembly of the extension component of the table to the base component thereof, and 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the target section component of the table. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the table comprises a generally rectangular base  10  having legs  12  extending down from the four comers of the base to the floor. Positioned on base  10  is a cover  16  having a bottom wall  16   a,  a pair of opposite side walls  16   b  and  16   c  and a pair of opposite end walls  16   d  and  16   e.  The interior surfaces of these walls define rails  18  which are interrupted at the corners and sides of the cover to provide entrances to pockets  22  in the bottom wall of cover  16 . Preferably, latches  23  are present at opposite sides of cover  16  by which the cover may be releasably secured to base  10 . Preferably also, rails  18  are resilient and the rails and bottom wall  16   a  have a felt overlay to provide suitable rebound and rolling surfaces for a set of pool balls  24 . As is well known, players play pool by hitting balls  24  into pockets  22  using a set of pool cues  26 . Alternatively, the balls and cues may be used to play the game of billiards on the table. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, by releasing latches  23  and removing cover  16  from base  10 , the table may be used to play a form of hockey or shuffleboard. For this, a relatively long, generally rectangular table extension  32  is assembled to the base. When so assembled, an end  32   a  of extension  32  is supported by the base, while the opposite end  32   b  of the extension is supported by a removable leg  34 . Extension  32  defines a long runway or alley which functions as a sliding surface for a set of pucks  36  which a player, standing adjacent to end  32   b,  may push toward a rebound surface shown generally at  38  located near the extension end  32   a.  When the rebound surface  38  is impacted by a puck  36 , it propels the puck back toward the extension end  32   b  where the puck comes to rest on one or another of several scoring areas  42  inscribed on extension  32  adjacent to its end  32   b.    
     When playing rebound hockey or shuffleboard as aforesaid, it may be desirable to position the table closer to the floor particularly when the players are small in stature. Accordingly, the table legs  12  preferably consist of separable upper and lower equal-length sections  12   a  and  12   b  which sections can be connected together end to end by press fitting one within the other or by a threaded connection or other suitable means. By removing leg sections  12   b,  and using one of those as leg  34 , the table will be positioned closer to the floor so that a shorter player can more easily slide the pucks  36  along the table extension  32 . 
     Still referring to FIG. 2, with cover  16  removed, the table can also be used to play a SKEE-BALL-type game. To provide this game mode, base  10  is formed with an integral ramp  52  which is essentially a continuation of the installed extension  32 . Ramp  52  ramps up to an upwardly angled target section shown generally at  54  which is mounted to the wall  10   d  end of base  10  beyond ramp  52 . Target section  54  contains a plurality of target holes  56   a  to  56   e  surrounded by walls  58   a  to  58   e.  When a ball  60  is rolled along extension  32  to ramp  52  by a player, it is launched into the air by the ramp. Depending upon the skill of the player, that ball  60  lands in one or another of the holes  56   a  to  56   e  and the player receives a score depending upon which hole receives the ball. As will be described in detail later, the balls are conducted to ball return channels or gutters  62   a,    62   b  formed integrally in base  10  on opposite sides of ramp  52 . The gutters return the balls  60  to locations adjacent to extension end  32   b  where they can be picked up by the players. 
     When the game table is not in use, legs  12  and  34  may be separated from base  10  and extension  32 , respectively, and the extension separated from base  10 . Then, the target section  54  can be disengaged from base  10  and stored within the base adjacent to ramp  52 . After placing all of the balls  24 ,  60 , cues  26  and pucks  36  in the return gutters  62   a  and  62   b,  the extension  32  can be positioned on the base and the cover  16  latched to the top of the base using latches  23  to protectively enclose the various components of the game. Thus, the base  10  and cover  16  function as a rigid case for shipping, storing and handling the game table. To facilitate carrying the case, a handle  64  may be provided at one side of base  10  as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The Base  10   
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, base  10  is a generally rectangular pan molded of a suitable strong rugged material such as polypropylene. The base includes a bottom wall  10   a  constituted by ramp  52  and gutters  62   a  and  62   b  the pair of relatively thick side walls  10   b  and  10   c  and shorter end walls  10   d  and  10   e.  Sockets  69  are located at the corners of is base  10  to slidably receive legs  12 . End wall  10   e  is split to provide clearance for extension  32 , a transverse reinforcing rail  70  extending between the two segments of end wall  10   e  to provide reinforcement. Note that ramp  52  extends only about halfway along base  10  so that a hole  72  exists between the lower end  52   a  of the ramp and rail  70 . Preferably, bosses  73  (FIG. 3) are formed at the lower end  52   a  of the ramp to provide locating or support surfaces for extension end  32   a  when the extension  32  is assembled to the base as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. 
     The ramp  52  ramps or curves up to a downwardly rearwardly extending surface  52   b  which, with the base end wall  10   d,  defines a transverse channel or pathway  74  whose opposite ends lead to the adjacent ends of the ball return channels or gutters  62   a  and  62   b.  The bottom wall  74   a  of channel  74  is crowned so that if a ball is dropped into channel  74 , it is guided laterally by surface  52   b  and the channel bottom wall  74   a  into gutter  62   a  or  62   b.  The gutters are sloped downward toward the forward end wall  10   e  of base  10  so that any ball deposited in the gutters rolls toward the base end wall  10   e  adjacent to extension  32 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 to  4 , a pair of side rails  76   a  and  76   b  are formed at opposite sides of ramp  52  inboard gutters  62   a,    62   b.  The side rails extend from the upper end of the ramp beyond the lower end  52   a  thereof to locations midway along the hole  72  (FIG. 3) in the bottom of base  10  such that the rails overhang the opposite side edges of the hole to some extent. In this, they define keyways  78   a  and  78   b  at opposite sides of hole  72  for receiving the rear end segment of extension  32  when assembling the extension to base  10  as will be described later. These keyways extend through the end wall  10   e  of the base at opposite ends of the gap therein above rail  70 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 3, preferably the rear end wall  10   d  of base  10  has a sloped inside surface  79  which extends upwardly-rearwardly from channel bottom wall  74   a  almost to the top of the base leaving a thin vertical lip  80  extending along the top of wall  10   d.  Also, a vertical notch  81  is provided in the middle of the wall  10   d , the notch extending down from the top of that wall almost to the channel bottom wall  74   a  . As will be described presently, this rear wall  10   b  construction is designed to support the target section  54  when the table is being used to play SKEE-BALL-type game. 
     As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of notches  82  is molded into the outside surface of side wall  10   b  of base  10  adjacent to the opposite ends of that wall. Similar notches (not shown) are also present in side wall  10   c.  Each notch has an upper wall or edge  82   a  which defines a ledge which may be engaged by a latch  23  when securing cover  16  to base  10 . 
     The Cover  16   
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cover  16  comprises a generally rectangular part having generally the same length and width dimensions as base  10 . The cover bottom wall  16   a  is of medium density fiberboard and the side and end walls  16   b  to  16   e  constitute a single molded plastic frame-like part, the bottom wall being secured to the bottom of that part. As noted above, the cover defines the top of a pool or billiard table with the inside surfaces of the side and end walls constituting the rails  18 . The pockets  22  are formed at the inside comers of the cover as well as midway along the side walls  16   b,    16   c  thereof. The rails  18  are covered with resilient foam strips and those strips and bottom wall  16   a  are covered with felt or other similar sheet material. 
     As noted above, cover  16  may be secured to the top of base  10  by means of latches  23 . When base  16  is seated on base  10 , there is a latch  23  located directly above each notch  82  in the base. As best seen in FIG. 2, each latch  23  comprises an arm  86  which is pivotally connected to cover  16  by a pin  88  which extends through one end  86   a  of the arm and through a pair of spaced-apart vertical ribs or walls  87  formed in a side wall of cover  16  which ribs or walls bracket the arm. The opposite end of each arm  86  has a nose or hook  86   b  which is arranged and adapted to engage under the upper wall  82   a  of the corresponding notch  82  in base  10 . 
     The Extension  32   
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 to  4 , extension  32  comprises a long rectangular sheet  92  of a stiff material such as medium density fiberboard. Mounted to opposite sides of sheet  92  is a pair of side rails  94   a  and  94   b.  These side rails extend from locations spaced somewhat from the forward end of sheet  92  approximately three fourths of the way along the sheet. This leaves a rear end segment  92   a  of sheet  92  which is devoid of rails and, as shown in FIG. 4, the length of this segment is more or less equal to the distance between the lower end  52   a  of ramp  52  in base  10  and the forward ends of the side rails  76   a,    76   b  in the base. Furthermore, the width of the sheet segment  92   a  is such that it can be received in the keyways  78   a,    78   b  formed in the base below those rails. Thus to assemble the extension  32  to base  10 , the sheet segment  92   a  is slid along keyways  78   a ,  78   b  until the rear end segment  92   a  of sheet  92  seats on bosses  73  at the lower end  52   a  of ramp  52 . It should be noted that the segments of the keyways which extend through the base end wall  10   e  are high enough to accept the forward end segments of the extension side rails  94   a  and  94   b.  Thus, when the extension is properly assembled to the base, the side rails  94   a,    94   b  of the extension constitute extensions of the side rails  76   a    76   b  of the base. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the leading or forward end of sheet  92  is supported by an end section shown generally at  96  secured to that end of the sheet. Preferably, section  96  is a molded plastic part which forms a transverse end rail  94   c  which connects the leading ends of side rails  94   a,    94   b,  as well as a downwardly extending socket  98  for receiving the upper end of leg  34 . The leg  34  is usually the same length as the leg sections  12   b  supporting base  10  because the games played using extension  32  are usually played with base  10  relatively close to the floor, i.e. without leg sections  12   b.  As noted above, leg  34  may be one of the leg sections  12   b.  However, if a higher elevation of the table including extension  32  is desired, e.g. for taller children, leg  34  may be provided with an extension (not shown) similar to a leg section  12   a.    
     As described above, extension  32  is assembled to base  10  in order to play either rebound hockey or a SKEE-BALL-type game. To play the former game, after the extension is assembled to the base as aforesaid, the rebound surface  38  is positioned on the rear end segment of the extension, i.e. on sheet segment  92   a.  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, rebound surface  38  may comprise a pin  102  which plugs into a hole  104  (FIG. 4) at the foot of ramp  52  midway between the side edges thereof Pin  102  is formed with a slot  106  for receiving a long, relatively heavy elastic band  108  whose opposite ends have enlargements or keys  108   a  so that they can be retained in slots or key holes  109  formed adjacent to the forward ends of the ramp side rails  76   a  and  76   b.  The segments of the elastic band  108  on opposite sides of pin  102  form angled rebound surfaces which when impacted by a puck  36  will cause the puck to rebound toward one of the extension side rails  94   a,    94   b.  Whereupon, the puck will bounce off that rail and come to rest in one or another of the scoring areas  42  at the forward end of the extension  32 . 
     The Target Section  54   
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, target section  54  is a molded plastic part which has the same width dimension as the sloped inside surface  79  of base end wall  10   b  so that the target section can be assembled to base  10  at that location as shown in FIG.  2 . The target section includes a bottom wall or floor  110  having a downwardly-forwardly angled forward edge margin or flange  110   a.  A pair of side walls  112   a  and  112   b  extend up from the opposite side edges of floor  110  and preferably depending tabs  113  are present at the forward ends of those side walls for reasons that will be described later. 
     The target holes  56   a  to  56   e  described above are formed in floor  110  and the walls  58   a  to  58   e  surrounding those holes extend up from floor  110 . While the walls  58   b  to  58   e  constitute rings, the outer wall  58   a  is partially formed by a rear section  110   b  of floor  110  which is raised to the tops of side walls  112   a    112   b  This is to accommodate scoring electronics (not shown) incorporated into target section  54  underneath section  110   a.  Any time a ball  60  (FIG. 2) falls within one of the walls  58   a  to  58   e,  it is conducted by that wall to a corresponding hole  56   a  to  56   e.  A trough  114  is mounted to the underside of floor  110  to collect the balls that drop through the holes  56   a  to  56   e  and conduct them to the transverse channel  74  in base  10  (FIG. 3) so that the balls are returned to a player via gutters  62   a,    62   b.    
     As shown in FIG. 5, target section  54  is provided with a finished rear end wall  118  which extends above and below floor section  110   a.  When target section  54  is stored backwards in base  10  at hole  72  therein, the wall  118  is arranged and adapted to close the gap in the forward end wall  10   e  of the base. 
     In order to contain the balls which are rolled up ramp  52  to the target section  54 , the target section is provided with a removable fence  122 . Fence  122  is stamped from a single sheet of a clear plastic material such as high-density polyethylene. The fence has a rear section  122   a  and a pair of mirror-image side sections  122   b  connected by living hinges  124  to the opposite ends of section  122   a.  A portion of each side section  122   b  extends above hinges  124  and that portion has an angled edge adjacent to its hinge formed with slot  126 . Also, section  122   a  has a vertical extension  122   d  connected to the upper edge of section  122   a  by a living hinge  128 . In addition, tabs  132  are provided at the opposite ends of extension  122   d  directly opposite the adjacent slots  126 . In order to install fence  122 , side sections  122   b  are folded at the hinges  124  so that they extend perpendicular to section  122   a.  Then, extension  122   d  is folded forwardly about its hinge  128  so that the tabs  132  thereon can be inserted into the slots  126  in fence side sections  122   b.  As shown in FIG. 5, the lower edges of fence sections  122   a  and  122   b  are provided with depending tabs  134  which are adapted to plug into slots  126  formed in the target section side walls  112   a,    112   b  and the floor section  110   a.  When the target section is not being used, the fence can be separated from floor  110  and unfolded so that it can be stored in a flat-condition. 
     In order to add enjoyment to the SKEE-BALL-type game, the target section  54  is provided with a scoring unit shown generally  142  in FIG.  5 . The scoring unit includes a display  144  and voice or sound box  146  exposed at the surface floor section  110   a.  Also, unit  142  includes one or more control buttons  148  in section  110   a  to enable players to control the scoring unit. As noted above, the electronics for scoring unit  142  are located under floor section  110   a  and include the usual processor  149  to enable the scoring unit to show scores on display  144  and to signal via the voice or sound box when a ball  60  (FIG.2) falls into one of the holes  56   a  to  56   e,  the particular sound emitted by the voice box  146  depending upon the receiving hole which has an assigned score. For this, sensors or proximity switches  150  are located adjacent to each hole to sense each ball that falls through that hole and cause processor  149  initiate the sound and update the display  144 . 
     Target section  54  is assembled to base  10  by positioning the forward end portion of the target section on the end wall  10   d  of the base. As noted above, that end wall has a notch  80  which provides clearance for gutter  114 . When the target section is properly seated on base  10 , the forward edge margin of the target section fits down into the space between rearwardly angled wall  52   b  and surface  79  of base  10  such that the tabs  113  at the sides of the scoring unit seat against surface  79 , flange  110   a  of floor  110  bears against the angled wall  52   b  and the lip  80  of rear wall  110   d  engages the underside of section  54 . The center of gravity of target section  54  is such that at the angle of surface  79 , the target section is held to the base solely by gravity. 
     When the target section  54  is not being used and is separated from base  10 , the notch  181  in the base end wall  10   d  may be closed by an insert  158  shown in FIG. 3 which keys into the notch. 
     When consolidating the components of the game for shipment or storage, the fence  122  is separated from the rest of target section  54  unfolded and placed on runway  32 . Then, the target section  54  is seated backwards in the base  10  at hole  72  forward of the ramp  52  so that its wall  118  closes the gap in the base end wall  10   e.  The pucks  36  and the balls  60  may be deposited in one of the gutters  62   a,    62   b  in base  10 . Legs  12  and  34  may then be removed from their respective sockets  69 ,  98  and laid into the gutters  62   a,    62   b  of base  10  and the pool cues  26  placed on top of the legs. Next, the extension  32  may be positioned on the base so that the end rail  94   c  thereof faces the rear end wall  10   d  of base  10  such that the depending socket  98  of the runway extends down into the transverse channel  74  between the upper end of the ramp  52  and the end wall  10   d  of the base. The now forward end of the extension sheet  92  fits in the gap in the base end wall  10   e  and may rest on the upper edge of the wall  118  of the thus stored target section  54 . Finally, the cover  16  may be placed on base  10  and latched thereto using latches  23 . When this is in done, the base  10  and cover  16  form a rigid case that protectively encloses all of the other components of the table. Thus, the game can be shipped and stored in a minimum amount of space and carried about conveniently using handle  64  (FIG.  2 ). 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained. Also, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention described herein.