PADDLE AND TABLE BALL GAME AND METHOD OF PLAYING

Abstract: A paddle and ball game, having some similarities to "Ping Pong", including a relatively small playing area surface (50) with a rigid divider (14, 103) located at its mid-line serving as a rebounding "net". The table top (17, 101) can be supported at different vertical levels, providing for example three levels of play - a standing level (Fig. 8A); an intermediate, seated, chair level (Figs. 5 & 8B); and a floor level (Fig. 8C) for play while seated on the floor. Hand-held paddles (20, 22) are used to propel a plastic ball (24) from side-to-side by the players.

Description: PADDLE AND TABLE BALL GAME AND METHOD OF PLAYING Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to racket and ball games in general. More particularly, the present invention relates to a racket and table ball game and a method of playing same which utilizes a confined table area on which a plastic ball or the like is paddled across or into a substantially solid wall area. 2. General Background There are numerous games or sports and the like played with a plastic ball struck by a substantially flat racket or the hand of a player which utilize a divider such as a net or the like in order to obtain proper or improper ball return, with the game being played on a surface such as a table. The most common game of this type is called " Ping Pong" or table tennis, which utilizes a raised surface for the playing surface which is 5 feet in width, 9 feet in length and at least 3 . 1/2 feet in height. This particular game has a cloth or mesh net which serves as the barrier across the middle of the table for proper or improper hitting of the ball during the course of the game. This particular game requires a substantial amount of space in order to properly play the game, and requires a substantially large storage area when the game is not being played for the table and the apparatus. Also, commercially, the cost of the table is somewhat expensive and prohibits a modest-income person from enjoying the game . There are several patents relevant to paddle and table type games or the like which are as follows: U.S. Patent No. 3,468,536 issued to A.J. Minshull, et al, entitled "Racket and Ball Game," teaches the combination of a rectangular playing surface having a low divider means extending transversely across the playing area and, midway between the ends, a ball adapted to be propelled from one side to the other, and rackets for propelling the ball. The divider means can be in the form of a plurality of edge-abutting planar members, and in the preferred embodiment the ball would be approximately one-third the height of the divider strip. This game is also adapted for use on a floor with a like surface in a larger area. U.S. Patent No. 2,665,908 issued to H. E. Gray entitled "Table Tennis Bat" teaches the use of playing device which would be utilized on a game board in such a manner that the device is not lifted from the board but is simply slid across the game playing surface and is angularly disposed for projecting the ball across the divider on -the game board. U.S. Patent No. 2,163,456 issued to ¥. K. Youngberg," entitled "Game" also disclose a type of game adapted to be played with a ball and paddles, or rackets. The object of the game is to play upon a floor or ground in an open space either indoor or outdoors, wherein the ball would travel from one paddle to the surface lying on the floor and back up to the opponent's paddle, as seen in Figure 1 of the patent. U.S. Patent No. 2,688,484 entitled "Table Ball Game Apparatus" issued to D. M. Garber relates to a game device having an enclosed game board adapted to accommodate a barrier and having game paddles for angularly being disposed during the course of the game, as seen in Figure 1 of the patent. In the above-cited patents, it is evident that the games provide for playing surfaces which must be placed on the ground or the like surface, or must be accommodated into a large surface area. Those particular patents which teach the use of a game device on legs, as in U.S. Patent No. 2,688,484, also teach the use of wall-enclosed game playing surface areas which would not be adaptable to the present invention. 3. General Discussion of the Present Invention The present invention solves the problems and shortcomings of the present art in a simple, inexpensive, and straight-forward manner. The present invention provides a playing surface which would be substantially rectangular in nature, having a substantially solid divider means extending transversely across the playing area and midway between the ends of the playing ' area; a plastic ball or the like for being propelled from one side to the other side of the divider means, or into the divider means; rackets or paddles for propelling the ball during the course of the game; support means such as legs; and means for supporting the support means being foldable beneath the playing area for easy storage i.e. behind a door, beneath a bed, etc. The rectangular playing surface, in an alternative embodiment, may be hinged through-out its transverse center line for providing a folding of the table when it is not in use. A further embodiment uses foldable, cross legs which are hooked into the desired sets of clasps on the underside of the table to support the table at the desired height. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paddle and table ball game utilizing a transversely disposed solid barrier means across the middle of the board. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a paddle and ball game which can be played in a confined area. OMPI It is a further object of the present invention to provide a paddle and ball game wherein the height of the playing surface above the floor is variable, so that it can be played on the floor, or a child may play standing up, or an adult sitting down, or a third level for adults standing up, all comfortably. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a paddle ball game wherein a player would be allowed to utilize the solid barrier means as a rebounding surface during the course of the game. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a paddle ball game wherein the support means are foldable beneath the playing surface and easily stored when not in use. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a paddle ball game which is easily assembled and disassembled and is relatively small in size. It is still a further object of an alternative embodiment of the present invention to provide for folding the rectangular playing area in half when not in use and to secure it in a substantially level plane when not in use. Brief Description of the Drawings For a further understanding of the nature and object of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings, in which like parts are given like reference numerals, and wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the underside of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Figures 3 and 4 are partial, close-up, exploded side views of the support means of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, both in the unlocked and the locked positions, respectively. Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the folding of the rectangular playing surface in phantom view, and an associated seating means. Figure 6 is a partial, close-up view of the locking means to secure the surface in a plane substantially level in the alternative embodiment of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a view of the alternative embodiment of Figure 5 in the folded state. Figures 8A-8C are side views of a further, alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the playing surface is supported at adult stand-up height (8A), adult sit-down height (8B) and floor level play (8C). Figure 9 is a perspective, partial close-up view of one set of spring clips for the support legs of the embodiment of Figures 8A-8C, with the table top shown in phantom line. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Figure 1 best illustrates the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention in perspective view as illustrated by numeral 10. As illustrated in Figure 1, apparatus 10 comprises a rectangular playing surface area 12 which, in the preferred embodiment , would be a wooden, particle board or like surface which would have sufficient hardness to maintain itself as a level playing surface while apparatus 10 is being utilized. In the preferred embodiment, playing surface 12 could have a transversely disposed solid barrier means 14 extending across substantially its entire width at the center 16 of the p laying surface area 12 , with substantially one half of the playing surface lying on either side of the barrier means 14. In the preferred embodiment, a barrier means 14 could be approximately four inches in height and one half to one inch in thickness , and could be constructed of wood , bristol board , plastic or other lightweight yet hard materials . Also , in the preferred embodiment, barrier means 14 can be simply placed upon area 12 and does not need to be attached , although one could provide pins or the like attachment means between barrier means 14 and playing surface 12 if one chose to . Likewise, surface area 12 could be provided with lines or the like across its outermost borders which would indicate the end of the playing surface- area and the middle of the area between the barrier means . In the preferred embodiment , a surface p laying area 12 would be approximately four feet in overall length and two feet in overall width and approximately one half or three quarters inch in thicknes s , and likewise could be constructed of bristol board or the like to maintain its rigidity. Also illustrated in Figure 1 is playing surface support means 18, which is substantially a pair of rectangular legs or the like extended downward from bottom surface 26 of playing surface area 12 and ending at the floor or like surface with transverse brace 19 preferably extending between legs 18 for ad ditional support thereof . Further illustrated in the preferred embodiment in Figure 1 are paddles 20 and 22 and ball 24 which are standard paddles in paάdleball games and would be the type utilized in the game of "Ping Pong" or the like made substantially of identical materials and are well known in the art of paddle ball games . F igur e 2 illustrates the pref erred embodiment of the apparatus 10 being placed with the playing surface 12 lying on the floor or the like and for folding support means 18 into a position for storing apparatus 10 during non-p lay . As can be seen in Figure 2 , the support means 18 of apparatus 10 are hingedly attached to the bottom surface 26 of apparatus 10 . As seen in exploded view in Figures 3 and; 4, preferably, each support means 18 would be adapted to hingedly support a pair of L-shaped support braces 28 or the like, which would further be fixedly attached to the, bottom surface 26 of surface playing area 12 by screws or the like rigid attachment means . As seen in Figure 4, the width of the space 29 defined by the pair of L-shaped supports 28 would be such that leg means ,18 could easily fit within space 29 , so that pivotal movement of the support means 18 , once at t ached to L-shaped support brace s 28 , is eas i ly ac comp lished . The attachment of support means 18 to L-shaped support braces 28 would be such that a bo lt 30 , as seen in Figure 4, would be slidably engaged into a hole (as shown in phantom line in Figure 4) through support means 18 wherein a wing nut 31 or the like would be attached to the distal end of bolt 30 for movement of the leg 18 from a position 33 substantially perpendicular to the surface 12 as seen in phantom in Figure 3 of apparatus 10 during use o f apparatus 10 to a position substantially paral lel with bottom surface 26 of apparatus 10 during non-use or storage . Thumb bolts and wing nuts are tightened when the game is to be stored , as this maintains the legs in the tightly folded position. Further illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, in order to ensure that legs 18 are maintained in the rigid, upright position during QMPI play, apparatus 10 provides for hinge locking means 40 which would be hingedly engaged at its first end onto leg 18, intermediate the length of leg 18 and at the second end to raised block 42 or the like, as seen in Figure 2, 3, and 4. Block 42 or the like would be fixedly attached to the bottom surface 26 of playing surface area 12 with the use of a pair of L-braces 28 as seen in Figure 2 and 3. Blocks 42 and braces 48 would further enable a more firm base in order to secure hinge.bracing 40 and at the same time raise the end of hinge bracing 40 to a level substantially equal to the upper end of leg 18 for allowing the stress to be more equally distributed. Therefore, during use of the apparatus, legs 18 would be substantially in the perpendicular position as seen in phantom in Figure 3 and would be necessarily locked into position with hinge brace 40 disallowing the movement of legs 18 from their locked and unlocked position. Also, hinge bracing 40 would insure the positioning of leg 18 in the locked position. As seen in Figure 2, with the unlocking of hinge bracing 40 the legs 18 would have the ability to be folded onto bottom surface 26 into a configuration which would be substantially the thickness of the table frame itself and easily storable into a substantially small area (see Figure 7) . It should be noted that for convenience sake, the length of the legs 18 would be approximately twenty-one inch which would accommodate a small child or the like in a standing position or an adult in the sitting position. That, in conjunction with the substantially confined area of the board itself, would enable the playing of the game in a substantially smaller area and in a more comfortable position thus enabling people who are handicapped or -^REA " , unable to stand for periods of time and for small children to become acquainted with the game . The use of the solid barrier means 14 in the course of the game would be a feature which would be pertinent to the rules of the game . The barrier, unlike the present use of a net or the like in the game of "Ping Pong" , would allow the ball 24 when struck by paddle 22 and not continuing motion over barrier 14, to be rebounded off of barrier 14 back into paddle 22. Thus , in the course of the game , if a p layer did not in fact strike the ball with sufficient angle to drive the ball over barrier 14 , the rebound of the ball back to the same player would enable the play to continue in accordance with the rules . In the pr ef erred embodiment , the barrier would be easily removable and s imp ly stored with the table . ^ Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention which provides rectangular playing surface 12 equally divided along a transverse line into sections 50 and 52. Sections 50 and 52 would be hingedly attached with hinge means 54, which could be a continuous hinge means substantially along the entire width of rectangular surface 12 or could be a plurality of hinge means substantially equally spaced along its width, in order to provide a consistent and constant hinging means along the width of rectangular surface 12, between sections 50 and 52. As seen in Figure 6 , hinge means 54 would be placed on the top portion 56 of playing surface 12, with the first flange of hinge means 54 attached to section 50 and the second flange of hinge 54 attached to section 52, through screw means or the like . Figure 6 further il lus trat es , in phantom view, the position of solid barrier means 14, which, in this particular embodiment, would have a certain notched out area 15 for allowance of the body 55 of hinge 54, so that barrier means 14 is maintained in the vertical position with its bottom edge substantially flush to surface 12. Figure 5 and 6 illustrate that with the position of hinge 54, the sections 50 and 52 of surface 12 would have the ability to fold upward as is illustrated in phantom view in Figure 5, once the solid barrier means 14 has been removed therefrom. Eventually, the folding of sections 50 and 52 would result in the configuration as illustrated in Figure 7. Also illustrated in Figure 5 is a seating means 70, which could be utilized by players, particularly adults, during the game. Seating means 70 could be a typical chair or the like seating means. Due to the fact that the position of hinge 54, as illustrated in Figure 6, would enable the table to buckle downward in its center line at the position of hinge 54, there is also provided locking means 60 such as for example a very common slide lock. The lock 60 slides from an unlocked position on, for example, the size edge 17 of section 52, to the locked position on the side edge 17 of section 50, with sliding bolt 63 engaging within locking compartment 65, thus providing a means wherein the buckling inward of sections 50 and 52 would be prevented. In this particular embodiment, locking means 60 could be placed com limentarily either on both side edges 17 of playing surfaces 50 and 52. This particular ability to fold as is illustrated in Figure 5 and the fold as shown in Figure 7, would enable the game table to be placed in a more compact area and thus, alleviate the OMPI need for large storage space . On Figures 8A-8C and 9 a further alternate embodiment 100 is illustrated . In this embodiment 100 the game table top 101 with it s rigid "net" 103 can be supported, for example, at three different playing levels by the use of metal tubular legs 104 and 105 which mate with a selected set of spring metal, C-shaped, clip fasteners 106A&B and 107A&B. The U-shaped legs 104, 105 are pinned together by pivot pins 108 on either side which allows them to angularly move with respect to one another. The legs 104, 105 have rubber tips 109 at their floor engaging ends . Thus, as shown in Figure 8A, the table top 101 can be supported at an exemplary height of thirty inches for adults to p lay when standing up by inserting upper , cross-members of the legs 104 and 105 into the closer set 107A&B of spring clips , which engage and hold the cro ss-members with a friction, spring clamp grip. When it is desired to p lay at the sit down level of for example twenty— one inches (note Figure 8B) , the cross-members of the tubular legs 104 and 105 are disengaged from the clamp set 107A&B and inserted into the more dis tantly spaced set 106Δ&B, which cause s the tab le to p 101 t o be lowered to a he ight comparable to chair 70. Final ly, if it is desired to play the game while seated on the floor, the legs 104 , 105 can be removed altogether so that the table top rests on the f loor 120 at an exemplary playing surface height of two inches . A further set of inserted "U" shaped clamps could be added to the underside of the board 101 for holding the legs 104 , 105 in the ir co l laps ed disposition for storage. OMPI V IPO Rules or Method of Utilizing Apparatus This is a game fo r two players facing each other on opposite sides of the table. The players are generally seated in chairs (although , in the case of small children, the game can be played standing up) . Alternatively the game can be played on the f lo o r o r at a leve l where adult s can s tand up and p lay comfortably. Rackets , sometimes called "bats" , are used to hit a small, light ball forward and backward across the table divided by the low barrier. The game is won by the player f irst scoring 11 points unless both players have 10 points: then, the winner shall be the first to score two more points than his opponent . Points are scored by a player when his opponent fails to make a good service or a good return. A service is good when the ball is thrown vertically upward by the player' s free hand and is struck during its descent onto the server' s court first and then, passing directly over the "net", to touch the receiver' s court. The ball must be struck at first attempt . At the moment of striking , the racket mus t be behind the end of the table or an imaginary continuation of it . If the ball touches the top of the "net " while pas s ing over, the server must serve again: he is only entitled to serve again if the ball landed in his opponent ' s court ( if the ball touches the "net" in passing over, it is considered to have passed directly) . The ball must not be allowed to bounce twice before return, nor must it be struck before it hits the court except in the case of the Rebound Rule (explained later on) when vo lleying is allowed . The bal l is considered out of play once it has touched any object other than the playing surface, the net and rackets : a point is scored by one of the players . Rebound Rule: When the ball hits the hard-surface "net" ordivider and returns to the same side of the table , the receiving player is allowed to strike the ball either before or after it bounces once onto his court . Therefore , in this case on ly , vo l leying i s permitted. The right to serve first in the game is decided either by tossing a coin or by throwing the ball free handidly onto the court as if it were a serve and then spelling the word "CHING" with one letter at each bounce . / The winner of the point gets to serve first and the score begins at zero-to-zero . Chang of Service: The service passes from one player to another after every f ive points scored independently of the score until the game is won. However if both players have scored ten points or more , then service alternates until the winner has scored two more points than his opponent has scored. A match consists of one game or the best of three or five games . Players can decide before the match whether to switch sides at each game. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught , and because many modif ications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descript ive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense . -gTTREA C OMPI_ ~~ ~

Claims: Claims 1. A paddle and ball game apparatus, comprising: a. a generally rectangular playing area surface; b. a rigid divider means located on said playing area surface extending transversely across said playing area surface substantially mid-way between the ends thereof; c. a plastic ball or the like associated with said playing area surface to be propelled from one side to the other side of said divider means, or into said divider means; d. paddle means associated with said playing area surface for so propelling said ball; and e. support means attached to said playing area surface for supporting said playing area surface on on the floor or a like area. 2. The apparatus of Claim 1, further comprising locking means attached to said support means for locking said support means in the supportive state. 3. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said playing area surface is approximately four feet in length and two feet in width. 4. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said divider means is constructed of bristol board, wood or like material. 5. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the height of the playing area surface from the floor is of the order of twenty-four inches. OMPI 6. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein, in the course of the game, the divider means is used as a rebounding board for the ball without interruption of the game. 7. A paddle ball game apparatus, comprising: a. a generally rectangular playing area surface; b. rigid divider means extending transversely across the playing area surface located substantially mid-way between the ends of said playing area surface in contact with said playing area surface across substantially the entire width of said playing area surface; c. a plastic ball or the like associated with said playing area surface to be propelled from one side to the other side of said divider means, or into said divider means; d. paddle means associated with said playing area surface for so propelling said ball; and e. support means attached, to said playing area surface for supporting said playing area surface above the floor or a like area, said support means being hingedly retractable into the under side of said playing area surface; f . locking means attached to said support means for locking said support means in the supported state; and g. two seating means located adjacent to the ends of said playing area surface, one each associated with each end of said playing area surface for seating players at the ends of said playing area surface during the playing of the game. 8. The apparatus of Claim 7, wherein said rectangular playing area surface is further comprised of a pair of hingedly attached sections , said sections being fo ldable so that each section is placeable adjacent to one another in parallel , f ace-to-f ace surface engagement. 9 . The apparatus of Claim 8 , further providing section locking means attached to said sections for maintaining said sections down flat for serving as a continuous, horizontal playing area surface. 10. The apparatus of either one of Claims 1 or 7 , wherein, said rigid divider means further comprises a solid, rectangular member of substantially uniform thickness having at least f ive , f lat , orthogonal surfaces , the bottom, flat surface of which has a width substantially in the range of one half to one inch in " thickness . 11 . The apparatus of Claim 10 , wherein there is included the limitations of Claim 1 , and wherein said playing area surface is flat from end to end and the engagement between said rigid divider means and said laying area surf ace cons is ts only o f t he face-to-face flat, contact engagement between said bottom surface and the flat , mid-way surface of said playing area surface. 12. The apparatus of either one of Claims 1 or 7 , wherein said support means allows said playing area surface to be supported at at least two different horizontal, vertically spaced levels with respect to the f loor or like area for separate play at these levels , one of said levels being at floor level for play by the users while sitting on the floor or the like area. 13. A paddle and ball game method, comprising the following steps: (a) utilizing a flat, generally rectangular playing area surface having a playing area of the order of approximately four feet in length and two feet in width supported above the floor or a like area at a height of the order of twenty-one inches with a rigid divider means extending-' transversely across said playing area surface located substantially mid-way between the ends of said playing area surface for serving as a "net"; and (b) utilizing two seating means, each one located adjacent the opposite ends of said playing surface area, for the players to be seated in during play of the game, the seated players striking a pla-stic ball or the like with hand-held paddles from one side to the other side of said playing area surface across and into said rigid divider means during continuous play of the game. 14. A paddle and ball game apparatus, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular playing area surface; (b) a divider means located on said playing surface extending transversely across said playing area surface substantially mid-way between the ends thereof; (c) a plastic ball or the like associated with said playing area surface to be propelled from one side to the other side of said divider means, (d) paddle means associated with said playing area surface for so propelling said ball; and (e) support means attached to said playing area surface for supporting said playing area surface on said support means capable of supporting said playing surface area at at least three levels above the floor level, the highest one allowing for play at the standing level, an intermediate level allowing for play while seated in chairs, and the lowest level for play while seated on the floor or the area. 15. The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein said support means comprises a set of two leg members pivotally connected to either at their sides, each one of which forms in part an inserted "U" shape having a cross-member at its top, said playing area surface having on its underside at least two, laterally spaced sets of clamps for engaging said cross-members and thereby supporting said playing surface area at two different vertical levels. OMPI_

Inventors: BECKER PAMELA, SCHLUBACH HENRIK, BECKER, PAMELA, SCHLUBACH, HENRIK
Applicants: BECKER PAMELA, SCHLUBACH HENRIK, BECKER, PAMELA, SCHLUBACH, HENRIK
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A63B67
IPC codes: A47B3, A63B67