Abstract:
A game table for playing different types of games. The game table includes a frame section having a centrally-located opening with a rotatable table section mounted therein. The game table further includes a pair of pivot pins for rotating the table section being cooperatively mounted on the table section and the frame section for rotating the table section up to 360° relative to the frame section. The table section includes a first playing surface on the top surface thereof and a second playing surface on the bottom surface thereof; wherein the first and second playing surfaces include a first game board and a second and different game board, respectively, thereon. The frame section and the table section include a pull-out stop pin for retaining the table section in a horizontal plane relative to the frame section. The pull-out stop pin is movable between a retaining position and a non-retaining position for allowing the table section to rotate. Additionally, the frame section includes storage compartments on opposing sides of the opening in the frame section.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a game table having a pivoting table section for a game board on opposite sides of the table section. More particularly, each of the game boards can include games such as chess/checkers, chinese checkers, backgammon, scrabble, monopoly and the like.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Game tables having table sections adapted to rotate about a longitudinal, central axis to utilize both surfaces for game boards or pool/billiard tables is disclosed in the prior art. These prior art rotatable game tables, pool/billiard tables, shuffleboard table, croquet table, card table and the like have complex designs and structures to prevent sagging caused by the increased weight of such tables. The pivoting systems for the aforementioned rotatable table sections are elaborate and complex because of the heavy weight of such tables. In general, these rotatable gaming tables have been overly complex with regard to storage, repair of the pivoting systems and retaining the game board surface in a horizontal plane.  
         [0003]     There remains a need for a game table having a simple pivoting mechanism for rotating the table section in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner. Additionally, the game table should include a game board being disposed on opposite sides of the table section. Further, the table section should be detachably mounted within a centrally located opening of a frame section of the game table for changing to different game board sets.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0004]     Pivoting table sections having game boards, pool/billiards, shuffleboard, and the like having various designs, configurations, structures, functions and materials of construction have been disclosed in the prior art.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 122,830 to Heyl discloses a reversible billiard and croquet table. This pivotally mounted game table shows a billiard table on one side and a croquet table on the other side. This prior art patent does not disclose the structure and configuration of the present invention.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 211,083 to Bensinger discloses a combined billiard and dining table. This pivotally mounted gaming and dining table shows a billiard table on one side and a dining table on the other side. This prior art patent does not disclose the structure and configuration of the present invention.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 653,727 to Zentner discloses a combined pool and billiard table. This pivotally mounted game table shows a pool table on one side and a billiard table on the other side. This prior art patent does not disclose the structure and configuration of the present invention.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,803 to Barnes et al. discloses a game table. This pivotally mounted game shows a pool table on one side and a shuffleboard table on the other side. This prior art patent does not disclose the structure and configuration of the present invention.  
         [0009]     None of the aforementioned prior art patents disclose or teach a game table having a simple pivoting table section for game boards on opposite sides of the table section. Further, none of the prior art patents disclose multiple top storage compartments within opposing sides of the table section.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game table having a simple pivoting mechanism for a table section in order to rotate the table section in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction up to 360°.  
         [0011]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a game table having a game board disposed on opposite sides of the table section being pivotally mounted within a centrally located opening of the game table.  
         [0012]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a game table having a frame section with opposing storage compartments for holding game pieces (i.e. checkers, chess figures, backgammon discs, etc.) therein.  
         [0013]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a game table having game boards mounted within opposing sides of the table section selected from the group consisting of chess/checkers, chinese checkers, backgammon, parcheesi, scrabble, monopoly, cards and the like.  
         [0014]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a game table having the game board being held in a horizontal plane by a stop pin placed within adjacent openings within one side of the frame section and game board, respectively.  
         [0015]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a game table having the table section within the frame section being detachably mounted in order to change a given pair of game boards with another set of game boards within the centrally located opening of the frame section.  
         [0016]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a game table made from materials such as wood, metal, plastics or combinations thereof.  
         [0017]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a game table that can be mass produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a game table for playing different types of games. The game table includes a frame section having a centrally-located opening with a rotatable table section mounted therein. The game table further includes a pair of pivot pins for rotating the table section being cooperatively mounted on the table section and the frame section for rotating the table section up to 360° relative to the frame section. The table section includes a first playing surface on the top surface thereof and a second playing surface on the bottom surface thereof; wherein the first and second playing surfaces include a first game board and a second and different game board, respectively, thereon. The frame section and the table section include cooperative retaining means in the form of a pull-out stop pin for retaining the table section in a horizontal plane relative to the frame section. The pull-out stop pin is movable between a retaining position and a non-retaining position for allowing the table section to rotate. Additionally, the frame section includes storage compartments on opposing sides of the opening in the frame section. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon the consideration of the following detailed description of the presently-preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; wherein:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the game table having a pivoting table section of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing one side of the table section having a chess game board in operational use;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the game table of the present invention showing the other side of the table section having a backgammon game board in operational use and a pair of opposing storage compartments having backgammon discs therein;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the game table of the present invention showing the game board being rotated within a centrally located opening of a frame section of the game table;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a top exploded perspective view of the game table of the present invention showing another game board being detachably mounted within the centrally located opening of the frame section of the game board;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the game table of the present invention showing a pair of pivoting pins for rotating the table section within the centrally located opening and a pull-out stop pin for holding the game board in a horizontal position relative to the frame section of the game table;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the game table of the present invention showing the opposing storage compartments, the opposing pivoting pins within the game board, and the pull-out stop pin;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the game table of the present invention taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1  in the direction of the arrows showing the opposing storage compartments, the opposing pivoting pins, the game board and the frame section;  
         [0027]      FIG. 8   a  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the game table of the present invention showing the pivot pin received within the pivot pin openings on one of the opposing sides of the table section and frame section; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 8   b  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the game table of the present invention showing the pivot pin received within the pivot openings on the other opposing side of the table section and frame section.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0029]     A game table  10  having a pivoting table section  72  is represented in detail by  FIGS. 1 through 7  of the patent drawings. The game table  10  is used for playing various games on a game board such as chess/checkers  12 , backgammon  13  and the like. The game table  10 , as shown in FIGS.  3  to  5  and  7  of the drawings, include a frame section  20  having a first section  22 , a second section  26 , a third section  30  and a fourth section  34 . The first section  22  includes a first interior side wall surface  24  having a first centrally-positioned pivot pin opening  25  therein. The second section  26  includes a second interior side wall surface  28  having a second centrally-positioned pivot pin opening  29  therein. The third section  30  includes a third interior side wall surface  32 . The fourth section  34  includes fourth interior and exterior side wall surfaces  36  and  38 , respectively, as depicted in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. The first centrally-positioned pivot pin opening  25  is used for receiving a first spring actuated pivot pin  37  therein. The second centrally-positioned pivot pin opening  29  is used for receiving a second spring actuated pivot pin  39  therein. The fourth exterior and interior side wall surfaces  38  and  36 , respectively, include a centrally-positioned stop pin opening  40  for receiving a pull-out stop pin  42  therethrough, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  of the drawings. The pull-out stop pin  42  includes a knob member  44 , a stem section  48  and an end tip  48 .  
         [0030]     The frame section  20 , as shown in FIGS.  2  to  4 , also includes a first storage compartment  50  and a second storage compartment  60  therein. The first storage compartment  50  includes a first compartment lid  52  having a first hinge element  54  thereon and having a first interior space  56  for storing of game pieces  13   d  therein. The second storage compartment  60  includes a second compartment lid  62  having a second hinge element  64  thereon and having a second interior space  66  for storing of game pieces  13   d  therein.  
         [0031]     The frame section  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , further includes a centrally-located opening  70  for receiving a detachably mounted and rotatable table section  72  therein. The table section  72  includes a first table section side wall surface  74 , a second table section side wall surface  76 , a third table section side wall surface  78  and a fourth table section side wall surface  80 . The first table section side wall surface  74  includes a third centrally-positioned pivot pin opening  75  therein for receiving the first spring actuated pivot pin  37  therein. The second table section side wall surface  76  includes a fourth centrally-positioned pivot pin opening  77  therein for receiving the second spring actuated pivot pin  39  therein. In the assembled configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  to  7 , the first and third centrally-positioned pivot pin openings  25  and  75  are adjacent to each other having the first spring actuated pivot pin  37  therein, and the opposing second and fourth centrally-positioned pivot pin openings  29  and  77  are adjacent to each other having the second spring actuated pivot pin  39  therein. This allows the table section  72  of game table  10  to pivot and rotate in a clockwise C 1  or counterclockwise C 2  direction, as depicted in  FIG. 3  of the patent drawings. The third table section side wall surface  78  includes a first centrally-positioned side wall stop pin opening  79  for receiving the end tip  48  of the pull-out stop pin  42  therethrough. Also, the fourth table section side wall surface  80  includes a second centrally-positioned side wall stop pin opening  81  for receiving the end tip  48  of the pull-out stop pin  42  therethrough. This allows the table section  72  to remain in a horizontal plane H relative to the frame section  20  when the end tip  48  of the stop pin  42  is positioned within one of stop pin openings  79  or  81  and the stop pin opening  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4  and  5  of the patent drawings.  
         [0032]     The table section  72 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , also includes a first playing surface  82  having a chess/checker game board  12  thereon and a second playing surface  84  having an interior compartment  86  (recessed well) for retaining a backgammon game board  13  therein. In an alternate embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the table section  72 ′ includes a first playing surface  82 ′ having a chinese checker game board  14  thereon and a second playing surface  84 ′ having an interior compartment  86 ′ for retaining a parcheesi game board  15  therein. The interior compartments or recessed wells  86  and  86 ′ allow for the dice  16  not to fall-off the game boards  13  and  15  as the games are being played by the participants. It is understood that multiple different pairs of game boards can be placed on table section  72 , such that any paired combination having game boards mounted within opposing playing surfaces  82  and  84  can include games selected from the group consisting of chess/checkers, chinese checkers, backgammon, parcheesi, scrabble, monopoly, cards, tic tac toe and other games. These paired combinations of game boards are able to be detachably mounted within the centrally-located opening  70  of frame section  20  at the choice of the participating players involved.  
         [0033]     The frame section  20  of game table  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3  and  7 , also includes corner sections  90   a ,  90   b ,  90   c  and  90   d , each having a support leg  92   a ,  92   b ,  92   c  and  92   d  attached thereto, respectively. Support legs  92   a  to  92   d  can be foldable allowing the game table  10  to be folded into a compact table for storage when not in use. The game table  10  is made from materials selected from the group consisting of hardwoods, light-weight and durable plastics and light-weight metals.  
       OPERATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0034]     In operation, the game table  10  operates in the following manner, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3  of patent drawings. The participating game players first choose a particular game board, such as the chess game board  12  on one of the playing surfaces  82  of table section  72 . If the playing surface  82  is not facing the participating players, one of the players now removes the pull-out stop pin  42  via the knob member  44  from the stop pin openings  81  and  40 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 3  to  5  of the drawings. The player then rotates the table section  72  in a clockwise C 1  or counterclockwise C 2  direction via the pivot pins  37  and  39  in order to bring the playing surface  82  in an upward facing direction, such that the chess game board  12  is now in a position to be played on. The game player re-inserts the pull-out stop pin  42  into stop pin openings  40  and  79 , respectively, such that the tip end  48  of stop pin  42  is received within the stop pin opening  79 . In this manner, the table section  72  is allowed to remain in a horizontal plane H relative to the horizontal frame section  20  and the chess game board  12  of game table  10 . Each player then removes the chess  FIG. 12   f  from their respective storage interior spaces  56  and  66  of storage compartments  50  and  60 , respectively. The players place the chess  FIG. 12   f  on the chess game board  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and the game players can now proceed with their chess game.  
         [0035]     If the participating game players would like to change their chess game board  12  to a backgammon game board  13 , the first step, would be to remove the chess  FIG. 12   f  from the game board playing surface  82  of chess game board  12 , as well as to remove the chess  FIG. 12   f  from their respective interior storage spaces  56  and  66  of storage compartments  50  and  60 , respectively, to an off board container (not shown) to store the chess  FIG. 12   f . The players now proceed to place the backgammon discs  13   d  into their respective interior storage spaces  56  and  66 , respectively. One of the participating game players now removes the pull-out stop pin  42  via the knob member  44  from the stop pin openings  79  and  40 , respectively. Then one of the players rotate the table section  72  in a clockwise C 1  or counterclockwise C 2  direction about the pivot pins  37  and  39  in order to bring the playing surface  84  in an upward facing direction, such that the backgammon game board  13  is now in a position to be played on. The player then re-inserts the pull-out stop pin  42  into the stop pin openings  40  and  81  respectively, such that the tip end  48  of stop pin  42  is received within the stop pin opening  81 . In this manner, the table section  72  is allowed to remain in a horizontal plane H relative to the horizontal frame section  20  and the backgammon game board  12  of game table  10 . Each player then removes the backgammon discs  13   d  from their respective interior storage spaces  56  and  66  of storage compartments  50  and  60 , respectively. The players now place the backgammon discs  13   d  on the backgammon game board  13 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , and the game players can now proceed with their backgammon game.  
         [0036]     If the participating players would like to change to another table section  72 ′ as shown in  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6  of the patent drawings, having a different pair of game boards  14  and  15  thereon, such as playing surface  82  being a chinese checker game board  14  and a parcheesi game board  15 . In order to remove the table section  72 , the player would again remove the pull-out stop pin  42  from stop pin openings  81  and  40 , respectively, and then depress inwardly each of pivot pins  37  and  39 . The table section  72  can now be detachably removed from the centrally-located opening  70  of frame section  20 , such that the replacement table section  72 ′ is then detachably mounted within the centrally located opening  70  of frame section  20  via pivot pins  37  and  39 . Depending upon whether the players want to play chinese checkers  14  or parcheesi  15 , one of the players then re-inserts the pull-out stop pin  42  within stop pin openings  40  and  79 ′ or within stop pin opening  40  and  81 ′, accordingly. In this manner, the table section  72 ′ is allowed to remain in a horizontal plane H relative to the horizontal frame section  20  with the chinese checker game board  14  or the parcheesi game board  15  of game table  10 , depending upon which game the players want to play.  
       ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0037]     Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a game table having a simple pivoting mechanism for a table section in order to rotate the table section in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction up to 360°.  
         [0038]     Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a game table having a game board disposed on opposite sides of the table section being pivotally mounted within a centrally located opening of the game table.  
         [0039]     Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a game table having a frame section with opposing storage compartments for holding game pieces (i.e. checkers, chess figures, backgammon discs, etc.) therein.  
         [0040]     Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a game table having game boards mounted within opposing sides of the table section selected from the group consisting of chess/checkers, chinese checkers, backgammon, parcheesi, scrabble, monopoly, cards and the like.  
         [0041]     Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a game table having the game board being held in a horizontal plane by a stop pin placed within adjacent openings within one side of the frame section and game board, respectively.  
         [0042]     Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a game table having the table section within the frame section being detachably mounted in order to change a given pair of game boards with another set of game boards within the centrally located opening of the frame section.  
         [0043]     Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a game table made from materials such as wood, metal, plastics or combinations thereof.  
         [0044]     A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a game table that can be mass produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the user.  
         [0045]     A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.