Abstract:
A hook and loop fastening system for attaching a billiard table cloth to a table bed and a rail, a billiard table cloth with template markings for assisting the installer in the correct positing and tensioning of the bed cloth and in the cutting of slits in the cloth for pocket openings (for pocket pool tables) and rail bolt holes, and a rail cloth that incorporates a tract system for attaching the rail cloth on rails to replace conventional feather strips.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/800,223, filed May 12, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/882,688, filed Dec. 29, 2006. The disclosures of both priority patent applications are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to coverings for billiard tables, pocket pool tables, and other game tables, and the method for installing the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Until now billiard tables and pocket pool tables have required a skilled or trained installer/mechanic to put the bed and rail cloth on the table. One of the main skills required is to pull the cloth to the correct tension on as it lies on the table and rail surface. Conventionally, this tensioning step is achieved by securing the cloth to one end or side of the table bed with staples, glue, or feather strips on rails, then pulling the cloth to the opposite end or side. The main consideration is for the amount of stretch the cloth must have to place the cloth under correct tension for the table&#39;s playing surfaces, and the amount of stretch may depend on certain factors, such as the type of cloth material. This method is repeated for the two opposite sides and all six rails. 
     When installing the bed and rail cloth the cloth must be cut at the pocket openings. This is necessary on pocket pool tables, to allow for entry of balls into pockets and for angles on rail ends. Then the cloth is cut into tabs or small sections that are secured to the table by means of staples or glue. 
     The installer/mechanic performs all of these steps using his or her best judgment as to the correct tension of the cloth on the table when stretching, and as to where the tabs in the cloth must be cut at the pocket openings and rail ends. Determining the correct cloth tension and making accurate cuts require installer expertise, and can consume considerable time. 
     Therefore, a covering system that aids the installer in applying the appropriate tension to the cloth, and positioning the cuts for the pocket openings and rail ends, is desirable. A method for using such a system is likewise desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a hook and loop fastening system, such as Velcro® or an adhesive system (such as peel and stick method), for attaching a billiard table cloth to a table bed and a rail. The invention further provides a billiard table cloth with template markings for assisting the installer in the correct positing and tensioning of the bed cloth and in the contouring of the cloth for pocket openings (for pocket pool tables) through various cutting and stitching (sewn) patterns. The invention still further provides a tract system for attaching the cloth on rails that replaces conventional feather strips as well as for preforming the cloth so that on-site cutting and forming is not required. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the game table and covering of the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the game table and covering of the present invention, showing the hook and loop fastening system in a first table embodiment; 
         FIG. 2A  is a detail view of the hook and loop fastening system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the game table and covering of the present invention, showing the hook and loop fastening system in a second table embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the top of the game table covering cloth with template markings according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the bottom of the game table covering cloth with a pre-attached fastening system on perimeter edge; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the rail section and covering of the prior art showing the groove for the conventional feather strip; 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the rail section and covering of the present invention, showing the tract system and directions of application of the rail cloth covering; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the rail and covering of the present invention in a first rail embodiment, showing the tract system opening; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the rail and covering of  FIG. 8 , showing the tract system opening with the rail cloth inserted; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the cushion portion of the rail section and covering of  FIGS. 9 and 14 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the rail and covering of the present invention, showing the ends of the rail cloth preformed and stitched to fit the contour of the rail ends; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the cushion portion of the rail and covering of  FIGS. 9 and 14 , in a second rail attachment embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the cushion portion of the rail and covering of  FIGS. 9 and 14 , in a third rail attachment embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the rail and covering of the present invention in a second rail embodiment, showing the tract system opening with the inserted enclosure and the rail cloth inserted in the enclosure; 
         FIG. 15A  is a cross-sectional view of the groove portion of a rail and covering of the present invention in the second rail section embodiment, showing the insertion of an enclosure for the tract system into the groove for the conventional feather strip; 
         FIG. 15B  is a cross-sectional view of the groove portion of a rail and covering of the present invention in the second rail section embodiment, showing the attachment of the enclosure for the tract system within the groove for the conventional feather strip; 
         FIG. 15C  is a cross-sectional view of the groove portion of a rail and covering of the present invention in the second rail section embodiment, showing the rail cloth inserted in the tract system as in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view of the game table covering with template markings according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 17A  is a magnified view of a corner of the game table covering cloth of  FIG. 4  showing preformed cloth at the pocket opening in the midst of application; and 
         FIG. 17B  is a second magnified view of a corner of the game table covering cloth of  FIG. 4  showing preformed cloth at the pocket opening after application of the preformed corner cloth is completed. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The examples set out herein illustrate several embodiments of the invention but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention provides a system to eliminate the customary guesswork and independent judgment usually required of an installer of a new cloth covering for a billiard or pool table. An installer with only basic skill may use this new cloth covering system, which reduces sharply the labor cost of replacement of the cloth. The system of the present invention provides a new method of securing the cloth to the table using a pre-determined correct tensioning of the stretched cloth, and of preforming the pocket openings with various stitching (sewn) patterns in the cloth. Labor costs for initial installation of the cloth at the time of table production may also be reduced by use of the present invention. 
     In the present application, the term “game table” will be used to denote any of a billiard table, a pocket pool table, a bumper pool table, or any similar table requiring a level, smooth surface on which a ball may roll and a set of surrounding cushions that have sufficient elasticity to cause a ball rolling on the surface to bounce back away from a cushion on impact. 
     Structure Description 
       FIG. 1  shows the prior-art conventional arrangement in which a bed cloth  5 , which is the cloth covering the playing surface of the table slate  10  and the cushions of a game table, is attached to the underlying flat surface  16  of the table support structure  15 . 
     A first table embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2  in cross section. The cloth  6  is secured to the table support structure  15  by means of a two part (“A &amp; B”) hook and loop fastening system  20 , such as a Velcro® system, shown in detail in  FIG. 2A . The system has the “A” part  22  pre-attached to the cloth and the complementary “B” part  24  pre-attached to the table. This eliminates the tools and mess associated with methods that require gluing to secure the cloth to the table. A pre-attached no-mess, peel-and-stick glue or adhesive system may also be used. Also, mechanical fasteners, such as staples, may be used to further secure the bed cloth once the bed cloth is in the desired position. 
     In its first table embodiment in  FIG. 2  the “B” part  24  of the hook and loop fastening system  20  is pre-attached to the horizontal face  16  of the table support structure  15 , where it engages with the “A” part  22  of the hook and loop fastening system. In a second table embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3 , the “B” part  24  of the invention is pre-attached to the vertical face  17  of the table support structure  15 , where it engages with the “A” part  22  of the hook and loop fastening system. 
     The table bed cloth of the present invention is shown in plan view from the top in  FIG. 4 , and in plan view from the bottom in  FIG. 5 . The invention&#39;s preformed pocket openings  62  are shown in  FIG. 4 . The “A” part  22  is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a cross-section of a conventional table rail  40 , with cushion  45  and a groove  43  on the rail top surface  42 , which holds one edge of the rail cloth in place using a feather strip method well-known in the art. As shown isometrically in  FIG. 7  and in cross section in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the invention replaces the prior-art feather strip method shown in  FIG. 6  with a tract system. The rail cloth  30  slides through a tract system groove  46  extending between a tract retaining hole  47  and the rail top surface  42 . In a first rail attachment embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the rail cloth  30  attaches to the underside  41  of the rail  40  by means of a hook and loop fastening system  21 , such as a Velcro® system, with complementary strips  23  and  25 . The ends  31  of the rail cloths  30  are preformed and stitched (sewn) to fit the contour of the rail ends, as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a portion of the rail cloth  30  during insertion in the tract system groove  46  of the rail section  40 . A loop of one edge  37  of rail cloth  30  is sewn around a tract shaft  35  or simply folded and sewn to thicken the edge  37 . One strip  23  of the hook and loop fastening system  21  is anchored to the opposite edge  38  of the rail cloth  30 . The edge  37  of the rail cloth  30  is then slid into tract groove  46  and the tract retaining hole  47 . The tract groove  46  is formed so as to allow only the thickness of rail cloth  30  to pass through the groove&#39;s opening to the top surface  42  of rail  40 . Once the rail cloth  30  is fully inserted in rail section  40 , rail cloth  30  is stretched over cushion  45  and fastened to rail  40  beneath cushion  45 . 
     Since the cushion  45  protrudes from the rail  40  to leave a concavity running the length of the rail  40  beneath the cushion  45 , the rail cloth  30  is affixed to the rail face  44  beneath the cushion  45  either by the adhesive force of the hook and loop fastening system  20  or by a conventional means such as tacking or stapling once the hook and loop fastening system  20  has been correctly positioned. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 12 , an insert  48  may be placed beneath the cushion  45  so as to support the rail cloth  30  between the cushion  45  and the base of the rail  40 . In a second rail attachment embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , the rail cloth  30  attaches to the rail face  44  beneath the cushion. 
     An embodiment for upgrading a conventional rail configured for cooperation with a feather strip is shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15A . In this embodiment, the invention provides an insertable track  50  to be placed inside the groove  43  for a the feather strip of a conventional rail. The insertable track  50  is installed in the feather strip groove  43  by a press fit, using adhesive, using tacks, using other conventional means, or combinations thereof. The tacks  52  are shown in  FIG. 15B . The invention&#39;s tract system uses the installed track with the invention&#39;s rail cloth  30  as shown in  FIG. 15C . 
     The invention&#39;s bed cloth  6  is templated with line markings  60  and/or written instructions on the surface to show the correct position for the cloth on both ends and sides for proper tensioning of the bed cloth when secured (see  FIG. 16 ). The template markings  60  are positioned on the cloth according to the type of cloth and its elasticity, so that when the cloth is drawn to the required tension, template markings  60  are aligned with the table&#39;s edges. The template markings  60  may also indicate the location of rail bolt holes. 
     The installer can now rely on the pre-marked lines to pull or stretch the bed cloth  6  to the right position and tension. The lines  60  on the cloth  6  are pulled to the edges of the table bed and then secured by the hook and loop fastening system  20 . 
     In a particular pocket-forming embodiment shown in  FIGS. 17A and 17B , the invention&#39;s bed cloth is produced with preformed openings for pockets that are stitched (sewn) with various patterns to accommodate the pocket openings. The patterns coincide with the type of pocket. A contoured cloth  62  is sewn onto the bed cloth such that the stitch line is below the playing surface when the bed cloth is installed. The hook and loop fastener strip  22  is pre-attached to the bottom of the contoured cloth  62 . In some cases, table pockets vary so some cutting of the contoured cloth  62  may be needed for a proper installation. 
     In an alternative pocket-forming embodiment, tabs  63  are cut in the cloth  6  at the pocket openings using lines templated and pre-marked on the cloth as in  FIG. 16  to show the position where the cloth  6  needs to be cut at pocket openings. The cloth  6  may be pre-cut and have the hook and loop fastening system pre-attached to the underside of the cloth at the pockets. 
     In an alternative securing embodiment, the templating system can be used with the existing staples or glue securing method, or an adhesive system (such as peel and stick method), as opposed to using the hook and loop fastening system. 
     Process Description 
     The invention&#39;s steps for placing or replacing the cloths of a game table begin with the fabrication of a bed cloth with template markings, pocket cuts, and a bed cloth edge fastening system, and the fabrication of a set of rail cloths, one for each rail section. Both the bed cloth and all rail cloths are marked using templates to show how far each cloth should be stretched to obtain the proper tension in the cloth for use of the table. Each rail cloth is fabricated with a rail cloth edge fastening system along one edge, and a tract edge fastening system along the opposite edge. 
     To install the cloths, the installer removes all rail sections from the game table to gain access to the bed cloth and the rail cloths for placement. The installer then stretches the bed cloth over the table bed using the bed cloth edge fastening system, and stretches each rail cloth over the rail section&#39;s cushion, anchoring the rail cloth&#39;s outer edge to the top of the rail using the tract edge fastening system, and anchoring the rail cloth&#39;s inner edge under the rail cushion using the rail cloth edge fastening system. The installer completes the job by replacing the rail sections on the game table. 
     The invention uses a hook and loop edge fastening system in a first fastening embodiment of its bed cloth and rail cloth edge fastening system, anchoring the hook and loop system to the edge of the cloth. In a second fastening embodiment, the invention uses a conventional glue or stapling method of fastening. 
     To make template markings and pocket cuts in the bed cloth, the invention includes cutting a bed cloth to a size sufficient to anchor said bed cloth to the underside of a game table, stretching the bed cloth over a template of a game table, and marking the bed cloth with the locations of the edges and the pockets of the template. The invention also allows for, whet needed, cutting the bed cloth radially from the centers of the pocket locations of the table template to the edges of the pocket locations of the table template, allowing the cloth to hang down into the pockets to provide attachment for the pockets themselves. 
     To make template markings in a rail cloth, the invention includes cutting a rail cloth to a size sufficient to anchor the rail cloth to the top of a rail section and the underside of the rail section, stretching the rail cloth over a template of a game table rail, anchoring the rail cloth to the template, and marking the rail cloth with the location of the edge of the template. 
     To constrict a tract edge fastening system, the invention includes cutting a retaining groove in each rail section substantially parallel to the rail cushion, cutting a rail cloth to a size sufficient to anchor the rail cloth to the rail section, fabricating a closed loop along the first edge of the rail cloth substantially parallel to the rail section to contain a tract shaft, and inserting the tract shaft in the closed loop. Making the retaining groove includes drilling a tract retaining hole in each rail section substantially parallel to the rail cushion and the full length of the rail section and cutting a tract retaining groove from the rail top through to the tract retaining hole. To hold the edge of the rail cloth, the tract retaining groove has a width smaller than the diameter of the tract shaft. 
     In an alternative tract edge fastening system embodiment better suited to conversion of conventional rail sections for the invention&#39;s use, the invention provides a tract retainer, of a size sufficient to contain and hold the tract shaft and the closed loop of the rail cloth, to be installed in the feather strip groove of each conventional rail section substantially parallel to the rail cushion. The installer anchors the tract retainer in the rail feather strip groove. 
     The bed cloth is fastened to the table using the invention&#39;s hook and loop fastening strip anchored to the table&#39;s horizontal underside or anchored to the outer vertical face of the table&#39;s underside. The rail cloth is fastened to the rail by anchoring a rail cloth hook and loop fastening strip to the edge of the rail cloth opposite the edge carrying the tract system, and fastening the fastening strip to its counterpart fastening strip on either the underside of the rail section or the inner face of the rail section below the cushion. In a particular embodiment, the hook and loop fastening strips are pre-attached to the edge of the cloth and the underside of the table. 
     The invention&#39;s methods for the installation of cloth coverings for game tables greatly simplifies the installation process. The simplification allows for more installations within a given time period, thereby raising installer productivity. The simplification also enables installation by less-skilled individuals, thereby reducing installation labor cost. Finally, and most importantly, the simplification provides a level of accuracy not yet attained in a consistent repetitive manner with the use of conventional methods. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof to adapt to particular situations without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.