Abstract:
Various devices for controlling errant ping pong balls during play are disclosed. A first embodiment may be construed as a device, positioned underneath a ping pong table, the device comprising a plurality of faces extending vertically from the ground and meeting at an apex to form a pyramid. Errant ping pong balls become deflected upon striking the plurality of faces.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the game of ping pong, and more generally relates to ping pong equipment. 
       BACKGROUND SECTION 
       [0002]    The game of ping pong, or table tennis, is played throughout the world, both leisurely and competitively. A fundamental element of the game is the ping pong table, which, in very general terms, is comprised of a level playing surface elevated some distance off the ground and a net that splits the playing surface into two equal sides. Tables geared towards the leisure market are typically constructed of metal frames, with metal legs, and are often collapsible for storage. Tables geared towards competitive play may be constructed of similar metal frame technology, or, in some cases, with a solid base. 
         [0003]    A well known frustration to the sport is loose ping pong balls. Because of their lightweight design and bounce they can easily become errant and a frustration to the players to corral. As is often the case, errant ping pong balls find their way underneath the playing surface. To retrieve the balls one must often crouch down below the table to retrieve the balls. In both leisure and competitive play this is a well-recognized nuisance. 
         [0004]    There exist attempts at resolving this problem. One such attempt is a table skirt that is comprised of a cloth-like, stretchable material that attaches below the playing surface and extends down to the ground, around the frame of the table. This provides for a closed surface, from table to floor, on all four sides of the table thus preventing errant balls from entering the air space below the table. This approach, however, comes with significant cost, that heretofore, aside from isolated competitive environments, has not been accepted by the marketplace. Secondly, in the leisure market, where a variety of metal frame tables exist, the skirt approach becomes problematic, as custom-shaped skirts are necessary. Thus, cost becomes an issue again. Third, installing the skirt can be a challenge particularly to a metal frame table. 
         [0005]    There exists a need in the marketplace to resolve the well-known dilemma of errant ping pong tables below the playing surface. The solution should be cost-effective, practical, and user-friendly, particularly when geared towards the leisure market. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Various devices for controlling errant ping pong balls during play are disclosed. A first embodiment may be construed as a device, positioned underneath a ping pong table, the device comprising a plurality of faces extending vertically from the ground and meeting at an apex to form a pyramid. Errant ping pong balls become deflected upon striking the plurality of faces. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 1A-C  illustrate an overhead view and side views of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A-C  illustrate an overhead view and side views of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A-C  illustrate an overhead view and side views of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 4A-C  illustrate an overhead view and side views of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a first approach towards assembling an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a second approach towards assembling an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. 
         [0015]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1A-C , illustrated are an overhead view and side views of a first embodiment of the present invention. The first embodiment of the invention is a device  10  positioned below a ping pong table  1 . Ping pong table  1  is constructed of a playing surface  4  sitting atop legs  3  of the table  1 . A net  2  is positioned atop and equally dividing the playing surface  4 . As is known in the sport of ping pong, each side of the playing surface  4  is the territory of one player, in the case of single&#39;s play, and two players, in the case of double&#39;s play. 
         [0016]    In this embodiment a single device  10  is centered about the table  1  in both the X and Y directions. In other embodiments, the device  10  could be positioned offset in either direction. In yet other embodiments, two (or more) devices  10  could be positioned underneath the playing surface  4  centered about each player&#39;s half. 
         [0017]    The device  10  is not, generally speaking, to scale but does illustrate a rectangular base shape mirroring the general dimensions of the ping pong table  1 . As will be illustrated in other embodiments, the device  10  could be other shapes with differing dimensions and still embody the principles of the invention. 
         [0018]    The device  10  takes on a pyramid shape with triangular faces  14 , each meeting at an apex  12 . In this embodiment the faces  14  are not symmetrical in size and shape. Each face  14  shares an edge  16  with another face  14 . The edges  16  that end at the apex  12  are generally defined as the relatively vertical edges. 
         [0019]    In this embodiment, the device  10  includes a base  18  that may sit atop the ground and may or may not be affixed to the ground. The base  18  shares an edge  16  with each face  14 . In other embodiments, the device  10  may not include a base  18  as part of the device  10 . In such a case, the faces  14  will rest atop the ground. 
         [0020]    In this embodiment, the device  10  is formed in such a manner that the four faces  14  are positioned to provide a closed-structure that defines a closed volume (in this instance, of air). In the case where the device  10  does not include a base  18 , the device  10  would still be defined as “closed” if the faces  14 , in conjunction with the ground form a closed volume. 
         [0021]    The device  10  can be constructed of a wide variety of materials, each providing varying degrees of effectiveness, durability, cost of manufacture, ease in packaging and shipping, and other factors. Some, non-limiting, examples of materials in which the device  10  can be constructed are: corrugated fiberboard, wood, foam, aluminum, and plastic. In the case of materials such as corrugated fiberboard, aluminum, plastic, and plastic, the device  10  can be constructed of one piece, folded or creased as needed, preferably along the edges  16 . A variety of attaching means can be utilized to join adjacent faces  14  not sharing a unitary piece of material. 
         [0022]    In other embodiments, the device  10  can be formed of a volume of a solid material defined by the various faces  14  and edges  16 . Foam, for example, is one type of example material where this approach could be utilized. 
         [0023]    In yet other embodiments, the device  10  can be formed by the various faces  14 , edges  16 , and base  18  and inflated to take shape and enclose a volume of air. 
         [0024]    In practice, the device  10  is a useful device during the play of ping pong. As is well known in the art, ping pong balls tend to run errant during play. The lightweight and airy design of ping pong balls is critical for play but also causes the balls to come loose. Often times, an errant ball will enter the air space below the playing surface. In these instances, the ball may continue to run errant and leave the air space below the surface, at which time, a player can easily retrieve the ball. Alternatively, the ball may come to rest underneath the playing surface, thus causing one of the players to fetch it. A player must, generally, bend down under the table surface, reach, and retrieve the ball. This process can be quite cumbersome and, if repeated throughout a match, becomes a nuisance, a tax on the body, and a time drain (particularly during competitive play). Device  10 , as described herein, can be placed to fill a considerable portion of the air space (and ground) below the playing surface. As such, an errant ball, when entering the air space below the playing surface, can come in contact with the device  10 . The ball would subsequently change direction, and preferably leave the air space below the playing surface, thereby making it easier for a player to retrieve. The nuisance of repeatedly retrieving errant balls below the table, is thus avoided, or at the least, mitigated. 
         [0025]    As it will be understood by those skilled in the art, there are a number of approaches to manufacturing and producing a device that embodies the invention and accomplishes its intended goals. All such approaches to manufacture and production shall be included within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 2-5  illustrate various embodiments of the present invention. Each of these embodiments can be manufactured and produced in similar approaches as those defined above. Likewise, other approaches of manufacture and production are contemplated. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2A-C  illustrates an overhead view and side views of a second embodiment of the present invention. Device  20 , in this embodiment, includes two sloped faces  24  that meet at a crest  22 . Side faces  25 , in this embodiment, lies in the X and Z plane, meeting the sloped faces at edges  26 . The sloped faces  24  and the side faces  25  can rest atop the ground, or optionally meet base  28  at an edge. As is the case with  FIG. 1 , the defined shape is a polyhedron that is a three dimensional shape defined by flat faces and straight edges. In the case of  FIG. 1 , the pyramid shape is a sub-type of the more general polyhedron shape, defined by a polygonal base, an apex, and n-triangular faces connecting the two. There are an infinite number of polyhedron shapes, some more symmetrical then others. It will be appreciated that any polyhedron shaped structure can define the device without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0028]    In the case of the device  20  of  FIG. 2 , the side faces  25  are optional. If provided, the device shall be considered a “closed” shape, similar to that of  FIG. 1 , because the volume within the device  20  is generally enclosed by the various faces (including the base  28 , or alternatively, the ground surface as an enclosing face in the case where the base  28  is excluded. 
         [0029]    Should side faces  25  not be included in the device  20 , the shape shall be considered “open” as the volume defined by the device  20  is not fully enclosed. This variation may be desirable in instances where the structure of the table  1  would preclude a closed device  20  from being easily placed. For example, it is not uncommon for a table  1  to include a lateral support member  5  that extends from one side of the ping pong table  1  to the other (best illustrated in  FIG. 2B ). Member  5  is often used for structural support as well as for storage of playing equipment. In yet other cases, a closed device  20  can be altered, for example, by punching holes in the side faces  25 , to allow for the lateral support member  5 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 3A-C  illustrates an overhead view and side views of a third embodiment of the present invention. The device  30  illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-C  is similar to the device  10  of  FIG. 1 , in that it is a pyramid shape. In this embodiment, the device  30  is square pyramid in that all four faces  34  are similar in dimension.  FIGS. 4A-C  illustrates yet another embodiment. The device  40  is an eight sided pyramid. Eight triangular faces  44  meet at the apex  42 . The embodiments disclosed herein are merely for exemplary purposes and shall not be considered limiting in any way. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates a first approach towards assembling an embodiment of the present invention. In this case, device  130 , when folded to shape takes on the device  30  of  FIG. 3 . Corrugated fiberboard is the envisioned material from which the device  30  is constructed, in this example. One singular piece of fiberboard is utilized and cut to shape, with the base  138  sharing edges  136  with the four triangular faces  134 . Creases can be applied to the fiberboard at the edges  136  during manufacture. The end user can then fold the device  130  to shape. The triangular faces  134  can be affixed to each other at the edges  135  with a variety of means of attachment. Such means of attachment are beyond the scope of the present invention. 
         [0032]    This approach offers a simple and cost effective way to manufacture the device  130 . It should be understood that this is but one approach towards manufacturing the device  130  using but one example of material. A great variety of approaches, including those aforementioned, as well as materials could be used to manufacture the device  130 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates a second approach towards assembling the device  131 . Again, in this example, the envisioned material is corrugated fiberboard. In this case, triangular faces  134  all share one piece of fiberboard. Creases are applied at the vertical edges  135 . In this instance, no base is provided. As such, when folded into place, the device  131  would simply rest atop the ground. Upon folding the device  131  to form, the faces  134  all meet.