Abstract:
The present invention provides for a playing surface which should be substantially rectangular in nature and oriented at the height of a standardized table, the playing surface having an adjustable transverse angular divider or barrier bisecting the playing area and side deflector walls extending upwardly from the lateral sides of the playing surface, the game being played by propelling a perforated hollow ball from one side of the playing surface to the other by means of paddles, the playing surface, transverse barrier, and side walls all being part of the playing surface.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/335,886, filed Jan. 14, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a table game and more specifically, to a table game adapted to be played based upon the rules of table tennis, however combining the effects and variety of other paddle games from platform tennis, squash and racket ball. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    There are many sports, both table top and field sports, which incorporate a barrier in the form of a net over which a ball must pass. Such sports include field tennis, platform tennis, and ping pong. Further, there are many sports in which the ball is played against a wall, such as hand ball, racket ball and squash, and the players must anticipate the various angles at which the ball will return from the end wall and side walls. 
         [0006]    The present invention incorporates and combines the skills required for table tennis, ping pong and tennis with those required for racket ball, squash, and hand ball, in a table top game. Specifically, this invention relates to a game table having a substantially horizontal extending surface having an adjustably angled barrier extending transversely thereof defining opposing fields of play for simultaneous competition by a plurality of players using a single ball. The game table having opposed upright deflector walls extending lengthwise on opposing sides, the length of the deflector walls substantially equal to the length of the transverse barrier, the ball, being struck by the players with a paddle, the game surface including the substantially horizontally extending surface of the table, the angular adjustable sides of the barrier, and the deflector walls. The plurality of adjustable and fixed rebounding surfaces combined to require the players to use the skills of tennis, ping pong, squash, and racquet ball for the playing of the game. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game which simulates a number of paddle ball games for use in relatively confined quarters, wherein the playing surfaces are maximized, using not only the conventional horizontal playing surface, but also walls and a traversing barrier. 
         [0008]    A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game which will afford the effect of a considerable amount of room available for play, but which nevertheless can be played in a relatively confined space, the ballistic characteristics of the ball in relation to the paddle and the playing surface enabling the novel game to be played either relatively fast or relatively slow. 
         [0009]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game which requires the players to propel the ball by means of paddles across a transverse barrier, which barrier also forms part of the playing surface, together with the table top and the side walls. 
         [0010]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game in which the traversing barrier is angularly adjustable with respect to opposing players thereby affecting the path and the rebound of the playing ball and the difficulty of the game. 
         [0011]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game which is unitary in construction including playing surfaces and leg supports. 
         [0012]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel table top game in which the adjustable traversing barrier and the deflector side walls are adapted for conversion of a standard ping pong table to a barrier ball table of the type described hereafter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention provides for a playing surface which should be substantially rectangular in nature and oriented at the height of a standardized table, the playing surface having an adjustable transverse angular divider or barrier bisecting the playing area and side deflector walls extending upwardly from the lateral sides of the playing surface, the game being played by propelling a perforated hollow ball from one side of the playing surface to the other by means of paddles, the playing surface, transverse barrier, and side walls all being part of the playing surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    These and other objects of the present invention will become evident particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one form of a unitary playing table and divider mechanism utilized in conjunction with the barrier ball game, the table illustrated in  FIG. 1  being a table specifically dedicated to the barrier ball game; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a cross-brace assembly and deflector side walls adapted to convert another table top game playing surface such as a ping pong table to barrier ball; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates the assembly of  FIG. 2  incorporating the barrier surfaces set at an angle of 15 degrees secured to a ping pong table top; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates the assembly of  FIG. 2  with the barrier walls adjusted to a 45 degree angle secured to a ping pong table top; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the assembly of  FIG. 2  illustrating the cross-brace and deflector wall assembly, together with angle setting protractor guides for adjusting the angle of the barrier walls; and 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9  are end views of the cross-brace assembly and protractor guide slots illustrating the manner of adjustment of the angular barrier walls. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view illustrating one embodiment of the barrier game. In this embodiment, the game table  10  is a dedicated table to the barrier ball game. It comprises a substantially horizontal playing surface  12  having an adjustable transverse barrier wall  14  extending transversely and bisecting the table top  12  defining opposing fields of play on opposing sides of the barrier wall. The table incorporates support legs  16  which extend above the playing surface, that portion of the support legs extending above the playing surface defining the deflector walls  18  which are part of the playing surface. In the preferred embodiment, the deflector walls  18  would be fabricated from a transparent polymer, such as plexiglass, which would allow spectators viewing the game as it is played to see the action of the ball as explained in more detail hereafter, as it engages the playing surface  12 , the barrier wall  14 , and the deflector walls  18 . 
         [0022]    In the preferred embodiment, the table top would be approximately 8 feet long and 5 feet wide, and elevated approximately 2½ from the underlying substrate. The barrier wall members would be angularly adjustable with respect to each other, as more fully described hereafter, so as to allow for greater angular shooting strategy by the players. The height of the deflecting walls with respect to the height of the playing surface would preferably be a height of 2½ feet. The length of the deflecting walls in the preferred embodiment would be 2 feet on either side of the barrier walls so as not to interfere with the swinging of a players arms and paddle  19  when engaging the ball  21 . 
         [0023]    The unitary dedicated barrier ball table illustrated in  FIG. 1  may have application in a recreation center environment, or in a bar or other gaming environment where table games such as pool tables, shuffleboards and the like are often found. It could also be used in a home environment, but its use and convenience may be limited because of the size of the table and its construction. Therefore, a conversion kit of the barrier ball game allows for the conversion of a standard home ping pong table, which is oftentimes foldable in half for storage, to be converted easily and facilely to the barrier ball format. This conversion kit is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 through 5 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a portion of the conversion kit  50  which allows for the conversion of a conventional ping pong table  51  to a barrier ball table. The conversion kit includes a cross-brace  52  which as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is in the form of an inverted T having a base member  54  and an upstanding vertical leg member  56 . Cross-brace  52  is dimensioned to the width of a standard ping pong table and is designed to traverse the width of the ping pong table at a point where the net would normally be positioned, and bisect the ping pong table playing surface into two opposing surfaces  58  and  60 . Deflector walls  62  and  64  are secured to the ends of cross-brace  52  by a plurality of threaded fasteners  66 . As in the unitary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the deflector walls  62  and  64  are preferably formed of a transparent polymer. 
         [0025]    Deflector walls  62  and  64  have secured in each of their lower corners  70 , a thumbscrew bracket  72  which is slidably received on the underside  74  of the ping pong table  51  surface, the thumb screw brackets  72  being tightened to secure the deflector walls  62  and  64  and the attached cross-brace  52  in position on the ping pong table  51 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates the assembly of  FIG. 2  secured to the playing surface of a ping pong table  51 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the cross-brace  52  is now positioned between and under barrier wall surfaces  76  and  78  which traverse the ping pong table playing surface between opposing deflector walls  62  and  64 . The barrier wall surfaces  76  and  78  are angularly adjustable and serve to form a barrier wall  14  identical to that illustrated in  FIG. 1  and allows for the players to selectively angularly adjust the barrier walls  76  and  78  to affect the angular motion and momentum of the playing ball  21 . In  FIG. 3 , the barrier walls  76  and  78  are set at an angle of 15 degrees. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates the assembly of  FIG. 2  secured to a ping pong table surface, and which in this instance the barrier walls  76  and  78  are selectively angularly adjusted to a 45 degree angle with respect to each other. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the barrier wall assembly of  FIG. 2 . In this illustration, the deflector wall, which is fabricated from a clear polymer, such as plexiglass, is secured to the end of cross-brace  52  by a plurality of fasteners  66 , such as mounting bolts secured to internally threaded bores in the end of cross-brace  52 . The thumb screw brackets  72  at the lower corners of the deflector wall  64  are positioned to engage the underside of the playing surface of the ping pong table  51 . There is formed in the deflector wall, a plurality of angular protractor slots  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  positioned proximate to and on both sides of the end of cross-brace  52 . Protractor slots  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  slidably engage selectively adjustable thumb screws  90 ,  92 ,  94 , and  96  which selectively pass through their individual slot and are engaged in a threaded bore on the underside of each of the barrier wall members  76  and  78 . The slots are further graded with indicia to facilitate angular adjustment. In this manner, the thumb screws  90 ,  92 ,  94 , and  96  may be loosened, and the barrier wall members  76  and  78  manually adjusted until the thumb screw members are all at the same angular indicia with respect to their respective slots. The thumb screws  90 ,  92 ,  94 , and  96  would then be tightened to frictionally engage the outer surface of the deflector wall  64  proximate the respective slot to maintain the barrier wall members at the selected degree of angularity for play. The same adjustment would occur on the opposing deflector wall  62  and the same adjustment would be performed on the deflector walls  18  on the permanent embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a side close up view of the end of cross-brace  52  illustrating the positioning of the slots  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  with respect to the end of cross-brace  52 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  9  are close up views of the end of the cross-brace  52 , slots  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86 , barrier wall members  76  and  78 , and the thumb screw adjustment members  90 ,  92 ,  94 , and  96  for positioning the barrier wall members at 45 degree, 30 degree, and 15 degree angularity. 
         [0031]    The existence of the barrier wall  14  welcomes the use of a variety of strategies. As a player gets used to the game and improves to the point where he can accurately put the ball  21  where he desires, he can then utilize the barrier wall  14  at will. The barrier wall  14  can be used to set up shots, break an opponent&#39;s concentration; or if a player has to reach for a ball  21  that takes him out of position, he can aim for the barrier wall  14  and get back into position and take the second shot. 
         [0032]    The forty-five degree angle gives a player the ability to choose the speed and/or height of the return. The deflector walls  18 ,  62  and  64  also may be used in conjunction with the barrier wall  14 . 
         [0033]    The skill involved with intentional use of the barrier wall  14  is based on geometrical principles. The barrier wall  14  creates the existence of an infinite amount of possible combinations and angles of return, influencing the speed of the game. 
         [0034]    The adjustability of the angles of barrier wall  14  introduces further variables into the game based upon a change in geometrical angles as discussed hereafter. It allows for players having advanced skill in playing the game to introduce an angular modification to the barrier wall  14  which will effect the manner in which the ball  21  reflects from the barrier wall  14  and hence introduce variable strategies into the game. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the table surface  12  is divided on each side of the playing table to provide a barrier zone  15  and a service zone  17 . The barrier zone  15  is two feet deep from barrier wall  14 . The service zone  17 , which is part of the playing horizontal surface, extends from barrier zone  15  to the end of the playing surface  12 . 
         [0036]    The deflecting walls  18  are formed of transparent plastic. The height of the deflecting walls with respect to the plane of the surface of the table top is two and one half feet. The length of the deflecting walls  10  is set to extend the full length of the barrier zone  15 . In this embodiment, it is fixed to be four feet. By forming the deflecting walls  10  of a transparent plastic material permits spectators to view the play of the game. It also assists novices to the game in watching skilled players play the game such that the novices can more quickly gain insight into the strategies of play. 
         [0037]    The game is played by two players each having a paddle  19  which is designed to allow it to return perforated balls  21  between the barrier zone  15  and deflector walls  18 . The paddle  19  has a batting portion on each side and an integral handle portion. The batting portions are each provided with a soft plastic covering for ball control. The paddle  19  is constructed of wood, light metal or celluloid, or any other suitable material having the required lightness and strength to withstand the blows struck against the plastic ball. 
         [0038]    In the returning of the ball  21 , the player may use the surfaces of the vertical deflector walls  18 ; the angular barrier wall  14 ; as playing surfaces as well as the playing surface formed by the table top  12 . 
         [0039]    The service is developed by the server holding the ball  21  in an outstretched, open palm and either tossing the ball  21  up or just dropping it. The server must then strike the ball  21  before it makes contact with service zone  17  on the playing horizontal surface  12 . As the player&#39;s paddle  19  makes contact with the ball  21 , it must then bounce behind the server&#39;s service zone  15 . The ball  21  must then cross the barrier wall  14 . Deflector walls  18  may be used to allow the ball  21  to bounce within the opponent&#39;s service zone  17 . Should the ball go beyond the opponent&#39;s service zone  17  on the serve, it is considered “long” and the server automatically loses his serve. Should the ball bounce correctly in the server&#39;s service zone  17  but totally pass over his opponent&#39;s service zone  17 , it is also “long” and results in an automatic loss of serve. Should the ball bounce correctly in the server&#39;s service zone  17  but fall short of his opponent&#39;s service zone  17  it is ruled “short” and the server gets a second serve. If he serves any type of a bad serve on his second serve, he loses his serve and the opponent gets one point automatically. The use of the barrier wall  14  is prohibited during a serve. If the ball  21  makes contact at all with the barrier wall  14  on the serve, it is also ruled “bad” and results in the automatic loss of the serve. An opponent may not under any circumstances (anticipation of long, short or good serve) return a serve on a fly. If this occurs, a point is awarded to the server. 
         [0040]    In this invention, the game involves hitting the ball  21  back and forth over the barrier wall  14  until one player misses his opponent&#39;s shot; cannot hit his opponent&#39;s shot before the ball bounces a second time; or returns his opponent&#39;s shot but hits it off the playing surface before it bounces on his opponent&#39;s horizontal playing area. A player may return a shot before or after it bounces on his horizontal playing area. Any combination of vertical deflector walls  18 , barrier wall  14 , or horizontal surfaces  12  may be used. However, the ball  21  may only bounce one time on horizontal surface  12  during a combination. As the player then attempts to return the ball  21  once his paddle  19  makes contact with the ball  21 , it cannot bounce on that player&#39;s horizontal surface. However, he may use the vertical deflector walls; since they have no center line and their entire area may be utilized by both players either returning or pursuing a shot. Should the ball  21  not clear the barrier wall  14  and bounce back, the player has the opportunity to take one more shot at the ball  21 ; but only one time while he is in possession of the volley. Should this type of shot occur as the ball  21  bounces back off the barrier wall  14 , it is treated as if the opponent returned the shot and the same rules apply. If on the second shot the ball  21  hits the barrier wall  14  but goes over to the opponent&#39;s playing area, it s ruled “good”. 
         [0041]    The playing of the game has been described with respect to  FIG. 1  which represents a game table dedicated to the barrier ball game. The same rules would apply to the conversion kit illustrated in  FIGS. 2 through 9  which could be utilized to convert a ping pong table to a barrier ball game. Since the barrier zone  15  extends from the barrier wall  14  to a point defined by the ends of the deflector walls  18 , ( 62  and  64  in the conversion kit) the uses of the conversion kit for a ping pong table can readily establish the delineation between the barrier zone  15  and the service zone  17  by means of a tape extending transversely across the table, the terminus of which would be the ends of the deflector walls  62  and  64 . 
         [0042]    While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particularly, it will be recognized that the angular adjustment of the barrier wall members may be mechanical accomplished by means other than described. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.