Patent Publication Number: US-2012032402-A1

Title: Game table with rapid return system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/362467, filed Jul. 8, 2010, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to game tables. More specifically, the invention relates to a game table for a drinking game that allows the user to play alone or against an opponent. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Beer pong is a drinking game in which players throw a ping-pong ball across a table with the intent of landing the ball in a cup of beer/water on the other end. The game typically consists of multiple cups set up on each side set up in triangle formation. There are no official rules, so rules may vary widely, though usually there are six or ten plastic cups arranged in a triangle on each side. 
     Beer pong is usually played with two teams of two players each, though it can be played with two teams of one person each, or other numbers of players. Each team begins the game standing at either end of the table behind their rack of cups. The order of play varies: both players on one team shoot followed by both players on the opposing team, or players on opposite teams may alternate back and forth. When a ping pong ball is successfully tossed into an opponent&#39;s cup, the opponent must drink the beer from the made cup and remove that cup from the table. That cup has now been eliminated from the game. For non-drinkers, the game may be played without beer. Instead, water or soda may be used. 
     Although the game is typically played on either a ping pong table or a folding banquet table, enthusiasts may create a personalized table for use by friends and visitors. In general, this will be a plywood board cut to proper size, sometimes painted with sports, school, or fraternity symbols and given a liquid-proof coating. Some companies sell tables, and there are companies making portable or inflatable tables. The game can be played on any flat surface, such as a door or dining table. 
     The most common cups used are 16 ounce disposable plastic cups with ridge-lines which can be used precisely to measure the amount of beer to be poured into the cup. On each side of the table, teams assemble equilateral triangles, with a convergence point focusing on the other team. Games typically use six or ten cups. Each team usually has a separate cup of water, which is used to rinse off the ball. After shooting, teams may dunk the ping pong balls into cups of water in order to wash off the balls. 
     38 mm or 40 mm table tennis (ping pong) balls are typically used for game play. 
     There are very few universal or “official” rules. Typically, players abide by a uniform set of “house rules”, which are often consistent within one university or region of the country (e.g., “Ivy League rules” or “West Coast rules”), or may vary on a “house-by-house” basis. The number of cups, bouncing, amount of alcohol, the distance shots must be taken from may all vary. 
     There are three key ways to shoot in beer pong: the arc, the fastball (or “laser”), and the bounce shot. The most common throwing technique is the “arc” shot, where one grasps the ping pong ball with the tips of the thumb and forefinger, holds the arm at an angle with the ball upwards, then throw by using gentle elbow motion, holding the upper arm parallel with the table. 
     Some players throw “fastball” style, which uses more of a hard chopping motion to send the ball in a more direct line to the intended target cup. Also, a fastball shot may be favorable if house rules dictate a cup that is knocked over is taken off the table, in which case a fastball can eliminate multiple cups if thrown hard enough. 
     A “bounce” shot is performed by bouncing the ball toward the cups. Since (depending on house rules) the other team may have the opportunity to swat away a bounced ball, a bounce may be worth more than one cup. In some rule sets, bouncing is not allowed; in others, it is required. 
     If the opposing team makes the last cup, the other team loses unless they can make either all remaining cups or simply one cup. This is called a rebuttal or redemption. In some rule sets, if the opposing team hits the last cup with both of their balls, no redemption is given to the losing team. 
     A disadvantage of current beer pong tables is that they do not permit a user to play or practice alone in order to improve their throwing skills The tables are flat surfaces that hold the cups and are open on the ends and sides. Thus, the user winds up chasing and picking up the balls. Alternatively, the balls are stored in the cups when not in play. 
     Another disadvantage is that players may become annoyed while waiting for a distracted player to take their turn. 
     Other disadvantages of current beer pong tables include having to deal with cleaning up spilled liquids, organizing loose cups, and washing the ping pong balls. 
     SUMMARY 
     This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a game table in which the cups are attached to a scoring mechanism. The cups are positioned within a platform. The scoring mechanism consists of two sets of three cups that are attached to three individual ramps that transport the ball into three individual tubes which visibly holds three balls each. Once a tube has accumulated three balls, it will reject a fourth ball and lets it fall back to the collection point behind it as if it were a missed shot. The collection point organizes the balls into a straight line so that they can be delivered into the air powered return tube. The ball return tube constantly delivers missed shots back to the ball tray which can hold around 30 to 40 balls. The ball tray is positioned right in front of the players. A backboard surrounds the back and sides of the cups to stop the missed shots from landing on the floor. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the collection point contains an aperture to allow the used balls to fall through into a receptacle positioned underneath the aperture. 
     In another alternative embodiment, the cup platform is adapted to hold ten cups and the ramps and scoring tubes are not present. 
     It is a goal of the present invention to provide a table that is low maintenance such that the user does not have to pick up balls from the floor, clean up any spilled liquid, wash the balls, and/or organize loose cups. 
     It is another goal of the present invention to provide a table in which no liquid in the cups is required. 
     It is yet another goal of the present invention to provide a table that allows the user to practice beer pong alone in order to improve their throwing skills in as little as 10 to 15 minutes of continuous play. 
     It a further goal of the present invention to provide a table in which the users are not required to take turns, thus reducing player distraction. 
     The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention description below refers to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the scoring mechanism of the present invention, shown in a closed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the scoring mechanism of  FIG. 5 , shown in an open position; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the scoring mechanism of  FIG. 5 , shown in a closed position; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the scoring mechanism of  FIG. 5 , shown in an open position; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded rear view of the scoring mechanism of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded rear perspective view of the scoring mechanism of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of the present invention 
         FIG. 13  is a close up front perspective view of the cup platform of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is side view of the ball tray of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom perspective view of the ball tray of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the ball tray of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a close up front perspective view of the cup holder of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 18  is a close up top perspective view of the cup holder of  FIG. 17 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings in general and to  FIGS. 1 to 18  in particular, there is provided a game table  100 . Game table  100  has several components including, but not limited to, a ball tray  10 , a ball return tube  20 , and a playing surface  30  having a scoring mechanism  40 . In one embodiment, game table  100 , with all of its components, is approximately 8 feet 4 inches in length. 
     In one embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , playing surface  30  is approximately 3 feet 2 inches in width at the front edge, 3 feet in length, and 3 feet 8 inches in height. Playing surface  30  has a bottom portion  32  that is an inverted pyramid in shape. Bottom portion  32  of playing surface  30  is attached to a stand  50  for stability. A backboard  60  is positioned at the rear of playing surface  30  to stop the missed shots from landing on the floor. In one embodiment, backboard  60  is 2 feet in width. The side walls  70  of playing surface  30  may be made of netting. The netting is positioned such that it increases visibility of the play action. The walls of bottom portion  32  are slanted to facilitate collection of missed shots at a collection point  34 . Backboard  60  of playing surface  30  is adapted to receive scoring mechanism  40 . 
     In one embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 5 to 10 , scoring mechanism  40  consists of two sets of three cups  42 , a series of ramps  44 , and a series of scoring tubes  46 . One example of the type of cups  42  that may be used is plastic cups. Cups  42  are positioned in a triangular formation in a cup platform  48 . Cup platform  48  may be made of plastic. Each cup  42  in cup platform  48  is attached to an individual ramp  44  that transports a ball  80  into an individual scoring tube  46 . Cup platform  48  may be attached to ramps  44  via a sliding clip arrangement. The slope of ramps  44  is at an angle sufficient enough to insure that balls  80  keep moving even if playing surface  30  is not completely level. Ramps  44  and scoring tubes  46  may be made of plastic. Each scoring tube  46  holds three balls  80 . Once scoring tube  46  has accumulated three balls, it will reject a fourth ball and lets that ball fall back to collection point  34  behind scoring tube  46  as if it were a missed shot. Scoring tubes  46  are attached to each other. Balls  80  in scoring tubes  46  are released when the cover  45  of tubes  46  is swung forward from the bottom such that they roll back to collection point  34 . Collection point  34  organizes balls  80  into a straight line so that they may be delivered into ball return tube  20 . 
     Ball return tube  20  is powered by a fan (not shown), which blows air behind the balls to send them up the tube. In one embodiment, the fan and ball return tube  20  are made of plastic. Ball return tube  20  constantly delivers the missed shots back to ball tray  10 , which may hold approximately 30 to 40 balls. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the game table of the present invention, shown in  FIG. 11  as  100 ′, bottom portion  32  of playing surface  30  contains an aperture (not shown) in collection point  34  to allow the used balls  80  to fall through into a receptacle  90  positioned underneath the aperture. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the game table of the present invention, shown in  FIGS. 12-13  as  100 ″, cup platform  48 ′ is adapted to hold ten cups  42  and the ramps and scoring tubes are not present. In this embodiment, the user is able to practice their throwing skills. 
     Ball tray  10  is positioned right in front of the players. In one embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 14-15 , ball tray  10  is approximately 1 foot 8 inches in width at is base, 2 feet 6 inches in height, and 2 feet 4 inches in length. Ball tray  10  may be triangular in shape. Ball tray  10  is positioned upon a stand  12  for stability. Ball tray  10  has a cover  11  that partially encloses the top half of the tray  10  and one end of ball return tube  20 . In an alternative embodiment, shown in  FIG. 16  ball tray  10  is uncovered. A cup holder  15  is positioned at the apex of ball tray  10 . In one embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 17-18 , cup holder  15  is adapted to hold two cups  42 . 
     Playing surface  30 , including backboard  60 , and ball tray  10  may made of cardboard or reinforced fabric. The type of cardboard may be paperboard and/or corrugated fiberboard. Playing surface  30  and ball tray  10  may be decorated with artwork to enhance the enjoyment of playing the game. For example, such artwork may include trademarks, sports fields, sports team logos, college or fraternity logos, or even the name of a bar. 
     The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope if this invention. Each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with other described embodiments in order to provide multiple features. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this invention.