Patent Publication Number: US-11376492-B2

Title: Game table

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to game appliances, and more particularly to a game table. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A bead-type score counter is generally composed of a rod body and scoring beads that can be movably arranged on the rod body. It has a simple structure, so it is widely used in game tables such as table football tables or air hockey tables. The score counter is configured to record the score. 
     When the conventional bead-type score counters are installed and applied to the game tables, some structures are simple and the installation is convenient. However, in terms of installation positioning accuracy, especially after a period of use, the position of the rod body is prone to deviation, which will affect the use. Some designs have better installation and positioning accuracy, but the installation is not easy. 
     In addition, in the conventional bead-type score counter, because the scoring beads are made of metal or hard plastic material, it is easy to scratch the rod body when moving the scoring beads, so the scoring beads and the rod body may have scratches. As a result, the scoring beads cannot be moved smoothly to affect the use. After a period of use, the scoring beads may jam on the rod body to cause damages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a game table with a score counter that has an ingenious design and can be installed conveniently. The installation and positioning accuracy is good. After a period of use, a rod of the score counter is still in the axis position, and the reliability of use is good. 
     In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: 
     A game table comprises a table body and a score counter mounted to the table body. 
     The table body includes a table top, a support under the table top, and a side frame surrounding the table top. The side frame includes a pair of side plates and a pair of end plates to be connected together. 
     The score counter includes a middle rod and a plurality of scoring beads. The scoring beads are movably sleeved on the middle rod. Two ends of the middle rod are provided with fixing rods, respectively. The fixing rods have fixing holes therein. The two ends of the middle rod are inserted into the corresponding fixing holes and positioned to the fixing rods, respectively. 
     Compared with the prior art, the present invention has obvious advantages and beneficial effects. Specifically, it can be known from the above technical solutions. The score counter has an ingenious design and can be installed conveniently. The installation and positioning accuracy is good. After a period of use, the middle rod of the score counter is still in the axis position, and the reliability of use is good. 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view according to a first embodiment of the present invention (the game table is a table football table); 
         FIG. 2  is a partial schematic view according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the scoring bead according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view according to a second embodiment of the present invention (the game table is an air hockey table); 
         FIG. 8  is a partial schematic view according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the scoring bead according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the scoring bead according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a partial enlarged view of circle A of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 to 12  show the specific structures of various embodiments of the present invention. The present invention discloses a game table, comprising a table body  30  and a score counter  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the table body  30  includes a table top  31 , a support  32  under the table top  31 , and a side frame  33  surrounding the table top  31 . The side frame  33  includes a pair of side plates  331  and a pair of end plates  332  to be connected together. The game table is a table football table. The inner walls of the two side plates  331  are provided with elastic rubber strips  3311  for the elastic impact of a toy football. The elastic rubber strips  3311  are disposed at the lower edges of the inner walls of the pair of side plates  331 . Through the elastic rubber strips  3311 , the toy football can roll to the area where the figures can kick under the elastic effect when the toy football hit the elastic rubber strips in the game. In this way, the game table can reduce the occurrence of dead balls, improve the continuity in the game, and enhance the fun and entertainment of the game. Preferably, the elastic rubber strips  3311  protrude from the inner walls of the side plates  311 . 
     The score counter  100  includes a middle rod  10  and a plurality of scoring beads  20 . Two ends of the middle rod  10  are provided with anti-collision protective rings  11 . The scoring beads  20  are movably sleeved on the middle rod  10  and located between the anti-collision protective rings  11 . The two ends of the middle rod  10  are provided with fixing rods, respectively. Each anti-collision protective ring  11  is sleeved on the outer periphery of the middle rod  10  and abuts against one end of a corresponding one of the fixing rods. Through the anti-collision protective rings  11  disposed on both ends of the middle rod, after the middle rod is installed on the table body  30 , the anti-collision protective rings are configured to avoid collision with the table body  30  when the scoring beads are moved. Through the anti-collision protective rings  11  to reduce the collision force generated by the scoring beads  20 , the collision force generated by the scoring beads against the table body will not cause the middle rod to loosen in the use of the score counter, and the middle rod can be firmly installed on the table body  30  to prolong the service life of the score counter  100 . 
     Each fixing rod is formed with a fixing hole  121 . The two ends of the middle rod  10  are inserted into the corresponding fixing holes  121  of the fixing rods, respectively. The fixing rods are defined as a third fixing rod  1205  and a fourth fixing rod  1206 , respectively. A second mounting seat  42  for mounting the fixing rods is provided. The second mounting seat  42  is formed with two second mounting holes  421  which are spaced a distance along the axial direction of the middle rod  10  and are aligned with each other and extends through two outer ends of the second mounting seat  42 . The third fixing rod  1205  and the fourth fixing rod  1206  are located in the corresponding second mounting holes  421 , respectively. The two ends of the middle rod  10  are located in the third fixing rod  1205  and the fourth fixing rod  1206 , respectively. The two ends of the middle rod  10  and the outer ends of the third fixing rod  1205  and the fourth fixing rod  1206  are connected and positioned at the two outer ends of the second mounting seat  42 , respectively. The second mounting seat  42  may be installed to the end plate  332 , or the second mounting seat  42  may directly serve as the end plate  332 . 
     The outer ends of the third fixing rod  1205  and the fourth fixing rod  1206  are connected with mounting plates  1207 . Each mounting plate  1207  is formed with a first locking hole  1208  and a second locking hole  1209 . The first locking holes  1208  of the mounting plates  1207  correspond to the outer ends of the third fixing rod  1205  and the fourth fixing rod  1206 , respectively. The two ends of the middle rod  10  are provided with internal threaded connection portions  101 . The outer ends of the second mounting seat  42  are formed with third locking holes  423  corresponding to the second locking holes  1209  of the mounting plates  1207 . The third fixing rod  1205  and the fourth fixing rod  1206  are inserted into the second mounting holes  421  from the two outer ends of the second mounting seat  42 . The first locking holes of the mounting plates are arranged corresponding to the corresponding internal threaded connection portions  101 . The second locking holes of the mounting plates and the third locking holes are connected and positioned by first screws  102 . 
     Each scoring bead  20  is formed with a through hole  21 . A protective sleeve  22  is installed in the through hole  21 . The scoring bead  20  is in clearance fit with the outer periphery of the middle rod  10  through an inner hole  2201  of the protective sleeve  22 . The through hole  21  is provided with an engaging recess  211 , and the protective sleeve  22  is provided with an engaging protrusion  221 . The protective sleeve  22  is inserted from one end of the through hole  21 , and the engaging protrusion  221  is engaged in the engaging recess  211 . By the engagement of the engaging protrusion  221  and the engaging recess  211 , the installation of the scoring bead  20  and the protective sleeve  22  is simpler and more convenient. The scoring bead is preferably made of a hard plastic or metal material, and the protective sleeve  22  and the anti-collision protective rings are preferably made of a rubber material. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 to 10 , the game table is an air hockey table. 
     The fixing rods are defined as a first fixing rod  1201  and a second fixing rod  1202 , respectively. The outer end of the second fixing rod  1202  is provided with a stop portion  1203 . One end of the middle rod  10  is inserted into the fixing hole  121  of the second fixing rod  1202 . The end of the middle rod  10  is restricted by the stop portion  1203 . The other end of the middle rod  10  is formed with a first connection hole  13  perpendicular to the axial direction of the middle rod  10 . The first fixing rod  1201  is formed with a second connection hole  122  corresponding to the first connection hole  13 . 
     The other end of the middle rod  10  is inserted into the fixing hole  121  of the first fixing rod  1201 . A perforation section  1204  is formed between the outer end of the first fixing rod  1201  and the second connecting hole  122 . The other end of the middle rod  10  is inserted into the perforation section  1204 , enabling the outer end of the second fixing rod  1202  to move toward the first fixing rod  1201  along with the middle rod to shorten the overall length of the middle rod. In this way, the overall length of the middle rod can be adjusted as desired, so that the score counter can be installed in a variety of installation positions with different specifications, and the adaptability is good. 
     A first mounting seat  41  for mounting the first fixing rod  1201  and the second fixing rod  1202  is provided. The first mounting seat  41  is formed with two first mounting holes  411  which are spaced a distance along the axial direction of the middle rod  10  and are aligned with each other. In a shortened state, one end of the middle rod is inserted into one of the first mounting holes  411 , and the other end of the middle rod  10  slides in a reverse direction with respect to the perforation section  1204  to be inserted into the other first installation hole  411 . The first connection hole  13  and the second connection hole  122  are connected and positioned. The first mounting seat  41  may be installed to the side plate  331 , or the first mounting seat  41  may directly serve as the side plate  331 .