Abstract:
A pool table which comprises a planar playing surface and having conventional indent sidewalls and pockets associated therewith, the improvement wherein there is provided a center bumper which is located substantially centrally of the playing surface. Preferably, the center bumper partially surrounds a centrally located pocket.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a pool table and more particularly, relates to a novel structure for a pool table.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The use of pool tables is well established in the art. In this respect, the term “pool table” generally denotes a table having a flat planar surface with side bumpers and a plurality of pockets into which balls are shot. As used in here, the term “pool table” includes what are also referred to as billiard tables and snooker tables, all of which are of a similar structure.  
         [0003]     The game of pool, as aforementioned, is well known and extremely popular. Whether the games be pool, snooker, billiards, or a variation thereof, the game usually consists of using a cue to hit a cue ball which in turn will hit one or more balls on the table. The traditional arrangement for all such games has consisted of four corner pockets, one at each corner of the rectangular table and a pair of side pockets.  
         [0004]     There has also been proposed in the art certain variations of pool tables to enable them to be utilized for other games. Thus, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,128, there is provided a pool table which is designed to allow various poker games to be played by utilizing card values which are marked on the balls. The Patentee teaches the use of a pool table having enlarged ends and having ten different pockets.  
         [0005]     A pool table of a similar configuration is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,828 and wherein the central area is designed to simulate a golf hole. Thus, each table has a planar surface with raised peripheral side edges with both resilient and non resilient bumpers. In this instance, there is only provided a single pocket.  
         [0006]     A still further arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,476 wherein a substantially conventional pool or billiard table is utilized but with the addition of a central pocket. The pockets are each provided with sliding horizontal trap doors and the pool table may be used for games such as golf as well as conventional pool or billiards games.  
         [0007]     Notwithstanding the above proposals, the games of pool and billiards have recently become less popular. This loss of popularity is possibly due to the game not evolving over the years.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel pool table which can be utilized in a different manner to provide variations of the game of pool or billiards.  
         [0009]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pool table which provides greater visual stimulation and attracts attention.  
         [0010]     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pool table comprising a planar playing surface, first and second end walls and first and second sidewalls surrounding the playing surface, each of the first and second sidewalls and end walls having bumpers thereon, pockets located at corners where the sidewalls and end walls meet, a center bumper located substantially centrally of the playing surface.  
         [0011]     As previously mentioned, the term “pool table” is used herein in a general fashion and is meant to encompass similar tables such as billiard tables and the like. Generally, such tables come in standard sizes having a width of four feet, four and a half or five feet, with the length being twice the width. Usually, pockets are provided at the four corners with an additional pocket being located along each sidewall substantially midway between the ends of the sidewalls.  
         [0012]     The pockets vary in structure according to the manufacture of the table and the end use of the same. Thus, most pockets for the residential marketplace will comprise a sack into which the balls will drop. Commercial pool tables, on the other hand, usually allow the balls to return through a channel underneath the table to a central location. It suffices to say that the present invention can be utilized with any of the above configurations.  
         [0013]     The cloth used for the surface and the structure of the bumpers along the side and end walls is again well known in the art and need not be detailed herein.  
         [0014]     In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an additional pocket which is located centrally of the table surface. In other words, the center pocket would be aligned with the two side pockets.  
         [0015]     The center pocket is partially surrounded by at least one bumper and preferably two bumpers to provide a symmetrical aspect. Between the two bumpers, there is provided a passageway to which access may be had to the center pocket. Preferably, the center pocket has an arcuate bumper structure on the exteriorly facing side thereof while the internally facing side is substantially flat. With such an arrangement, the game becomes substantially more difficult as any ball banked off the arcuate bumper will rebound at an angle which depends on the tangential line at the point of contact. Thus, a difference of an inch will make a substantial difference in the rebound path of a ball striking the bumper.  
         [0016]     In one aspect of the present invention, it would be possible to eliminate the central pocket and merely provide a bumper structure centrally located on the table.  
         [0017]     In a further aspect of the present invention, the table is provided with visual indicators to call attention to the achievement of certain goals. In one such arrangement, a plurality of lights may be provided about the periphery of the table, with the lights flashing once a ball has entered one of the pockets. The provision of suitable contacts and control means for achieving the same are well known in the art and need not be detailed herein.  
         [0018]     In a further embodiment, the central pocket may be provided with a cover structure over the bumper and which would incorporate flashing lights. These lights can be activated through the use of sensors when a ball enters the center pocket.  
         [0019]     The lights may be any suitable such as are well known in the art. To this end, florescent lights and/or LED&#39;s are preferred. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pool table according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the table surface thereof;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the table surface showing the use of lighting elements;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the central bumper member;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the bumper member;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a view of the underside of the pool table;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of an alternative central bumper according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along the lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     Referring to the drawings in a greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1 a  pool table which is generally designated by reference numeral  10 .  
         [0030]     Pool table  10  includes a table portion  12  which is of a rectangular configuration and generally measures either 4 feet by 8 feet, 5 feet by 10 feet, or 6 feet by 12 feet. There are provided cutouts which form corner pockets  14  and a pair of side pockets  16 . According to the present invention, there is also provided a center pocket  18  which comprises an aperture located midway between the sides and midway between the ends.  
         [0031]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are provided lights  20  along the sides and ends of the table.  
         [0032]     Table portion  12 , in a conventional manner, is mounted on a base  22  which is supported by legs  24 .  
         [0033]     Surrounding center pocket  18  is a center bumper member generally designated by reference numeral  26 . Center bumper member  26  is comprised of a first bumper element  28  and a second bumper element  28 ′. Bumper elements  28 ,  28 ′ are secured together by connecting member  30 .  
         [0034]     As may be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , each of bumper elements  28 ,  28 ′ have an arcuate side surface  32 ,  32 ′ respectively. There is provided a center passage  34  between elements  28 ,  28 ′ to permit passage of a ball therethrough.  
         [0035]     Thus, as may be seen in  FIG. 1 , the game will become substantially different with the provision of center bumper member  26 . In playing the game, one must take into account the arcuate bumper sides  32 ,  32 ′. Also, the center pocket  18  can be used in a number of different manners. For example, in one embodiment, it is only the 8 ball which can be sunk in the center pocket  18 . However, it may be understood that any number of different rules may be arranged for the novel structure of the instant pool table.  
         [0036]     In one embodiment, as may be seen in  FIG. 6 , the underside of the table is provided with a plurality of ball return passages  36 . Each ball return passage has an associated micro switch  38  which is operatively connected to a control box  40 . In turn, lights  20  are connected thereto such that when a ball activates a micro switch, the lights  20  may be activated. Located centrally is a counterweight  42 .  
         [0037]     Apart from the use of lights with contact sensors, one may utilize other visual effects. Thus, for example, there could be a smoke generating means or like device.  
         [0038]     In one particularly preferred embodiment, the table is provided with lights  25  mounted proximate the band of the table. Lights  25  are preferably colored and may be arranged so as to represent the different colored balls. They may be designed to flash sequentially or all at once. As an alternative, the lights may be placed under the bumpers of the table. It is particularly preferred that the lights be positioned at the three points between the pockets to indicate the shooting angles.  
         [0039]     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is illustrated a modified central bumper structure which comprises two half bumpers  62 ,  62 ′ and wherein each half bumper is a substantial mirror image of the other. As may be seen in  FIG. 7 , half bumper  62  is provided with a substantially straight outline adjacent central pocket  18  while on in the other side, there is provided an arcuate sidewall  66  which joins straight section  64  through curved half bumper section  68 .  
         [0040]     There is provided a top cover  70  which comprises a planar upper portion  72  with downwardly extending side portions  74  and terminating in substantially horizontal portions  76 . A pair of lights  78  are provided.  
         [0041]     It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.