Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/846,317, filed Sep. 21, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to air cushion table games, and more particularly to an air powered hockey game table. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Typically, an air cushion game table includes a playing surface that is perforated to permit jets of air to pass through the playing surface for providing an air bed to facilitate low friction movement of a game piece, such as a puck, across an upper surface of the playing surface. Pressurized air is supplied from below the playing surface, which creates a multiplicity of closely spaced air jets emanating from the perforations in the playing surface. The table is bounded by side walls and end walls, which provide rebounding surfaces for the puck. Each player is provide with a pusher, which the player can slide across the table surface and into contact with the puck. An automatic scoring system is sometimes provided to record the deliver of the pucks into a goal. 
         [0006]    One drawback associated with known air cushion table games is a lack of uniformity in distribution of air to the perforations. Air jets passing through perforations in the center of the table typically deliver greater flow than air jets located proximate the sidewalls surrounding the game surface. As a result, uniform play is comprised. In addition, in some cases, increasing the air flow can also increase the amount of turbulence in the air plenum box. Furthermore, some air delivery systems are too large and present an unacceptable obstruction beneath game table. 
         [0007]    Therefore what is needed is a system and method for addressing the above, and related, issues. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention as disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a game table. The table includes a flat game surface having a plurality of air holes defined therein and a plenum box having a tapered profile proceeding from a shorter end to a taller end. There may be a plurality of elongate passageways between the plenum box and the flat playing surface, the passageways being arranged longitudinally with respect to the flat game surface and laterally with respect to the plenum box. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the air holes are sized to permit airflow therethrough to provide air cushioning of a game puck. The plenum box conveys air under positive pressure into the plurality of longitudinal air passage ways. The plenum box comprises first and second end walls, two side surfaces, and a bottom surface, the two end walls being of first and second height, respectively, wherein the second height is greater than the first height. At least one of the two side surfaces has a side wall opening proximate the second end wall and sized to receive output from a blower. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the flat game surface or playing surface is marked and sized to approximate a scaled-down hockey arena. The table may include side walls, end walls, and corner members bounding the flat playing surface. The plenum box may also have an internal diverter. In one embodiment the blower is configured to provide air into the plenum box under positive pressure. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and is not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate similar parts. Moreover, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and features may have been enlarged or reduced to show detail. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment  10  of an air cushion game table according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an underside of the air cushion game table  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the air cushion game table  10  of  FIG. 1 , showing a partial cut-away view of the game surface. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the game table  10  of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a tapered plenum box  50  for use with an air cushion game table according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of an underside of the plenum box  50 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of an air cushion table employing a plenum box of uniform depth according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  schematically illustrates a centrifugal air blower  59  employed in an air cushion table according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a lower view of the centrifugal air blower  59 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is an upper view of the centrifugal air blower  59 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is important to understand that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the embodiments and steps described herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
         [0023]    Referring now to the accompanying figures, there is shown an air cushion game table  10 . Air cushion game table  10  includes a bottom panel  12  that defines a central passageway  14 . Four support legs  16  communicate with the bottom panel  12  for supporting the game table  10 . A plurality of cross members  18  are located on an upper surface of the bottom panel  12 . Cross members  18  support intermediate member  19 . 
         [0024]    A plurality of longitudinal support members  20  are supported by an upper surface of the intermediate member  19 . An underside of the intermediate member  19  and a top surface of bottom panel  12  define plenum chamber  21 . Air flow passes from plenum chamber  21  through passageways  23  and into longitudinal air channels  22 . Longitudinal support members  20  define longitudinal air channels  22  between adjacent longitudinal support members  20 . 
         [0025]    A game surface  24  has a plurality of small openings  26  formed therein for allowing jets of air to flow through the game surface  24 . The air jets provide an air cushion on an upper side of the game surface  24 . The small openings  26  are located above the longitudinal air channels  22 . 
         [0026]    Game surface  24  is surrounded by side walls  28 , end walls  30 , and corner members  32  for containing a puck  34  on the upper surface of game surface  24 . Goals  36  are located proximate each end wall  30  for receiving the puck  34 . Goals  36  may be integral with end wall  30  or may be formed on the game surface  24 . A puck return tray  38  is located on an underside of the bottom panel  12  for delivering the puck  34  to a player after the puck  34  is delivered to a goal  36  by an opposing player. It can be seen that the game surface  24  is substantially square or rectilinear in shape. The game surface  24  may be rounded at the corners to approximate the shape of a hockey arena. 
         [0027]    A plenum box  50  is mounted laterally on an underside of said bottom panel  12 . The plenum box  50  includes a bottom surface  52 , and a first end wall  54  at a first end  56  of the plenum box  50 . Additionally, the plenum box  50  includes a second end wall  58  at a second end  60  of the plenum box  50 . The plenum box  50  further includes side surfaces  62 . The bottom surface  52  is a sloping panel that communicates with side surfaces  62 , the first end wall  54 , and the second end wall  58 . 
         [0028]    A side-mounted centrifugal air blower  59  is attached to the underside of the bottom panel  12  using wood screws through mounting holes  61  or using other attachments and/or adhesives. The centrifugal air blower  59  comprises: a blower housing  63  having a bottom air inlet  65 ; an internal centrifugal fan  67  which receives air from the bottom inlet  65  and blows the air horizontally outward in the housing  63 ; a housing discharge outlet  69  which blows air horizontally through a mating side wall opening  71 , possibly provided in a side wall  62  of the lateral plenum box  59  near an end thereof; an electrical power cord and plug  72 ; an electrical switch box  74 ; and an on/off switch  76 . The circuitry shown and described herein represents only one possible control scheme for the blower  59 . The circuitry could be adapted to power additional blowers or other components for example. 
         [0029]    Although the use of a single blower  59  is shown the drawings, a plurality of blowers  59  could alternatively be used. In addition, the blower or blowers  59  could alternatively be mounted at the other locations different from the location shown in the drawings. The blower  59  has been shown and described as a centrifugal type blower—also known as a “squirrel cage” blower. However, other type of blowers such as impeller driven or axial blowers could also be used. 
         [0030]    The plenum box  50  can be of uniform depth as illustrated in  FIG. 7  but will preferably be a tapered plenum box of the type shown on  FIGS. 2 ,  5 , and  6 . A diverter  78  may be positioned within the plenum box for deflecting the horizontal air flow from the blower outlet  69  and distributing the air throughout the remainder of the plenum box  50 . The diverter  78  may be a diverter panel or other structure providing an air deflecting surface  80  which is angled across an interior cover of the plenum box  50 . 
         [0031]    Referring to the tapered plenum box  50  illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  5 , and  6 , a depth z c  of the plenum box  50  is greater at the second end  60 , than the depth z 1  at the first end  56 . The greater depth z c  at the second end  60  of the plenum box  50  as compared to the depth z 1  at first end  56  results in an increased and more uniform air flow into the plenum chamber  21  in areas of the table proximate the side walls  28 . As a result, an increased flow of air passes through openings  26  in game surface  24  that are closer to the sidewalls  28 —particularly those near the first end  56  of the plenum box  50 . Therefore, air flow emitted through the openings  26  across a width of the game surface  24  is evened out, which enhances game play. 
         [0032]    As air is blown horizontally into the plenum box  50 , air flow is dispersed by the diverter  78  across the width of the game table  10 . Plenum box  50  communicates with plenum area  21  through passageway  14  formed in bottom panel  12 . As a result, air flow passes from the plenum box  50  to the plenum area  21 . Air flow then passes through passageways  23  formed in the intermediate member  19  and into longitudinal air channels  22  formed between adjacent longitudinal support members  20 . The air then escapes from the longitudinal air channels  22  through a plurality of small openings  26  formed in the game surface  24 . 
         [0033]    The plenum box  50  is tapered such that the plenum box  50  has a greater depth z c  at the first end  56  than at the second end  60 . By tapering plenum box  50 , the air flow is increased towards the first end  56  of the plenum box  50 . As a result, increased air flow is experienced through small openings  26  on the game surface  24  that are proximate the sidewalls  28 . By providing a tapered plenum box  50 , difficulties with reduced air flow through small openings  26  near the sidewalls  28  is eliminated. 
         [0034]    It will be appreciated that the system described above, in some embodiments, provides increased air flow through the orifices  26  in the game table surface  24 . In some embodiments, air is forced through the orifices  26  in the air cushion game table playing surface  24  by first delivering air to the plenum box  50  using a centrifugal blower delivery system. The centrifugal blower system preferably comprises a side-mounted centrifugal blower which delivers air horizontally into a side of the plenum box. In addition, a deflector  78  may be provided in the plenum box for distributing the horizontal air flow evenly throughout the plenum box  50 . The side-mounted centrifugal blower  59  and internal deflector  78  operate to significantly reduce turbulence within the plenum box  50  as compared to the traditional fan systems used heretofore which blow air vertically upward into the box. The side-mounted centrifugal blower system is also significantly more compact that the traditional vertical fan system which extends downwardly from the bottom of the plenum box  50 . 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, air is dispersed from the plenum box  50  into the plenum chamber  21  for subsequent delivery through the playing surface orifices  26 . The flow of the air from the plenum box  50  is relatively constant along a longitudinal axis of the plenum box  50 . Therefore, air is delivered into the plenum chamber  21 , and in turn the longitudinal air channels  22 , in a uniform manner rather than in a center-biased unequal distribution seen in known designs. 
         [0036]    The plenum box  50 , blower  59 , and related components have been shown in use with exemplary of game tables having series of passageways and longitudinal air channels to further direct and control the flow of air. However, this is for illustrative purposed only. The plenum box  50  and blower  59  could also be used with any game table or device requiring substantially constant air pressure and/or volume of airflow across the length of the plenum box  50 . 
         [0037]    Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While exemplary embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

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