US2818256A - Game table - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31, 1957 w. c. HoPPER GAME TABLE Filed Oct. 31, 1956 United States arent GAME TABLE Wilbert C. Hopper, Washington, D. C. Application october 31, 1956, serial No. 619,591

i 1 claim. (cl. 27s- 37) This invention relates to game tables, and more particularly to a game table structure adapted to permit the playing thereon of a wide variety of games.

An object of the invention is to provide a game table structure of convenient manufacture which lends itself to easy and rapid manipulation to render it substantially immediately available for the playing of any one of a large number of games.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a game table in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an end portion of the table, showing one game playing position of parts thereof,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a side portion of the table, showing another game playing position of parts thereof,

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view showing the table top retaining means, and

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the table top showing game playing details thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the table, in accordance with the invention, comprises a frame 1, a table top 2 supported on the frame, and collapsible leg assemblies 3. Each leg assembly 3 is arranged to provide major and minor adjustment of the table height and comprises a pair of legs proper 4 connected together by cross members S and each hinged at 6 at one end thereof to the frame 1. Braces 7 are pivotally connected at one end to the legs 4 and are joined together by transverse members 8. It will be observed that one of the members 8 is adjacent the free ends of braces 7 and is adapted to be selectively positioned in engagement with one of a row of pegs 9 fixed to the bottom of frame 1, and with the opposite one of one or more additional rows of pegs (not shown) provided on the frame 1. Such selective engagement with pegs 9 provides a major adjustment of table height. Fine adjustment of the table height is provided by feet 10 carried at the base of each leg 4. Each foot 10 may have screw threaded attachment with a bracket 11 and a wing nut 12 thereon may be actuated to move the foot up and down to effect the desired adjustment of height. Spirit levels 2a may be mounted on the edge of the table top to provide means for accurately determining the level thereof.

The table top 2 is freely reversible on the frame 1. One surface 13 thereof may be of wood with various markings painted or otherwise imprinted thereon to enable the playing of one series of games thereon. The other surface 14 of the table top may be covered with cloth 15, such as a felt covering, to permit the playing thereon of a game such as billiards or the like. As previously indicated, the table top 2 is not fixed to the frame 1 but may be lifted perpendicularly therefrom and its position reversed. The table top is rigidly locked to the frame against relative lateral movement by means of a plurality of brackets 16 each comprising a strip of metal or the like fixed to the frame and having an offset porused to store thel accessories needed to play the series of games which are'playable on one surface 13 of the table and the other drawer to store the accessories required for playing the series of games playable on the other surface 14 of the table. Y

Each drawer 19 also serves to perform a very important game playing function. Thus, as shown in Figure 2, it

serves in its withdrawn position as a well to receive bowls and pins when the table is used for the game of bowling.

For this"purpose,it` is desirable to provide a backstop 20 which is notched to fit over the sides of the drawer and which is arranged to abut the outer end of the drawer. Auxiliary retaining side walls 21 are also provided, each of which is locked in position on the side wall of the drawer by means of a pair of rods 22 fixed to the inner surface of the wall 21 and arranged to slidingly engage eyes 23 on the drawer wall. In this position of the side wall 21, its edge abuts the inner surface of backstop 20 and thereby rigidly retains the latter in its position. It will be apparent that the backstop 20 and side walls 21 may be placed in operating position in a convenient and rapid manner, that in such position they are of self-locking nature, and that they may be readily dissambled as desired.

For the playing of bowling and the like games, it is desirable that retaining rims, indicated at 24, be provided. Each rim 24 is shown as extending along a side edge of the table top. Each is conveniently and removably mounted thereon by means of a plurality of pins 2S fixed to and projecting from the lower edge of the rim and arranged to fit into complementary holes 26 in the table top. Each rim 24 is provided adjacent its end with a groove 27 adapted to removably receive the end portion of an end rim member 28.

An accessory, such as a looped piece of wire 29, which may be used to play croquet, is conveniently mounted on the table top by providing such accessory with a depending end portion 30 for engagement with an eye 31 fixed to the edge of the table top. It will be apparent that, for such manner of attachment, a portion 32 of the wire must extend under the rim 24. Desirably, this portion is flattened as indicated at 33.

For playing billiards or the like, it is desirable that a cushion rim 34 be removably attached to the table top. Such rim may readily be mounted in place by means of screws 3S extending through the holes 26 in the table top. Pockets 36 may be conveniently mounted on the table top by providing supporting rods 37 and 38 for the pockets with downturned end portions 39 for removable reception in eyes 40 in the rim 34 and table top 2.

There has thus been provided a game playing table which may be used for playing a very wide variety of games and which may be easily and rapidly manipulated to place the table in position for playing the selected game. On the wood or like surface 13, there may be played games such as bowling, curling, tennis, hockey and shufiieboard. On the felt covered surface 14, there may be played games such as billiards, lawn bowling, quoits, horseshoes, ringers and croquet.

I claim:

A game table comprising a frame, adjustable leg assemblies supporting said frame, a table top seated on said frame, said table top having a plurality of holes perpendicularly extending thereinto adjacent the side edges thereof, a pair of side rim members each having a plurality of pins fixed to one edge thereof and receivable in said holes to removably retain said rim members on Patented Dec. 31, 1957' the'tablertop, `a pair of end rim members each arranged for engagement with said Atable .topadjacent A`an yend thereof, each said side rim member having a groove for reception of an end of one of said end rim members to removably retain it in -plaoe on r,said :table top., :a drawer mounted in each end of said frame, saidadrawerbeing slidable to an open `gamenplaying Yposition -to provide an open receptaolevfor game pieoeseandrto ,zazclosed position within said Iframe when'not'inwuse-said y.drawerhaving an end wall and side walls, Va backstop. ,removably mounted on said drawer invsaid vgame `:playing position thereof and arranged Vto deect game', pieces into said drawer in such open positon said backstopaabutting `said drawer end wall and being notchedrto Aflttover'said side walls .of the drawer, `said side rim membersbeing `in iretained position on :said tableztopiduringssaid'gameiplaying position of .saiddrawer and back/stop .and .said 4end rim members being in-removedrelation to said tabletop dur.- ing said game playingv position, auxiliarygzgan-1er piece re taining walls each seated on one of said drawer side walls, vand means removably `securingach said retaining wail on one of said side walls, each said retaining wall having an edge abutting said backstop to hold said backstop in position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 577,984 Horovitz Mar. 2, 1887 592,941 Stahl Nov. 2, 1897 803,351 Mason Oct. 31, 1905 885,630 Mason A pr. 2.1, 1908 1,410,171 Davis Mar. 21, 1922 1,978,650 Shannon Oct. 30, 1934 2,079,737 Greenway May 11, 1937 2,650,147 Sauder Aug. 25, 1953 2,769,636 Finestone Nov. 6, 1956

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