US3926439A

US3926439A - Luminated table top with multiple games roll chart

Info

Publication number: US3926439A
Application number: US528249A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert L Chao; Ethel Chao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-11-29
Filing date: 1974-11-29
Publication date: 1975-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-16

Abstract

A table top having a transparent plastic surface beneath which a long sheet of paper extends and which at each end is wound on a roller, the paper being imprinted with the playing fields of several different board games such as checkers, Parcheesi, Monopoly and the like, each roller having a crankhandle so a different gameboard playing field is exposed for use, and the table top including illuminating lamps underneath to light up the playing field and also to illuminate a small area in front of each player where he may stand up his own dominoes, hand of cards or other game playing pieces that he does not want any other player to see.

Description

[ Dec. 16, 1975 LUMINATED TABLE TOP WITH MULTIPLE GAMES ROLL CHART [76] Inventors: Albert L. Chao; Ethel Chao, both of 407 Glendale Road, Northvale, NJ. 07647 22 Filed: Nov. 29, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 528,249

[52] US. Cl. 273/136 A; 273/136 K [51] Int. Cl. A63F 3/02 [58] Field of Search..... 273/130 AB, 131 A, 134 A, 273/135 A, 136 R, 136 A, 136 11,136 K, 136

Z, 143 B, 157 A, 94 R, 108; 108/23, 90;

35/27, 28; 40/132 D, 132 H, 135, 130 K, 132

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,867,595 7/1932 Rowley 40/132 D 1,887,288 11/1932 Clausen 108/23 2,149,363 3/1939 Rivkin 273/131 A 2,260,467 10/1941 Le May... 273/94 R 2,461,532 2/1949 Dixon 103/23 X 2,652,657 9/1953 Joy 108/23 2,801,856 8/1957 Medowar 273/136 R 3,018,107 1/1962 Erickson 273/136 A 3,520,072 7/1970 Greenwood 273/130 E X 3,591,182 7/1971 Grubler 273/134 A 3,802,708 4/1974 Libert 273/136 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 217,872 8/1923 United Kingdom 273/108 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examinerl-larry G. Strappello Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard L. Miller [57] ABSTRACT A table top having a transparent plastic surface beneath which a long sheet of paper extends and which at each end is wound on a roller, the paper being imprinted with the playing fields of several different board games such as checkers, Parcheesi, Monopoly and the like, each roller having a crankhandle so a different gameboard playing field is exposed for use, and the table top including illuminating lamps underneath to light up the playing field and also to illuminate a small area in front of each player where he may stand up his own dominoes, hand of cards or other game playing pieces that he does not want any other player to see.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures 1 US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 3,926,439

LUMINATED TABLE TOP WITH MULTIPLE.

GAMES ROLL CHART This invention relates generally to game tables. I A principle object of the present inventionis to provide a game table that is designed for use in playing especially a large number of board games such as checkers, word forming game known by trademark Scrabble, and the like and wherein the gameboard playing fields for such games are contained on a rolled chart inside the table and can selectively be brought into a playing position by simply turning a crank .handle.

Another object is to provide a game table wherein a small area is illuminated in front of each, players position so to light up his own playing blocks or playing cards that are held in his hand and which he does not want any other player to see.

Still another object is to provide a luminated table top with multiple games roll chart wherein the table may be made in different sizes or shapes so to accommodate more or less players and which can be used also for other games which do not use gameboards such as cards, rolling dice and the like.

' corners of the panel 19 and the other four of which are Other objects are to provide a luminated table top with multiple games roll chart which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

Further objects of the invention will appear as scription proceeds. v

To the accomplishment of the above related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within thescope of the dethe appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the parts in exploded position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is-a bottom view of the device.

FIG. 5 is a detail of the light transmitting plate, roll of game boards and associated parts.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross section on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents luminated table top with multiple game roll chart which comprises a wooden square frame 1 l on top of which there is secured a lower clear plastic panel 12 which on its underside has a frameshaped painted design 13 located along the peripheral edge of the panel 12 and which has a decorative pattern that shows through the panel 12, as shown in FIG. 1. Adjacent the inner edge of the design 13 there is a square, frame shaped opaque white painted area 14, that surrounds a square shaped central area 15 of the panel 12. Upon the upper side of the panel 12, and near its peripheral edge there are secured eight female snap fastener elements 16 that are engageable with male snap fastener elements 17 located on the peripheral underside of an upper clear plastic panel 18.

On the underside of frame 11 there is secured a square peg-board type panel 19 having perforated openings 20 so to ventilate a chamber 21 thus formed inside the frame. A plurality of eight feet 22 are secured to the underside of the perforated panel, and are comprised of wooden block, four of which are at the located around a center portion thereof.

Within the chamber 21 there is located a multiple game roll chart assembly'23 and an illumination assembly 24.

The roll chart assembly includes a chart 25 made from a long sheet of light-transluscent paper or the like that can be rolled up and upon which there is imprinted a row of playing fields 26 of different games such as 0 checkers, Parcheesi, Scrabble, Monopoly and the like.

Each opposite end of the chart is rolled up on a roller 27 affixed on a steel rod 28 which is supported at one end either in a bearing bracket (not shown) mounted upon the perforated-panel, or which may be supported in a bearing opening formed in the inner edge of frame 11. The opposite end of the rod is supported in a bearing opening 29 formed in the frame 11 and through which the rod extends outwardly of chamber 21. The outer end of the rod is bent into a crank handle 30 so that the both rollers may be turned in order that the chart can be rolled up upon either of the roller and thus expose any one of the playing fields 26 underneath the central area 15 of the clear panel 12.

The'illumination assembly 24 includes four fluorescent lamps 31 located underneath the opaque white area 14 and which each shine into an alongside, inclined mirror 32 located underneath the edge 33 formed between the opaque white area 14 and the floral design 13 (which is transluscent) so that light rays 34 from the lamps 31 can-shine upwardly through the floral design area so to illuminate an area in front of each player where he can stand up playing pieces such as dominoes 35 or word forming individual letter blocks so that he can clearly-see them. The light rays 34 also can be used to illuminate playing cards-held in a players hand. 1

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, two of these lamps 31 are each positioned between the mirror on one side and the roller 27 on the other. The other two lamps are each positioned with the mirror on one side in a similar manner and are located below an angularly inclined side edge 36 formed on opposite two side edge of a light transmitting panel 37 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each of these inclined edges 36 is surfaced with a mirror silver 38, as shown in FIG. 6 so that light'rays 39 from these two lamps strike the silver and then travel inside the light transmitting panel so that the entire panel glows luminescently upwardly due to the upper surface 40 thereof being smooth, while a lower surface 41 thereof (that is not directly above the lamps) is roughened as shown in FIG. 6. The light transmitting panel is located directly underneath the exposed portion of the chart 25 that is located between the rolled up opposite end portions and which is positioned beneath the area 15. The glow from the light transmitting panel thus illuminates the particular game playing field 26 that is exposed under area 15, due to the chart being made of the transluscent paper or the like. Thus players can see the playing field through the two clear

plastic panels

12 and 18 so that they may place playing pieces on top of panel 18 in playing the game.

The lamps are in an electric circuit that includes a switch 42 mounted either stationarily under the perforated panel or along the side of frame 11, or else is located along an extension cord 43 fitted with male plug 44 for being inserted into a household electric outlet socket.

In use, the players can bring any playing field into operative position under area by simply turning a crank handle 30.

When the device is used for games such as various card games like pocker, cribbage or bridge that requires no playing field, the electric switch can be turned off, or else it may be turned on, and the chart is rolled into a position as shown in FIG. I where a transluscent blank area 45 on the chart having no playing field imprinted thereupon is located under the area 15. Thus, the individually illuminated areas by light rays 34 are provided for the card players so to illuminate their hands. Additionally, another blank area next to blank area 45 may be made on the chart and which is opaque so that there is no illumination coming upwardly in area 15 if so desired.

The above described construction while being for a game table top, can be utilized in an illuminated tracing table for draftsmen wherein instead of playing-fields being imprinted on the chart, the same may include various diagramatic aid imprinted thereon such as radiating lines from a common center for drawing perspective views, graphs of different sized square spaces, and the like, for aiding the draftsman. The device may also incorporate into a lighting portrait frame or lighted advertising sign or illuminated menu holder in front of a restaurant.

Thus a useful device is provided.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a luminated table top with multiple game roll chart device, the combination of a square frame and a pair of square, clear, plastic panels upon said frame, a

lower of said panels having a transluscent, decorative outer border area on an underside thereof, an opague, white inner border area adjacent an inner edge of said outer border area, and a central square clear area surrounded by said white inner border area, and interengagable snap fastener elements being mounted on both said plastic panels, said snap fastener elements being located near the peripheries of said panels for detachably attaching said panels together, a perforated panel secured to an underside of said frame defining a central chamber surrounded by said frame, a plurality of blocks mounted on an underside of said perforated panel, said chamber containing a multiple game roll chart assembly and an illumination assembly, said roll chart assembly comprising an elongated chart on transluscent, rollable material imprinted with a plurality of playing fields of various games, opposite ends of said chart being rolled up on a pair of spaced apart rollers, each said roller being secured on a rod rotatably supported in bearings in said frame, one end of each said rod extending externally of said chamber and being bent into a crank handle, said illumination assembly comprising four fluorescent lamps underneath said opaque white inner border area, an elongated, flat mirror along a side of each said lamp, each said mirror being located underneath said edge between said transluscent, decorative outer border area and said opaque, white inner border area, each said mirror being angularly inclined respective to a flat plane of said frame, light from said lamps being reflected by said mirrors upwardly against an underside of said transluscent, outer border area, a light transmitting panel under an unrolled portion of said chart that is located between said rollers, two opposite edges of said light transmitting panel being angularly inclined and coated with a mirror silver, said silver coated edges each being above one said lamp, said lamps being in an electric circuit with a switch and a power source.

Claims

1. In a luminated table top with multiple game roll chart device, the combination of a square frame and a pair of square, clear, plastic panels upon said frame, a lower of said panels having a transluscent, decorative outer border area on an underside thereof, an opague, white inner border area adjacent an inner edge of said outer border area, and a central square clear area surrounded by said white inner border area, and interengagable snap fastener elements being mounted on both said plastic panels, said snap fastener elements being located near the peripheries of said panels for detachably attaching said panels together, a perforated panel secured to an underside of said frame defining a central chamber surrounded by said frame, a plurality of blocks mounted on an underside of said perforated panel, said chamber containing a multiple game roll chart assembly and an illumination assembly, said roll chart assembly comprising an elongated chart on transluscent, rollable material imprinted with a plurality of playing fields of various games, opposite ends of said chart being rolled up on a pair of spaced apart rollers, each said roller being secured on a rod rotatably supported in bearings in said frame, one end of each said rod extending externally of said chamber and being bent into a crank handle, said illumination assembly comprising four fluorescent lamps underneath said opaque white inner border area, an elongated, flat mirror along a side of each said lamp, each said mirror being located underneath said edge between said transluscent, decorative outer border area and said opaque, white inner border area, each said mirror being angularly inclined respective to a flat plane of said frame, light from said lamps being reflected by said mirrors upwardly against an underside of said transluscent, outer border area, a light transmitting panel under an unrolled portion oF said chart that is located between said rollers, two opposite edges of said light transmitting panel being angularly inclined and coated with a mirror silver, said silver coated edges each being above one said lamp, said lamps being in an electric circuit with a switch and a power source.