EP0433404A1

EP0433404A1 - Giant billiard game

Info

Publication number: EP0433404A1
Application number: EP19900907141
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gérard ZAGOYAN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-04-13
Filing date: 1990-04-06
Publication date: 1991-06-26
Also published as: FR2645757B1; FR2645757A1; WO1990011807A1; AU5552690A

Abstract

La présente invention a pour objet un jeu apparenté au jeu de billard. Un jeu selon l'invention comporte un plateau horizontal rectangulaire (1) de grandes dimensions qui est entouré par des trottoirs surélevés (4) entourés par une barrière (6). Des bandes en élastomère (3) sont disposées contre la marche d'escalier formée par les trottoirs. Le plateau (1) porte un tapis de revêtement souple sur lequel on peut marcher. Les joueurs (12) frappent les boules (14) avec un maillet (13). De préférence le plateau (1) et les trottoirs (4) sont surélevés par rapport au sol. Dans le cas d'un billard japonais, le plateau comporte des trous (8) dans les angles et des trous (9) au milieu des côtés longitudinaux et ces trous communiquent avec de goulottes (16a, 16b) dans lesquelles les boules (14) se rassemblent. Une application est la construction de jeux dans des parcs de loisirs ou dans des salles de jeux et loisirs.The present invention relates to a game related to billiards. A game according to the invention comprises a large rectangular horizontal tray (1) which is surrounded by raised sidewalks (4) surrounded by a barrier (6). Elastomer strips (3) are arranged against the stair tread formed by the sidewalks. The tray (1) carries a flexible covering mat on which one can walk. The players (12) strike the balls (14) with a mallet (13). Preferably the platform (1) and the sidewalks (4) are raised relative to the ground. In the case of a Japanese billiard, the plate has holes (8) in the corners and holes (9) in the middle of the longitudinal sides and these holes communicate with troughs (16a, 16b) in which the balls (14) they gather. One application is the construction of games in leisure parks or in games and leisure rooms.

Description

Giant pool game

The present invention relates to a game related to the billiard game which can be installed in a room or outside. The technical sector of the invention is that of the construction of games.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a new game related to the game of billiards in that it comprises a plate on which are moved balls which strike other balls and which ricochet on bands surrounding the plate. But the new game according to the invention differs from the billiard game in that the balls are larger, that the board on which we play has large dimensions, that the players stroll on the board and that they hit the balls with mallets.

A giant billiard game according to the invention comprises in combination:

- a horizontal and rectangular game board with a covering on which one can walk and roll balls and bands which frame said board;

- balls :

- mallets (13) for striking said balls.

According to a preferred embodiment, a billiard game according to the invention comprises 15 colored balls and a white ball having a diameter of the order of 10 cm.

Preferably the tray has four holes placed in the corners and two holes placed in the middle of the long sides.

Advantageously, each hole is extended by a vertical well which opens into a longitudinal chute inclined towards one end of the plate to bring the balls towards this end.

Advantageously, each longitudinal chute is extended by a transverse chute. According to a preferred embodiment, the platform is raised relative to the ground and it is surrounded by sidewalks slightly raised relative to the platform and surrounded by a barrier and it includes a staircase for access to said sidewalks.

The invention results in a new game called giant billiards which is partly related to the game of billiards and partly to the game of cricket. A giant billiard game according to the invention can be installed inside a sports or leisure room or outside, for example in leisure parks or on beaches.

A billiard game according to the invention is a light construction which requires no foundation and can be made in an easily removable form which allows for example to install it during a holiday season and dismantle it at the end of that -this.

Compared to the traditional billiards game, a billiards game according to the invention has the advantage of being both a game of skill but also a sport which requires players to physically participate in the game.

The following description refers to the appended drawings which represent, without any limiting character, an embodiment of a giant billiard playing field according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a giant pool game field according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the playing field according to Figure 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section along III III of FIG. 1.

Figure 4 is a partial vertical section, on a larger scale, along IV IV. Figure 5 is a top view of a triangular frame.

Figure 6 is an elevational front view and side view of a mallet.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of another mallet.

Figures 1 and 2 show a perspective view and a plan view of a giant billiard playing field according to the invention.

This land can be installed outside or in a covered room.

It comprises a horizontal rectangular board 1 on which the game is played.

This plate has for example a length of the order of 8 meters and a width of the order of 4m.

The tray 1 is covered with a coating 2 on which one can walk and roll balls, for example a flexible plastic coating of polyurethane of the type used to make gymnastic mats or a sprayed rubber mat.

Preferably the coating 2 is colored, for example green or blue.

The tray 2 is surrounded on its four sides by bands

3 intended to return the balls. Advantageously, the platform 2 is surrounded by sidewalks 4, for example having a width of the order of 0.80 m, which are slightly raised relative to the platform.

For example, the level of the top of the sidewalk 4 is located approximately 25 cm above the level of the platform 1, that is to say that the drop corresponds substantially to the height of a stair step. The sidewalks 2 are also covered with a flexible plastic coating 5 which can be the same as the coating 2.

The sidewalks 4 allow spectators to circulate around the plateau and follow the progress of a game without disturbing it. The sidewalks 4 are surrounded by a barrier or balustrade 6.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment in which the game board 1 and the sidewalks 4 are raised relative to the ground and a staircase 7 provides access to the sidewalks from ground level.

The bands 3 intended to return the balls are elastomer or rubber bands and preferably have a triangular section whose apex is directed towards the interior of the plate and is located at a height above the plate substantially equal to the radius d 'a ball.

FIG. 2 represents an exemplary embodiment of a Japanese or American billiards in which the tray has four holes 8 located in the corners and two holes 9 located in the middle of the long sides. In the case of a French pool table there are no holes. It can also be seen in FIG. 2 that the strips 3 are mounted on a support 10 and that the strips and the support 10 are interrupted at the location of the holes 8 and 9, the interruptions

II having a width greater than the diameter of the balls. Figure 1 shows holes 8 and 9 of square section but they can also be circular. In all cases they have a sufficient section to allow the passage of the balls.

We see in Figure 1 a player 12 playing. We see that he uses a mallet 13 to hit the balls 14. The rule of the game, which is not part of the invention, varies depending on whether it is a French billiard table without a hole or a billiard table with holes. In all cases, it is a question of striking a ball to send it to strike another ball possibly after having been returned by one or more bands.

The game includes for example 15 colored balls 14 and a white ball 14a having a diameter of the order of 10 cm. The balls are for example made of compact polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section along III

III of Figure 1 passing through the axis of holes 8 and 9. We see in this figure that each hole is extended by a vertical well which leads to a longitudinal chute 15, of plastic material, which is inclined towards one end of the plate , preferably towards the end where the staircase 7 for access to the tray is located. Thus the balls which fall into a hole, roll along the chute. Each longitudinal chute is extended by an inclined transverse chute 16a or 16b visible in Figure 1 in which the balls 14 are grouped.

Chutes 16a and 16b can be opened upwards, which allows the balls to be extracted from the chute at the end of a game to put them back into play.

Alternatively, the top of the chutes 16a, 16b can be closed and the lower ends of the chutes can be provided with a shutter which is closed by a key lock or an electric lock or a lock controlled by a coin changer of any type. known in which the players must introduce a coin or a jeto to release the shutter and to recover the balls stored dan the troughs in order to play a new game.

Figures 2 and 3 show an embodiment comprising two chutes 26 located above the sidewalk which are inclined towards the game board. When the players have recovered the balls in the chutes 16a and 16b they place them in this chutes so they roll in them and fall on the game board. Figure 4 is a vertical cross section along IV IV of Figure 2.

We see in Figure 4 a longitudinal edge of the tray covered with a coating layer 2 and a hole 9 which is extended by a vertical well which opens into a longitudinal chute 15. We also see a section of the sidewalk 5 surrounded by the barrier 6.

The sidewalk 5 is built on two walls 17a and 17b which delimit between them a free space 17 whose bottom is lined with sand. The walls 17a and 17b have a height of the order of 1.20 m. The game board 1 is placed, for example, on a wooden sanitary or reinforced concrete floor which is itself placed on the two interior walls 17a.

FIG. 4 represents a preferred embodiment in which the game board is constituted by a shell 18 in the form of a rectangular bowl which is prefabricated in a single piece of wood or laminated resin, for example in reinforced polyester, and which comprises a raised peripheral flange 17a which is placed on the walls 16a framing the plate.

We see in Figure 4 the triangular shape of the flexible bands 3 framing the game board. We also see that each band e mounted on a vertical support 10 which is articulated around a horizontal hinge 10a parallel to the band and located au- above it so that by pivoting the support 20 around the hinge the band can be raised which allows for example to clean the edges of the game board without risking damaging the band.

We see in Figure 4 that the game board has on s sides of the orifices 19 which communicate with water flow conduits 19a which flow into the free space 17.

Similarly, it can be seen that the bottom of the chute 15 has perforations 15a. The orifices 19 and the perforations 15a make it possible to evacuate towards the ground the rainwater which falls on the game board in the case where the board is located outside. They also make it possible to discharge the washing water from the tray to the ground, which can be cleaned with a water jet. The construction of a game board placed on walls 17a and 17b and raised relative to the ground makes it possible to have under the board 1 an empty space having a sufficient height to accommodate the troughs 15 by giving it a sufficient slope without having to dig the ground. FIG. 5 represents an accessory of a billiard game according to the invention comprising 15 colored balls 14 numbered from 1 to 15 and a white ball 14a. These balls have a diameter of about 10 cm.

Before starting a game, collect the colored balls inside a frame 20 having the shape of an equilateral triangle comprising. handling handles 21 which is placed on the surface of the tray.

FIG. 6 represents an elevation view of two mallets 13 one seen from the front and the other from the side.

Each mallet has a wooden or steel handle 22 having a length of the order of 75 cm.

The upper part of the handle which is held by the hands of the player advantageously comprises ridges 23 or covering strips intended to prevent the handle from turning in the hand.

Each mallet comprises a cylindrical head 24 having a diameter of the order of 10 cm which is equipped at each of its ends with a rounded end piece 25 made of a flexible or elastomeric material. for example polytetrafluoroethylene.

Figure 6 shows mallets having a cylindrical head.

FIG. 7 represents a mallet 13 having a handle 22 and a head 24 made of steel, the two ends of which are fitted with a nozzle 25 made of a flexible material.

The mallet according to Figure 7 has an asymmetrical head this which allows the player to ^use one or the other end of the t ^ê you to hit a ball by the blows he wants to run.

Claims

1. Giant billiard game of the type comprising a horizontal and rectangular game board (1) which has a covering (2). on which one can walk and roll balls by hitting them with a mallet and which is framed by raised edges carrying bands (3), characterized in that said plate consists of the bottom (18) of a prefabricated shell in wood or laminated resin, which shell has the shape of a bowl and has a peripheral flange (18a) which is raised relative to said bottom (18) and which forms a sidewalk surrounding said tray.

2. Billiard game according to claim 1, characterized in that said flange is placed on support walls (17a) which frame said board.

3. Billiard game according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each strip (3) is mounted on a vertical support (10) which is articulated around a hinge (10a) parallel to said strip and located above it, so that said strip can be raised by pivoting around said hinge (10a).

4. Billiard game according to any one of claims 1 to 3, of the type comprising holes (8, 9), located in the corners and along the long sides of said plate, characterized in that each hole is extended by a vertical well which communicates with a longitudinal trough (15) inclined towards one end of said plate, which longitudinal trough is extended by a transverse inclined trough (16a, 16b).

5. Billiard game according to claim 4. characterized in that it comprises troughs (26) which are located above the sidewalk located above said transverse troughs (16a, 16b) and which are inclined towards said tray ( 1), which chutes allow to put into play, at the start of a game, the balls extracted from said transverse chutes.

6. Billiard game according to claim 4, characterized in that said transverse chutes (16a. 16b) are open upwards, which makes it possible to extract the balls at the end of a game to put them back into play.

7. Billiard game according to claim 4. characterized in that said transverse channels (16a, 16b) are closed and the lower end of each channel is provided with a shutter closed by a lock.

8. Billiard game according to claim 7. characterized in that said lock is controlled by a coin operated actuated by the introduction of a coin or a token.

9. Billiard game according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the mallets used to strike the balls have a cylindrical head (24), the two ends of which are equipped with a rounded tip (25) in a flexible material.