FR2630020A1 - Realistic table-petanque game device - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a realistic table-petanque game device. It consists of the combination, firstly, of one or more players 1, 1', on a reduced scale, who can be oriented, sliding laterally and provided with an articulated arm 10 including a mechanism actuating the thumb making it possible to hold a bowl 5 and to release it at the right moment, as a function of the position of the arm manipulated by the participant by virtue of a lever, next, of a pitch consisting of a special mat 3 and of a foldable frame 2 limiting the playing surface on three sides and equipped on the fourth side with a slideway 8, 8' holding the player or players and, finally, of balls 5 of different colours and diameters 6 acting as the bowls and the "jack". It is intended to give petanque enthusiasts and others the possibility of participating in this game whose popularity continues to increase, at home or in any other public or private place, on an ordinary table.

Description

TABLE PETANQUE GAME
The present invention relates to a realistic table petanque game device.

 It is intended to provide lovers of pétanque, and others, with the possibility of playing this game, the popularity of which is constantly growing, at home, or in any other public or private place, on an ordinary table.

The devices produced to date only aim to reproduce the "playing field" on a reduced scale, by providing in particular a border preventing the balls from falling or being lost.

The balls are thrown by hand or thanks to a spring device having nothing in common with the real game.

The device according to the present invention, on the contrary, comprises players on the same scale as the playing field, actually throwing balls, in a direction controllable by the participants, exactly as on - a real playing field, it allows apply the traditional pétanque rules without modification.

It is made up of the combination, first, of one or more players on a reduced scale, orientable, sliding laterally and provided with an articulated arm comprising a thumb actuating mechanism making it possible to hold a ball and release it at the appropriate time, by depending on the position of the arm manipulated by the participant thanks to a lever, then, a field consisting of a special mat and a foldable frame limiting the playing surface on three sides and equipped on the fourth side with a slide now the player (s), finally, balls of different colors and diameters, playing the role of balls and "jack".

In the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example of one of the forms of the invention
Figure 1 shows one set of the device, in perspective view.

Figure 2 is a schematic section of a player's tuner showing the mechanism for raising the arm.

Figures 3, 4, 5 show a section of the arm in three different positions, showing the action of the ball holding mechanism.

The device, FIGS. 1 to 5, consists of one or two players 1, 1 ′, of a frame 2, placed on a carpet 3, itself placed on a table 4, of a series of balls 5 of different colors, acting as balls and a ball of smaller diameter 6, playing the role of "pig".

The players 1, 1 'are fixed on a base 7, sliding laterally between two slats 8, 8' integral with the frame 2, so that they can be placed in turn in the axis of the playing surface. The players can be oriented around a vertical axis by means of a tongue 9 fixed to the base 7.

Each player is provided with a movable arm 10, fixed on a horizontal axis 11, on which is also fixed a pulley, located in an internal recess of the player's body 1. On this pulley comes to wind the end of a cable or cord 13, the other end of which is fixed to the lever 14 oscillating around the axis of the hinge 15. An action on the lever 14 in the direction of the arrow 16 exerts traction on the cable 13, causing the rotation of the axis 11 via the pulley 12, and finally the raising of the arm 10.

The movable arm 10 comprises a recess 17, in which two parts 18 and 19 can oscillate freely around their axes, respectively 20 and 21. When the arm 10 is in the vertical position (FIG. 3), the position of the center of gravity 22 of the part 18, made of relatively heavy material, tends to make it rotate counterclockwise, thus keeping the thumb 19 in the closed position. The ball 5 is then retained between the fingers 23 and the thumb 19.

As the arm 10 is raised, the center of gravity 22 first comes above the axis 20 of the part 18 (Figure 3), then passes to the other side by tilting the part 18 (Figure 5), which allows the thumb 19 to switch in turn, in the open position by releasing the ball 5, which will be projected forward by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the arm. The energy communicated to the arm can be measured by pressing the lever 14 more or less high thanks to the three notches 25, 26, 27.

Frame 2 is fully foldable thanks to the hinges 24.

The mat 3 is made so as to reproduce as accurately as possible the real conditions of the game.

Thanks to its remarkable realism, its small size once the frame is folded and the carpet rolled or folded, its solidity and its reasonable cost price, due to the simplicity of the mechanisms used, the device which has just been described lends itself particularly well for making family games, but one can perfectly consider its use in public or private establishments, where its originality can attract many people.

The positioning of the various constituent elements gives this device a maximum of useful effects which had not been obtained to date by similar devices.

However, the shapes, dimensions and arrangements of the various elements may vary within the limit of equivalents, without changing the general conception of the invention which has just been described.

Claims (3)

10 Table petanque game device characterized by the combination of one or two players (1, 1 '), fixed on a base (7) orientable along a vertical axis by means of the tongue (9) and sliding in a slide (8 , 8 ') integral with a frame (2), and a mat (3) reproducing in reduction the roughness of the actual playing surface, and on which roll the balls (5) and the jack (6), players (1, 1 ') being provided with a lifting arm (10) actuated by a lever (14) located under the base and articulated on the latter by the hinge (15), via the horizontal axis (11), the pulley (12) and the cord or cable (13), the arm comprising a recess (17), in which a solid part (18) rotating around an axis (20) under the effect of weight applied at its center of gravity (22) controls the position of the thumb (19), which by oscillating around its axis (21), allows the ball (5) to be released when the arm reaches the appropriate position. 20 Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the frame (2) is foldable for transport or storage thanks to the hinges (24). 30 Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the lever (14) has three notches (25, 26, 27) for adjusting the pressure exerted.