FR2884434A1 - Billiards table for practicing e.g. American billiards, has plate surrounded with frame comprising rail mounted on edge of plate in removable manner and ball return strip mounted on rail in removable manner - Google Patents

Abstract

The table has a plate (1) comprising a ball rolling side (2) and surrounded with a frame (5) for delimiting a playing space (6) for the balls (3). The frame has a rail (11) and a mounting unit for mounting the rail on an edge (13) of the plate in a removable manner. The frame has a ball return strip (21) and a mounting unit for mounting the strip on the rail in a removable manner. A coupling unit couples a point of an edge of a billiards mat (4) with a corresponding point of the edge (13).

Description

TABLE FOR DISABLED BILLARD GAME

  The present invention relates to billiard tables, that is, tables that allow for the practice of a well-known game, by means of balls pushed with instruments that practitioners call "billiard cues".

  This billiard game has long been very popular, but its development is still relatively limited, mainly because it requires a table of relatively large size which is therefore heavy and takes up a lot of space and which, when it is not used for the practice of billiards, in general has no other use.

  Pool tables were made to try to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above. In particular, some have been made to play billiards and, for example by turning their tray, for other activities such as table tennis, or even to serve as classic type tables such as those found in housing.

  The above solution, however, has a significant disadvantage, the fact that, to be used in all their functions, these tables have dimensions much smaller than those of the usual tables for the normal practice of billiards.

  This constraint therefore makes it impossible to practice the billiards game in an attractive way, such as, for example, in specialized billiard halls, or even the other game on the other side of the table top, for example tennis. of table. In addition, the tables of this type are generally not very aesthetic, which is inconvenient, especially when they are used as reception tables or the like.

  Also, the object of the present invention is to provide a billiard table whose dimensions are as close as possible to those of conventional billiard tables and which is easily and quickly removable and / or foldable to take up space. minimum so that it can be easily stored in any place when not in use.

  More specifically, the present invention relates to a removable billiard table, comprising a plate comprising a rolling face of balls, a billiard mat positioned on the rolling face of the plate, said plate being further surrounded by a frame for defining a playing area for the balls, said table being characterized in that: at least a part of one of the sides of said frame comprises: a spar, means for removably mounting said spar on the board edge, E at least one ball return band, E means for removably mounting said return band on said spar, said spar and said return band both assembled forming said side portion of the frame, and since said billiard mat is placed on said rolling face of the board, it further comprises: E means for hooking at least one point of the edge of the billiard mat with at least one point c correspondent of the edge of said plateau.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge in the course of the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings for illustrative but not limiting purposes, in which: FIG. 1 represents, in top view, an embodiment of the table billiard game according to the invention, in two possible configurations, one for billiards game or the like, in solid lines, and the one for game of French billiards or the like, in broken lines, Figures 2, 3 and 4 represent three sectional views of a portion of the billiard table according to the invention in accordance with Figure 1, Figures 2 and 4 being two exploded views before the assembly of the constituent elements of the table according to two sections respectively referenced AA and BB in Figure 1, Figure 3 being a sectional view along the same section AA defined above, this table portion obtained after assembly of the elements shown on the fi 2 and 4, and Figures 5 and 6 show, in schematic perspective view, two embodiments of another constituent element of the billiard table according to the invention.

  It is first of all specified that, in the figures, the same references designate the same elements, whatever the figure on which they appear and whatever the form of representation of these elements. Similarly, if elements are not specifically referenced in one of the figures, their references can be easily found by referring to another figure.

  It is also stated that the figures essentially represent a single embodiment of the object according to the invention, although it may take several configurations, but that there may be other embodiments that meet the definition of this invention.

  It is furthermore specified that, when, according to the definition of the invention, the object of the invention comprises "at least one" element having a given function, the embodiment described may comprise several of these elements. Conversely, if the embodiment of the object according to the invention as illustrated has several elements of identical function and if, in the description, it is not specified that the object according to this invention must obligatorily comprise a number particular of these elements, the object of the invention may be defined as comprising "at least one" of these elements.

  Finally, it is specified that when, in the present description, an expression alone defines, without specific specific reference to it, a set of structural characteristics, [for example E = E (p, i, s, ...)] , these characteristics can be taken, for the definition of the object of the protection requested, when technically possible, either separately, [for example s, and / or i, and / or p, ...], or total and / or partial combination, [eg E (s, T, p), and / or E (s, T), and / or E (t, p), and / or E (s, p)].

  The present invention relates to a dismountable billiard table which essentially comprises a plate 1 comprising a rolling face 2 of balls 3, a billiard mat 4 positioned on the rolling face of the plate, this plate being further surrounded by a frame 5 to delimit a play area 6 for the balls 3.

  According to an essential characteristic of the invention, at least part of one of the sides of the frame 5, and advantageously all sides, comprises a spar 11, means 12 for removably mounting the spar 11 on the edge 13 of the tray 1, at least one return band 21 of the balls 3, means 22 for removably mounting the return band 21 on the spar 11, the spar 11 and the return band 21 both assembled constituting the side part. of the framework 5.

  In addition, the billiard mat 4 being placed on the rolling face 2 of the tray, for example without being glued, the table further comprises means 30 for hanging at least one point 31 of the edge 32 of the billiard carpet 4 with at least one corresponding point 33 of the edge 13 of the plate 1.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the billiard table, when the billiard mat 4 is placed on the rolling face 2 of the plate, at least one point 31 of its edge 32 is hooked with the corresponding point 33 of the edge of the plate 1 , and that the spar 11 is mounted on the plate, the edge 32 of the billiard carpet 4 is trapped between at least a portion of the underside of the frame 5, in this case the underside of the return band 21, and the rolling face 2 of the plate. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the edge 32 of the belt 4 is trapped between the lower face of the deflection band 21 and a part of the face 43 of the spar 11 with which the return band 21 is associated as described herein. -after.

  Although it does not require a gluing of the entire carpet on the entire bearing surface 2 of the tray, the embodiment described above, allows the edge of the carpet to be perfectly plated all around the area of game 6.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, such as that illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the means 12 for removably mounting the spar 11 on the edge 13 of the billiard table 1 comprise at least a first hook 40 substantially shaped. "L" or equivalent, comprising a base 41 and a connecting lug 42 respectively corresponding to the horizontal line and to the vertical line of the "L", this first hook 40 being secured to the spar 11 by the free end of the lug of link 42 fixed on the first face 43 of the spar 11 adapted to come opposite the rolling face 2 of the plate 1, the distance then separating the base 41 of the first hook 40 of the first face 43 of the spar 11 being at least equal to the thickness of the tray.

  These means 12 furthermore comprise a through-hole 44 formed in the edge of the plate 1, this through-light 44 having a width at least equal to the maximum width of the first hook 40 and a length at least equal to the length of the base 41 of this first hook, for the purpose that will appear below after reading the description of the assembly and disassembly of the billiard table according to the invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As for the means 22 for removably mounting the return band 21 on the spar 11, they are arranged so that, when the return band is mounted on the spar and the spar is mounted on the edge of the plate, the strip is blocked between the spar and the plate.

  In a still advantageous manner, these means 22 for removably mounting the return band 21 on the spar 11 comprise, FIGS. 2 and 3, at least one second hook 50 substantially in the shape of an "L" comprising a base 51 and a tab of link 52 respectively corresponding to the horizontal line and to the vertical line of the "L", this second hook 50 being secured to the spar 11 by the free end of the connecting lug 52 fixed on the second face 53 of the spar 11 delimiting the playground 6.

  These means 22 further comprise a third substantially L-shaped hook 55 comprising a base 56 and a connecting lug 57 respectively corresponding to the horizontal line and to the vertical line of the "L", this third hook 55 being integral with the return band 21 by the free end of its connecting lug 57 secured to the bottom of a recessed housing 58 formed in front of the return band 21 adapted to come opposite the second face 53 of the spar 11, the depth of the recessed housing 58 being at most equal to the sum of the lengths of the two connecting lugs 52, 57 of the second and third hooks 50, 55.

  As mentioned before, the billiard table further comprises means 30 for hanging at least one point 31 of the edge 32 of the billiard carpet 4 with at least one corresponding point 33 of the edge 13 of the plate 1.

  These means 30 defined above are advantageously constituted by at least one tensioner 34, such as a link or the like advantageously elastic, a first end 35 is fixed by any means on the point 31 of the edge 32 of the billiard carpet 4, by example using a hook, a knot, a staple, an eyelet, etc. and whose second end 36 is fixed by any means which is within the skill of the art to the corresponding point 33 of the edge of the tray advantageously located under the tray.

  In the case described above, wherein the means 12 for removably mounting the spar 11 on the edge 13 of the plate comprise a light 44 (more generally lights 44 distributed around the entire periphery of the plate, Figure 1) , the tensioner 34 passes into the aperture 44, and preferably into a groove 37 advantageously of a depth at least equal to the thickness of the tensioner and made in the wall 38 of the light 44 which is closest to the center of the plate 1.

  In this way, when the tensioner 34 is put in place to retain and stretch the belt 4 on the rolling face 2 of the plate, it does not impede the passage of the first hook 40 in the light 44 and, above all, it prevents the edge of the carpet 4 to slide laterally and thus to make folds, which would be an irreversible obstacle to the practice of the game of billiards.

  Realistically, the plate has a plurality of lights 44 distributed around the plate, for example twelve as shown in Figure 1, and the means for hooking the edge of the belt 4 on the edge of the plate have at least as many tensioners 34 44. But, preferably and for safety, they will comprise at least two tensioners 34 per light, as shown in Figure 4, to redundant each attachment.

  As mentioned in the preamble of the present description, a billiard table can take different configurations, essentially two, namely a configuration for the billiard game of American or Anglo-Saxon type, that is to say having a tray with holes in which the balls may fall, and a configuration for a French billiard game, that is to say with continuous return belts all around the frame 5.

  Accordingly, the plate advantageously comprises at least one cylindrical orifice of revolution 60, 61, 62, ..., generally six in a table for the game of American billiards or the like, in which is able to penetrate a ball of billiard 3 This orifice 60, 61, 62, ... has a diameter greater than that of the balls and is bordered by two ends of two consecutive longitudinal members 11, FIG.

  The table then comprises at least one plate 64. This plate is able to cover at least partially the opening of the orifice 60, 61, 62, ... and is arranged to come into substantially contact with the two ends of the beams while resting. on the rolling face 2. The table then further comprises means 70 for connecting the plate 64 with the orifice 60, 61, 62,. .., for example a pin 71 secured to the face of the plate adapted to come into contact with the rolling face 2. This pin 71 has a shape at least partially cylindrical in revolution and an outer diameter at most equal to the diameter of the orifice 60, 61, 62, ... to be able to dive into this orifice.

  To allow the game of American billiards, left side of Figure 1 and Figure 5, the plate 64 has a cutout to allow free opening of the hole and allow the ball to fall into this hole according to the rules of the game. American billiard, and the pin 71 is a hollow hollow cylinder, Figure 5, whose inner diameter is at least equal to the diameter of the balls 3, the assembly "plate 64 - pin 71" forming in this case a chute shape.

  When the table is in its configuration for French billiard game or the like, right side of Figure 1 and Figure 6, the plate 64 completely covers the orifice 60, 61, 62, ... and the pin 71 is a cylinder matching substantially the entire wall of the orifice by plugging into it.

  From a functional point of view, and even aesthetic, it is preferable that the frame 5 has a continuous height all around. Also, is it then advantageous that the plate 64 has a thickness substantially equal to the height H of the spar 11.

  In order to be able to more easily store such a billiard table, the plate 1 consists of at least two tray portions 81, 82 and the table comprises means for securing together the two tray portions, for example any type of tray. fast fasteners or the like.

  The Applicant plans to make billiard tables in four portions instead of two as illustrated on the figurel.

  Of course, the table further comprises foldable and / or removable base means. These means are well known in themselves and will not be more fully described here for the sole purpose of simplifying the present description.

  The Applicant has already realized such a pool table and found that it obtained good results when the tray 1 is synthetic resin or aluminum, the rails 11 are wood, aluminum or plastic, and that the return band 21 is made of a rubber material.

  The table according to the invention mounts and dismounts as follows: It is first assumed that the table is disassembled and all the constituent elements described above for the production of a table as shown in Figure 1 are available to a potential user.

  This user begins by installing the legs or the like. Then it assembles the portions 81, 82 ... of the tray to achieve the entire plateau by joining them to each other by means of quick couplers or the like, the plate having the six orifices 6062 needed for the game of billiard American type or the like.

  When the tray as a whole is installed, it covers it with the billiard carpet and hangs a large number of points 31 of its border with the corresponding points 33 by means of the tensioners 34 as previously described by passing them in the lights 44 and positioning them in the grooves 37. Of course, it should be noted that the carpet has cutouts to not cover the orifices.

  In this configuration, the tray 1 is covered with the carpet 4 which is perfectly plated on the running surface 2.

  The user then performs the following operations, depending on the configuration he wants to give to the pool table, depending on the type of billiard game he wants to practice.

  If he wants to give the billiard table its configuration for the American type billiard game, like that shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, it uses as many side members 11 as spaces between the orifices, or in general six longitudinal members, and as many return belts 21. First associates each return band 21 with its corresponding spar so that the second and third hooks 50, 55 cooperate as shown in Figures 2 and 3, each return band 21 being then pressed against the face 53 of its associated spar 11, specifying that the ends of the return bands 21 are formed in cutaway to guide the balls in a known manner before they fall into the orifices 60-62.

  Then, each assembly comprising a spar 11 and a return belt 21 associated as described above, is itself associated with the plate on which is already positioned the carpet 4. For this, a first hook 40 is introduced into each light 44 until the face 43 of the spar comes into contact with the rolling face 2 of the plate 1, then the assembly defined above is translated so that the base 41 of the first hook 40 comes on the underside of the plate .

  Advantageously, it is also possible, to more securely secure the spar 11 and the return band 21, to fix this base 41 with the lower face of the plate 1, for example by screwing, bolting, etc. (not shown in the figures).

  The assembly is then secured to the plate 1, the return band 21 is further blocked between the longitudinal member 11 and the rolling face 2 by further pressing the edge 32 of the belt 4 which is thus well pressed on the rolling face .

  The plates 64 in the form of a ball guide chute, like those shown on the left of FIG. 1 and in FIG. 5, are associated with the orifices and placed between the ends of two consecutive longitudinal members 11 respectively, to keep them locked and thus to realize the final shape of the pool table.

  If the user wants to give the billiard table its configuration for a French billiard game, as shown in phantom in FIG. 1, it uses return bands 21 which are in one piece for each side of the board 1, for example being associated, for the long sides of the plate, the same two longitudinal members 11 as for the configuration in American billiard, and a single spar 11 for the short side. The association of the return belts 21 with the longitudinal members 11, as well as that of the "spoiler-sill" assemblies with the plate, is carried out in the same way as described above for the table in configuration of American type billiard game.

  Next, the user places the plates 64 full, like those shown on the right-hand side of FIG. 1 and in FIG. 6, to block the "spar-stringer" assemblies and to block the orifices which, in this type of billiards game, are not used.

  It is specified that, preferably, so that the assembly of all sets "spar-return band" can be easily performed and in particular for the establishment of a set is not bothered by another set already put in place, the half difference between the length of one side of the plate and the overall length of this set is at least equal to the width of the assembly, as shown in Figure 1.

  The disassembly of the table according to the invention is carried out inversely to that described above for its assembly, and will therefore not be described here.

  The advantages of the billiard table according to the invention appear clearly in the description made above, its structure and its assembly-disassembly.

Claims (14)

REVENDI CATIONS   1. A removable billiard table comprising a plate (1) comprising a rolling face (2) of balls (3), a billiard mat (4) positioned on the rolling face of the plate, said plate being further surrounded by a frame (5) for defining a playing area (6) for the balls (3), said table being characterized in that: at least a part of one of the sides of said frame (5) comprises: É a beam (11), É means (12) for removably mounting said spar (11) on the edge (13) of the plate (1), É at least one return band (21) of the balls (3) , E means (22) for removably mounting said return band (21) on said spar (11), said spar (11) and said return band (21) both assembled forming said side portion of the frame (5), and that * said billiard carpet (4) being placed on said rolling face (6) of the plate, it further comprises: E means (30) for hanging at least one point (31) of the edge (32) of the billiard carpet (4) with at least one corresponding point (33) of the edge (13) of said board (1).   2. Billiard table according to claim 1, characterized in that when the billiard mat (4) is placed on the rolling face (6) of the plate (1), at least one point (31) of the edge (32) of said billiard mat is hooked with a corresponding point (33) of the edge of the board (1), and that the spar (11) is mounted on said board, the edge (32) of the billiard mat ( 4) is trapped between at least a part of the frame (5) and the rolling face (6) of the plate (1).   3. Table according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the means (22) for removably mounting the return band (21) on the spar (11) are arranged so that when the band is mounted on the spar and that the spar is mounted on the edge of the plate (1), the return band is locked between the spar and the plate.   4. Billiard table according to claim 3, characterized in that the means (12) for removably mounting said spar (11) on the edge (13) of the billiard table (1) comprise at least a first hook ( 40) substantially in the form of "L" comprising a base (41) and a connecting lug (42) respectively corresponding to the horizontal line and the vertical line of the L, said first hook (40) being integral with the spar (11) by the free end of the connecting lug (42) fixed on the first face (43) of the spar (11) adapted to come opposite the rolling face (2) of the plate (1), the distance separating the base (41) the first hook (40) of the first face (43) of the spar (11) being at least equal to the thickness of said plate (1), and a through-hole (44) formed in said plate (1), said through-light (44) having a width at least equal to the maximum width of the first hook and a length at least equal to the length of the base (41) of the first hook (40).   5. Billiard table according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the means (22) for removably mounting the return band (21) on said spar (11) comprise at least: É a second hook (50) substantially in the shape of "L" comprising a base (51) and a connecting lug (52) respectively corresponding to the horizontal line and the vertical line of the "L", said second hook (50) being integral with the spar (11) by the free end of the connecting lug (52) fixed on the second face (53) of said spar (11) delimiting the playing area (6), and E a third hook (55) substantially in "L" shape comprising a base (56) and a connecting lug (57) respectively corresponding to the horizontal line and to the vertical line of the "L", said third hook (55) being integral with the return band (21 ) by the free end of its connecting lug (57) integral with the bottom of a recessed housing (58) made in front of the a return belt (21) adapted to come opposite the second face (53) of the spar (11), the depth of the recessed housing (58) being at most equal to the sum of the lengths of the two connecting lugs (52); 57) of the second and third hooks (50, 55).   6. Billiard table according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when the plate has at least one cylindrical hole of revolution (60, 61, 62, ...) in which is able to penetrate a billiard ball (3), said orifice having a diameter greater than that of said billiard ball (3) and being bordered by two ends of two consecutive longitudinal members (11), it further comprises at least one plate (64) adapted to at least partially covering the opening of said orifice (60, 61, 62, ...), said plate (64) being arranged to come into substantially contact with said two ends of spars by resting on the rolling face (2) and means (70) for bonding said plate (64) to said orifice (60, 61, 62, ...).   7. Billiard table according to claim 6, characterized in that the means (70) for connecting said plate (64) with said orifice (60, 61, 62, ...) are constituted by a pin (71) solidaire the face of said plate adapted to come into contact with the rolling face (2), said stud (71) having an at least partially cylindrical shape of revolution whose outer diameter is at most equal to the diameter of said orifice (60, 61, 62, ...).   8. Billiard table according to claim 7, characterized in that, when in configuration for French billiard game or the like, said pin (71) is a cylinder substantially matching the entire wall of the orifice.   9. Billiard table according to claim 7, characterized in that, when in the configuration for American billiard game or the like, said pin (71) is a hollow semi-cylinder whose inner diameter is at least equal to the diameter billiard ball (3).   10. Billiard table according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that said plate (64) has a thickness substantially equal to the height (H) of said spar (11).   11. Billiard table according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate (1) consists of at least two tray portions (81, 82) and means for securing the two tray portions.   Pool table according to Claim 4 and one of the preceding claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the means (30) for hanging at least one point (31) of the edge (32) of the billiard carpet ( 4) with at least one corresponding point (33) of the edge (13) of the plate (1) are constituted by at least one tensioner (34), a first end (35) is fixed to said point (31) of the carpet (4) ) and whose other end (36) is fixed to said point (33) of the edge of the plate (1), said point (33) of the edge (13) of the plate being located below the plate, the tensioner (34) passing through a light (44).   13. Billiard table according to claim 12, characterized in that said tensioner is positioned in a groove (37) formed in the wall (38) of said light (44), the closest to the center of said plate (1).   Pool table according to claim 13, characterized in that the depth of the groove (37) is at least equal to the thickness of the tensioner (34).