GB1577227A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) GAME APPARATUS (71) I, ANTHONY ELLIOTT WHITWORTH, a British Subject, of "Hillside Hollow", Macclesfield Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention concerns apparatus for use in playing a game analogous to table tennis.

Table tennis requires a long rectangular table with a net transversely thereacross, and to play the game a substantial floor space is necessary at each end of the table. Accordingly, as a general rule it is often not possible conveniently to find space in domestic dwellings for playing the game.

An object of the present invention is to provide a form of apparatus which permits the playing of a game which is comparable with table tennis, yet which occupies considerably less space than a conventional table tennis table and furthermore requires less adjacent floor space for playing the game.

With this object in view, the present invention provides apparatus, for use in playing a game analogous to table tennis, comprising a table having a table top, having an upstanding panel providing a rebounding surface for impingement thereagainst of a ball, demarcation means extending substantially at right angles to the upstanding panel and serving to define, on the table top, separate playing areas for two players, and the table top being angled at its ends on a side thereof remote from the upstanding panel.

In use of the apparatus, two players stand in front of the table, each in correspondence with a respective one of the two playing areas of the table top, the upstanding panel being to the rear side of the table top. They can then play a game thereon, using a conventional table tennis ball and bats, by each striking the ball in turn, so as to impinge against the rebounding surface and to bounce on his opponent's playing area of the table top. It will readily be understood that rules for scoring of the game can provide a number of alternatives. For example scoring may proceed as in conventional table tennis, a point being awarded to the opponent of a player who fails, after the ball has bounced on his playing area of the table top, to cause the ball then to impinge on the rebounding surface and bounce on his opponent's playing area of the table top.Another method of scoring may provide for the handing over of service in place of the winning of a point when the player who fails to return the ball in the manner described was the server of the ball at the start of the rally. This method of scoring is similar to that used in the game of squash.

For enabling the apparatus to be folded up for carriage, and/or storage, the upstanding panel is preferably detachable from the table top, which in turn is preferably in two halves which are separable or hinged along the centre line of the table top to enable it to be collapsed or folded.

The demarcation means may comprise a net, fence or the like which registers with the centre line, and which is detachable.

The rear side of the table top may be angled over respective sections thereof one adjacent each end thereof; in correspondence therewith the upstanding panel may comprise respective angled panel sections. These panel sections, which are then conveniently of triangular configuration, may serve to stabilise the main portion of the upstanding panel.

However, the rear side of the table top may simply be linear, with the upstanding panel extending as a planar panel along the entire length of said side or only a proportion thereof. In the latter instance, a triangular end section may be provided at each end, in the same way as when the rear side of the table is angled off at its ends.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a prefer red embodiment thereof, it being understood that the following description is illustrative, and not limitative, of the scope of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the said preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic front view showing how a game is played using the apparatus.

The illustrated preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention comprises a table 10 constructed principally of wood. It comprises a table top 11 of plywood of overall dimensions, for instance, of the order of six feet by four feet, divided at its transverse centre line 12 into two table top halves 13 and 14 which are separable or hingedly connected together for packing up or folding together along said centre line 12, when the apparatus is not required for use. Appropriately secured to the underside of this table top 11, so as to be detachable is a frame (e.g. of metal) which is not visible in the drawing. This frame has a respective leg unit 15 secured to each corner, these units 15 serving to support the two halves of the table top 11 in a substantially horizontal disposition at an appropriate height, for instance about one metre from the ground.

When viewed in plan, the table top 11 is not precisely rectangular; on the contrary, a longer side 16 thereof (which side 16 constitutes the front of the table) has sections 17 and 18 adjacent each end, angled so that the end portions of the table top 11 taper or diminish somewhat in width.

A number of vertical sockets 19 are provided in the table top 11 at spaced-apart positions along the non-angled or rear side 20 thereof, and these serve for the mounting, on the table top 11 along the said rear side 20, of an upstanding panel 21. This panel 21 has a substantially rectangular main portion 22 which corresponds approximately to the non-tapered main section of the table top 11, and two angled triangular end portions 23 and 24, one at each end. Pegs 25 projecting downwards at the bottom edge of said panel 21 locate into the vertical sockets 19 in the table top 11, and this arrangement enables the panel 21 to be fitted to and dismantled from the table top 11 rapidly, and without the use of tools. The angled end portions 23, 24 of the upstanding panel 21 serve to provide stability for the rectangular main portion 22 of the panel 21.This upstanding panel 21 may, for instance, be of the order of two feet or more in height.

Centrally of the main rectangular portion 22 of the upstanding panel 21 is a short channel piece 26, this being disposed substantially vertically with its bottom end just above the surface of the table top 11 and being of height corresponding approximately to the height of a conventional table tennis net, for example of the order of four inches. This channel piece 26 serves to receive one end of a shallow fence 27, of height corresponding approximately to the channel piece 26, this fence 27 being in the form, for example, of a rectangular element of hardboard, plyboard or the like which extends forwardly across the table top 11, in register with the centre line 12 and the junction between the two halves 13, 14 of the table top, from the upstanding panel 21 and at a right angle to the latter.The fence 27 serves, of course, as demarcation means dividing the entire table top into two playing areas which correspond to the two halves 13 and 14.

As shown in Figure 2, the apparatus is used for playing a game analogous to table tennis, by two players 28, 29 who position themselves one in front of each playing area of the table top 11, and using also a conventional table tennis ball 30, and table tennis bats 31, 32. Serving and scoring conforms to conventional table tennis, each player, in his turn, striking the ball 30 after it has bounced on his playing area of the table top 11, in an endeavour to cause it to impinge upon the front surface of the upstanding panel 21 and to rebound from the latter onto his opponent's playing area of the table top 11.The figure shows the player 28 having hit the ball 30 (dotted lines) against the panel 21 to rebound therefrom into the playing area 14, the other player 29 then striking the ball (full lines) to return it over the fence 27 by impinging on the panel 21 and bouncing into the playing area 13.

It will readily be understood that the apparatus will, normally, be of dimensions, in plan, approximating to half of those of a conventional table tennis table, so that it will occupy only one half of the floor space in a room. For instance, a conventional table tennis table will usually measure 9 ft x 5 ft, whereas the overall dimensions of the table top of the present invention may, for example, be of the order of 6 ft x 4 ft. Because both players stand in front of the table 10, and the upstanding panel 21 is provided along the rear side 20 of the table top 11, the table 10 can be positioned close to a wall, and often it can be used in restricted space where there would be no possibility whatever of installing and using a conventional table tennis table, even one constructed to smaller than usual dimensions.

The invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing example, and variations may be made thereto. Thus, for instance, the table does not have to be collapsible, and the table top can have angled sections, similar to the sections 17, 18 also along the rear side thereof. It is not essential for the upstanding panel 21 to be removable, not does it have to have the angled sections 23, 24 as described. It can simply be planar. It may extend along the entire length of the rear side 20 of the table top 11, or only central part thereof and, of course, it can be of configuration other than rectangular. The fence 27 can be constructed with a narrow tongue or tongues on its underside to fit into the joint between the two halves of the table top, in which case the channel piece 26 can be omitted.However, the fence 27 is not indispensible, and other means may be provided for ensuring demarcation of the two players' respective playing areas of the table top 11.

Such means may comprise a net, or may simply be provided by a painted line across the table top 11.

The legs units 15 may be foldable to lie closely beneath the table top for storage purposes, and where the table top is foldable the leg units 15 will, of course, fold to positions wherein they do not hinder the folding of the table top. The leg units and/or the frame to which they are connected, may, if desired, be completely detachable and the table top can, of course, be supported on a conventional table, if desired.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus, for use in playing a game analogous to table tennis, comprising a table having a table top, having an upstanding panel providing a rebounding surface for impingement thereagainst of a ball, demarcation means extending substantially at right angles to the upstanding panel and serving to define, on the table top, separate playing areas for two players, and the table top being angled at its ends on a side thereof remote from the upstanding panel.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upstanding panel is detachable from the table top.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the table top is in two halves which are separable or hinged along the centre line of the table top.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the demarcation means comprises a net, fence or the like extending transversely of the table top.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upstanding panel comprises a main portion extending along part only of the rear side of the table top, an angled end section being provided at each end of the main portion.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the end sections are triangular.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rear side df the table top is angled at its ends.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the demarcation means is in the form of a fence extending transversely across the table top.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the fence engages by one end into a channel piece secured to the panel.

10' Apparatus as claimed in claims 3 and 8 wherein the fence is adapted to engage into the joint between the two halves of the table top.

11. Apparatus, for use in playing a game analogous to table tennis, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the joint between the two halves of the table top, in which case the channel piece 26 can be omitted. However, the fence 27 is not indispensible, and other means may be provided for ensuring demarcation of the two players' respective playing areas of the table top 11. Such means may comprise a net, or may simply be provided by a painted line across the table top 11. The legs units 15 may be foldable to lie closely beneath the table top for storage purposes, and where the table top is foldable the leg units 15 will, of course, fold to positions wherein they do not hinder the folding of the table top. The leg units and/or the frame to which they are connected, may, if desired, be completely detachable and the table top can, of course, be supported on a conventional table, if desired. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus, for use in playing a game analogous to table tennis, comprising a table having a table top, having an upstanding panel providing a rebounding surface for impingement thereagainst of a ball, demarcation means extending substantially at right angles to the upstanding panel and serving to define, on the table top, separate playing areas for two players, and the table top being angled at its ends on a side thereof remote from the upstanding panel.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upstanding panel is detachable from the table top.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the table top is in two halves which are separable or hinged along the centre line of the table top.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the demarcation means comprises a net, fence or the like extending transversely of the table top.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upstanding panel comprises a main portion extending along part only of the rear side of the table top, an angled end section being provided at each end of the main portion.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the end sections are triangular.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rear side df the table top is angled at its ends.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the demarcation means is in the form of a fence extending transversely across the table top.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the fence engages by one end into a channel piece secured to the panel.

10' Apparatus as claimed in claims 3 and 8 wherein the fence is adapted to engage into the joint between the two halves of the table top.

11. Apparatus, for use in playing a game analogous to table tennis, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.