GB2088222A - Trim for a games table - Google Patents

Abstract

A trim 11, around a drawer opening of a coin-operated pool table, incorporates a panel which projects at the front of the opening 4 beyond the edge, the panel having a recessed surface provided with a sticker printed with decorative/advertising matter. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Edge trims This invention relates to edge trims for openings and is particularly concerned with an edge trim for a side opening in a coin-operated table of the kind used for playing a game such as pool.

A known coin-operated or coin-freed pool table has a fabric-covered slate playing surface on top of a floor-standing box structure base formed from sheets of laminated chipboard of plywood. Balls contained within the base are delivered to the player at an outlet opening after insertion of one or more coins into a coin mechanism. During play the balls fall into pockets and from there are directed by runways to an internal ball storage rack which is visible through a glass panel in one side of the base. The coin mechanism and the glass panel are provided on a front part of a locked drawer set into the side of the base, which drawer can be unlocked and removed by an authorised person to provide access to the interior of the table for example for servicing purposes.

With this known arrangement, it is not uncommon for attempts to be made by unauthorised persons to prise the drawer open with the aim of stealing coins or obtaining free games on the table, and the problem arises that such attempts may cause damage to the periphery of the drawer opening which damage may subsequently, even after repair thereof, mar the appearance of the table.

An object of the present invention is to provide an edge trim which can be used to overcome or at least appreciably reduce the above-mentioned problem.

According to the invention therefore there is provided an edge trim which is locatable relative to and longitudinally of an edge of an opening, characterised in that said trim incorporates a panel adapted to project beyond said edge away from said opening at the front thereof.

With this arrangement, in the event that the edge becomes damaged the trim can be replaced, after effecting appropriate repairs if necessary, thereby to enable effects of the damage to be concealed.

Moreover, the projecting panel provides a surface which can be formed or may have material applied thereto for decorative and/or advertising purposes. Where material such as a printed sticker or the like is to be applied to the panel surface, such surface may be recessed or otherwise formed to facilitate location and/or adhesion and/or prominent display thereof.

The said trim may comprise a frame structure adapted to extend partially or wholly around the periphery of the opening in which case there may be a single panel to extend at one edge only of the opening or alternatively there may be a plurality of panels to extend respectively at two or more edges of the opening.

The trim may comprise a one-piece moulded plastics structure, for example a vacuum formed plastics structure.

Most preferably, the trim has an elongate part adapted to fit on the inner surface of the edge of the opening, said panel extending at an angle to such elongate part and being adapted to fit alongside a front surface bounding said opening.

The panel may be of any suitable size and shape. For example, the panel may be of rectangular elongate form or may be triangular.

It is visualised that the edge trim will find particular application in the context of coinoperated or coin-freed pool tables as hereinbefore described, especially for use around the said drawer opening. It is however to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to this use and thus the trim may be used around other openings of the table (such as ball delivery and triangle-receiving openings) and also may be used in contexts other than pool tables.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a pool table fitted with edge trims in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of one such edge trim; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the trim of Fig. 2.

The table shown in Fig. 1 has a fabric-covered slate playing surface 1 which is bounded by cushions 2 and is supported on a floor-standing box structure base 3 formed from interconnected laminated chipboard or plywood panels.

The base 3 has a rectangular ball delivery hole 4 at one end 5 and at the opposite end there is a wider rectangular hole through which a triangle can be inserted for storage purposes. At one side 6 of the base there is an elongate rectangular hole 7 into which a drawer fits. The drawer has a front panel 8 which is flush with the outer surface of the side 6 of the base when the drawer is fully inserted. A key-operated lock is provided to secure the drawer in the fully inserted position.

A coin mechanism 9 is mounted near one end of the front panel 8 and an elongate glass window 10 extends along the panel 8 between such mechanism 9 and the opposite end thereof.

Each of the holes 4, 7 and the triangle-receiving hole (not shown) is bounded by a respective trim.

The trim 11 for the hole 4 is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and will now be described in more detail.

The trim 11 comprises a relatively stiff onepiece moulded plastics structure defining a frame with four side walls 12 which project into the hole 4 and fit against edge surfaces of the periphery of the hole. These side walls 12 are secured, as by pinning or otherwise, to the hole edge surfaces.

The front edges of all side walls 12 are turned outwardly to define coplanar lips 13, 1 7 which stand proud of the surface of the base end 5. The top lip 1 7 is formed integrally with a generally rectangular panel 14 which extends upwardiy and is coextensive with the top lip 1 7. The panel 14 has a central recessed flat surface 1 5 bounded by outwardly turned lips 1 6 which are of like form to and are coplanar with the lips 13. The back of the recessed surface 1 5 and also rearwardly turned outer peripheral rims of the lips 13, 16 rest against the said surface of the base end 5.

The trim fitted around the hole in the opposite end of the table (not shown) is of like form to the trim 11 although of appropriately modified dimensions.

The trim 18 around the drawer opening 7 is of like form to the trim 11 although of appropriately modified dimensions. Aiso, the trim 1 8 is formed in two separate halves (abutting at 19) and the top panel has two separate recessed surfaces 20, 21.

With the arrangement described, the recessed surfaces 15, 20, 21 can conveniently be provided with stickers printed with decorative and/or advertising matter. Similar matter can also be printed along the glass window 10. Moreover in the event that the top edge of one of the holes provided with trims is damaged, as for example if an attempt is made to prise the drawer open, the pertaining trim can be removed and replaced thereby to conceai the effects of the damage to such top edge.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only. Thus, for example, the panels need not be rectangular but instead may be triangular or of any other suitable shape.

Claims (9)

1. An edge trim which is locatable relative to and longitudinally of an edge of an opening, characterised in that said trim incorporates a panel adapted to project beyond said edge away from said opening at the front thereof.

2. A trim according to claim 1, wherein said panel has a recessed surface thereto.

3. A trim according to claim 1 or 2, which comprises a frame structure adapted to extend partially or wholly around the periphery of the opening and having one said panel extending at one edge only of the opening.

4. A trim according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which comprises a one-piece moulded plastics structure.

5. A trim according to any one of claims 1 to 4, having an elongate part adapted to fit on the inner surface of the edge of the opening, said panel extending at an angle to such elongate part and being adapted to fit alongside a front surface bounding said opening.

6. A trim according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said panel is of rectangular elongate form.

7. A trim according to any one of claims 1 to 6, when used at an opening of a coin-operated or coin-freed pool table as hereinbefore described.

8. The combination according to claim 7, wherein said opening is a drawer opening.

9. A games table substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. A trim substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. The combination of claim 7 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

New claims filed on Superseded claims 1-10.

New or amended claims:

1. A games table having an opening in a wall thereof with an edge trim at the edge of said opening, characterised in that at least one panel is formed integrally with said trim and projects therefrom to overlie a portion of a front surface of said wall adjacent said opening.

2. A games table according to claim 1 , wherein said panel has a recessed surface thereto.

3. A games table according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said trim comprises a frame structure adapted to extend partially or wholly around the periphery of the opening and there is one said panel extending at one edge only of the opening.

4. A games table according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said trim with said panel comprises a one-piece moulded plastics structure.

5. A games table according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said trim has an elongate part adapted to fit on the inner surface of the edge of the opening, said panel extending at an angle to such elongate part.

6. A games table according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said panel is of rectangular elongate form.

7. A games table according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is a coin-operated or coinfreed pool table as hereinbefore described.

8. A games table according to claim 7, wherein said opening is a drawer opening.