GB2139509A

GB2139509A - Games table with detachable cushion

Info

Publication number: GB2139509A
Application number: GB08313047A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Stanley Carter
Original assignee: CHALLENGER PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: CHALLENGER PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1983-05-12
Filing date: 1983-05-12
Publication date: 1984-11-14
Also published as: GB8313047D0

Abstract

A billiards, snooker or pool table has a cushion frame 1 and a cushion 2 detachably mounted thereon, respective parts 11, 10 of a toggle catch 4 being secured to the frame 1 and the cushion 2 which catches 4 are hand operable, permitting quick and easy removal and replacement of the cushion. The resilient nature of the toggle catches 4 accommodates significant manufacturing tolerances in the table and the cushion does not have to be specially recessed to accommodate the respective part 10 of the toggle catch whereby the quality of the cushion may be improved. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Games tables This invention relates to games tables, of the type used for the games of billiards, snooker, pool or the like.

As is known, such games tables have a flat playing surface covered with a baize cloth. Around the playing surface there are disposed resilient cushions, off which the balls may bounce. Such games tables are often disposed in public places, where they are subjected to continual use, and therefore require frequent maintenance.

One of the items that needs replacing or maintenance from time to time on such games tables is the cushion. Traditionally, cushions have been secured directly to a cushion frame, and replacement or maintenance of the cushion has entailed a significant amount of work. More recently, there have been introduced cushions which are made to be readily detachable from their cushion frames. However, these have still entailed the use of tools, and removable fastenings which may become lost when a cushion has been detached from its cushion frame.

The present invention aims to provide a games table having a detachable cushion which may be improved in the foregoing respects.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a games table of the type used for the games of billiards, snooker, pool or the like, having a cushion frame and a cushion detachably mounted thereon, the cushion and cushion frame being provided with respective parts of a resilient snap-action fastener which secures the cushion and cushion frame together, and is provided with hand operable means for releasing the fastener.

Preferably, the fastener comprises a toggle catch, one of said parts of which comprises a hasp, and the other of which said parts comprises a retaining member adapted to engage the hasp in a resilient manner, and operable by means of a lever having an overcentre action.

Alternatively, said parts of the fastening member may be adapted to engage one another in the manner of a resilient detent.

The cushion and cushion frame are preferably provided along their length with a plurality of spaced said fasteners.

The cushion frame may be provided along an edge, opposite to that at which the cushion is secured, with a hinge by means of which it is secured to the games table.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an underplan view of a cushion and cushion frame of one side of a games table embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a view taken on the line XX of Figure 1.

In Figures 1 and 2, the cushion frame 1 comprises a length of timber (or other suitable material) which is connected to the main frame of the respective games table (not shown) by means of a hinge 3 extending along one longitudinal edge of the cushion frame 1. Along the opposite edge of the cushion frame 1 there is secured a cushion 2, by means of a plurality of spaced fasteners 4. Each of the fasteners 4 is disposed within a respective recess 5 formed in the cushion frame 1. In Figure 1 , only one fastener 4 is illustrated.

In a conventional manner, the cushion 2 comprises a length of timber 6, to which there is secured a rubber strip 7. A baize cloth 8 extends around the top face 9 of the cushion 2, the rubber strip 7, and the lower face of the cushion 2, to which it is secured.

The fastener 4 is a toggle catch. It comprises a first part in the form of a hasp 10, which is secured to the cushion 2. A second part 11 of the toggle catch 4 comprises a retaining member in the form of a spring-clip 12, which is pivotally mounted at 13 on a lever 14, which in turn is pivotally mounted at 1 5 on a base 16 of the part 1 1.To engage the two parts 10 and 11 of the catch 4, the lever 14 is firstly pivoted upwardly, to permit the spring-clip 1 2 to engage around the hasp 1 0. The lever 14 is then pivoted downwardly, stressing the spring-clip 12, until the lever 14 occupies the position illustrated in Figure 2.It will be appreciated that, immediately before the lever 14 occupies the position shown in Figure 2, the pivot points 13 and 15 are in a substantially straight line with the point of engagement between the spring-clip 1 2 and the hasp 10. Thus, as the lever 14 is brought into the position illustrated in Figure 2, it is brought into an overcentre position.

It will be appreciated that, once the cushion 2 has been secured to the cushion frame 1 by means of the fasteners 4, it may be very quickly removed therefrom, for replacement or maintenance. It is simply necessary to release the catches 4 by lifting the respective levers 14, disengage the spring-clips 1 2 from the respective hasp 10, and remove the cushion 2. All of this can be done very simply by hand. No tools are required, and there are no loose parts for the fasteners which may become lost. The cushion 2 may then be refitted to the cushion frame 1 equally simply, by engaging the spring clips 12 over the hasps 10, and closing the levers 14 to their overcentre positions.

Each spring-clip 1 2 may apply an appreciable force to hold the cushion 2 and cushion frame 1 together, such that the cushion 2 may be held extremely securely. Because of the resilient nature of the fastener 4, an appreciable tolerance may be permitted in positioning of the parts 10 and 11 of the fastener 4, thus enabling games tables embodying the illustrated arrangement to be manufactured more easily and therefore more cheaply. The illustrated arrangement has a further advantage, in that the playing characteristics of the table may be improved. This is because, in previously proposed arrangements, it has been necessary to drill and/or recess the timber 6 of the cushion 2 to an appreciable extent, to accommodate a respective part of a fastener.

However, in the illustrated arrangement, the hasps 10 may be fixed to the cushion 2 simply by screws, such that no special drilling or recessing of the hardwood 6 is required. The length of hardwood is therefore more solid than in previously proposed arrangements, affording a more rigid support to the rubber strip 7, and therefore providing a better "bounce" to the cushion 2 as a whole.

Claims

1. A games table of the type used for the games of billiards, snooker, pool or the like, having a cushion frame and a cushion detachably mounted thereon, the cushion and cushion frame being provided with respective parts of a resilient snapaction fastener which secures the cushion and cushion frame together, and is provided with hand operable means for releasing the fastener.

2. A games table according to Claim 1 , wherein the respective said part of the fastener is secured to the cushion substantially without recessing of the cushion to accommodate the respective said part.

3. A table according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the fastener comprises a toggle catch, one of said parts of which comprises a hasp, and the other of which said parts comprises a retaining member adapted to engage the hasp in a resilient manner, and operable by means of a lever having an overcentre action.

4. A table according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said parts of the fastening member are adapted to engage one another in the manner of a resilient detent.

5. A table according to any preceding claim, wherein the cushion and cushion frame are provided along their length with a plurality of spaced said fasteners.

6. A table according to any preceding claim, wherein the cushion frame is provided along an edge, opposite to that at which the cushion is secured, with a hinge by means of which it is secured to the games table.

7. A games table provided with a cushion frame and a cushion detachably mounted on, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.