GB2166962A

GB2166962A - Table game apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2166962A
Application number: GB08527284A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rex Moxey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-11-20
Filing date: 1985-11-06
Publication date: 1986-05-21
Also published as: GB8527284D0

Abstract

A table version of ordinary or crown bowls uses small biased balls which are played on a table 10 with or without a cue, the table having a flat or domed playing surface 14 with means around its periphery, such as a channel 16, a ramp, or a flange, for restraining return to the playing area of balls that move adjacent the edge. Before a ball is cued off, it may be placed in a holder 18 so that it can be placed with its bias in a known orientation. The holder may have retaining arms engageable with opposed edge regions of the table surface to maintain the holder in a desired location. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for playing a game The present invention concerns apparatus for playing a game, particularlyfora game having attributes of both the bowls family of games and the billiards family of games.

Thus the invention provides apparatus for playing a game comprising: at least one cue, a multiplicity of balls comprising a jack and at least two pluralities of bowls playable by respective players by striking with said cue; at least the bowls each having a bias; and means for providing a delimited table surface on which the balls are playable with the cue.

The table surface may be provided in any convenient fashion. Thus as is well known for billiards-type games, there may be a specially constructed table. ideally with a slate bed covered with cloth, though of course cheaper and lighter materials may be used. Alternatively there may be a tabletop member that can be placed on any convenient stand, such as an ordinary table. As a further possibility, there may be means for adapting an existing table, e.g. by adapting the playing surface of an existing billia rds-type table, or even by adapting an existing ordinary table with a flat support surface.

The apparatus may include a ball holder adapted to be located on the table surface to hold a ball so that the axis of its bias can be oriented as required, and the ball can be struck with the cue to drive it away from the holder.

The apparatus may be for playing a game resembling crown bowls. Thus the means for providing a table surface may comprise means defining at least a portion of a playing surface having a raised crown.

Alternatively the apparatus may be for playing a game more resembling the common "flat" bowls. If an attempt were made to play a game like bowls on a conventional billiards table, the rebounding of balls from the cushions would be likely to interfere seriously. Thus, in one type of embodiment the invention provides apparatus wherein means for providing a table surface comprise means for delimiting a playing area and for restraining the return to that area of balls that pass out of it in substantially any direction in which balls are likely to be driven during a game. The restraining means may comprise a peripheral channel into which balls can fall. Alternatively or additionally there may be other means for restraining return of balls from adjacent an edge of the table.For example, there may be ramp means adjacent the edge, such that a ball can pass easily onto or over them in the outward direction, but its return is restrained.

Alternatively there could be ball wedging means, e.g. a flange extending over an edge portion of the playing surface so that a ball could pass at least partly beneath the flange and become trapped.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. lisa plan view of a table surface for use as part of apparatus embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on B-B in Fig. 1, showing a tabletop for a flat bowls game; Fig. 3 is a corresponding transverse section on line A-A; and Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views corresponding to Figs. 2 and 3 but showing a tabletop for a crown bowls game.

Apparatus for a flat bowls game will first be described, with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. The illustrated tabletop 10 has a rectangular peripheral wall 12. A playing surface member 14 (shown in phantom in Fig. 1) is spaced inwardly of the wall 12 so that a channel 16 is defined around its edge between the wall 12 (which may be the cushion of a conventional billiards-type table) and the edge of the surface member 14. The width and depth of the channel are chosen so that a ball driven across the surface member 14 over the edge thereof tends to be retained in the channel 16. For example, for use with balls of diameter 5 or 6 cm the channel may be 7.5 cm deep and of similar width. The surface member 14 may comprise a slate bed surfaced with a suitable fabric, such as green baize. For a cheaper and lighter product, the slate may be replaced by chipboard or other suitable material.

In order to play a game resembling bowls, a jack and a suitable number of bowls are required.

Generality a game will be played by two players or teams, and each will have a number, e.g. four, of like bowls. Conveniently the bowls of different players will be of respective colours to aid identification.

Preferably each bowl is coloured with a single colour, possibly with individual identifying marks.

All ofthe bowls are biased, and each bowl bears an indication of the axis of its bias. The jack may not have a bias. The bowls are intended to be played with a cue. A conventional billiards cue is suitable.

In one possible form of game, a first player sends the jack up the table from a first end, possibly using a cue. It may be required that the jack should come to rest more than a set distance from the channel 16.

Once the jack has come to rest, the players take turns to hit successive ones of their bowls. Once all of the bowls have been played, points are scored in the conventional manner, depending on the relative distances of the bowls from the jack.

Plainly, skill is required in accurately driving a ball with a cue, when the ball has a bias. This makes it significantly different from the more familiar games using cues. In order to assist a player two place the ball with the bias axis in a desired orientation, use may be made of a ball holder 18. The example shown is approximately C-shaped in plan, having a central cavity 20 that is open to the front. A bowl can be placed in this cavity, and the arms of the C contact it frictionally so as to prevent it from rotating under the influence of its bias. The rear wall of the C is low enough, at least in part, to allow the bowl to be played with a cue.Since the placing of the holder 18 on the table determines the distance which a bowl has to be played, a more sophisticated holder may have retaining means for preventing an unscrupuious player from gaining an unfair advantage. For example, the holder may have retaining arms engageable with opposed edge regions of the table surface. Thus edge portions could engage over the edges of the surface member 14 or over the wall 12. If desired, the holder 18 could be laterally movable along these arms.

In the illustrated example, the table is symmetrical about a central transverse axis, so that alternate games (or "ends") may be played in opposite directions. (A table on which the channel 16 or other restraining means extended around a playing end region of the table but not the other end region could be used for games always played in the same direction.) The preferred table is substantially the same size as a full size billiards table, i.e. approximately four bytwo metres. Of course, smaller tables may also be provided, with the balls being correspondingly scaled. The balls may be such as are already produced for games of "carpet bowls".

Apparatus for playing a game based on crown bowls will now be described with reference to Figs.

1, 4 and 5 (disregarding the phantom line in Fig. 1, which delimits the surface member 14 of the previously described embodiment). In this second embodiment, the basic tabletop may be generally as in the first embodiment, with a peripheral wall 12.

However, in this case the playing surface member 22 has a domed surface so asto define a raised crown. The periphery of the surface member 22 extends substantially to the wall 12. The wall 12 may be cushioned, as for a conventional billiards table, so as to provide a resilient barrierthat tends to reflect an incident ball.

To give an example of suitable dimensions, for a tablesimilarto afull size billiards table the playing area is approximately four by two metres. The wall 12 may rise about 6 cm above the top surface ofthe periphery of the surface member 22. The maximum height of the surface member 14, in the centre of the table, should not be more than about 5 cm higher than its edges. Thus the playing surface can have a curvature such that balls have some tendency to roll towards the edge when they are in motion, but they can come to rest at any position. Clearly, the need to allow both for the curvature of the crown and the inherent bias of the bowls can provide a considerable challenge to the skill of a player who is trying to send a bowl to a particular location.

Preferably the jack ball also has a bias.

The playing surface member 22 may conveniently be moulded from a suitably hard material, such as glass reinforced plastics. As before, it would generally be surfaced with a green cloth, such as baize.

A game can be played generally as described above for flat bowls. If the walls are resilient (as will be the case if the table is a conventional billiardstype table to which a surface member 22 has been added) players may have the interesting possibility of making shots off the cushion.

Although examples of games have been described, it will be appreciated that various other games may be played on such tables. It is also possible for different forms of table to be devised, for example a table having a crown and also having means for restraining the return of balls to the playing area. Another alternative is for a table with a flat surface member to have a resilient barrier, so that a game of "flat" bowls can have the possibility of shots played off the cushion. Games using some of the described apparatus may be played without cues, e.g. by throwing the balls gently across a table.

Claims

1. Apparatus for playing a game comprising: at least one cue; a multiplicity of balls comprising a jack and at least two pluralities of bowls playable by respective players by striking with said cue; at least the bowls each having a bias; and means for providing a delimited table surface on which the balls are playable with the cue.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the jack has a bias.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 including a ball holder adapted to be located on the table surface to hold a ball so that the axis of its bias can be oriented as desired, and the ball can be struck with the cue to drive it away from the holder.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the holder has retaining arms engageable with opposed edge regions of the table surface to maintain the holder in a desired location on the table surface.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the means for providing a table surface comprise means defining at least a portion of a playing surface having a raised crown.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the means for providing a table surface comprise a resilient barrier extending, in use, around the periphery of the playing surface.

7. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the means for providing a table surface comprise means for delimiting a playing area and for restraining the return to that area of balls that pass out of it in substantially any direction.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the restraining means comprise a peripheral channel into which balls can fall.

9. Apparatus for playing a game substantially as any herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. Apparatus for converting a billiards-type table for use in apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising means for defining a raised crown in the playing surface or means for restraining return to a playing area of balls that pass out in substantially any direction.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the means for restraining return comprise a surface member for fitting within the billiards-type table spaced from the peripheral cushion thereof so as to define a raised surface for the playing area, surrounded by a channel defined between the cushion and the edge of the surface member.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the means for restraining return comprise ramp means or ball wedging means locatable around the periphery of the table such that a ball can pass towards the cushion but its return is restrained.