GB2179264A

GB2179264A - Games playing equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2179264A
Application number: GB08521056A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Thomas Schofield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-08-22
Filing date: 1985-08-22
Publication date: 1987-03-04
Also published as: GB2179264B; GB8521056D0

Abstract

Games playing equipment comprises a table 1 having a substantially flat playing surface surrounded by a cushioned rim 3, there being provided a plurality of downwardly opening passages 4 into which balls on the playing surface may be played and guide means 6,7,8 for guiding balls so played to a storage rack 9. The equipment further comprises a timer, timer start means, and a timer stop switch 5 located in each passage 4 for operation by the passage of a ball. The switches 5 are located substantially equal distances from the playing surface at the entrance to their respective passages 4. Timer stop switch enabling means 12 is located in the storage rack 9 and arranged so that the timer stop switches 5 are only enabled to stop the timer after a predetermined number of balls has lodged in the rack 9. Time display means is also provided for displaying the elapsed game time. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Games playing equipment This invention relates to games playing equipment comprising a table having a substantially flat playing surface surrounded by a cushioned rim, there being provided a plurality of downwardly opening passages into which balls on the playing surface may be played and guide means for guiding balls so played to a storage rack.

Cue ball games such as American pool are becoming increasingly popular and thus of increasing im portanceto the leisure industry.

The present invention is based on an appreciation of the continuing search for novelty in games of skill to be played competitively, whether against another player or againsttime, and it is an object ofthis invention to provide games playing equipment which enables the playing of a novel cue ball game.

According to the present invention, there is provided games playing equipment comprising a table having asubstantiallyflatplayingsurfacesur- rounded buy a cushioned rim, there being provided a plurality of downwardly opening passages into which balls on the playing surface may be played and guide meansforguiding balls so played to a storage rack, characterised in that such equipmentfurthercom- prises atimerand timerstart means, a timerstop switch located in each said passageforoperation by the passage of a ball, such switches being located substantially equal distances from the playing surface at the entrance to their respective passages, timerstop switch enabling means located in said storage rack arranged so that said timer stop switches are only enabled to stop the timer after a predetermined number of balls has lodged in said rack, and time display means for displaying the elapsed game time.

Equipment according to the present invention has the advantage that it enables accurate recordal ofthe time taken to sink a predetermined number of balls into the downwardly opening passages provided, no matter into which passage the last ball is played. A player can thus choose to play against another player, oragainst his previous best time for the game.

It is presently envisaged that the greatest demand for such equipment will be in public houses, clubs and other commercially operated establishments, and it is accordingly particularly preferred that said storage rack is closed and a coin or token operated release mechanism is provided for rendering balls stored in such rack accessible to a playerforposition- ing them on the playing surface, in orderto generate revenueforthe proprietoroftheestablishmentin which the equipment is located.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the piaying surface of a table included in the equipment, and Figure2 is an elevation of a time display.

The table 1 shown in Figure 1 is adapted from a standard commerciaily available American pool table. The table comprises a substantially flat playing surface 2 surrounded by a cushioned rim 3 at which are located a plurality of downwardly opening passages 4 into which balls on the playing surface may be played. A modification which will be immediately apparent from the drawing isthatthe number of such passages 4 has been reduced from the six which is standard on an American pool table to five. This is to make the game less easy. A micro-switch 5 is located in each such passage4fortriggering by the passage of a ball as it is potted. Such switches are located equal distances from the entrances to their respective downwardly opening passages, and are preferably located close to the playing surface.

Ball guides 6 shown in dotted lines are located beneath the playing surface leading on an incline from each ofthe downwardly opening passages 4 down to a central guidetray7 and thence via afurther guide 8 to a storage rack 9 which latter is also inclined downwardly, towards the head 10 of the table 1 atthe right hand side of the Figure. The storage rack9 is preferably equipped with a coin ortoken operable mechanism for the release of balls stored therein to a tray 11 at the head end of the table where they are accessible to a player for positioning on the playing surface 2. Such an arrangement is common on American pool tables and need not be further described here.

Towards the left hand or higher end of the storage rack 9 there is located a pressure switch 12 which is arranged to close a circuit when a ball is located on top of it. The switch 12 is located so thatthe second last of a predetermined number of object balls will rest upon it after potting. The arrangemenmt is such that closure of that circuit enables each of the microswitches 5 to deliver a signal responsive to the pot- ting of the last ofthat predetermined number of object balls.

In the embodiment illustrated, the table 1 is provided with two further switches. A first of these is located at 13 on the rim ofthetablefor manual operation by a player, and the second at 14 beneath a marked spot from which the cue ball is to be played.

In a preferred arrangement, there are provided a cue ball and sixteen object balls. In use, the cue ball is positioned on the marked spot over the switch 14, and the object balls are arranged in a diagonally oriented blocke.g. as shown at 15, with the aid of a square frame also provided. The player then operates switch 13 on the rim ofthetable, and this is operativeto enable the switch 14 beneath to spot to start a timing device when the cue ball is played away from the spot. A variety of suitable timing devices is widely available and constructional details need not be given here. The timing device is connected to a time display 16 on a display panel 17.The switch 12 is located in the storage rack 9 at the position which will be occupied bythefifteenth object ball to be potted, and that switch is operative to enable any of the microswitches 5 to stop the timer when triggered by the potting ofthesixteenth and lastobjectball,togivea total elapsed game time.

In preferred embodiments, the timer is associated with a memory and a comparator, for keeping an updated record of the lowest elapsed game time on that table, and with a display section 18 for displaying that record lowest time. It is also preferred to provide means for entering the name of the record holder for display in a name display panel 19.

It is desirablethe legs ofthetable should be provided with adjustment means such as screw feet, so asto enable the playing surface to be settruly horizontal despite anyslight irregularities in theflooron which the table is to be located.

If preferred the display panel may be operated from the table by remote control, for example by means of an information-wise modulated infra-red beam such as is commonly used for operating domesticelectric- al equipment.

Claims

1. Games playing equipment comprising atable having a substantiallyflat playing surface surrounded buy a cushioned rim,there being provided a plurality of downwardly opening passages into which balls on the playing surface may be played and guide meansforguiding balls so played to a storage rack, characterised in that such equipmentfurthercomprises a timer and timer start means, a timer stop switch located in each said passageforoperation by the passage of a ball, such switches being located substantially equal distances from the playing surface at the entrance to their respective passages, timerstop switch enabling means located in said storage rack arranged so that said timer stop switches are only enabled to stop the timer after a predetermined number of balls has lodged in said rack, and time display means for displaying the elapsed game time.

2. Equipmentaccording to claim 1,wherein said storage rack is closed and a coin or token operated release mechanism is provided for rendering balls stored in such rack accessible to a playerforposition- ing them on the playing surface.

3. Equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said timer start means comprises a piayer-operable manual switch.

4. Equipment according to any preceding claim, wherein said timer start means comprises a switch located beneath a spot on the playing surface and responsive to the presence of a ball resting on said spot.

5. Equipment according to claims3 and 4,wherein said p!ayer-operable manual switch is operative to enable such spotswitchtostartsaidtimer.

6. Equipment according to any preceding claim, wherein said timer stop switch enabling means is located in said storage rack for non-transient depress- ion by the last of a predetermined number of balls held by said storage rack.

7. Equipment according to any preceding claim, wherein said timer is associated with memory means and display means for recording and displaying the lowest elapsed gametime.

8. Equipment according to claim 7, wherein means is provided for entering and displaying further information, such as a player's name, in association said lowest elapsed game time.

9. Equipment according to any preceding claim, wherein said table is provided with adjustment meansfor enabling the playing surfaceto be set hori- zontal.

10. Equipment according to any preceding claim, wherein there are five said downwardly opening passages.

11. Equipmentaccording to any preceding claim, wherein said playing surface is substantially rectangular.

12. Equipmentaccording to any preceding claim, wherein such equipmentfurthercomprises a cue ball, sixteen object balls and a square frame for positioning the object balls together on the playing surface.

13. Equipment according to any preceding claim, wherein said display means is remotely controlled, for example by a modulated infra-red beam, from said table.