GB2198774A - Door with detachable playing surface usable horizontally when detached - Google Patents

Abstract

A panel providing at least a major part of one face of a door is detachable from the door frame so that its opposed face may be used as a playing surface for a game. Alternatively or additionally removal of the panel gives access to a shallow storage area in which a table top is removably stored, said table top being usable as a playing surface. <IMAGE>

Description

DOOR WITH PLAYING SURFACE.

The invention relates to doors which in addition to performing their conventional purpose also incorporate means defining a surface for playing a game.

There are several indoor games of great popularity which require an extensive flat playing surface, but the storage of tables affording such surfaces presents difficulties in many conventional houses.

In order to mitigate the abovementioned problem I provide, according to my invention, a door incorporating separable means defining a surface for playing a game, said door comprising two spaced upright members and upper and lower transverse members secured to the upright members to form a frame, a first panel secured to one side of the frame so as to provide a first door face, and a second panel removably secured to the frame at the other side thereof so as to provide, in one position, a second door face. The second panel may be completely removable from the frame and the face thereof opposed to that providing the second door face in the said first position thereof may constitute said means defining said playing surface.

Alternatively or additionally, the first panel may define with the frame a shallow storage area, and a table top means defining a playing surface may be removably secured in said storage area, and said second panel may be hingedly moved to a second position affording access to the table top in the storage area.

Said playing surface may be marked or otherwise adapted for the playing of billiards, snooker or pool or alternatively for the playing of table tennis.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a door modified to incorporate means defining playing surfaces; and Figure 2 is a transverse cross-section of such a door.

In essence, the door is constructed in accordance with conventional practice inasmuch as it comprises a first upright longitudinal member 1, which will be taken as the hinge side of the door and a corresponding upright 2 in which is accommodated a locking or latching device 3. An upper rail 4 and a lower rail 5 are secured to the uprights to complete a rectangular frame to one face of which a panel 6 is secured to provide one face for the door.

Conventionally, the space defined between the frame elements 1, 2, 4, 5 and the panel 6 is left empty or is filled with sound-deadening or other material. Some such material may still be used in doors according to the present invention but the space is generally to a greater or lesser extent occupied by other matter.

The face of the door opposed to that provided by the panel 6 is covered by a panel 7 which is, however, divided into two portions, namely a peripheral rim 8 and a central sheet 9. The rim 8 can be secured as normally to the frame, but the sheet 9 whilst overlapping the frame elements along each edge is secured in place by means of screws or the like fastened to corner fillets 10 which themselves are secured to the frame members and assist in keeping the frame rectangular.

The outer face of the sheet 9 is decoratively finished to match that of the rim 8, and the line 11 of separation between the rim 8 and the sheet 9 is covered by a decorative beading 12 (shown only on Figure 2.

secured only to the sheet 9. Removable decorative bosses are applied to the sheet 9 to cover the aforementioned screws.

The inner face 13 of the sheet 9 is adapted as a playing surface for a game such as table tennis in which case the adaptation may simply be the marking of the surface with appropriate markings but may include the provision of attachment means for a net. In the embodiment shown, however, the sheet 9 is intended to provide, when required, a surface for the playing of the game of billiards, snooker or pool. To this end it is covered with green baize or other suitable material, and it is also provided with side walls 14 which, as shall be seen from Figure 2, may be accommodated in the void defined between the door frame members 1, 2, 4, 5.

The requirement for pockets may demand some compromise; it is possible within the embodiment illustrated to interrupt the side walls 14 at the corners and mid-way along the longer sides to provide pocket openings, and to provide nets which may be stowed when not in use inwardly of the openings in the side walls. The surface 13 may also be recessed to some depth to provide a chute for the balls without it interfering with the decorative surface 15. If on the other hand full pockets are required, this may have adverse effect on the decorative appearance of the door in its normal mode and may need to be disguised or endured.

Alternatively or additionally, the invention envisages that a game table top, which may be, for example, a billiard table or a table tennis table, or even a billiard table on one side and a table tennis table on the other side, may be accommodated in the void between the frame members of the door and reached by removal of the sheet 9. The table top 16 will be secured within the void by any suitable and disengagable fastening means to prevent unwanted movement, and access to the table 16 is of course afforded by the removal of the sheet 9. However, if the sheet 9 is not itself to be used to provide a playing surface, it need not be completely removable but may be hinged to one of the frame members to provide, in effect, a door to the interior of the door. Whether or not the sheet 9 is completely removable the interior of the door may be provided with a suitable decorative finish.

Whether or not a separate table 16 is incorporated in the door, it is likely that there will remain some void space between the panel 6 and the sheet 9, and it is within the scope of the invention to fill that space with a mouldable material such as expanded polystyrene in order to provide a sound-deadening effect, and it is within the scope of the invention to provide that such filling material is moulded precisely to accommodate a cable 16 and/or any inward projections from the surface 13 of sheet 9, such as the side walls 14 shown in Figure 2. Such sound-deadening material may provide at least a measure of support for a separate table top such as 16.

Claims (5)

1. A door incorporating separable means defining a surface for playing a game, said door comprising two spaced upright members and upper and lower transverse members secured to the upright members to form a frame, a first panel secured to one side of the frame so as to provide a first door face, and a second panel removably secured to the frame at the other side thereof so as to provide in one position, a second door face.

2. A door according to Claim 1 of which the second panel is completely removable from the frame and of which the face opposed to that providing the second door face in the said first position thereof constitutes said means defining said playing surface.

3. A door according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 of which the first panel and the second panel define with the frame a shallow storage area, and a table top means defining a playing surface is removably secured or for securing in said storage area, and said second panel is hingedly movable to a second position affording access to the table top in the storage area.

4. A door according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said playing surface is marked or otherwise adapted for the playing of billiards, snooker or pool or alternatively for the playing of table tennis.

5. A door incorporating separable means defining a surface for playing a game substantially as described in relation to the drawings.