GB2286539A

GB2286539A - Table game

Info

Publication number: GB2286539A
Application number: GB9402920A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Arrol Pacy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-02-16
Filing date: 1994-02-16
Publication date: 1995-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2014-02-16
Also published as: GB9402920D0; GB2286539B

Abstract

A table game comprising a bed over which balls are cued by use of a cue, the table bed having a sloped surface region (16) up which a ball is cued with the aim of potting the ball in a scoring hole (20) in the sloping region, which also has traps (22) to prevent direct potting from a starting point (14) atthe bottom of the sloping region. <IMAGE>

Description

Table Game This invention relates to a table game to be played with balls and a cue.

According to the invention, there is provided a table game comprising a bed over which balls are to be propelled by use of a cue, the bed having a region providing a starting point or area for cueing a ball and a sloping region on to which the balls are cued from the starting region and which returns the balls towards the starting region if balls are not holed in the sloping region, said sloping region having holes in which balls are to be potted to achieve scoring and holes constituting traps which prevent direct potting of a ball from the starting region into a scoring hole.

Preferably the game has an electronic scoring system including a display, for example upstanding from the head of the table, and sensors associated with the scoring holes which activate the display. The game is preferably activated, by starting a timer or releasing a predetermined number of balls, by a coin-freed mechanism, and the electronic scoring system is associated with a prize delivery device which delivers cash-value tokens and/or cash to a player achieving a predetermined score or one of a number of predetermined scores, which may be one or more fixed scores and/or a highest score over one or more periods of time.

Thus, the general aim of the preferred form of the invention is to provide a table game which combines the appeal of a cueing game such as pool or bar billiards with a gambling machine.

Preferably, the table bed has a horizontal starting region at the lower end of the sloping region, and a fixed starting point for cueing a ball marked in said starting region.

The scoring holes in the table bed are preferably circular, dimensioned to accept a ball with small clearance, whilst the traps are constituted by elongate holes or slots, preferably extending laterally of the table bed.

A practical arrangement of table game in accordance with the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure shows the table bed in plan view.

The illustrated table bed 10 may be approximately 2 metres (7 feet) long by 1 metre (4 feet) wide, and has a slate base and resilient edge cushions covered with baize material, as is conventional for billiard, snooker and pool tables.

The slate bed has a horizontal balk region 12 marked with a starting point 14 for cueing a ball with a suitable cue of conventional kind, and a larger scoring region 16 which, although not apparent from the illustrated plan view, slopes upwardly from the balk region 12 at a small angle of say 3 to 8 degrees.

An electronic scoring display is provided in a headboard 18 at the top end of the scoring region.

The scoring region 16 conveniently contains six scoring holes 20, sized just to accept a ball, and three slots 22 which constitute traps. The laterally extending traps 22 are positioned so that a ball cannot be potted in a scoring hole 20 directly from the starting point 14 in balk.

The scoring region of the table is preferably provided with a transparent cover.

The table game is preferably activated by a coin-freed mechanism, which either initiates operation of a timer providing a set playing period or releases a predetermined number (say 16 to 20) of balls, all similar. In timed operation, only a single ball is essentially required, as it will be returned when falling through a scoring hole or trap. When played with a fixed number of balls, balls entering scoring holes or traps will not be returned.

Balls are always cued from the starting point and may be re-used if chance returns a ball to the balk area.

Sensors are provided beneath the scoring holes to detect passage of a ball, and provide signals to a computerised scoring system accommodated in the headboard. Different holes preferably score differently, so that a sensor for each hole is generally desirable. Traps do not score.

The computer updates the display and may also display high scores current for the present playing session and over one or more periods of time. Achievement of a high score preferably causes the computer to activate a prize delivery system which delivers cash-value tokens or cash according to the score achieved.

Claims

1. A table game comprising a bed over which balls are to be propelled by use of a cue, the bed having a region providing a starting point or area for cueing a ball and a sloping region on to which the balls are cued from the starting region and which returns the balls towards the starting region if balls are not holed in the sloping region, said sloping region having holes in which balls are to be potted to achieve scoring and holes constituting traps which prevent direct potting of a ball from the starting region into a scoring hole.

2. A game according to claim 1, having an electronic scoring system including a display, and sensors associated with the scoring holes which activate the display.

3. A game according to claim 2, activated by a coinfreed mechanism to start a timer or release a predetermined number of balls.

4. A game according to claim 2, in which the electronic scoring system is associated with a prize delivery device which delivers cash-value tokens and/or cash to player achieving a predetermined score or one of a number of predetermined scores, which may be one or more fixed scores and/or a highest score over one or more periods of time.

5. A game according to claim 4 in which, when the coinfreed mechanism starts a timer, a single ball is released for play.

6. A game according to claim 4 in which, when the coin freed mechanism releases a predetermined number of balls, the scoring holes and/or traps have associated therewith means to prevent return of balls for replay.

7. A game according to any of claims 1 to 6, in which the table bed has a horizontal starting region at the lower end of the sloping region, and a fixed starting point for cueing a ball marked in said starting region.

8. A game according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which the scoring holes in the table bed are preferably circular, dimensioned to accept a ball with small clearance, whilst the traps are constituted by elongate holes or slots.

9. A game according to claim 8, in which the elongate holes or slots extend laterally of the table bed.

10. A table game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.