US20070214567A1

US20070214567A1 - Game Table with Trundle Bed

Info

Publication number: US20070214567A1
Application number: US11/308,378
Authority: US
Inventors: Eric Wandel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-20
Filing date: 2006-03-20
Publication date: 2007-09-20

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for combining a table and a bed in the same volume of space and utilizing the same floor space. A bed is stored beneath the table—such as a pool, billiard or snooker table, ping pong table, air hockey table, other type of game table, or a table for general use—and can be implemented either while under the table or as an easy to pull out trundle bed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The somewhat limited availability of spare rooms in most homes leads homeowners to make decisions about how to use the discretionary space. Common options include using a spare room as a spare bedroom for guests or using the room as a game room. The convenience of having the spare bedroom, which may be infrequently utilized, is weighed against the desire to have a game room, which may generally be utilized more frequently by the occupants of the home. Spare rooms usually are not large enough to accommodate both bedroom furniture and game room furniture.
Combination tables have been marketed to combine several types of games into a single table assembly, usually with reconfigurable tabletops. One reference to a combination game table and bed (U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,320) refers to separable game and bed components that are stacked on top of each other and can be reconfigured so that the portion currently in use (either the game table or the bed) is on top of the stack. A combination table/bed such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,320 would not actually be easily reconfigurable since each component might individually be quite heavy. In addition, there may not be adequate floor space to remove one component to the floor, clear the floor space of the formerly bottom component, move the formerly top component to the intended floor space, then stack the formerly bottom component on top. In any event, this configuration may prove to be quite awkward.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a game table or similar apparatus that seeks to overcome these and other deficiencies in the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a combination game table and bed so that one room, for example, can be used to accommodate both day-to-day gaming activities as well as to provide a bed for the occasional house guest.
In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a game table assembly comprising: a table frame having three or more sides forming a table perimeter, table supporting members having top ends and bottom ends, the top ends being connected to the table frame, a playing surface integral to the table frame and contained within the table perimeter; and a bed assembly comprising: a bed frame having generally four sides forming a perimeter, the bed frame having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the bed assembly is housed beneath the game table playing surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a game table having a pull-out trundle bed.
FIG. 2 shows a side view of a game table having a pull-out trundle bed.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a game table having a bed housed below the game table and having a hinged panel to conceal the bed below.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a game table having a bed housed below the game table and having a hinged panel to conceal the bed below.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a ping pong table having a pull-out trundle bed.
FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an air hockey table having a pull-out trundle bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, a game table 10 is shown as comprising a playing surface 11 surrounded by sides 13 which form a table perimeter. The playing surface 11 and sides 13 are supported by table supports 12 such as table legs. A bed 20 is situated in the space below the playing surface 11. The bed 20 is comprised of a bed frame 21 in which is formed to hold a mattress 22. The bed 20 may be configured as a trundle bed so that it can be maneuvered between a position directly under the playing surface 11 and a lateral position such that the bed 20 is alongside the table supports 12. The sliding of the bed 20 may be facilitated with wheels, rollers, casters or the like 40 attached to the underside of the bed frame 21. Also, to further assist the sliding motion of the bed 20 and to maintain alignment between the bed 20 and the table supports 12, guide rails 30 may be used to affix the bed frame 21 slidingly to the bed supports 12.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the bed 20 is shown as a trundle bed that can be slid from underneath the table 10 for use. Also in FIGS. 1 and 2, the table structure beneath the playing surface 11 is shown as an open configuration.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment where the space beneath the playing surface 11 is substantially concealed by wall panels 14 and 15. The wall panels 14 form the support structure for the game table surface 11. The panels may be fixed in place or movable, with at least one panel able to be moved in order to access the bed 20. FIGS. 3 and 4 show one embodiment with a hinged enclosure panel 15 that is connected by a hinge 16 to the game table supports formed by wall panels 14. Similarly to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bed 20 can be slid from underneath the game table surface 11 for use as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, the bed 20 can also be utilized without sliding it from underneath the game table surface 11 as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 shows the game table 10 where the game table surface 11 is depicted as a pin pong table playing surface. In FIG. 6, yet another type of game table surface 11 is depicted, here showing an air hockey table. It can be appreciated that the game table surface 11 can be any of a variety of game types and may also be a multi-game type table where the game table surface 11 can be reconfigured for multiple games.
Table of Parts

The following table provides a description of drawing numbered items.



10	Table
11	Table surface
12	Table support
13	Table sides
14	Enclosure panel
15	Hinged enclosure panel
16	Hinge point
20	Bed
21	Bed frame
22	Mattress
30	Guide rail
40	Wheels, rollers, casters or the like

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to ratios, integers, components or modules having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. For example, while a variety of game surfaces have been shown (e.g., pool, billiards, ping pong and air hockey), it will be appreciated that the table surface could be configured and used for a variety of other uses, such as a regular table surface. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept. Further, it is to be appreciated that improvements and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a table assembly comprising:

a table frame having three or more sides forming a table perimeter,

table supporting members having top ends and bottom ends, the top ends being connected to the table frame,

a table surface attached near the top of the table frame; and

a bed assembly comprising:

a bed frame having generally four sides forming a perimeter,

the bed frame having a top side and a bottom side,

wherein the bed assembly is housed beneath the table surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bed frame is fixidly attached near the bottom ends of the table supporting members.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more wheels attached to the bottom of the bed frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bed assembly is slidingly engaged to the table supporting members.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the bed assembly is attached near the bottom ends of the table supporting members using guide rails.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the table supporting members are enclosure panels.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a game table assembly comprising:

a table frame having three or more sides forming a table perimeter,

a playing surface attached near the top of the table frame; and

a bed assembly comprising:

a bed frame having generally four sides forming a perimeter,

the bed frame having a top side and a bottom side,

wherein the bed assembly is housed beneath the game table playing surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the bed frame is fixidly attached near the bottom ends of the table supporting members.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the playing surface is a billiards playing surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the playing surface is a ping pong playing surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the playing surface is an air hockey playing surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising one or more wheels attached to the bottom of the bed frame.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the bed assembly is slidingly engaged to the game table assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the bed assembly is attached near the bottom ends of the table supporting members using guide rails.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the table supporting members are enclosure panels.