US2128948A - Tennis set - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 6, 1938. v J. L. KLEIINMA'N 2,128,948

TENNIS SET Filed July 51, 1955 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICES TENNIS SET.

Jacob L. Kleinmacn, New York, N. Y.

Application July 31, 1935, Serial No. 33,974

26 Claims.

This invention relates to a device constituting a table and accessories used in connection therewith in playing the game familiarly known as Ping-Pong and more properly designated as table tennis. The invention consists in providing a table of unique construction, and more particularly of a table top and supporting structure therefor, as well as a net holder of novel design and construction; and is filed as a coniO tinuation in part and also as an improvement of my co-pending application for Tennis sets, Serial No. 696,633, filed November 4th, 1933. Certain figures and certain claims that were originally included in the above-mentioned co-pending application but were withdrawn because division was required by the Honorable Examiner, are included in the present application. The structure herein shown is also an improvement over the one disclosed in Patent No. 1,662,118, issued to applicant on June 7th, 1932.

A primary object of this invention is to provide means in connection with a table top structure for receiving a slidable net supporting member wherein the sliding portion will move below the upper surface of said top, so that there will be fewer parts exposed upon the playing surface. Thus the net may be brought down closer to such surface improving the game considerably.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction of table capable of permitting the tensioning of a net applied thereto, by means of a member slidably mounted within a, slot provided on the side of the table.

A further object of the invention is to provide a net holder device, capable of application to my novel'structure of table, such net holder being adapted to have its movement controlled by means of a screw or any other suitable device and a U-shaped member having an off-set back portion.

A'still further object is to provide, in a net holder, means for obtaining a firm edge line on the net stretched between the supporting posts,

"45 irrespective of the state of tension'of the net or the adjustment of said tension, and means for raising or lowering the net, in order to obtain the proper height of such net.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a. net holding stand capable of being "placed upon a table without the necessity of using clamps, and which stand is adjustable to 'fit any table 'width.

1-111 of the above objects will be seen to be directed toward providing a practical and durable device simple in construction and therefore economical in cost of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the description thereof to follow, taken in connection with the accom- 5 panying drawing in which- Fig. l is a view of a portion of a table (legs not shown), embodying my present invention including the net set in assembled form;

Fig. 2 shows a portion of the table adapted 'lo to support a net holder without the use of a U- sha-ped member;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the member which is attached to the net;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pivotal connection along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the top portion of the U-shaped member along the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the sliding member showing the opening wherein the net supporting post is positioned;

Fig. 7 is a modification of the assemblage of Fig. 1, and,

Fig. 8 is a side view of the end portions of Fig. '7.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 (Fig. 1) indicates the table top which may be made of any suitable mate-- rial, for example, wood, metal, fibre or Bakelite. (Such a table top may be supported by legs, not shown, or any other suitable means.) A U- shaped member A is positioned at about the center portion of the table. Said U-shaped member is at its bottom portion '5 provided with an opening 8 wherein is positioned a rotatable element of screw member 9, whose upper portion I ll passes through an interiorly threaded member or nut M. Said nut (non-circular in shape) is posi- 40 tioned against the inner face E2 of wall 6 of said U-shaped member A, and will, therefore, not

' rotate upon the operation of member 9 but will travel vertically and upon its downward movement will engage the floor M so that member 3 Willbe'forced to move upwardly until portion It will engage portion 55 of member l6, which is slidably associated with said wall 6, thus forcing said member it against the underneath of the table top 5, clamping said top between saidmember Hi and portion ii of U-shaped member A, thereby securing said U-shaped member A to said table top.

Top portion H of U-shaped member A is pro- I vided with flanged portions E8, the end sectionsof which are inclined or bend towards each other, for example as at l9 (see Fig. 5) thereby forming a sort of a channel shaped portion, thus flange portion I8 may be provided with an opening [8' so that when member or section 20 is placed in proper position, it will slide within the said channel portion or opening but will not move vertically. Of course flange portion 58 may be provided with an opening of any suitable style or shape for the purpose of supporting section 20 of post 38. In order to control the slidable move ments of sliding member 20, the wall 6 of U- shaped member A is provided with an off-set, extension or angular shaped rear end portion 22, and a floor portion 23. Said floor portion 23 is provided with an opening 24 wherein is inserted a screw threaded member 25 whose top portion 26 passes through an interiorly threaded member or nut 21. Said nut, because of being noncircular in shape and having one of its side portions positioned against the inner face 29 of portion 22, will not rotate when member 25 will be rotated, but will engage floor 23, forcing said member 25 to move upwardly until portion 26 will pass through an opening in portion IT and engage the under-face of the slidable member 20, arresting said member, thus checking and controlling'its movements. Of course, portion 22 and nut 27 may be arranged in a manner as is portion 6 and nut ll, wherein the nut will not rotate but may travel vertically in either direction, or the nut 27! may be permanently secured to the extension 22 in any suitable manner, or the extension 22 may be so constructed or of such a thickness that a sufficient number of screw threads may be formed therein, thus eliminating the need of nut 2'1. (The same applies to portion I and nut H or the nut 27 may be secured to the outer face of wall 3 for the purpose of carrying member 25.)

It will be noticed that wall 6 of U-shaped member'A is so shaped, or constructed that a portion of same is adapted to engage a portion of top 5, acting as a guide and preventing the direct contact of nut 21 and member 25 with said top portion, thereby preventing injuries to the table top when member 25 is being operated. The reason for using member l6 (instead of the common method used, namely placing a cap on portion It!) is because the flat surface of member It will not injure the under portion or under face of the table, whereas a cap will bite or scratch thus injuring such under-portion.

In some cases, the underneath portion of the table top is so constructed (that it may include carving or any other ornamental feature), so that the under structure of the U-shaped member can not be positioned there-against, thus preventing the securement of the U-shaped member to such a table top, or a table top may be finished in a manner whereby it may be provided with a very fine and expensive polished surface so that anything pressed thereunder may indent and thus injure such a surface. It is therefore not possible nor practical neither advisable to secure a U-shaped member to such tables in the usual manner. Applicant has therefore invented a novel means in connection with a U-shaped member which makes such U- shaped member applicable to almost any kind of a table and therefore making same a more practical and also a more valuable article, of which the following is a description.

Referring to the drawing (with respect to the herein mentioned U-shaped member, see Fig. 1)

.sirable position) the wall 6 of U-shaped member A is provided with an opening 33, wherein is positioned a portion of a rod or any other suitable means 3| which comprises sections adjustably secured to each other in a manner whereby the size or length of such a member 3! may be controlled or adjusted to the desired size or width of a table. The end portions of such member may be provided with oif-set or gripping head portions 32. The inner end portions of same as well as the end portions of the inner sections 33 may be provided with threaded portions 34, interfitting with each other, so that when the operator turns portions 32, the sections will rotate, closing up and bringing the U-shaped members nearer towards each other, thereby properly securing same to the table top.

In order to ease the rotation of member or rod 3|, washers 35 are positioned between the head portions 32 and the outer faces of walls 6, so that the rear face of head 32 will not rub or bite against the outer face of wall 6 but will slide or turn smoothly. Of course, some of the inner sections 33 may be removed or more sections added to member 3! in order to meet the width of the table top. A structure of such a type may be packed and sold as a single unit and the player may utilize either members 9 and I6 or adjustable rod 3! and thus secure the U-shaped member A to a table top in any desirable or suitable manner.

The member 23 is provided with an enlarged portion 36. Said portion is provided with a slot or opening 3? of any suitable style but preferably non-circular in cross-section (see Figs. 1, 2 and 6) wherein is positioned a post 38 which may be likewise shaped non-circular in cross-section (for example flat material pressed or otherwise shaped to form a substantial rigid member in a manner as is post 28 or as shown in Fig. 3 of the above mentioned Patent #1362118. Said post is adapted to move vertically within said opening, thus raising or lowering the net. A screw-threaded member 39 is inserted within a threaded opening formed in said portion 36 and upon rotation of member 39 (which may be placed in any de- The portion 4| will engage a portion of the post 38, thus checking its movements and holding same in selected position. (If desired, section 20 and post 38 may be made, shaped or formed of a single piece of material.)

' The post 38 is provided with a non-circular opening 43 wherein is inserted a member 44, noncircular in cross-section, so that such member 44 may slide or move within said opening 43 but will not turn nor rotate. The inner end portion 45 of said member 44 is provided with a screw threaded opening 46 (see Figs. 3 and 4), for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

A member 47 (which may be made of channel shape or of any other suitable or desirable style or shape) may be provided with a suitably shaped opening for the purpose of being secured to a portion of the device in order to suspend the net over the playing surface, for example, an opening in its rear back portion, for the purpose of receiving portion 45. At least one of the side walls 48 of said member 41 may be provided with an opening 49. A suitable screw threaded member 5! may pass freely through the opening 49 and engage the threaded opening 46 of portion 35. Thus screw member 5| acts as an axle for member 47, permitting same to hinge or pivot. The end portions of the walls 48 are provided with openings 52. The end sections of net 53 thereby tensioning the net. y

will hinge and'equalize the tension of the upper (see Fig. 1) may alsobe provided with openings "or 'any othersuitablemeans and positioned withsaid channeled "member 41.

-'section "54' free to move-between the" walls 48 of said channeled member 41. A washer 50'is placedoven the 'outer end portion of member 44.

A'thre'aded wing nut 52' is positioned over said end portion 44 rotating upon the'threaded side portions-53"so that-when'said wing nut 52 is rotated; its rear end face will engage washer 5|], thenpull m'ember 44; thus pulling member 41, Said member 41 -andlower end sections t55 and 56) of the net 53, leaving'the center thereof' at the usual desired lesser tension.

In order to obtain a very taut edge line of'the net itself), a string 58 is positioned loosely within a pocket or opening 59 of net '53. The-top portion Bl of post 38 isprovided with suitable means, for example,an opening or a groove 62 adapted to support the string 58 when same is being tightened, and its end portion secured to a headed or book member or extension 63', which is a part'of post 38 and is located below its top por- *'tion' 6|. If desired, said member 63 maybe provided with an' opening or slot for'thef purpose of "holding-the string 58 tightly secured thereto, or the post 38 may be provided with a slot "or opening' to receive'the end portion of string 58, thus securing a firm edge lineofthe section 55 and bringing same to an approximately even level line 'withthe top portion 6! of the post 38', whereby such't'op portion, not extending above the playing line of the net 53, will not obstruct the eye of the player as the case usually is.

If desired, the member 41 may be provided with 'an' opening, hook, slot or any other suitable or desirable means adaptable for the purpose of receiving'the'end portion'of string 58 in which case post 38 may be of a different height, size orstyle. The oblo'ngshaped opening 43' may be longer than the size or'width of member 44 sothat by -moving member 44 vertically the net may'thus 'be'raised'or lowered as may be desired. If the playerdesires to ha've'the-sec'tions "56 looser'than the section 55, all he has to do is to hinge or swing the member 41, bringing the upper portion towards-the post38; and then tighten the screw 5|.

The inner face-of such screw willengage Washer be'eliminated, because while tensioning the net,

the upper'firm edged-line will thus be formed. 'A reverse turn of the screw 5| Willrele'ase' member 41,- which in'turn will re-adjust the tension "of the upper and lower sections.

All of the aforesaid'may be accomplished without disturbing the adjustment of the net holding device. 'Of

course, if desired; bothwalls may be provided withope'riings and a double screw (male and feinale sections) may be used'for securing tightly the member 41 to portion 45.

Referring to Fig. 2 (also'Fig. 1), table top 5 is provided with an opening 65, said opening being provided-with a lining'or tubular member "66, the lower portion 61 of top 5 is provided with an openin 68. 'The l'ower p'ortion of the lininglifi is provided with a screw threaded opening 69, smaller in'size'than the opening 68 but parallel 'with'same, so that when screw member 1|, provided with ahead portion 12, is inserted within 'the opening 68 and69, it will not touch the walls of the opening 68 but will engage the threaded opening 69. Said lining or member 66 is pro.- vided with a non-circular opening 13, adapted to receive the sliding member 20 (thus the U-shaped member A may be eliminated). The sliding member-20 will slide within the said opening 13 *a'ndj'willnot be seen upon the top or playing surface; and will, therefore,- not obstruct the eye of the'player' during play. It will also facilitate the "bringing of the net closer to the playing surface, thereby greatly improving the game of table tennis. "Byrotating member 1|, the upper end portions 14 will engage member 20 and in such a "way check or control the movements of said "member 20, and hold same in selected position.

If desired, wall 6"of U-shaped or anchoring member A may be provided with a slot 6' and '--the upper portion of said wall 6 may be shaped as indicated by the dotted lines 6 (eliminating thestructure as shown in Fig. 5), in which case the member I6 is'slidably positioned within said slot 6 in a manner for example as at 2|, wherein said' member Hiis being grooved at the side portionsthereof and thus fitted within said slot 5', said member 16 being provided with a slot or opening 2| wherein is inserted member 20. Said member 16 is provided with suitable locking means; for example, a screw member [6 adapted *to' arrest member20 and thus check and control the' movement of same. The advantage of this hovel-type of U-shaped member over the ordinary 'ty'pe "is quite apparent. For example, in the ordinary type the upper portion of the U-shaped member which-is disposed upon the playing sur "face is provided With the means for receiving theslidable net supporting member, and is therefore the U-shaped member is of a minimum size as indicated by the dotted lines 6" and therefore "neat and pleasant in appearance. 'netsupporting member is not'positioned upon the playing surface but beneath same, and because -of'the vertically movable or adjustable post, the "net may be raised or lowered and may be brought to any desired height, with respect to the playing 'surface. It is therefore quite an advantage to have a'U-shaped member of this'type attached to any' kind of a table top. In which case the s'lidable' member is not visible upon the playing surface. It is quite apparent that such a structure is of great importance to the game and therefore quite valuable commercially.

Referring'to Figs. 7 and 8, 15 shows a stand "provided with an opening 16. A rod comprised of'sections, for example, such as 18 and 19, adjustablysecured to each other and provided with suitable locking means, for example, a screw member 81, to hold same in adjusted position and having its end portion positioned within said "opening 16, or connected to said stand in any 'other'suitable manner. A collapsible 0r foldable 'niember 11 being provided with a cut out section 84' and an opening-'85, larger in size than the opening 83, is'secured to said stand in a manner 'so that'when screw portion 86 is inserted within the openings 83 and 85, the threaded portion 81 will pass these openings and engage the last threaded opening 88. When tightening of member T! to stand 15 is required, a turn of the screw 85 towards the proper direction will cause shoulder 89 to engage one side of the portion 82 and pull the outer portion 91 towards portion 82. Thus post Tl may be tightened to the stand 15. When folding is required, then, turning the screw 86 in the opposite direction will loosen the parts, permitting the pivoting and folding of such a part as at 92. By loosening the screw 8 I, sections 18 and 19 will telescope within each other. Of course, the stands 15 may be eliminated if so der sired, the members 11 may be secured directly to portions 18 or 19.

formed into a small parcel, so that one may carry :same along when visiting friends, placing such set upon any kind of a table or playing surface and thus a good time may be had enjoying the play of table tennis, so that this structure may become quite popular and therefore commercially valuable.

From the above it will be seen that applicant has invented and perfected a device of a new and unique structure and design, a device which is practical, useful and therefore of commercial value and, although applicant has shown certain preferred forms in order to explain the novelty of his invention, yet, by showing such preferred structure, I do not by any means limit myself to this structure, nor to the terms used in describing same. Various suggestions and changes of structure or terms may be resorted to and I desire it to be understood that I have same in mind when describing this invention, and seek protection by Letters Patent, and although I have mentioned in describing this invention of what materials certain parts may be made, how they may be shaped or styled and how they may be assembled, yet I desire it to be understood that this 7 structure or parts thereof may be made of any suitable material and in any desirable style or shape and assembled in any suitable manner, and

that various changes in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a net supporting assembly for table tennis and similar games, means in combination with a table top adapted to receive a movable member operable horizontally below the upper surface of said top, said member provided with a vertically disposed opening, a post for carrying a net positioned within said opening and adapted to move vertically therein, thus raising or lowering the body of the net, means for securing said post to said member and means for holding said member in selected position.

2. In an apparatus suitable for tennis and similar games, a net anchoring member adapted to be supported by a playing surface for the purpose of supporting a net above said surface, the upper portion of said member extending upward approximately as high as the upper end portion of the net and provided with means for supporting a string suspended from said end portion, so that an approximately straight line between the upper end portions of said net and of the member is obtained, said member being provided with a slotted portion projecting outwardly below said supporting means in a manner so as to have the end portion of said string secured thereto.

3. In an apparatus suitable for table tennis and similar games, the combination of members wherein at least one of same may be adapted to be slidably associated with a table top operable below the upper surface of same and at least one may be adapted to support a net above said top, at least one of said members being provided with a vertically disposed opening for receiving the other member, so that the net supporting member may be moved vertically, thus carrying the body of the net to higher or lower position with respect to the surface of said top.

4. A top useful for table tennis and similar games, at least one side portion thereof being provided with an opening below its upper surface, at least one section of said opening being provided with a lining, said opening adapted to receive slidably therein a portion of a net supporting member, and means associated with .said lining for securing said member in selected position.

5. A U-shaped member adapted to be secured toa top suitable for tennis or similar games, said U-shaped member provided with upper, lower and rear wall sections, said rear wall provided with an off-set portion, said off-set portion provided with rotatable means for checking the movements of a net supporting member adapted to be slidably connected to the upper portion of said U-shaped member, said rear Wall section being so constructed as to have a portion thereof engaging a portion of the side of said top, thereby gauging the distance between the rotatable member. and theside section of said top, preventing their direct contact with each other, thus eliminating injuries to the side section of said top.

6. A U-shaped member adapted to be secured to a table top, said member provided with upper, lower and rear-sections, said rear section provided with an off-set portion, said offset portion provided with means to control the move ments of a net supporting member adapted to be 'slidably associated with the upper section of said U-shaped member, the lower section of said U-shaped member provided with a screw threaded member the top portion of which is adapted to press against a plate slidably mounted on said ;rear wall section and provided with a fiat upper surface for engaging the under portion of said table top, thus minimizing injuries to said top, said rear wall section provided with guiding means for controlling the distance between said first mentioned controlling means and said top.

7. A U-shaped member adapted to be secured to a table top, said member. provided with upper, lower and rear sections, said rear section provided with a vertically movable plate member,

said lower section provided with a threaded memof a net supporting device for the purpose of having a net suspended above said table top.

9. A net holding assembly, for table tennis and the like, at least two members of said assembly adapted to be associated with a playing surface for the purpose of receiving a net therebetween, a removable element provided with adjustable means adapted to engage said members and to adjust the assembly to the width of said playing surface, means for holding said element in said adjusted position, said connection adapted to be disconnected to separate the two members from eachother.

10. In a net assembly, net supporting members adapted to be associated with a playing surface, a rod comprised of separate sections detachably connected to each other in a manner so as to adjust the same to the width of said playing surface, said rod provided with end sections adapted to engage said members for adjusting same relatively to each other.

11. A net holding device including a member adapted to be secured to a table top, said member provided with an opening adapted to receive a movable section for the purpose of engaging the underportion of said top, said section provided with means adapted to support an element for the purpose of suspending a net above said top.

12. A net holding device including a member adapted to be secured to a table top, said member provided with an opening adapted to receive a movable element for the purpose of engaging the undersection of said top, said element provided with an opening adapted to receive a part of a net supporting member therein.

13. A device including an anchoring member of which the upper section is adapted to engage a part of the upper portion of a table top, the side section of said member being provided with a slot longitudinally disposed, an element positioned within said slot in such a manner that it may be'moved longitudinally within said slot, the lower section of said anchoring member provided with means adapted to exert pressure against said element thereby securing said anchoring member to said top, said element provided with an aperture adapted to receive slidably therein a portion of a net supporting device, said element provided with means for engaging said last mentioned portion thereby checking its movements thus holding same in selected position.

14. In a structure as set forth in claim 13, wherein said means within the lower section of said anchoring member comprises a screw threaded opening having a screw threaded member positioned therein, said screw member upon operation being adapted to exert said pressure against said element.

15. In a structure as set forth in claim 13 wherein the means within said element comprises a screw threaded opening having a screw threaded member positioned therein, and upon operation being adapted to engage said last mentioned portion thus holding said net supporting device in selected position.

16. In a structure as set forth in claim 13, wherein the side walls of said element are provided with grooved portions adapted to fit within the slot of said anchoring member, and rotatable means associated with said element for securing said last mentioned portion in selected position.

17. A top useful for table tennis. or similar games, at least one side portion thereof being provided with an opening below the upper surface of said top, a lining provided with an aperture shaped non-circular in cross-section secured within said opening, said aperture being adapted to receive slidably therein a net supporting member of Which at least a portion is shaped noncircular in cross section, said lining provided with a screw threaded opening adapted to receive a screw-threaded member for the purpose of engaging and checking the movements of said net supporting member.

18. In a structure as set forth in claim 17, wherein the top portion below said lining is provided with an opening larger in size than that of the screw-threaded opening within said lining, thus providing a clearance for said screw-threaded member permitting same to engage the screwthreaded opening of said lining.

19. A net supporting device adapted to be associated with a playing surface, a member being secured to the end portion of a net, said member adapted to be pivotally connected to a portion of said device, said pivot provided with means for checking the pivotal movements of said member.

20. In a structure as set forth in claim 19, wherein a portion of said device and a portion of said member being provided with openings, at least one of said openings provided with a screw-threaded portion, said pivot provided with a screw threaded portion and a shouldered portion and positioned within said openings for the purpose of providing the pivotal means for said member, said shoulder portion forming said means for checking such pivotal movements of said member.

21. A net supporting device adapted to be secured to a table top, a channeled member adapted to be connected to the end sections of a net, the rear wall of said channeled member provided with an aperture at about the center portion thereof, a portion of said device interfitting with said apertured portion, said portions provided with openings, at least one of said openings provided with a screw-thread, a screw threaded member provided with a shouldered portion positioned Within said openings, thus providing means for the pivotal movements of said channeled member, said shouldered portion adapted to engage one of the side walls of said channeled members thereby checking the pivotal movements of same.

22. In a net holding device, a member adapted to be secured to a playing board, said member provided with a slot, a grooved member being positioned therein in a manner whereby the grooves thereof engage the edge portions of said slot so that said grooved member may be moved within said slot, and means for supporting a net above said playing board, said means being slidably associated With said grooved member.

23. An anchoring member adapted to be secured to a table top, said member provided with a portion facing the side portion of said top, a net supporting element slidably associated with a portion of said anchoring member, said side portion of said anchoring member provided with means for checking the movements of said element.

24. A U-shaped member adapted to be secured to a playing top, one arm of said member adapted to engage a portion of the upper surface of said top, said arm provided with means adapted to receive a portion of a movable net supporting element, the rear wall portion of said U-shaped member provided with means for supporting a screw-threaded element adapted upon rotation to check the movements of said net supporting element.

25. A top useful for table tennis or similar games, at least one side portion thereof being provided with means forming an aperture below the playing surface of said top, at least a part of said side portion adjacent said aperture comprising a metallic element, said aperture adapted to receive slidably therein a portion of a net supporting member, and means associated with said element for securing said member in selected 10 position.

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