US3458193A - Billiard bed - Google Patents

Description

July 29, 1969 A. M. ROCKWOOD ET AL 3,453,193

BILLIARD BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15. 1966 INVENTORS W M F'uwvvi J BY dfwaJZMhm/n $772 allttg s July 29, 1969 A. M. ROCKWOOD ETAL BILLIARD BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 29, 1969 Filed Sept. 15, 1966 FIG4 A. M. ROCKWOOD ETAL BILLIARD BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent Offiee 3,458,193 Patented July 29, 1969 3,458,193 BILLIARD BED Albert M. Rockwood, North Muskegon, and John D.

Schroder, Muskegon, Mich., assignors to Brunswick Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 579,734 Int. Cl. A63d 15/00 US. Cl. 273-6 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A billiard table bed that has its sections rigidly connected by dowels and a filler plate. Abutting flanges of the bed sections and the plate have apertures into which the dowels fit. The upper section of the filler plate is removed to form a smooth upper playing surface. The bed may be made of two hardboard skins with a honeycomb core adhesively held therebetween. Pocket ports, a bumper rail, a ball trough, and a leg structure may be attached to the table bed.

This invention relates to billiard tables and more particularly to billiard tables having an assembly system enabling the table to be readily transported and installed at relative inaccessible sites.

In recent years, lightweight billiard tables have become available on the market. Such lightweight billiard tables replace the traditional slate bed with a much lighter weight material and also replace the heavy support beams and legs of the slate table with smaller or lighter support structures. One such billiard table includes a bed comprising a pair of hardboard or other surface skin laminated to a honeycomb core. Usually, the lightweight bed structure is unitary and is included in a billiard table structure at the manufacturers plant, to gether with side and end rails, cover and legs, and ball return systems where applicable.

It has been found in transporting such tables to installation sites that it is often difficult to negotiate entrance ways, e.g. halls and stairs in a home, with the table. This has often required disassembly or partial disassembly of the table with reassembly after the table has been moved to the installation site. However, even the disassembled table sometimes cannot be navigated through such entrance ways.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and useful billiard table assembly enabling a billiard table to be more readily transported to a greater variety of installation sites.

Another general object of this invention is to provide an assembled billiard table at the installation site and embodying the assembled features of the foregoing object.

Yet another object is to provide rigidity in a billiard table constructed from an assembly which includes a bed portion of the table in a plurality of separate or separable sections.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an assembly or table according to any of the foregoing objects in which the bed is in a plurality of sections and including means for locking the sections to each other and providing a seam which will not interfere with rolling of balls over the surface.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a billiard table embodying features of the present invention and constructed from the table assembly of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the billiard table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view showing the left end of the billiard table illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bed of the table in FIG. 1 with the cloth removed;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view with the side apron removed showing the construction details of the bed, legs, and center support;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along the lines 77 of FIG. 2 showing the side apron and the manner in which it is attached; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the construction of the bed.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, and it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in FIGS. l3, a billiard table 10 incorporating the principles of the present invention includes generally a pair of leg structures 12 and 14, a center support or brace 16, a bed 18, a peripheral rail 20, and a combination apron and ball return 22.

The billiard table is constructed from parts which include a plurality of bed sections, together with means for locking the bed sections together to provide a flat uninterrupted playing surface. The seam or seams between the bed sections are provided with a surface continuous with the upper surface of the bed halves to define the continuous planar playing surface. The bed is covered with a felt-like material, and bumper rails and legs are secured to the covered bed. Where desired, a ball return system is attached to the table for returning balls to one end thereof. In a preferred form, the bumper rail system and/or legs traverse and are secured to each of the plurality of bed sections to help rigidify the sections at the seam or seams. Also, where a ball return system is used, it is preferred that this also traverse the seam or seams to add more structural rigidity.

In construction the bed by the preferred procedure, a pair of skin members are laminated to a lightweight core with a structural mullion or mullions provided along the desired seam or seams. The table is then cut along the seam or seams, e.g. following the center line of the mullion, such that each table section is faced on each cut edge by a cut portion of the mullion. A locking means is provided to lock the mullions together, and means are included to span the seam or seams between the sec tions. The unassembled pieces of the table can be easily transported to the side of installation, and the table sections are joined by the locking means with the seam spanner means in position. The table bed is then covered and the bumper rails and legs are added.

Referring now more particularly to the form of table illustrated in the drawings, the table bed 18 (FIG. 1) is provided as a pair of bed sections 11 and 13, including a means for locking the sections together. The locking means is provided by the mullion portions 15 at the adjacent edges of the bed Sections, Accordingly, the mullion portions include four registering bores 17 for receiving pegs or dowels 23. Bores 17 are provided by drilling the central mullion prior to assembly in the bed structure and therefore prior to cutting the bed structure into sections through the mullion so that upon reassembly proper registry is assured. The material removed by sawing the bed in two pieces is replaced by a fill or spacer plate 19 of hardboard, or the like, having bores 21 provided prior to assembly to register with bores 17. The dowels 23 are inserted in bores 17 and 21 and are adhesively secured in place to assemble the bed as a unit. Adhesive can also be applied between fill plate 19 and each of mullions 15. The table sections can be clamped to hold them in position until the adhesive sets. Fill plate 19 has a removable portion 19a which extends above the planar surface of the assembled bed as seen in FIG. 5 which is finished down by cutting and/or sanding until it is level with the planar upper surface of bed halves 11 and 13 so that no appreciable seam deviation remains to interfere with rolling of balls across or along the seam. It should be noted that mullions 15 form flanges depending from the bed top and that assembly of the table involves the abutment of the flanges with the seam fill plate 19 therebetween and locking of the flanges and seam fill plate as a unit by means of adhesive and dowels Each of the leg assemblies 12 and 14 consists of generally vertical outer and inner walls 26 and 28 extending over substantially the entire width of the table (FIG. 3) and traversing the seam and plate 19. A pair of side walls 30 and 32 are perpendicular to and connnect the inner and outer walls. A horizontal upper wall 34 (FIG. 6) and lower wall 36 connect the inner, outer, and side walls at their tops and bottoms, respectively, and traverse the bed seam. Each of the legs 12 and 14 carries at its bottom portion a pair of adjustable feet 40 in sockets 42 for leveling the table.

A pair of braces 44 and 46 ar secured respectively to the inside and exposed surfaces of wall 28, by means of a pair of bolts 48 and removable nuts 50. Braces 46 facilitate joining the leg structures together by a center support shown generally at 16 which consists of a horizontal support 54 secured at each end to brace 46 as at 56. Mounted on top of horizontal support 54 intermediate the ends is a vertical support block 60 which carries in its upper surface a vertically adjustable supporting element 62 for supporting the central portion of the table bed. Elements 46 and 54 and block 60 are enclosed and secured between a pair of side walls 64.

A flat metal plate 66 is attached to the upper wall 34 of each leg unit providing a flat bed supporting surface traversing the bed seam. The bed can be removably secured to plate 66 by threaded fastener means 72 and thumb screws 74 so that the bed is further rigidified across the seam.

Bed 18 consists of a substantially rectangular member of preferably three-ply laminated construction having and outwardly opening concave arcuate indentation 76 at each corner and in the center of each longitudinal side to facilitate the entry of balls into the pockets 78 when the table is being made for games using pockets, as can readily be seen by an examination of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the specific construction of the bed preferably consists of upper and lower skins 80 and 86 of Transite (portland cement reinforced with fiber), or the like, secured by suitable adhesive to the upper and lower faces of a lightweight cellular or honeycomb core 82, of kraft paper, or the like. A frame 88 is secured between skins 80 and 86 around their entire outermost edge portions except at seam spanning plate 19, to enclose the edges of honeycomb 82. Stretched over the upper surface of the bed 18 and secured thereto around its outer edges by any means well known in the art is a bed cloth 94 of any suitable material such as felt.

Bed 18 carries on its upper surface around the entire edge portions a peripheral rail assembly which is at tached thereto, preferably removable, as by wood screws 98, as can be seen in FIG. 7. Rail assembly 20 includes separate end rails and side rails and consists of a railing portion 102 and an attached cushion 104 covered by rail cloth 106 which is secured in place as at 108 and 110. The outwardly exposed edges of the rail assembly 20 may carry suitable decor, as at 114 to add favorably to the appearance of the billiard table and prevent marring thereof.

Attached to the underside of rail assembly 20 and bed 18 near their outwardly exposed edges is a peripherally extending, integrally molded apron and ball return trough 118 of generally channel shape which may be endless or in pieces and has an outwardly turned flange 120 and an inwardly turned flange 122 to facilitate its removable mounting which is accomplished as by screws 124. The lower wall 128 of trough 118 slopes downwardly from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 2, so that balls dropping through pockets 78 during the course of a game will roll toward the left-hand end of the table under the action of gravity. This left end of the apron, as seen in FIG. 3, is provided with an opening 132 in its central portions to facilitate the removal of balls from inside the apron after dropping through the pockets and rolling to that end. The apron also carries adjacent and to each side of opening 132 a series of four ball compartments 134 in which the balls may be placed during the course of the game or stored for future use. Preferably, both the rail assembly 20 and the ball return trough 118 traverse the seam line at 19 and are secured to both of bed sections 11 and 13.

It is to be understood that the bed ma be used in a variety of tables including those with and Without pockets.

It will be understood that the bed 18 is initially assembled with a unitary upper skin 80, a unitary lower skin 86, a unitary peripheral frame 88 including parallel end pieces and parallel side pieces appropriately joined together, a unitary center mullion 15 extending between the end pieces of the peripheral frame 88, and a central honeycomb core in two sections on opposite sides of the center mullion 15 corresponding to bed sections 11 and 13. The assembly is laid up with the skins and 86 on opposite sides of the core consisting of the honeycomb structure, peripheral frame 88, and center mullion 15, and the outer skins are appropriately bonded to the central core.

After appropriate curing, the unitary complete bed assembly is cut in two pieces as by sawing longitudinally along the center line of the bed through the middle of "the mullion 15. Since the bores 17 are provided in the mullion prior to separation of the mullion into two sections, the bores assure proper registry of the sections upon reassembly when the dowels 23 are inserted in the bores. However, reassembly need not be completed immediately after sawing the sections into' two parts, and the entire table may be shipped in knocked down form with the bed in the two separate sections in order to facilitate delivery of the table into private homes, and the like, where access may be too limited to permit delivery of the entire table in assembled form, or even the entire bed in assembled form.

In order to assure precisely correct lateral dimensions in the billiard table bed upon reassembly, it is contemplated that a precise predetermined saw cut will be made in separating the bed in two sections, such as a 6-inch cut, and that the filler plate 19 will have a thickness equal to the material removed by the saw cut. Thus, on reassembly, the width of the bed is equal to the width prior to separation. After the separate sections are reassembled and appropriately secured, the excess material at the upper edge of filler plate 19 may be removed, as by sanding, to assure a smooth upper surface free of seam lines.

We claim:

1. A billiard table bed, comprising:

a pair of separate sections having side edges positioned adjacent each other,

each section including a supporting frame of predetermined dimensions relative to the desired dimensions of the bed,

each frame including an upright flange extending along the edge thereof adjacent to the flange of the other frame,

each flange having transverse apertures therein spaced therealong and in register with corresponding apertures in the other flange,

each section including a covering sheet of predetermined dimensions attached to the top of the associated frame and providing a smooth upper playing surface,

a narrow plate having apertures therethrough spaced therealong and in register with corresponding apertures of the flanges, and

means connecting the sections together with the adjacent edges thereof in register and the plate in register therebetween, said plate having a smooth flat top edge forming a smooth joint at the upper surface thereof, said connecting means including rigid dowels fixed in the mating apertures.

2. A preliminary billiard table bed assembly combination, comprising:

a supporting frame of predetermined dimensions relative to the desired dimensions of the bed,

said frame including a laterally centrally located beam extending horizontally from a position adjacent one edge of the frame to a position adjacent an opposite edge of the frame,

a covering sheet attached to the top of the frame having predetermined dimensions relative to the frame and providing a smooth upper playing surface, and

a spacer plate having apertures therethrough for receiving pins,

said beam having transverse apertures therein at spaced positions therealong adapted to register with apertures of said spacer plate for also receiving said pins so that the combined frame and sheet may be divided into two parts along a line passing longitudinally through the beam and cutting across the apertures therein, and reassembled by juxtaposing the mating edges of the divided parts against opposite faces of the spacer plate while registering the mating apertures of the cut beam portions and spacer plate to assure proper registry of the divided parts at the joint therebetween, said spacer plate being so dimensioned that when assembled between said two parts it will have a portion extending above the level of said playing surface with said apertures of said plate in register with apertures of said frame and said plate being of cuttable material for cutting away said extending portion to provide an upper flat smooth edge surface spanning the divided parts as a surface continuous with said playing surface parts with said apertures in said register.

3. A billiard table assembly comprising a plurality of bed sections each including means defining a flat upper playing surface, means securing said bed sections together in positions adjacent each other as a flat table bed including a narrow gap between said sections and plate means filling said gap between the bed sections and forming a seam between adjacent sections, said plate means providing a surface continuous with the upper surface of the bed sections to define a continuous planar playing surface as the upper surface of the bed and means rigidly locking said plate means and sections in position against movement relative to one another, a cover material for said bed upper surface, and peripheral bumper rail means on the assembled bed.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said locking means comprises a flange along the joining edge of each bed section, and depending from said playing surface defining means for stiffening the joining edge of said defining means, and pin means impaling said plate means for rigidly securing said flanges of separate sections in facially opposed position with said plate means therebetween.

5. The billiard table assembly of claim 3 including means for securing said bumper rail means to each of said bed sections transverse to the plate means.

6. The assembly of claim 3 including pocket ports spaced along the edges of the assembled bed sections with the rail means forming a frame for backing each of said pocket ports, ball return trough means shaped for underlying the assembled bed edge for receiving balls falling through said pocket ports, and means for securing said trough means in position underlying the bed edge, said trough means including trough portions transverse to each seam.

7. The assembly of claim 3 wherein each of said bed sections comprises a laminate including two layers of relatively thin, flat material with a relatively thick, intermediate, lightweight spacer layer sandwiched and laminated therebetween.

8. The assembly of claim 3 including a leg structure unit spanning the bed sections transverse to the seam, and means for securing said leg structure unit to each of the assembled bed sections.

9. The assembly of claim 4 including registering bores through the flanges of said bed sections with said flanges facially opposed, said pin means comprising peg means for inserting into the registering bores, and means for securing the peg means in said bores.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 240,461 4/ 1881 Reingaldt 273-11 1,534,711 4/1925 Hoskin 273-6 2,018,711 10/1935 Elmendorf 144309.13 3,069,163 12/1962 Schaefer 273-11 3,263,996 8/1966 Braun 273-6 X 3,323,797 6/1967 Horton 273-3 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,032,719 6/1966 Great Britain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner T. ZACK, Assistant Examiner

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