WO1998047586A1

WO1998047586A1 - Illuminated pool tables

Info

Publication number: WO1998047586A1
Application number: PCT/CA1998/000379
Authority: WO
Inventors: Randy Horgan; Theodore Felde; Nancy Novak
Original assignee: Randy Horgan; Theodore Felde; Nancy Novak
Priority date: 1997-04-22
Filing date: 1998-04-22
Publication date: 1998-10-29
Also published as: AU7022498A

Abstract

An illuminated pool table comprises a pool table having a surface, a light generator, and at least one optical fiber arranged to receive light from the generator and illuminate the surface. In one embodiment, the optical fibers are arranged in a channel formed on the pool table.

Description

ILLUMINATED POOL TABLES

FIELD OE THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to illuminated billiard and pool tables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, pool halls use overhanging light fixtures to illuminate the

playing surfaces of billiard or pool tables. Occasionally, a pool hall owner may wish

to reconfigure the layout of the pool tables. This is often a very expensive and time

consuming task, as the light fixtures also need to be moved to be centered over the

playing surfaces. Additionally, in the course of a game of pool, a player often drapes

his or her body over a section of the playing surface and the overhanging light is

blocked, such that the player's body casts a shadow over a critical field of play.

Typically, light fixtures are positioned over pool tables such that the light bulb is

about 32 to 36 inches over the playing surface of the pool table; depending on the

intensity of the light, the fixture may be raised or lowered at the time of installation.

Often, tall players will hit their heads against the hanging overhead light fixture. If a

light bulb is broken as a result of the impact, causing shards of glass to hit and

damage the pool table playing surface, the playing surface will then have to be

replaced at a significant cost and downtime on the pool table. To date, these have

been continuing and ongoing problems.

The Angulo U.S. Patent No. 4,029,313 discloses a pool table lamp shade or

canopy which holds and stores the accessories necessary to play the game of pool and additionally claims to provide proper light distribution to the pool table. The canopy

is attached to and envelopes a standard fluorescent light fixture hung above the pool table.

The Steifvater U.S. Patent No. 5,470,765 teaches a pool table having a gravity

fed ball return system with a ball return compartment positioned beneath the playing

surface combined with a self-powered electrical light bulb which illuminates the ball

return compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new billiard

and pool table illumination systems. It is a more specific object of the invention to provide billiard and pool tables with lighting for functional and/or decorative

purposes.

Generally, the invention relates to an illuminated billiard or pool table

comprising a translucent optical fiber and a light generator, wherein the optical fiber is

located on a surface of the table. The optical fiber may be positioned on or adjacent

the playing surface or on an exterior surface of the table. The optical fiber projects

light onto the playing surface and/or the exterior surface of the table to provide

functional and/or decorative lighting.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an illuminated billiard or pool

table which comprises a plurality of translucent optical fibers, a billiard or pool table,

hereinafter referred to collectively as a pool table, which includes a playing surface

and an exterior surface, a channel sized to house the optical fibers on or adjacent the playing surface or on the exterior surface, and a light source which is fixedly

positioned on the pool table and to which at least one optical fiber is optically

coupled. Preferably, the channel which contains the optical fiber cable extends and

runs at least a portion of a length of or adjacent the playing surface of the table for

directing illumination laterally therefrom.

The present invention is advantageous in providing illumination of the playing surface, decorative lighting and/or providing area lighting, and rearrangement and use

of the pool tables are facilitated. Additional objects and advantages of the invention

will be apparent from the Detailed Description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood in view of the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an illuminated pool table

according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cross-section of the playing surface and rail of

an embodiment of the pool table of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic of a light source and optical fibers arranged to receive

light flux for use in an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a composite cable of optical fiber

in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the partial composite cable of Fig. 3 in an

optical cable lighting system; Figs. 6(A) and 6(B) are partial schematic views of cables of optical fibers in

accordance with additional embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of an optical fiber lighting system according to one

embodiment for forming the illusion of moving light sources along the length of the

cable; and

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of an optical fiber lighting system according to

another embodiment for forming the illusion of moving light sources along the length

of the cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a system for illuminating a pool table. Within

the present specification, the term pool table is used to generically refer to pool tables,

billiard tables, regulation tables, snooker tables and eight ball tables, among others. In

a general embodiment, a translucent optical fiber is arranged on a surface of a pool

table. The surface may be the playing surface, an area adjacent the playing surface,

for example on the bumper surface, and/or on an exterior surface of the table. The

optical fiber has no visible point sources of radiating light or bright spots and receives

light from a light generator. The light generator may be any of those conventional in

the art, including but not limited to the 007 series light generator manufactured by

Fiberstars, Inc. The light illuminates the playing surface, the exterior surface and/or a

surrounding area with a back light effect, radiating laterally from the surface of the

pool table with an even and continuous glow. With reference to Fig. 1 , a pool table 10 includes a playing surface 1 , with rails

2 including bumper areas 3 along the perimeter of the playing surface. One or more

light emitting optical fibers 100a are installed on or adjacent the perimeter of the playing surface of the pool table. As shown in Fig. 2, the light emitting optical fiber

100a may be arranged at the intersection 7 of the inwardly sloping bumper surface 3

and the playing surface 1. A channel or crevice may be provided at such intersection

or otherwise on or adjacent the playing surface 1 in which the optical fiber 100 may

be arranged in a partially or fully recessed position.

Additionally, or alternatively, one or more light emitting optical fibers 100b

are installed on an exterior surface 4 of the pool table, as further shown in Fig. 1. The

exterior surface is defined as a surface other than the playing surface 1. Thus, the

exterior surface may comprise inter alia, the sides 4a of the table, the top of the rails

4b, or the table support legs 4c. In one embodiment, the optical fibers are arranged in

a partially or fully recessed position in a crevice or channel formed on the exterior

surface 4.

As shown in Fig. 4, the optical fibers 100 (100a or 100b) may be optically

connected to a light source generator 8 by an interface 10 to receive light flux in a

conventional manner.

In one embodiment, the optical fibers 100 extend continuously around the

perimeter of the playing surface 1 and/or the exterior surface 4, i.e., the illumination is

continuous and not interrupted along the respective perimeter. In other embodiments,

the optical fibers 100 are arranged in a discontinuous manner on the surface, for

example in a discontinuous manner around the perimeter of the playing surface and/or the exterior surface, i.e. the illumination is interrupted along the respective perimeter.

For example, light may be blocked by an opaque covering which bisects or otherwise

interrupts the length of the cable along the respective surface. Additionally, while the

optical fibers 100a and 100b are shown in Fig. 1 in straight line arrangements, the

optical fibers may alternatively be arranged in any desirable configuration.

The invention yields both functional and aesthetic visual effects, i.e.,

illumination of the playing surface, decorative lighting, and/or area lighting in the

vicinity of the table. It offers no objects with which to interfere with the players or the

view of bystanders. No one will bump their head upon this light source. There will

be no consideration for the height of the ceiling when selecting sites for pool tables.

Tables may be rearranged in pool halls without consideration for the overhead

lighting. The lighting system overall is very energy efficient and produces no

noticeable heat along the length of the optical fibers. The light generator may produce

and vary the color output with a simple adjustment or programming, in a manner

described herein.

The optical fibers may be easily installed on new or used tables. The optical

fibers may be secured in place by being pressure fit in a crevice or channel or may be

secured by means of a "U" hook, an adhesive or the like.

Referring now to the cross-sectional view of Fig. 4, and the schematic view of

Fig. 5, there are shown optical cables prepared in accordance with one embodiment of

the present invention. In this embodiment, the optical cables are formed of a plurality

of two or more individual optical fibers 100 in conventional manner. A core of a

plastic material such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMAA) having an associated index of refraction, with a diameter of about 0.010 to 0.080 inches (typically, 0.030 inches),

and an outer cladding layer of plastic material having a different index of refraction

are employed. The fibers 100 are all twisted or woven or otherwise convoluted

together in a continuous manner over the length of the cable. In another embodiment,

a plurality of individual optical fibers 100, for example about ten to twenty fibers, are

formed into a single cable 9. For example, four of such fibers may be used to form a

generally straight, central core of the cable with the remaining individual fibers being

continuously wrapped around the central core of the fibers. Fiber optic cables formed

in these ways promote perceived improvement in the lateral emission of light flux

from the surface of individual fibers, with total light flux including the light flux that

is laterally emitted from the central or core fibers through the surrounding outer or

surface-oriented fibers, appearing to be more uniformly distributed over the length of

the cable when illuminated from both ends.

In typical applications, the twist of all such individual fibers (or of the outer

fibers over a central core of fibers) may be arranged in one rotational orientation, for

example, clockwise, with about 3 V7 to 7 ^lAⁿ pitch (i.e., the distance along the cable

over which a fiber exhibits one complete wrap), and with negligible tension in

individual fibers as they are twisted together. A plurality of two or more, and

typically about 7 to 12, of such individual cables 9 are then wrapped or twisted

together in an opposite or counter-clockwise rotational orientation (or the same

rotational orientation) with about 4 V7 to 10" pitch to form a composite cable 13 of

optical fibers with negligible tension in single cables 9 and in individual fibers 100 as

the fibers and the single cables are twisted or wound together. Thus, individual optical fibers 100 in each of the single cables 9 may be oriented near the surface over

some portion of one or more pitches. Alternatively, a single cable 15 may be oriented

as a straight, central core cable with the remaining single cables 9 twisted around the

core cable 15 to remain adjacent the surface of the composite cable 13 over its entire length.

The composite cable 13 may then be wrapped with a layer of clear or colored,

transparent tape 17 or other sheath covering that is formed to about 0.001 inch

thickness. The tape may be formed of a polymer material such as "TEDLAR" or

"MYLAR", commercially available from DuPont or the like, which can provide heat

insulation and, optionally, ultraviolet-ray inhibition. The sheath covering 17, when

formed of a web or strip or tape, may be oriented with about 30 to 40 percent of its

width overlapping as shown at 19 in each wrap or lay of the tape 17 about the

composite cable 13. Alternatively, a sheath of such material may be formed by

extrusion or other suitable means to provide heat insulation and, optionally,

ultraviolet-ray inhibition. Then, a protective sheath 18 of clear flexible plastic

material such as polyvinyl chloride may be co-extruded over the composite cable 13

in a conventional manner to enshroud the composite cable in an outer jacket 18 and

thereby provide moisture and abrasion protection for the individual cables and fibers

that form the composite cable 13. Additionally, ultraviolet-ray inhibitors and

biological inhibitors against bacterial and fungal activity may be incorporated into the

composition of the clear, flexible material of the outer jacket 18, and colorants or dyes

may also be incorporated into the material of the outer jacket 18 to provide desired

aesthetic lighting effects. It is believed that such twisting or weaving or other similar assembling of

individual fibers 100 within a single cable 9 and within the composite cable 13

provides sufficiently slight bends in each optical fiber along its length to enhance the

lateral emission of light flux from the individual fibers at such bends substantially

uniformly over the length of the fiber. Accordingly, such single cables 9, or

composite cables 13, with light sources 21 coupled to the ends thereof exhibit

improved perceived uniformity of lateral light emission therealong from the end

adjacent a light source toward the center of the cable that is most remote from a light

source. Additionally, it is believed that the introduction of an insulating sheath 17

between the assembled cable and the outer jacket 18 reduces the deterioration of

optical properties of the optical fiber material attributable to heat associated with

conventional co-extrusion processes used to form the outer jacket 18 over the

assembled cable. In one embodiment, the sheath 17 thus promotes perceived

uniformity of laterally emitted light from the assembled cable over lengths to about

200 feet.

In another embodiment of a cable suitable for use in the present invention, the

strip or tape 17 may be opaque, reflective material such as aluminum foil or may be

translucent or colored transparent material that is wrapped around a single cable 9 or

around an entire composite cable in non-overlapping relationship to provide a portion

of the surface of a single cable 9 (or of the composite cable 13) that is exposed to

permit lateral emission of light from the cable in a continuous, spiraling stripe.

In still another embodiment of the cable used in the present invention as

illustrated in Fig. 6A, the sheath 17 may be formed about a single cable 9 (or about the composite cable 13) to include apertures 22, 23, 24 (on the front side), 25 and 26

(on the rear side) in numerous shapes and spacings about the surface of the cable 9 or

13. Alternatively, as illustrated in Fig. 6B, at least two such strips or tapes may be

wound around a single cable, or around the composite cable, in non-overlapping

relationship and in opposite directions to form a sheath that exposes a portion of cable

surface that is then intersected by another strip or tape wound in the opposite direction

to expose only apertures of surface 31 (on the front side) and 32 (on the rear side) at

selected intervals along a cable through which light may be emitted. This provides

the appearance of discrete light sources located at selected intervals along the length

of the cable. Of course, a sheath 17 of such materials may also be disposed about

each single cable 9 (or about the composite cable 13), including apertures therein of

selected shape and at selected intervals and locations along the cable, to provide

similar appearance of discrete light sources.

In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Fig. 7, two or

more single cables are each formed with opaque (or translucent or colored transparent)

sheaths thereon having apertures 28 positioned at selected intervals of, for example,

about 1 inch along the length of the sheath. The apertures are formed at substantially

the same selected spacing on each cable, but displaced an increment of length from

the positions of the apertures on other cables. Thus, the apertures on each cable are

displaced incrementally from the apertures on other cables. Light sources 27, 29, 30

are positioned at least on one of the ends of each individual cable and are each

sequentially activated (or, are activated in end-end pairs) in one embodiment for

pulsed operation in recurring manner to produce the appearance of light sources moving along the length of the cable. In one embodiment, including at least three

cables 9 and associated light source, or end-end pair light sources, the direction of the

apparent movement is determined by the order or sequence in which the associated

light sources are activated. The single cables need not be twisted together, but may be retained in adjacent orientation over their length by an outer sheath or jacket of

transparent material that retains the single cables in relative positions optionally

enshrouds the cable.

Referring to the schematic diagram of Fig. 8, another embodiment of the

illumination source is illustrated in which an assembled composite cable 13 includes

two or more single cables 9 that are twisted together and are covered by a sheath that

is extruded or wrapped about the composite cable in a manner as previously described

to provide apertures 33 of selected spacings and shapes (e.g. arrows or pointers) along

at least a portion of the length of the cable. A shutter wheel 35 that is mounted to

rotate about the axis of a shaft 37 of a drive motor 39 is disposed in the path of light

flux from light source 21 to the end of the cable in order to interrupt the illumination

of the cable from the light source 21. Specifically, apertures 41 in the shutter wheel

35 may be separated by a frame of opaque material having a radial extent that may be

at least as long as the diameter of the cable 13. Thus, as the wheel 35 rotates, the

transition in illuminating flux "sweeps" over the sectional area of the end of the cable.

And, as illustrated in the sectional view of Fig. 4, the fibers that are assembled into

single cables 9 are confined to specific segments of the total cross sectional area of the

cable. Thus, as an aperture 41 in the wheel transmits light flux to the end of the

composite cable 13, only a single cable (or cables) in the initially-illuminated segment of the cable end are illuminated, and that single cable (or cables) is illuminated along

the length of the composite cable but dominantly visible only in the convolutes of

twist that appear near the lateral surface of the cable 13 being viewed. Therefore, the

same single cable appears illuminated over short lengths that are spaced along the

entire length of the composite cable 13.

Other single cables 9 that are confined to segments of the sectional area of the

composite cable 13 are illuminated through an aperture 41 of the wheel as it rotates across the sectional area of the end of the composite cable, and other single cables in

spaced locations within the cable end are illuminated over the entire length of the

cable. The light flux laterally emitted therefrom appears at the surface being viewed

to be in short lengths that are spaced apart along the length of the composite cable 13.

Thus, as separate single cables 9 are sequentially illuminated, separate spatially-

oriented twists of those single cables emit light that is perceived from one viewing

surface to move along the composite cable 13. Of course, light sources 21 may be

positioned to illuminate both ends of composite cable 13, and a shutter wheel 35 and

associated drive motor 39 may be disposed at each end of the cable for synchronized

operation to enhance uniformity of illumination from the cable 13 over the entire

length thereof. Also, both ends of the cable 13 may be oriented to be illuminated by

the same one light source through one shutter wheel 35. Shutter wheel 35 may

include multiple different color filters in the apertures 41 to provide aesthetically

pleasing visual sensations of different color lights spaced apart and "moving" along

the length of cable 13. The illumination source used in the present invention may provide enhanced uniformity of lateral emission of light flux over the length of the cable, and enhanced

special effects attributable to spatial and time-oriented synchronized illumination of

selected segments of the optical fiber cable.

The specific embodiments and examples set forth above are provided to

illustrate the invention and are not intended as limiting. Additional embodiments

within the scope of the claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

We claim:

1. An illuminated pool table, comprising:

a pool table including a surface, a light generator, and at least one translucent optical

fiber, the optical fiber being arranged to receive light from the light generator and to illuminate the surface.

2. An illuminated pool table as in claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is

arranged on or at a perimeter of a playing surface of the pool table.

3. An illuminated pool table as in claim 1, wherein the optical fibers are

arranged at the perimeter of the playing surface of the pool table.

4. An illuminated pool table as in claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is

arranged on an exterior surface of the pool table.

5. An illuminated pool table as in claim 2 or 4, wherein a plurality of

optical fibers are arranged on the surface of the pool table.

6. An illuminated pool table as in claim 5, wherein each of the optical

fibers includes a core which is transparent to radiation in a selected waveband and a

layer of cladding material surrounding the core.

7. An illuminated pool table as in claim 6, wherein the optical fibers are

substantially spirally wound in contiguous relationship along their length to form a

cable and are arranged to receive light flux at at least one end of the cable and to

laterally emit light flux substantially along their length from at least one end, and

further wherein the illuminated pool table further comprises a sheath of light-

transmissive material disposed about the cable to retain the optical fibers in the

contiguous relationship and an outer layer of light-transmissive material enclosing the

cable and sheath over their lengths.

8. An illuminated pool table as in claim 2 or 4, further comprising:

a plurality of translucent optical fibers and a channel in which the optical fibers are

arranged on the pool table wherein at least one optical fiber is optically coupled to the

light source.

9. A pool table as in claim 8, wherein the optical fibers extend in and run

the length of the channel for directing illumination radially therefrom.

10. A pool table as in claim 9, wherein each of the optical fibers includes a

core material which is transparent to radiation in a selected waveband and a layer of

cladding material surrounding the core.

11. A pool table as in claim 10, wherein the optical fibers are substantially

spirally wound in contiguous relationship along their length to form a cable and are arranged to receive light flux at at least one end of the cable and to laterally emit light

flux substantially along their length from at least one end, and further wherein the illuminated pool table further comprises a sheath of light-transmissive material

disposed about the cable to retain the optical fibers in the contiguous relationship and

an outer layer of light-transmissive material disposed to enclose the cable and sheath

over their lengths.

12. A pool table as in claim 11 , wherein the sheath includes a substantially

continuous layer of light-transmissive material disposed about the cable.

13. A pool table as in claim 8, wherein the channel is arranged on the

exterior side surface of the pool table.

14. A pool table as in claim 8, wherein the channel is arranged at the

perimeter of the playing surface.

15. An illuminated pool table as in claim 5, 8, 13 or 14, wherein the optical

fibers extend continuously around a perimeter of the surface of the pool table.

16. An illuminated pool table as in claim 5, 8, 13 or 14, wherein the optical

fibers are arranged in a discontinuous manner around a perimeter of the surface of the

pool table.