Protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table

Abstract

A protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table, characterized in that the protective cover is a fan-like body formed as a unit and the two end edges of the protective cover are respectively mounted to a protruded plate, the inner edge of the protruded plate is mounted with a clipping plate such that the two end edges of the protective cover is formed into an engaging recess for direct mounting of a panel board, thereby the protective cover structure with a panel frame having an arc angle of the billiard table is obtained.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Technical Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to structure of billiard table and in particular, a protective cover for mounting with the panel frame of a billiard table. The panel frame is secured and tightened to the protective cover, and decorative plates mounted onto the panel frame will not be dislocated.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In order to avoid formation of a sharp angle at the panel frame, the corners of the panel frame are provided with an arc-shaped angle. The conventional panel frames are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For such designs, in order to reduce or save cost of material and reduce the weight of the billiard table, the adjacent panel boards 10, 20 are mounted at right angle and in order to have an arc-shaped structure, normally an inner board 11, 21 is mounted within the inner edge of the end section of the panel boards 10, 20. After that the end section is modified to include a plurality of decorative plates 12, 22 to provide an aesthetic appearance to the billiard table. In order to secure the adjacent panel boards 10, 20, a plurality of screws 16, 26 are used to lock an L-shaped corner board 15, 25 to the inner wall of the inner boards 11, 21. Finally, bolt 30 and nut 35 are used to tighten these parts together and an arc-shaped corner is thus formed.

[0005] These conventional panel board structures has drawbacks as follows:

[0006] 1) Loosening of the Panel Frame

[0007] The mounting of the adjacent panel boards 10, 20 is done by the corner plates 15, 25 and these corner plates 15, 25 are normally made from metal, and therefore, after some time of use, the metal will become fatigue and will not effectively in pulling the two panel boards 10, 20 to each other. This will affect the stability of the billiard table.

[0008] 2) Dislocation of the Decorative Plates

[0009] The decorative plates 12, 22 are directly mounted onto the surface of the panel boards 10, 20 without other securing device. After some time of use, due to the aging of the adhesive material used to adhere the boards and the plates, the decorative plates 12, 22 will drop off from the edge of the panel boards 10, 20 and the entire appearance of the billiard table is affected.

[0010] 3) Manufacturing and Assembly Process are Complicated

[0011] In manufacturing the panel frame, the inner side of the panel board 10, 20 is provided with the inner boards 11, 21. It is required that the panel board 10, 20 is corresponding to the inner boards 11, 21 in order to form a smooth arc-shaped structure. However, this is rather difficult to achieve. Besides, the number of the components for such structure is numerous and to provide a corner plates 15, 25 to the inner edge of the panel boards 10, 20, are rather difficult. As a result, the cost of a billiard table is rather high.

[0012] It is a main object of the present invention to provide a protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table which can mitigate the above drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table, wherein the billiard table with such protective cover has a greater stability and the economic value of the billiard table is greatly improved.

[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table, characterized in that the protective cover is a fan-like body formed as a unit and the two end edges of the protective cover are respectively mounted to a protruded plate, and the inner edge of the protruded plate is mounted with a clipping plate such that the two end edges of the protective cover are formed into an engaging recess for direct mounting of a panel board, thereby the protective cover structure with a panel frame having an arc-shaped angle of the billiard table is obtained.

[0015] Other objectives which can be achieved in accordance with the present invention are as follows:

[0016] 1) The stability of the panel frame is greatly increased and the longevity of the billiard table is comparative longer.

[0017] 2) The manufacturing and assembly processes of the panel frame are simplified and the cost of manufacturing the billiard table is reduced.

[0018] The foregoing objects and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional panel frame illustrating the assembly thereof and the formation of arc angle.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional panel frame illustrating the formation of corners of the panel frame and their relative position.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the protective cover, in accordance with the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view showing the assembly of the protective cover with the panel frame in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a cut-away schematic view of the protective cover mounted with the panel frame in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be used to describe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a protective cover 50 for panel frame of a billiard table. The protective cover 50 is substantially a fan-like body which is used to form an arc-shaped angle for the panel frame of the billiard table. The two end edges of the protective cover 50 are provided respectively with a protruded plate 51 and the inner edge of the protruded plate 51 is provided with a L-shaped clipping plate 52 and formed as a unit, such that the two end edges of the protective cover 50 are formed into an engaging slot 53 by the combination of the protruded plate 51 and the clipping plate 52. The width of the engaging slot 53 is about the total thickness of that of the panel boards 60, 70 and that of the decorative plates 65, 75. The inner edge of the clipping plate 52 of the protective cover 50 is formed into a pillar 54 having screw hole. By using a bolt 55, the protective cover 50 is directly mounted at the panel boards 60, 70. Furthermore, the bottom edges of the clipping plate 52 and the protruded plate 51 are connected to a carried plate 56 so as to support the panel boards 60, 70 to improve the stability of the panel boards 60, 70. Accordingly, a protective cover 50 for the panel frame with an arc-shaped angel is obtained.

[0026] In accordance with the present invention, when the protective cover 50 is to be mounted onto the billiard table, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of decorative plates 65, 75 are mounted onto the surface of the panel boards 60, 70. Next, the panel boards 60, 70 with decorative plates 65,75 are respectively mounted at the engaging slot 53 at the two end edges of the protective cover 50. Finally, a bolt 55 is used to mount through the screw-hole pillar 54 of the clipping plate 52 so that the panel boards 60, 70 are mounted onto the protective cover 50.

[0027] In view of the present invention, the following objectives and effectiveness are obtained.

[0028] 1) Stability of the Panel Frame

[0029] As the protective cover 50 is formed as a unit and the panel boards 60, 70 are directly mounted to the two end edges of the protective cover 50, the drawback of fatigue of the cornering plate will not occur. This effectively enhances the stability of the panel frame and the entire panel frame will not become loose and the longevity of the billiard table is preserved.

[0030] 2) The Adhesion of the Decorative Plates

[0031] The decorative plates 65, 75 of the panel boards 60, 70 are firmly secured by the protective cover 50. Even if the adhesive of the protective plates is deteriorated, the decorative plates 65, 75 are compressed by the protruded plate 51 and the decorative plates will not dislocate. Thus, the longevity and utility of the billiard table are improved.

[0032] 3) Manufacturing and Assembly

[0033] The formation of the protective cover 50 as one unit does not require additional manufacturing process, and therefore the elements for the entire panel frame are greatly reduced. As for assembly of the elements, only the engaging and screwing process are required for the assembly of the panel boards 60, 70. As compared to the conventional art, the present invention has simplified the method of manufacturing and assembly.

[0034] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

[0035] While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table, characterized in that the protective cover is a fan-like body formed as a unit and the two end edges of the protective cover are respectively mounted to a protruded plate, the inner edge of the protruded plate is mounted with a clipping plate such that the two end edges of the protective cover is formed into an engaging recess for direct mounting of a panel board, thereby the protective cover structure with a panel frame having an arc-shaped angle of the billiard table is obtained.

2. A protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table as set forth in claim 1, wherein the width of the engaging recess of the protective cover is equal to the total thickness of the panel board together with a decorative plate to enhance the tightening and appearance of the panel board.

3. A protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner edge of the clipping plate of the protective cover is provided with screw hole pillars having a through screw hole for the mounting of the panel board with screws or bolts.

4. A protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottom edges of the protruded plate and the clipping plate are connected to a carried plate to enhance the stability of the panel frame.