Game table with rotationally convertible table faces

Abstract

A game table with rotationally convertible table faces, including a table body having a rectangular frame body and a rectangular table board mounted in the frame body. The top and bottom faces of the table board are respectively arranged as two different game table faces. Two ends of the table board are pivotally connected with two opposite sides of the frame body, whereby the table board can be rotated within an interior space of the frame body. The game table further includes two locating boards which are elongated slat bodies. The bottom long sides of the locating boards are pivotally connected with the other two opposite sides of the frame body, whereby the locating board can be swung on the frame body. When the two locating boards are positioned in an upright position, the top ends of the locating boards abut against two sides of the bottom face of the table board to locate the table board. The game table faces of the game table are convertible by means of turning and locating the table board.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a game implement, and more particularly to a game table for players to play games simulative of sports. Two faces of the table board are respectively arranged as two different game table faces which are convertible by means of turning the table board. After turned, the table board can be easily and firmly located.

The conventional soccer game table and hockey game table are for players to play games simulative of the soccer and hockey sports. The early game table can only provide one single game pattern. Recently, improved game tables have been developed, which are convertible between different game modes.

In the convertible game table, the top face of the table body is recessed to form a space. A table board is placed in the space. Two faces of the table board have different arrangements for different game patterns. Accordingly, any of the two faces of the table board can be directed upward for players to play different games.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,797 of this applicant, which is entitled GAME TABLE WITH USING MODES CONVERTIBLE BY WAY OF ROTATION “, provides a game table with convertible game modes. In this game table, a table board is rotatably disposed in a table body. The top and bottom faces of the table board have different arrangements for different game patterns. Accordingly, a player can turn the table board to switch the games.

The table board is formed with through holes. Insertion pins are disposed on the table body and inserted in the through hole to fix the table board. It is not so convenient to insert the insertion pins into the through holes. Moreover, the strength of the insertion pins for locating the table board may be insufficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a game table with rotationally convertible table faces. A table board is rotatably disposed on the table body. Two faces of the table board are respectively arranged as two different game table faces which are convertible by means of turning the table board. The game table includes locating boards for easily locating the table board. Also, the locating boards provide better supporting strength for the table board.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective assembled view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the resilient abutting member of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the resilient abutting member of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view according to FIG. 4, showing that the table board is released from the locating boards;

FIG. 7 shows the conversion of the table face of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows that the table board is converted from one table face into the other table face;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. According to a preferred embodiment, the game table 10 of the present invention includes a table body 20, a table board 30 pivotally disposed on the table body 20 and two locating boards 40 for locating the table board 30.

The table body 20 has a quadrangular frame body 22. The upper and lower sides of the frame body 22 are open. The frame body 22 defines an interior space 24. The table body 20 further has several table legs 26. The top ends of the table legs 26 are fixedly connected with the frame body 22 to support the frame body 22 above the ground.

The table board 30 is a rectangular board body with a certain thickness. The top and bottom faces of the table board 30 are respectively arranged with two different game patterns. For example, a first face 31 is arranged as a hockey game table face, while a second face 32 is arranged as a billiard game table face as shown in FIG. 4. The table board 30 is accommodated in the space 24 of the table body 20. Two shaft sections 34 are fixed at the centers of two short sides 35 of the table board 30. In this embodiment, the shaft sections 34 are bolts. Two short sides 27 of the frame body 22 of the table body 20 are formed with pivot holes 28. The shaft sections 34 are pivotally connected in the pivot holes 28, whereby the table board 30 can be rotated within the space 24 of the table body 20 with the shaft sections 34 serving as the rotational fulcrums.

In this embodiment, the table face 31 is a hockey game face. Two short sides 35 of the table board are respectively formed with two slots 36 communicating with the table face 31. Two short sides 27 of the table body 20 are respectively formed with two slots 37 where two ball-collecting boxes 38 are disposed. The ball body played on the table face 31 can drop from the slots 36, 37 into the ball-collecting boxes 38. The billiard table face 32 has six ball holes.

When the table board 30 is placed horizontally, the bottom edge of the table board 30 is spaced from the top edges of the long sides 29 of the frame body 22 by a height difference.

The two locating boards 40 have a width corresponding to the height difference and can be just fitted between the bottom edge of the table board 30 and the long sides 29 of the frame body 22. The locating boards 40 are elongated slat bodies. The bottom long side 42 of each locating board 40 is pivotally connected with a long side 29 of the frame body 22 via at least two pivot members 44 such as hinges. Therefore, the locating board 40 can be swung on the frame body 22. In addition, the outer face of each locating board 40 is formed with two recessed holding sections 45. A user's hands can extend into the holding sections 45 to turn the locating board 40.

In this embodiment, at least one resilient abutting member is disposed on the top long side 46 of each locating board 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the top long side 46 of the locating board is formed with two dents 48 for receiving therein two resilient abutting members 50. Each resilient abutting member 50 has an abutting column 52 and a resilient member 56. The top end of the abutting column has a dome section 54. An abutting section 55 with larger outer diameter is formed under the dome section. The abutting column 52 is up and down movably mounted in the dent 48. The resilient member 56 is fitted around the abutting column 52. Two ends of the resilient member 56 respectively abut against the abutting section 55 and the bottom wall of the dent 48 for pushing the abutting column upward. Two cover plates 57 are fixedly disposed on the top long side 46 respectively at the two dents 48. The dome section 52 of the abutting column 52 protrudes through a through hole 58 of the cover plate 57 out of the locating board. The abutting section 55 of the abutting column is stopped by the cover plate so that the abutting column cannot detach out of the dent.

FIGS. 1 and 4 show the present invention in an assembled state. When the table board 30 is placed horizontally, the two locating boards 40 are inward turned to an upright position. When the bottom face of the bottom long side 42 of the locating board 40 is horizontally engaged with the top face of the long side 29 of the frame body 22 as shown in FIG. 4, the locating board is positioned in a fixed position and located. At this time, the top ends of the two locating boards abut against the bottom face of the table board 30 to locate the table board 30 in a horizontal position. It should be noted that in practice, when the locating boards are upright located, the locating boards are not thoroughly erected and are preferably slightly inward inclined.

When the table board is supported by the locating boards 40, the weight of the table board falls onto the locating boards 40. Therefore, in normal state, the locating boards are kept in the fixed position. In addition, the dome sections 54 of the abutting columns 52 of the resilient abutting members 50 resiliently abut against the bottom face of the table board 30 as shown in FIG. 5. The resilient abutting force of the abutting columns also provides a locating effect, whereby the locating boards resiliently abut against the table board to locate the same.

When the table board 30 is located in a state as shown in FIG. 1, players can play a hockey game.

When converting the hockey game into billiards game, as shown in FIG. 6, a user can hold the holding sections 45 of the locating boards 40 with hands to outward turn the locating boards, whereby the locating boards no more abut against the bottom face of the table board 30. At this time, the table board can be freely rotated. As shown in FIG. 7, a user can turn the table board 30 and make the billiard table face 32 face upward. Referring to FIG. 8, when the table board is about to be turned to the horizontal position, as shown by the phantom line of FIG. 8, one locating board 40a is first inward turned to an upright position. After the bottom wall of one side of the table board 30 abuts against the locating board 40a, as shown by the solid line, the table board is positioned in the horizontal position. Then, the other locating board 40b is inward turned, whereby the top end of the locating board 40b supports the bottom wall of the other side of the table board. At this time, the conversion of table face is completed and players can play another game.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the table body and the locating board are partially shown. In this embodiment, the locating board 65 is located in an alternative manner. The short side 62 of the frame body 60 is higher than the long side 63 thereof. Each end of each short side 62 has an upright abutting face 64 as shown by the phantom line. When the end of the locating board abuts against the abutting face 64, the locating board is upright located.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, each short side 66 of the locating board is formed with a dent 68 in which a resilient abutting member 50 is embedded for abutting against the short side 62 of the frame body 60. This can enhance the locating effect.

According to the above arrangements, the table faces of the game table are convertible by means of turning the table board. By means of turning the locating boards, the table board can be located or released. The conversion of table face can be easily and quickly accomplished. Moreover, the structural strength for supporting the table board is enhanced.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A game table with rotationally convertible table faces, comprising:

a table body having a quadrangular frame body, upper and lower sides of the frame body being open, the frame body defining an interior space, a predetermined number of table legs being fixedly connected with the frame body to support the frame body above the ground;

a table board which is a rectangular board body with a certain thickness, top and bottom faces of the table board being respectively arranged as two different game table faces, the table board being accommodated in the space of the table body, two shaft sections being fixed at the centers of two short sides of the table board to pivotally connect the table board with two short sides of the frame body, whereby the table board can be rotated within the space with the shaft sections serving as rotational fulcrums, when the table board is placed horizontally, bottom edge of the table board being spaced from top edges of the long sides of the frame body by a height difference; and

two locating boards which are elongated slat bodies, a bottom long side of each locating board being pivotally connected with a long side of the frame body, whereby the locating board can be swung on the frame body, when the two locating boards are turned toward the space and positioned in an upright position, the locating boards being positioned in a fixed position and located, whereby the top ends of the two locating boards abut against two sides of the bottom face of the table board to locate the table board.

2. The game table with rotationally convertible table faces as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the locating board is located in the upright position, the bottom face of the bottom long side of the locating board is horizontally engaged with the top face of the long side of the frame body.

3. The game table with rotationally convertible table faces as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top end of the short side of the frame body is higher than the top end of the long side of the frame body, each end of each short side having an upright abutting face, the end of the locating board abutting against the abutting face to locate the locating board.

4. The game table with rotationally convertible table faces as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one resilient abutting member is disposed on the top long side of each locating board, whereby when the locating boards abut against the table board, the resilient abutting members resiliently abut against the table board.

5. The game table with rotationally convertible table faces as claimed in claim 4, wherein the top long side of each locating board is formed with at least one dent, each resilient abutting member including an abutting column and a resilient member, top end of the abutting column having a dome section, the abutting column being up and down movably mounted in the dent without detaching out of the dent, the resilient member being disposed between a wall of the dent and the abutting column for resiliently pushing the abutting column upward and making the dome section of the abutting column protrude from the locating board.

6. The game table with rotationally convertible table faces as claimed in claim 5, wherein an abutting section with larger outer diameter is formed on the abutting column, the resilient member being fitted around the abutting column, two ends of the resilient member respectively abutting against the abutting section and a bottom wall of the dent.

7. The game table with rotationally convertible table faces as claimed in claim 6, wherein the resilient abutting member further includes a cover plates are fixedly disposed on the top long side of the locating board, the cover plate being formed with a through hole aligned with the dent, whereby the dome section of the abutting column protrudes through the through hole of the cover plate out of the locating board and the abutting section of the abutting column is stopped by the cover plate.

8. The game table with rotationally convertible table faces as claimed in claim 3, wherein each short side of each locating board is provided with at least one resilient abutting member, whereby when the locating board is positioned in the upright position, the resilient abutting member resiliently abuts against a short side of the frame body.

9. The game table with rotationally convertible table faces as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one holding section is formed on outer face of the locating board for a user's hand to hold.