POCKET TOP POOL TABLE COVER

Abstract

A pool table cover has cover pockets indexed in positions corresponding to pockets on a pool table. The cover pockets receive pool balls to hold the cover in place on the pool table surface and under its side bumpers. In another embodiment the pool table cover may have members, such as weighted tassels, oriented on the cover in positions corresponding to pockets on a pool table for holding the cover on the table.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/192,924 filed Sep. 23, 2008 (now pending), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is protective covers, more specifically, for pool tables or billiard tables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to supply a cover for the play surface of a pool or billiard table when the play surface is not being used. In this application the terms “pool table” and “billiards table” will be used to refer to the same thing. In general, the term refers to a table having a playing surface for the movement of balls thereon, with holes or pockets in the playing surface for the balls to fall though. Present covers cover not only the playing surface, but the entire pool table. This hides the beauty and craftsmanship of the wood or other materials used in building the table. Therefore, the need exists to provide a cover that protects the playing surface while still allowing the beauty and craftsmanship of the pool table to be seen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pool table cover has cover pockets indexed in positions corresponding to pockets on a pool table. The cover pockets receive pool balls to hold the cover in place on the pool table surface and under its side bumpers. In another embodiment the pool table cover may have members, such as weighted tassels, oriented on the cover in positions corresponding to pockets on a pool table for holding the cover on the table interiorly of the side bumpers. In some embodiments, the pool table cover also has decoration on at least one visible surface.

Another embodiment is a combination of a pool table and a pool table cover that covers the ball surface and has ball receiving pockets aligned with ball receiving pockets of the table. The cover has edges close to the ball cushions and is held in place by at least one ball in a ball receiving pocket of the cover that is inside the corresponding ball receiving pocket of the table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a pool table cover shown suspended above a pool table for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 2 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1 placed on the pool table with balls shown in a position to be placed in pockets of the cover.

FIG. 2A is a partial cross-section as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of a pool table cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a pool table cover 10 having a cover perimeter 12 with cover pockets 14 positioned at each of the four corners and at the two longitudinal midpoints along the cover perimeter 12. The cover has no depending sides. A top surface 16 of the cover has an optional decoration 18. Decoration 18 may be, for example, a family crest, corporate logo, sports team logo, etc., and it may be applied using the full spectrum of methods for applying to, or integrating into the surface of the cover. Examples include embroidery, silk screening, deep dye discharge printing, digital printing, and the like.

A pool table 20 has a playing surface 22 with a generally rectangular outer perimeter 24 (also seen in FIG. 2A), bumpers 26, four corner pockets 28, and two side pockets 30. The bumpers 26 extend over the playing surface 22, defining a generally rectangular bumper perimeter 32 that is smaller than the outer perimeter 24, although the cover 10 would also work on pool tables 20 that have a bumper perimeter 32 equal to or greater than the outer perimeter 24. The pool table 20 illustrated has weaved pockets to catch the balls instead of a rail system to deliver balls to a central location. However, the cover 10 will work regardless of the type of ball collection system associated with the corner pockets 28 and side pockets 30.

FIGS. 2 and 2A illustrate the pool table cover 10 placed on the pool table 20 as it would be when in use. At least one billiard ball 34 is used in each of the cover pockets 14 that are aligned and descending into the corner pockets 28. The weight of the balls 34 produce a snug fit and a neat appearance of the cover 10 on the playing surface 22. The pockets 14 at the side pockets 30 may also have billiard balls 34, although a cover 10 having no cover pockets 14 at the locations of side pockets 30 would also be within the bounds of the current invention. The cover perimeter 12 fits in approximate alignment with the outer perimeter 24 of the playing surface 22 so that the cover is interior to and under the bumpers 26 , protecting the playing surface 22 while the remainder of the pool table 20 is visible, displaying the craftsmanship of the woodwork and other materials used in its construction.

FIG. 3 illustrates another pool table cover embodiment 100. In this embodiment, rather than pockets, weighted tassels 102 are used to pull the cover neatly against the playing surface 22. The weighted tassels 102 have a heavy body 104 as part of their construction, although the tassels 102 could be of sufficient weight without the body 104 depending, on the material quantity and densities chosen. The weighted tassels 102 are in alignment with the pool table pockets 28 and 30. The tassels 102 may be pernanently attached to the cover 100, or may be detachable. The tassels 102 are just one example of a weighted member. Any object of appropriate size and weight to fit in pockets 28 and 30 may be used.

The covers 10 and 100 may be made from a variety of materials, ranging from various cloths to vinyl or other synthetics. The pockets may be sewn or otherwise attached to the cover, or may be integral. The size and shape of the pockets are not detailed herein, but the pockets should not be so long and deep that the weight of the balls rests on the bottom of the pocket or ball collection system, thus preventing the balls from applying tension to the cover. In use, there should not be so many balls resting in the weaving of the pockets 28 and 30 that they rise too high, and interfere with the suspending of the ball 34 in the pockets 14. This is not a concern at all for those pool rooms that normally store their billiard balls at a location other than the weaved pockets 28 and 30, such as on a wall rack.

Other modifications from the foregoing may become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention and applicant intends to be bound only by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A pool table cover having cover pockets associated therewith and indexed in positions corresponding to pockets on a pool table, said cover pockets receiving pool balls to hold the cover in place on the pool table surface and under its side bumpers.

2. The pool table cover of claim 1 further comprising a decoration on a visible surface.

3. A pool table cover having members of sufficient weight and length and oriented on the cover in predetermined positions corresponding to pockets on a pool table for holding the cover on a playing surface of the table interiorly of the side bumpers of the table.

4. The pool table cover of claim 3 in which the member is a tassel.

5. The pool table cover of claim 3 further comprising a decoration on a visible surface.

6. In combination, a pool table having a ball surface, side cushions thereabout and ball receiving pockets, operably dispersed relative to said surface and side cushions and a pool table cover for covering said ball surface;

said pool table cover having ball receiving pockets disposed in register with said ball receiving pockets in said table;

said cover extending across said surface and having edges disposed proximate said cushions;

said ball receiving pockets of said cover disposed in said ball receiving pockets of said table; and

at least one ball in at least one ball receiving pocket disposed in a ball receiving pocket of said table.