TABLE TENNIS LIFT

Abstract

A table tennis motion control system has a first leaf and a second leaf formed as a rectangular plank. The rectangular plank has a deployed open horizontal position and when closed, a generally vertical position. The first leaf has a first leaf left side and a first leaf right side defining bounds of the play surface. Similarly, the second leaf has a second leaf left side and a second leaf right side. The inner frame pivotally supports the first leaf at a first inner frame bracket and pivotally supports the second leaf at the second inner frame bracket. Wheels support the inner frame. A first pair of outside legs is pivotally mounted to the first leaf at a first outside leg bracket. The first pair of outside legs has a first deployed position and a first stowed position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of table tennis motion control systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A table tennis motion control system has a first leaf and a second leaf formed as a rectangular plank. The rectangular plank has a deployed open horizontal position and when closed, a generally vertical position. The first leaf has a first leaf left side and a first leaf right side defining bounds of the play surface. Similarly, the second leaf has a second leaf left side and a second leaf right side.

The inner frame pivotally supports the first leaf at a first inner frame bracket and pivotally supports the second leaf at the second inner frame bracket. Wheels support the inner frame.

A first pair of outside legs is pivotally mounted to the first leaf at a first outside leg bracket. The first pair of outside legs has a first deployed position and a first stowed position. The first pair of outside legs is vertical in the first deployed position and the first pair of outside legs also vertical in the first stowed position. A second pair of outside legs is pivotally mounted to the second leaf at a second outside leg bracket. The second pair of outside legs has a second deployed position and a second stowed position. The second pair of outside legs is vertical in the second deployed position and the second pair of outside legs is also vertical in the second stowed position. A first primary shock has a telescopic configuration. A first primary shock lower end is pivotally connected to the inner frame and a first primary shock upper end is pivotally connected to the first leaf. A second primary shock has a telescopic configuration, and a second primary shock lower end is pivotally connected to the inner frame. A second primary shock upper end is pivotally connected to the second leaf.

The table tennis lift system may also have a first connector, wherein the leg connector is pivotally connected to the first pair of outside legs and also pivotally connected to the inner frame. A secondary shock can be pivotally connected to an underside side of the first leaf. The secondary shock does not lock into a secondary shock contracted position or a secondary shock extended position. The first primary shock is located on a first leaf side, and the second primary shock is located on a second leaf side.

The first step release valve releases the first primary shock when a user steps on the first step release valve. The first step release valve is mounted on the inner frame. The first primary shock extends to a locked position which is unlocked by the first step release valve. A second step release valve releases the second primary shock when a user steps on the second step release valve. The second step release valve is mounted on the inner frame, and the second primary shock extends to a locked position which is unlocked by the second step release valve. The first primary shock upper end is pivotally connected to the first leaf at a first main shock bracket. The first main shock bracket is attached to a first leaf underside; and the second primary shock upper end is pivotally connected to the second leaf at a second main shock bracket. The second main shock bracket is attached to a second leaf underside. The table edging can be connected to a first leaf edge and a second leaf edge. The table tennis control system may have a powered mechanism having a first powered arm connected to the first leaf and having a second powered arm connected to the second leaf. The first powered arm extends to raise the first leaf to the generally vertical position and the second powered arm extends to raise the second leaf to the generally vertical position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the lowering mechanism mounted on the folding table with the first and second leaf of the folding table shown as transparent.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the hydraulic mechanism mounted on the folding table with the first and second leaf of the folding table shown as transparent.

The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the element numbers of the drawings.

19 step pedal

21 step release valve

22 main shock

122 main shock bracket

23 secondary shock

123 secondary shock bracket

31 wheel

32 inner frame

132 inner frame bracket

33 outside leas

133 outside leg bracket

34 leg connector

35 table edging

51 first leaf

52 second leaf

53 outside leg connector brace

40 power mechanism

41 first powered arm

42 second powered arm

141 first powered arm bracket

142 second powered arm bracket

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A table tennis table lift has a frame supported by four wheels. The frame supports a pair of leaves which can be made of a transparent material such as plastic or can be opaque material such as fiber pressed wood plank. A first leaf 51 of the table corresponds to half of the table. A second leaf 52 of the table corresponds to the second half of the table. Each player generally stands on each side of the table and there is a leaf corresponding to each player. The leaf of the table is a rectangular plank of wood, commonly made of pressed fiberboard. The first leaf 51 and the second leaf are connected to an inner frame bracket 132. The first leaf and the second leaf pivot on the inner frame bracket 132 so that the leaf members fold upward from a horizontal position into a vertical position. Meanwhile, outside legs 33 are pivotally connected to the first leaf and the second leaf and the outside legs remain vertical because they fold at outside leg brackets 133 which are connected to the first leaf and the second leaf. The outside leg brackets 133 are pivoting hardware preferably made of steel. The outside legs are in a folded position when the table is in a folded position. The outside legs are in a deployed position when the table is in the deployed position. The outside legs support the outside portions of the table.

The inner frame 32 has four wheels 31 supporting it. The table is supported on the outside legs and the wheels of the inner frame. The outside legs have a pair of tips contacting the ground surface, namely a right tip and a left tip.

The leg connector 34 connects between the inner frame 32 and the outside leg 33. The leg connector 34 is preferably horizontal in the open position and maintains a four bar mechanism with the table leaf, the outside leg and the inner frame being the other three bars of the mechanism. Just as the outside legs remain vertical and parallel to the vertical portion of the inner frame 32, the leg connector 34 preferably remains parallel with the leaf of the table. The inner frame 32 is pivotally connected to the leg connector which is pivotally connected to the outside leg, which is pivotally connected to the table leaf, which is again pivotally connected to the inner frame to form a four bar mechanism. The leg connector 34 swivels from a horizontal position corresponding to the open position to a vertical position corresponding to the closed position. The closed position of the table is also the folded or stowed position of the table. When the outside legs are raised from the floor, the table can be wheeled around on the wheels.

The leaf typically has table edging 35 formed as a molding assembled onto edging members.

The edging members are elongated members. The outside leg bracket 133 is preferably made of a tube of metal such as aluminum or steel. Optionally, an outside leg connector brace 53 is mounted between vertical portions of the outside leg. The outside leg connector brace retains the vertical portions of the outside leg to provide additional stability.

The first leaf 51 and the second leaf 52 are pivotally mounted to the inner frame 32. The rotation of the first leaf and the second leaf relative to the inner frame can be controlled. A shock such as a main shock 22 can connect between a lower portion of the inner frame and a main shock bracket 122 that is pivotally mounted to the first leaf on the second leaf between the inner frame bracket 132 and the outside leg bracket 133. A pin can be inserted into the pivot of any of the brackets to provide a rotation joint.

The main shock bracket 122 is secured to the table leaf with screws. Similarly, the inner frame bracket and the outside leg bracket are also secured to the table leaf with screws.

When the table is being lowered from the closed position to the open position, the main shock 22 and the secondary shock 23 slowly lower the table leaves so that they do not slam the outside legs on the ground. The step pedal 19 actuates a step release valve 21 which releases air from the main shock. As air is released from the main shock, the secondary shock 23 is passively pushed down also. The main shock does not push up on the table leaf and the secondary shock acts as a dampener to slow the motion. A first leaf receives a first leaf main shock and a first leaf secondary shock. A second leaf receives a second leaf main shock and a second leaf secondary shock.

Preferably, the main shock and secondary shock are located on a left and right side of the table leaf. According to FIG. 1, the main shock is on the left side in the secondary shock is on the right side. This could also be reversed. Having the pair of main shocks diagonal to themselves and having the secondary shocks diagonal to themselves may provide additional safety.

The table may be raised and lowered using a hydraulic or air piston mechanism as seen in FIG. 2. For example, a powered mechanism 40 can be a hydraulic or air and can telescopically extend an arm such as a first powered arm 41 or a second powered arm 42. The first powered arm 41 pushes outward and the second powered arm also pushes outward. The first powered arm extends outward to push out the first leaf so that the first leaf is pushed upward. The second powered arm also extends outward to push out the second leaf so that the second leaf is pushed upward. The ends of the telescopic extending powered arms are bracketed to the table leaves. The first powered arm bracket 141 is connected to the first powered arm 41 and the second powered arm bracket 142 is connected to the second powered arm 42.

When the table is in raised position also called to the closed position, the main shock 22 does not release air so that it locks the table leaf into vertical position. Only when a user steps on the step pedal 19 does the step release valve 21 release air from the main shock so that the main shock is no longer locked. The main shock is a one-way shock because it extends, but does not contract without someone stepping on the step pedal 19. The powered mechanism also acts as a shock to slow the raising or lowering of the table. The powered mechanism can have a cylindrical portion having vertical ribs that act as heat fins or a heat dissipater.

The brackets and other hardware are connected to the sides or underside of the table leaf because the top surface of the table has a painted play surface generally having lines. A ping pong net is generally connected along the midline of the table tennis table.

The foregoing describes the preferred embodiments of the invention. Modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. For example, the wheels of the present invention may be put on swivel casters. Therefore, while the presently preferred form of the table tennis table has been shown and described, and several modifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims

Claims

1. A table tennis motion control system comprising:

a. a first leaf and a second leaf formed as a rectangular plank having a horizontal position and a generally vertical position, wherein the first leaf has a first leaf left side and a first leaf right side, wherein the second leaf has a second leaf left side and a second leaf right side;

b. an inner frame pivotally supporting the first leaf at a first inner frame bracket and pivotally supporting the second leaf at a second inner frame bracket;

c. wheels supporting the inner frame;

d. a first pair of outside legs pivotally mounted to the first leaf at a first outside leg bracket, wherein the first pair of outside legs has a first deployed position and a first stowed position, wherein the first pair of outside legs is vertical in the first deployed position and is also vertical in the first stowed position;

e. a second pair of outside legs pivotally mounted to the second leaf at a second outside leg bracket, wherein the second pair of outside legs has a second deployed position and a second stowed position, wherein the second pair of outside legs is vertical in the second deployed position and is also vertical in the second stowed position;

f. a first primary shock having a telescopic configuration, wherein a first primary shock lower end is pivotally connected to the inner frame and wherein a first primary shock upper end is pivotally connected to the first leaf; and

g. a second primary shock having a telescopic configuration, wherein a second primary shock lower end is pivotally connected to the inner frame and wherein a second primary shock upper end is pivotally connected to the second leaf.

2. The table tennis motion control system of claim 1, further comprising: a first connector, wherein the leg connector is pivotally connected to the first pair of outside legs and also pivotally connected to the inner frame.

3. The table tennis motion control system of claim 1, further comprising: a secondary shock pivotally connected to an underside side of the first leaf, wherein the secondary shock does not lock into a secondary shock extended position or a secondary shock contracted position.

4. The table tennis motion control system of claim 1, wherein the first primary shock is located on a first leaf side, and wherein the second primary shock is located on a second leaf side.

5. The table tennis motion control system of claim 1, further comprising: a first step release valve releasing the first primary shock when a user steps on the first step release valve, wherein the first step release valve is mounted on the inner frame, wherein the first primary shock extends to a locked position which is unlocked by the first step release valve; and a second step release valve releasing the second primary shock when a user steps on the second step release valve, wherein the second step release valve is mounted on the inner frame, wherein the second primary shock extends to a locked position which is unlocked by the second step release valve.

6. The table tennis motion control system of claim 1, wherein the first primary shock upper end is pivotally connected to the first leaf at a first main shock bracket, wherein the first main shock bracket is attached to a first leaf underside; and wherein the second primary shock upper end is pivotally connected to the second leaf at a second main shock bracket, wherein the second main shock bracket is attached to a second leaf underside.

7. The table tennis motion control system of claim 1, further comprising a table edging connected to a first leaf edge and a second leaf edge.

8. The table tennis motion control system of claim 1, further comprising: a powered mechanism having a first powered arm connected to the first leaf and having a second powered arm connected to the second leaf, wherein the first powered arm extends to raise the first leaf to the generally vertical position and wherein the second powered arm extends to raise the second leaf to the generally vertical position.

9. The table tennis motion control system of claim 8, further comprising: a first connector, wherein the leg connector is pivotally connected to the first pair of outside legs and also pivotally connected to the inner frame.

10. The table tennis motion control system of claim 8, further comprising: a secondary shock pivotally connected to an underside side of the first leaf, wherein the secondary shock.

11. The table tennis motion control system of claim 8, wherein the first primary shock is located on a first leaf side, and wherein the second primary shock is located on a second leaf side.

12. The table tennis motion control system of claim 8, further comprising: a first step release valve releasing the first primary shock when a user steps on the first step release valve, wherein the first step release valve is mounted on the inner frame, wherein the first primary shock extends to a locked position which is unlocked by the first step release valve; and a second step release valve releasing the second primary shock when a user steps on the second step release valve, wherein the second step release valve is mounted on the inner frame, wherein the second primary shock extends to a locked position which is unlocked by the second step release valve.

13. The table tennis motion control system of claim 8, wherein the first primary shock upper end is pivotally connected to the first leaf at a first main shock bracket, wherein the first main shock bracket is attached to a first leaf underside; and wherein the second primary shock upper end is pivotally connected to the second leaf at a second main shock bracket, wherein the second main shock bracket is attached to a second leaf underside.

14. The table tennis motion control system of claim 8, further comprising a table edging connected to a first leaf edge and a second leaf edge.