TABLE TENNIS TABLE

Abstract

A table tennis table has a first table leaf. The first table leaf has a raised position and a lowered position. That table tennis table also has a second table leaf. The second table leaf has a raised position and a lowered position. The table tennis table has a central base. The first table leaf is pivotally connected to the central base. The second table leaf is pivotally connected to the central base. A first leg extension pivotally is connected to the central base. A first outside vertical support member is pivotally connected to the first leg extension at a first leg extension outside joint. A second leg extension is pivotally connected to the central base. A second outside vertical support member is pivotally connected to the second leg extension at a second leg extension outside joint.

Description

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/544,106 filed Jul. 9, 2012 entitled Table Tennis Lift, for inventor Samuel Chen which was published as United States patent publication 2014-0011614-A1 on Jan. 9, 2014 as Table Tennis Lift, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of table tennis tables.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

The traditional frame of a table tennis table has typically been a carriage that has two pairs of legs that are mounted to the underside of the table with each pair of legs at opposite ends of the table. The pairs of legs are typically perpendicular to the ground and retain a perpendicular orientation during folding. This type of traditional table tennis table frame is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,444,511 entitled Table Tennis Safety Lock issued May 21, 2013 to inventor Samuel Chen, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

United States patent publication 2014-0011614-A1, was published Jan. 9, 2014, by inventor Samuel Chen entitled Table Tennis Lift, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The publication describes a manner of different application of shocks and springs for controlling movement of a table tennis table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A table tennis table has a first table leaf The first table leaf has a raised position and a lowered position. That table tennis table also has a second table leaf. The second table leaf has a raised position and a lowered position. The table tennis table has a central base. The first table leaf is pivotally connected to the central base. The second table leaf is pivotally connected to the central base. A first leg extension pivotally is connected to the central base. A first outside vertical support member is pivotally connected to the first leg extension at a first leg extension outside joint. A second leg extension is pivotally connected to the central base. A second outside vertical support member is pivotally connected to the second leg extension at a second leg extension outside joint. A first pusher rod is pivotally connected to the central base, and pivotally connected to a lower surface of the first table leaf at a first pusher rod upper connection.

The first pusher rod has a first pusher rod motion control mechanism for controlling movement of the first table leaf during raising or lowering of the first table leaf. A second pusher rod is pivotally connected to the central base, and pivotally connected to a lower surface of the second table leaf at a second pusher rod upper connection. The second pusher rod has a second pusher rod motion control mechanism for controlling movement of the second table leaf during raising or lowering of the second table leaf.

The table tennis table optionally includes a third pusher rod pivotally connected to the central base, and pivotally connected to a lower surface of the first table leaf at a third pusher rod upper connection. A fourth pusher rod can be pivotally connected to the central base, and pivotally connected to a lower surface of the second table leaf at a fourth pusher rod upper connection. The first leg extension outside joint and the second leg extension outside joint can be mounted below the pusher rod.

A compartment can have a compartment frame, and the compartment frame may have an aperture sized to hold a ping-pong ball. The first pusher rod motion control mechanism and the second pusher rod motion control mechanism can be a shock or spring, a shock, a spring, or a shock and spring. The first outside vertical support member is pivotally connected to first table leaf at a first leg extension upper connection; and the second outside vertical support member is pivotally connected to second table leaf at a second leg extension upper connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom view diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a folder view diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the present invention.

The following callout list of elements can be useful guide for referencing the call out numbers of the drawings.

• 11 Net Frame
• 12 Net
• 13 Net Clip
• 21 First Table Leaf
• 22 Second Table Leaf
• 23 First Inside Support
• 24 Second Inside Support
• 25 First Hinge
• 26 Second Hinge
• 27 First Support Bracket
• 28 Second Support Bracket
• 29 Midline Gap
• 30 Central Base
• 31 First Frame Leg
• 32 Second Frame Leg
• 33 First Foot Pair
• 34 Second Foot Pair
• 41 First Leg Extension
• 42 Second Leg Extension
• 43 First Leg Extension Footing
• 44 Second Leg Extension Footing
• 45 First Leg Extension Frame Joint
• 46 Second Leg Extension Frame Joint
• 47 First Leg Extension Outside Joint
• 48 Second Leg Extension Outside Joint
• 49 Leg Extension Upper Connection
• 51 Compartment
• 52 Compartment Frame
• 53 Ping-Pong Ball
• 54 First Paddle Compartment
• 55 Ball Compartment
• 56 Second Paddle Compartment
• 61 Pusher Rod Shock Or Spring
• 62 Pusher Rod Frame Connection
• 63 Pusher Rod
• 64 Pusher Rod Upper Connection
• 71 Central Base Upper Support Connection
• 72 Central Base Side Plate
• 80 Outside Vertical Support Member

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a ping-pong table that folds from a folded position to a deployed position. The ping-pong table has a net 12 with a net frame 11. The net frame 11 is connected to the ping-pong table using a net clip 13 that connects to the ping-pong table at the ping-pong table midline gap 29. The midline gap 29 is between the first table leaf 21 and the second table leaf 22. The first table leaf 21 is coplanar to the second table leaf 22. The ping-pong table has a first inside support 23 and a second inside support 24. The inside supports can support of the ping-pong table when the ping-pong table is a folded position. The ping-pong table may have wheels for moving the ping-pong table for storage.

The midline gap 29 bisects the central base 30. The central base 30 has a pair of inside supports. The first table leaf 21 is pivotally connected to the first inside support 23 at a first hinge 25. The first support bracket 27 is connected to the first table leaf 21 by connectors such as screws and the first support bracket 27 is pivotally connected to the first inside support 23. Similarly, the second table leaf 22 is connected to the second inside support 24 at a second hinge 26. The second support bracket 28 is also connected to the second table leaf 22 by connectors such as screws and the second support bracket 28 is pivotally connected to the second inside support 24.

The central base 30 also has a pair of frame legs including a first frame leg 31 and a second frame leg 32. The first frame leg 31 is pivotally connected to the first leg extension 41 at a first leg extension frame joint 45. The second frame leg 32 is also pivotally connected to the second leg extension 42 at a second leg extension frame joint 46. The first leg extension 41 and the second leg extension 42 are preferably made of hollow metal tubular members that have an arc shaped curve profile curving downward. The downward curve can be a section of an elliptical or parabolic geometry as shown in FIG. 1.

The first leg extension 41 and the second leg extension 42 can fold upward to a folded stowed position from the deployed position. The folding of the leg extensions also move with a folding of the pusher rods 63.

A first foot pair 33 supports the first frame legs 31 and a second foot pair 34 supports the second frame legs 32. The first foot pair 33 and the second foot pair 34 can be adjustable footings or formed as caster wheels.

In a typical ping-pong table, the outside vertical support member 80 has a lower foot that abuts to a ground surface, however the outside vertical support member 80 of the present invention is pivotally connected to the second leg extension 42 at a second leg extension outside joint 48. The outside vertical support member 80 can fold to a stowed position from a deployed position.

Additionally, the pusher rod mechanism is formed as two pairs of pusher rods 63 for a total of four pusher rods 63. Each of the pusher rods 63 has a pusher rod shock or spring 61 that pushes up the first table leaf 21 or the second table leaf 22. The pusher rod 63 is pivotally connected to the central base 30 inside support at the pusher rod frame connection 62. The pivotal connection at the pusher rod frame connection 62 allows a vertical folding of the pusher rod 63 from a deployed position to a stowed position. The pusher rods 63 is pivotally connected to the first table leaf 21 or the second table leaf 22 at a leg extension upper connection 49. The leg extension upper connection 49 can be an abutment, or a hinged connection with a hinge having a pin and bracket hardware connection. When the leg extension upper connection 49 is connected as an abutment, a recess maybe formed in the ping-pong table at a lower surface of the first table leaf 21 and the second table leaf 22.

The central base upper support connection 71 supports the inside portions of the table leaf. A central base side plate 72 can be screwed onto the exterior portion of the central base 30. The central base side plate 72 can connect between the first inside support 23 and the second inside support 24 at an upper end of the central base side plate 72. The central base side plate 72 can also connect between the first frame leg 31 and the second frame leg 32 at a lower end of the central base side plate 72.

A compartment 51 can store articles such as ping-pong paddles and ping-pong balls 53. The compartment 51 may have a compartment frame 52 that has a plurality of openings to compartments for individualized storage of ping-pong paraphernalia. The compartment may include a first paddle compartment 54 and a second paddle compartment 56. A ball compartment 55 can be placed between the first paddle compartment 45 and the second paddle compartment 56. The ball compartment 55 can be placed along an edge of the leaf of the table to allow linear arrangement of ping-pong balls.

The pusher rod 63 can be arranged outside and parallel to the second leg extension 42. The second leg extension 42 can be arranged outside and parallel to the outside vertical support member 80. The pusher rod 63 can be outfitted with a spring for pushing up and helping a user raise or lower the leaf that the pusher rod is connected to. The pusher rod can also be outfitted with a shock so that the pusher rod 63 decreases the speed of lowering the leaf that the pusher rod is connected to. The pusher rod can have both a spring and shock or the pusher rod can have a spring or shock. A variety of different configurations can allow safer handling of the table tennis table. Additionally, a variety of different motion control mechanisms have integrated shock and spring mechanical features providing a linear motion control. Motion control mechanisms can have shock only, spring only or both shock and spring control. The motion control mechanism can be modularly incorporated to the pusher rod.

The table tennis table preferably has a symmetrical construction with two potential planes of symmetry. The first leg extension 41 mirrors the orientation of the second leg extension 42. The first leg extension 41 can be formed as a pair of first leg extension legs and the second leg extension 42 the can be formed as a pair of second leg extension legs. Similarly, the pusher rod can be formed as a first pair of pusher rods supporting the first table leaf and a second pair of pusher rods supporting the second table leaf. Also, the outside vertical support member can be formed as a first pair of outside vertical support members supporting the first table leaf and a second pair of outside vertical support members supporting the second table leaf. The compartment can also be formed as a first compartment attached to a lower edge of the first table leaf and a second compartment attached to a lower edge of the second table leaf.

Claims

1. A table tennis table comprising:

a. a first table leaf, wherein the first table leaf has a raised position and a lowered position;

b. a second table leaf, wherein the second table leaf has a raised position and a lowered position;

c. a central base, wherein the first table leaf is pivotally connected to the central base, wherein the second table leaf is pivotally connected to the central base;

d. a first leg extension pivotally connected to the central base;

e. a first outside vertical support member pivotally connected to the first leg extension at a first leg extension outside joint;

f. a second leg extension pivotally connected to the central base;

g. a second outside vertical support member pivotally connected to the second leg extension at a second leg extension outside joint;

h. a first pusher rod pivotally connected to the central base, and pivotally connected to a lower surface of the first table leaf at a first pusher rod upper connection, wherein the first pusher rod has a first pusher rod motion control mechanism for controlling movement of the first table leaf during raising or lowering of the first table leaf;

i. a second pusher rod pivotally connected to the central base, and pivotally connected to a lower surface of the second table leaf at a second pusher rod upper connection, wherein the second pusher rod has a second pusher rod motion control mechanism for controlling movement of the second table leaf during raising or lowering of the second table leaf.

2. The table tennis table of claim 1, further comprising: a third pusher rod pivotally connected to the central base, and pivotally connected to a lower surface of the first table leaf at a third pusher rod upper connection.

3. The table tennis table of claim 1, further comprising: a fourth pusher rod pivotally connected to the central base, and pivotally connected to a lower surface of the second table leaf at a fourth pusher rod upper connection.

4. The table tennis table of claim 1, wherein the first leg extension outside joint and the second leg extension outside joint are mounted below the pusher rod.

5. The table tennis table of claim 1, further comprising: a compartment having a compartment frame, wherein the compartment frame has an aperture sized to hold a ping-pong ball.

6. The table tennis table of claim 1, wherein the first pusher rod motion control mechanism and the second pusher rod motion control mechanism is a shock or spring.

7. The table tennis table of claim 1, wherein the first pusher rod motion control mechanism and the second pusher rod motion control mechanism is a shock.

8. The table tennis table of claim 1, wherein the first pusher rod motion control mechanism and the second pusher rod motion control mechanism is a spring.

9. The table tennis table of claim 1, wherein the first pusher rod motion control mechanism and the second pusher rod motion control mechanism is a shock and spring.

10. The table tennis table of claim 1, wherein the first outside vertical support member is pivotally connected to first table leaf at a first leg extension upper connection; and

wherein the second outside vertical support member is pivotally connected to second table leaf at a second leg extension upper connection.

11. The table tennis table of claim 10, further comprising: a third pusher rod pivotally connected to the central base, and pivotally connected to a lower surface of the first table leaf at a third pusher rod upper connection.

12. The table tennis table of claim 10, further comprising: a fourth pusher rod pivotally connected to the central base, and pivotally connected to a lower surface of the second table leaf at a fourth pusher rod upper connection.

13. The table tennis table of claim 10, wherein the first leg extension outside joint and the second leg extension outside joint are mounted below the pusher rod.

14. The table tennis table of claim 10, further comprising: a compartment having a compartment frame, wherein the compartment frame has an aperture sized to hold a ping-pong ball.

15. The table tennis table of claim 10, wherein the first pusher rod motion control mechanism and the second pusher rod motion control mechanism is a shock or spring.

16. The table tennis table of claim 10, wherein the first pusher rod motion control mechanism and the second pusher rod motion control mechanism is a shock.

17. The table tennis table of claim 10, wherein the first pusher rod motion control mechanism and the second pusher rod motion control mechanism is a spring.

18. The table tennis table of claim 10, wherein the first pusher rod motion control mechanism and the second pusher rod motion control mechanism is a shock and spring.