Invertible Playing Surface Patents (Class 473/9)
  • Patent number: 8246050
    Abstract: A game manager receives a request from a user to play a cue sport, which includes a table and a plurality of balls. The game manager retrieves user attributes corresponding to the user that include a user skill level. Next, the game manager detects ball locations for each of the plurality of balls, and determines one or more beginning shot opportunities based upon the user skill level and the plurality of ball locations. In turn, the game manager provides the beginning shot opportunities to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lydia Mai Do, Pamela Ann Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 8118680
    Abstract: An amusement device includes a display screen having a touchscreen. The touchscreen is configured to receive a plurality of touch inputs simultaneously. A memory stores a plurality of electronic games for selection and play. A controller is configured to execute an application program. The application program is configured to access a first game and a second game from the plurality of electronic games, and generally simultaneously display at least one first image from the first game on a first portion of the display screen and display at least one second image from the second game on a second portion of the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: AMI Entertainment Network, Inc.
    Inventors: William L Layne, IV, Colin Higbie
  • Patent number: 8033923
    Abstract: A game table assembly comprises a game table having opposing first and second game playing surfaces, with the game table being rotatable to orient a desired one of the game playing surfaces facing upward. The game table assembly includes opposing and non-rotatable end sections positioned adjacent the width ends of the game table and a cross member engaged with and extending between the end sections, with the game table being rotatable about the cross member. The game table assembly further includes at least one corner bracket pivotally mounted to either the corresponding end section or the game table such that the corner bracket may be horizontally pivoted into and out of selective locking engagement to prevent rotation of the game table and thereby selectively lock the game table in the desired orientation with the desired one of the game playing surfaces facing upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Indian Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Safari Chung
  • Patent number: 7828668
    Abstract: A system to allow quick setup of a support structure and connected playing surface with rapid leveling of the playing surface for playing billiards. One embodiment of the invention allows the playing surface to be mounted to a support structure that can be converted to a couch. This embodiment can be placed in residential housing in rooms such as dens, family rooms, or living rooms. Another embodiment of the invention allows the playing surface when mounted to legs rigidly connected to a floor to be used on a concrete patio, a garage with a concrete floor or on a wooden deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Tilden S. Tippit
  • Patent number: 5711715
    Abstract: A coin operated game playing machine is operated by a microprocessor so as to permit tournament play among a number of players. Names of top ranking players are displayed and a portion of the playing receipts is allocated to an award fund for distribution to the tournament winners as determined by numerical scoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventors: Dock E. Ringo, James Henry Pearson