# US 8,771,109 B2 · Table tennis apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,109 B2 - Document ID: US8771109B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/083,039 - Filed: 2011-04-08 - Published: 2012-10-11 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-08 - Applicants: David J. Desender - Inventors: David J. Desender - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771109B2 ## CPC - A63B 67/04: Table games physically beneficial for the human body, modelled on outdoor sports, e.g. table tennis (other table games A63F) - A63B 63/00: Targets or goals for ball games (golf cups A63B57/40) - A63B 2102/16: Table tennis - A63B 2225/09: Adjustable dimensions - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A rebounding panel apparatus for adding a further playable surface for a table tennis table. The rebounding panel apparatus comprises a support member, having table attachment means thereon to permit attachment to a side edge of the table tennis table. A substantially flat rebounding panel is provided, pivotably coupled to an upper portion of the support member. The support member when attached to the table is adapted to support said rebounding panel member above a plane in which said table lies, and the pivotable coupling means is adapted to permit adjustable inclination of the rebounding panel, preferably about each of the pitch, yaw, and skew axis. A table tennis apparatus, comprising a table and a pair of rebounding panel apparatus as described above, is further disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rebounding panel apparatus for adding a further playable surface for a table tennis table, comprising: (i) a support member, having table attachment means to permit attachment of said support member to a side edge of a table tennis table proximate a midpoint of said table; (ii) a rebounding panel member; and (iii) coupling means on said support member for coupling said rebounding panel member to said support member; wherein said support member when attached to said table is adapted to support said rebounding panel member at a location spaced from a surface area of said table and thereby provide an open area between a surface of said rebounding panel member and said surface area of said table; and wherein said coupling means is adapted to permit adjustable inclination of said rebounding panel member in at least two degrees of freedom, namely adjustable about two or more of a pitch, yaw, and skew axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said coupling means is adapted to permit adjustable inclination of said rebounding panel member about each of said pitch, yaw, and skew axes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said coupling means is a pivotable coupling means which comprises a ball and socket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a goose-neck resiliently-flexible member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising height adjustment means on said support means for permitting adjustment of an average height of said rebounding panel member above a plane in which said table lies. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support member further comprises lateral adjustment means to permit variable lateral positioning of said rebounding panel member from a side edge of said table. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support member further comprises table tennis net support means to support and suspend one end of a table tennis net so as to allow positioning of said table tennis net in a vertical position proximate a mid-section of said table tennis table. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein an entirety of a rebounding surface of said rebounding panel member is substantial planar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rebounding surface has a pair of hook or loop type fasteners adhesively applied thereto, adapted to secure planar surfaces of variable areas thereto. ### Claim 10 A rebounding panel apparatus for adding a further playable surface for a table tennis table, comprising: (i) a support member, comprising an ‘L’-shaped member having a horizontal leg portion and a vertical leg portion, having at an end of said horizontal leg portion farthest from of said vertical leg portion attachment means to permit fixation of said ‘L’-shaped member to a side edge of a table tennis table proximate a midpoint of said table; (ii) a rebounding panel member; and (iii) coupling means for coupling said rebounding panel to said vertical leg portion; wherein said support member when attached to said table is adapted to support said rebounding panel member at a location spaced from a surface area of said table and above a plane in which said table lies and thereby provide an open area between a surface of said rebounding panel member and said surface area of said table; and wherein said coupling means is adapted to permit adjustable inclination of said rebounding panel member in at least two degrees of freedom, namely adjustable about two or more of a pitch, yaw, and skew axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said means is adapted to permit adjustable inclination of said rebounding panel member about each of said pitch, yaw, and skew axes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said coupling means is situated at an upper extremity of said vertical leg portion of said ‘L’-shaped member, and said vertical leg portion is slidably extendable to permit sliding extension or contraction of said vertical leg so as to permit slidable adjustment of an average height of said rebounding panel above said plane in which said table lies. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said coupling means comprises a goose-neck flexible coiled metallic member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said coupling means is situated at an upper extremity of said vertical leg portion of said ‘L’-shaped member, and wherein said horizontal leg portion of said ‘L’-shaped member is slidably extendable or retractable so as to permit extension or contraction of said horizontal leg portion so as to permit variable lateral positioning of said rebounding panel from a side edge of said table. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said support member further comprises table tennis net support means to support and suspend one end of a table tennis net so as to allow positioning of said table tennis net in a vertical position proximate a mid-section of said table tennis table. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein substantially an entirety of a rebounding surface of said rebounding panel member is planar. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said rebounding surface has a pair of hook or loop type fasteners adhesively applied thereto, adapted to secure planar surfaces of variable areas thereto. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said rebounding surface has a pair of hook or loop type fasteners adhesively applied thereto, adapted to secure planar surfaces of variable areas thereto. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) A rebounding panel apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said coupling means comprises a goose-neck resiliently-flexible member. ### Claim 20 A table tennis apparatus for playing table tennis, comprising: (i) a table having a substantially planar playing surface, further having support means to support said playing surface in a horizontal position; (ii) a pair of rebounding panel apparatus for adding a further playable surface for a table tennis table, each of said rebounding panel apparatus comprising: (a) a support member, having table attachment means to permit attachment of said support member to a side edge of a table tennis table proximate a midpoint of said table; (b) a rebounding panel member; and (c) coupling means on said support member for coupling said rebounding panel member to said support member; wherein said support member when attached to said table is adapted to support said rebounding panel member at a location spaced from a surface area of said table and thereby provide an open area between a surface of said rebounding panel member and said surface area of said table; and wherein said coupling means is adapted to permit adjustable inclination of said rebounding panel member in at least two degrees of freedom, namely adjustable about two or more of a pitch, yaw, and skew axis. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A table tennis apparatus for playing table tennis as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said support member of each of said pair of rebounding panel apparatus further comprises table tennis net support means to support and suspend respectively one end of a table tennis net so as to allow positioning of said table tennis net in a vertical position proximate a mid-section of said table and intermediate said pair of rebounding panel apparatus; and said pair of rebounding panel apparatus each position able on respectively opposite side edges of said table and proximate a midpoint thereof so as to further suspend said table tennis net at a location midpoint of said table. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A table tennis apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said rebounding surface has a pair of hook or loop type fasteners adhesively applied thereto, adapted to secure planer surfaces of variable areas thereto. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A table tennis apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said coupling means permits adjustable inclination of said rebounding panel member about each of said pitch, yaw, and skew axes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) A table tennis apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said coupling means comprises a goose-neck resiliently-flexible member.