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US 8,888,097 B2Granted
Table game with surface and air components
OwnerRobert A. Norrellinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention is directed toward a table game with, optionally, both an “air game” and a “ground game”. This invention relates to the general field of table games, and more specifically to a large table game, similar in size to a ping pong or pool table, playable by one or more people. The theory behind the invention is to combine an “air game” (such as ping pong) with a “ground game” (such as pool) and do so in a flexible format that allows a number of people to participate in the game. The game can be played in an active fashion, similar to Ping-Pong, or as more of a set-up and strategy game, as in pool. A unique paddle-shaped hitting device with a hockey-stick like projection on its bottom portion allows for a player to play both the air game and the ground game using the same hitting device.
Claims20
A table game comprising
- a ground game board, an air game board, four adjustable legs, an adjustable return panel, and a ball,
- where the ground game board comprises a plurality of goal holes and a plurality of traps, where each goal hole and trap comprises an opening, where at least one of the plurality of goal holes further comprises an insert, where the insert of the goal hole comprises a hole that is smaller than the size of the goal hole, whereby the insert of the goal hole may be inserted into the goal hole to decrease the size of the opening of the goal hole thereby making it more difficult to pass the ball through the goal hole, where at least one of the plurality of traps further comprises an insert, where the insert of the trap comprises a hole that is smaller than the size of the trap, whereby the insert of the trap may be inserted into the trap to decrease the size of the opening of the trap thereby making it more difficult to pass the ball through the trap,
- where the air game board comprises two goal posts, a horizontal cross-bar, and a vertical cross-bar,
- where the air game board is attached to the ground game board, and
- where the ground game board is located in a horizontal orientation, where the air game board is located in a vertical orientation,
- where the ball may be directed through the one or more goal holes or traps,
- where the return board comprises two flat surfaces, where the two flat surfaces of the return board are joined at a pivot point, where the angle of each of the two flat surfaces of the return board is adjustable such that each flat surface of the return board is parallel to the other or angled, whereby an angled flat surface of the return board causes a ball placed thereon to move towards one side of the table game.
4 more elements
A table game comprising
- a ground game board, a paddle, an air game board, four legs, an adjustable return panel, and a ball,
- where the ground game board comprises a plurality of goal holes and a plurality of traps, where each goal hole and trap comprises an opening,
- where the air game board comprises two goal posts and a horizontal cross bar,
- where the air game board is attached to the ground game board, and
- where the ground game board is located in a horizontal orientation, where the air game board is located in a vertical orientation,
- where the ball may be directed through the one or more goal holes or traps,
- where the return board comprises two flat surfaces, where the two flat surfaces of the return board are joined at a pivot point, where the angle of each of the two flat surfaces of the return board is adjustable such that each flat surface of the return board is parallel to the other or angled, whereby an angled flat surface of the return board causes a ball placed thereon to move towards one side of the table game, and where the paddle comprises a handle portion and may be used to strike the ball.
4 more elements
A method of playing a table game comprising the steps of
- obtaining a game table, where the game table comprises a ground game board, an air game board, four legs, an adjustable return panel, and a ball, where the ground game board comprises a plurality of goal holes and a plurality of traps, where each goal hole and trap comprises an opening, where the air game board comprises two goal posts and a horizontal cross bar, where the air game board is attached to the ground game board, and where the ground game board is located in a horizontal orientation, where the air game board is located in a vertical orientation, where the ball may be directed through the one or more goal holes or traps, where the return board comprises two flat surfaces, where the two flat surfaces of the return board are joined at a pivot point, where the angle of each of the two flat surfaces of the return board is adjustable such that each flat surface of the return board is parallel to the other or angled, whereby an angled flat surface of the return board causes a ball placed thereon to move towards one side of the table game, and
- shooting the ball into one of the plurality of goal holes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.