US20120032402A1

US20120032402A1 - Game table with rapid return system

Info

Publication number: US20120032402A1
Application number: US13/179,470
Authority: US
Inventors: Ethan Comee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-08
Filing date: 2011-07-08
Publication date: 2012-02-09

Abstract

This invention provides a beer pong table in which the cups are attached to a scoring mechanism. The scoring mechanism consists of two sets of three cups that are attached to three individual ramps that transport the ball into three individual tubes which holds three balls each. Once a tube has accumulated three balls, it will reject a fourth ball and lets it fall back to the collection point behind it as if it were a missed shot. The collection point organizes the balls into a straight line to be delivered into the air powered ball return tube. The ball return tube constantly delivers missed shots back to the ball tray which can hold around 30 to 40 balls. This ball tray is positioned in front of the players. A backboard surrounds the back and sides of the cups to stop the missed shots from landing on the floor.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/362467, filed Jul. 8, 2010, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to game tables. More specifically, the invention relates to a game table for a drinking game that allows the user to play alone or against an opponent.

BACKGROUND

Beer pong is a drinking game in which players throw a ping-pong ball across a table with the intent of landing the ball in a cup of beer/water on the other end. The game typically consists of multiple cups set up on each side set up in triangle formation. There are no official rules, so rules may vary widely, though usually there are six or ten plastic cups arranged in a triangle on each side.
Beer pong is usually played with two teams of two players each, though it can be played with two teams of one person each, or other numbers of players. Each team begins the game standing at either end of the table behind their rack of cups. The order of play varies: both players on one team shoot followed by both players on the opposing team, or players on opposite teams may alternate back and forth. When a ping pong ball is successfully tossed into an opponent's cup, the opponent must drink the beer from the made cup and remove that cup from the table. That cup has now been eliminated from the game. For non-drinkers, the game may be played without beer. Instead, water or soda may be used.
Although the game is typically played on either a ping pong table or a folding banquet table, enthusiasts may create a personalized table for use by friends and visitors. In general, this will be a plywood board cut to proper size, sometimes painted with sports, school, or fraternity symbols and given a liquid-proof coating. Some companies sell tables, and there are companies making portable or inflatable tables. The game can be played on any flat surface, such as a door or dining table.
The most common cups used are 16 ounce disposable plastic cups with ridge-lines which can be used precisely to measure the amount of beer to be poured into the cup. On each side of the table, teams assemble equilateral triangles, with a convergence point focusing on the other team. Games typically use six or ten cups. Each team usually has a separate cup of water, which is used to rinse off the ball. After shooting, teams may dunk the ping pong balls into cups of water in order to wash off the balls.
38 mm or 40 mm table tennis (ping pong) balls are typically used for game play.
There are very few universal or “official” rules. Typically, players abide by a uniform set of “house rules”, which are often consistent within one university or region of the country (e.g., “Ivy League rules” or “West Coast rules”), or may vary on a “house-by-house” basis. The number of cups, bouncing, amount of alcohol, the distance shots must be taken from may all vary.
There are three key ways to shoot in beer pong: the arc, the fastball (or “laser”), and the bounce shot. The most common throwing technique is the “arc” shot, where one grasps the ping pong ball with the tips of the thumb and forefinger, holds the arm at an angle with the ball upwards, then throw by using gentle elbow motion, holding the upper arm parallel with the table.
Some players throw “fastball” style, which uses more of a hard chopping motion to send the ball in a more direct line to the intended target cup. Also, a fastball shot may be favorable if house rules dictate a cup that is knocked over is taken off the table, in which case a fastball can eliminate multiple cups if thrown hard enough.
A “bounce” shot is performed by bouncing the ball toward the cups. Since (depending on house rules) the other team may have the opportunity to swat away a bounced ball, a bounce may be worth more than one cup. In some rule sets, bouncing is not allowed; in others, it is required.
If the opposing team makes the last cup, the other team loses unless they can make either all remaining cups or simply one cup. This is called a rebuttal or redemption. In some rule sets, if the opposing team hits the last cup with both of their balls, no redemption is given to the losing team.
A disadvantage of current beer pong tables is that they do not permit a user to play or practice alone in order to improve their throwing skills The tables are flat surfaces that hold the cups and are open on the ends and sides. Thus, the user winds up chasing and picking up the balls. Alternatively, the balls are stored in the cups when not in play.
Another disadvantage is that players may become annoyed while waiting for a distracted player to take their turn.
Other disadvantages of current beer pong tables include having to deal with cleaning up spilled liquids, organizing loose cups, and washing the ping pong balls.

SUMMARY

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a game table in which the cups are attached to a scoring mechanism. The cups are positioned within a platform. The scoring mechanism consists of two sets of three cups that are attached to three individual ramps that transport the ball into three individual tubes which visibly holds three balls each. Once a tube has accumulated three balls, it will reject a fourth ball and lets it fall back to the collection point behind it as if it were a missed shot. The collection point organizes the balls into a straight line so that they can be delivered into the air powered return tube. The ball return tube constantly delivers missed shots back to the ball tray which can hold around 30 to 40 balls. The ball tray is positioned right in front of the players. A backboard surrounds the back and sides of the cups to stop the missed shots from landing on the floor.
In an alternative embodiment, the collection point contains an aperture to allow the used balls to fall through into a receptacle positioned underneath the aperture.
In another alternative embodiment, the cup platform is adapted to hold ten cups and the ramps and scoring tubes are not present.
It is a goal of the present invention to provide a table that is low maintenance such that the user does not have to pick up balls from the floor, clean up any spilled liquid, wash the balls, and/or organize loose cups.
It is another goal of the present invention to provide a table in which no liquid in the cups is required.
It is yet another goal of the present invention to provide a table that allows the user to practice beer pong alone in order to improve their throwing skills in as little as 10 to 15 minutes of continuous play.
It a further goal of the present invention to provide a table in which the users are not required to take turns, thus reducing player distraction.
The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention description below refers to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the scoring mechanism of the present invention, shown in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the scoring mechanism of FIG. 5, shown in an open position;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the scoring mechanism of FIG. 5, shown in a closed position;

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the scoring mechanism of FIG. 5, shown in an open position;

FIG. 9 is an exploded rear view of the scoring mechanism of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is an exploded rear perspective view of the scoring mechanism of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 13 is a close up front perspective view of the cup platform of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is side view of the ball tray of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a bottom perspective view of the ball tray of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the ball tray of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a close up front perspective view of the cup holder of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a close up top perspective view of the cup holder of FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings in general and to FIGS. 1 to 18 in particular, there is provided a game table 100. Game table 100 has several components including, but not limited to, a ball tray 10, a ball return tube 20, and a playing surface 30 having a scoring mechanism 40. In one embodiment, game table 100, with all of its components, is approximately 8 feet 4 inches in length.
In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, playing surface 30 is approximately 3 feet 2 inches in width at the front edge, 3 feet in length, and 3 feet 8 inches in height. Playing surface 30 has a bottom portion 32 that is an inverted pyramid in shape. Bottom portion 32 of playing surface 30 is attached to a stand 50 for stability. A backboard 60 is positioned at the rear of playing surface 30 to stop the missed shots from landing on the floor. In one embodiment, backboard 60 is 2 feet in width. The side walls 70 of playing surface 30 may be made of netting. The netting is positioned such that it increases visibility of the play action. The walls of bottom portion 32 are slanted to facilitate collection of missed shots at a collection point 34. Backboard 60 of playing surface 30 is adapted to receive scoring mechanism 40.
In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5 to 10, scoring mechanism 40 consists of two sets of three cups 42, a series of ramps 44, and a series of scoring tubes 46. One example of the type of cups 42 that may be used is plastic cups. Cups 42 are positioned in a triangular formation in a cup platform 48. Cup platform 48 may be made of plastic. Each cup 42 in cup platform 48 is attached to an individual ramp 44 that transports a ball 80 into an individual scoring tube 46. Cup platform 48 may be attached to ramps 44 via a sliding clip arrangement. The slope of ramps 44 is at an angle sufficient enough to insure that balls 80 keep moving even if playing surface 30 is not completely level. Ramps 44 and scoring tubes 46 may be made of plastic. Each scoring tube 46 holds three balls 80. Once scoring tube 46 has accumulated three balls, it will reject a fourth ball and lets that ball fall back to collection point 34 behind scoring tube 46 as if it were a missed shot. Scoring tubes 46 are attached to each other. Balls 80 in scoring tubes 46 are released when the cover 45 of tubes 46 is swung forward from the bottom such that they roll back to collection point 34. Collection point 34 organizes balls 80 into a straight line so that they may be delivered into ball return tube 20.
Ball return tube 20 is powered by a fan (not shown), which blows air behind the balls to send them up the tube. In one embodiment, the fan and ball return tube 20 are made of plastic. Ball return tube 20 constantly delivers the missed shots back to ball tray 10, which may hold approximately 30 to 40 balls.
In an alternative embodiment of the game table of the present invention, shown in FIG. 11 as 100′, bottom portion 32 of playing surface 30 contains an aperture (not shown) in collection point 34 to allow the used balls 80 to fall through into a receptacle 90 positioned underneath the aperture.
In another alternative embodiment of the game table of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 12-13 as 100″, cup platform 48′ is adapted to hold ten cups 42 and the ramps and scoring tubes are not present. In this embodiment, the user is able to practice their throwing skills.
Ball tray 10 is positioned right in front of the players. In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 14-15, ball tray 10 is approximately 1 foot 8 inches in width at is base, 2 feet 6 inches in height, and 2 feet 4 inches in length. Ball tray 10 may be triangular in shape. Ball tray 10 is positioned upon a stand 12 for stability. Ball tray 10 has a cover 11 that partially encloses the top half of the tray 10 and one end of ball return tube 20. In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 16 ball tray 10 is uncovered. A cup holder 15 is positioned at the apex of ball tray 10. In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 17-18, cup holder 15 is adapted to hold two cups 42.
Playing surface 30, including backboard 60, and ball tray 10 may made of cardboard or reinforced fabric. The type of cardboard may be paperboard and/or corrugated fiberboard. Playing surface 30 and ball tray 10 may be decorated with artwork to enhance the enjoyment of playing the game. For example, such artwork may include trademarks, sports fields, sports team logos, college or fraternity logos, or even the name of a bar.
The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope if this invention. Each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with other described embodiments in order to provide multiple features. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A game table comprising:

a playing surface, the playing surface comprising a backboard, a pair of side walls, and a bottom surface, wherein the playing surface is disposed upon a first stand;

a ball tray, the ball tray being disposed upon a second stand;

a ball return tube; the ball return tube being positioned between the playing surface and the ball tray.

2. The game table of claim 1 wherein the pair of side walls are made of netting.

3. The game table of claim 1 further comprising a cup assembly, wherein the cup assembly is attached to the backboard, and wherein the cup assembly houses a plurality of cups.

4. The game table of claim 1 further comprising a scoring mechanism, wherein the scoring mechanism comprises a plurality of ramps and a plurality of scoring tubes, wherein each ramp is connected at a first end to one of the plurality of cups and at a second end to one of the scoring tubes.

5. The game table of claim 4 wherein the plurality of scoring tubes further comprises a first cover, the first cover being hingedly attached to the scoring tubes.

6. The game table of claim 4 wherein each of the scoring tubes is adapted to house at most three balls.

7. The game table of claim 1 wherein a collection point on the bottom surface receives a plurality of balls other than the balls housed in the scoring tube.

8. The game table of claim 7 wherein the collection point delivers the plurality of balls to the ball return tube.

9. The game table of claim 1 further comprising a fan; the fan being attached to the ball return tube, wherein the fan circulates air within the ball return tube to direct the plurality of balls to the ball tray.

10. The game table of claim 1 wherein the ball tray further comprises a cover.

11. The game table of claim 1 further comprising a cup holder, the cup holder being attached to the ball tray.

12. A game table comprising:

a playing surface, the playing surface comprising a backboard, a pair of side walls, and a bottom surface, wherein the playing surface is disposed upon a first stand; and

a ball tray, the ball tray being disposed upon a second stand.

13. The game table of claim 12 wherein the pair of side walls are made of netting.

14. The game table of claim 12 further comprising a cup assembly, wherein the cup assembly is attached to the backboard, and wherein the cup assembly houses a plurality of cups.

15. The game table of claim 12 wherein a collection point on the bottom surface receives a plurality of balls, the collection point having an aperture, wherein the aperture is configured such that the plurality of balls pass through into a receptacle positioned underneath the aperture.