Rotatable game apparatus

Abstract

A rotatable game assembly is provided that includes a plurality of game modules or surfaces for playing games such as billiards, foosball, and hockey. The game assembly is rotatably supported by two spaced apart, upright supports and rotated to advance a selected game module into the active game orientation. A retaining member is provided to retain or lock the selected module in the active playing orientation. The game assembly may include two, three, or four different game surfaces that are each advanced into the active game orientation by rotation. Additionally the game assembly may include a game surface that is pivotally supported by one of the support members, which pivots between an open and closed orientation.

1 . A game table for use in playing games, comprising; 
 (A) a first upright support;    (B) a second upright support longitudinally spaced apart from said first upright support;    (C) a rotatable game playing assembly adapted to be interposed between and rotatably supported by said first and second upright supports, said game assembly including 
 (1) a first play area having a first game surface adapted for use in playing a game of a first type; and  
 (2) a second play area having a second game surface adapted for use in playing a game of a second type that is different from said first type; and  
 (3) wherein said rotatable game playing assembly is adapted to be rotated between first and second play orientations so as to selectively place a respective one of said game surfaces into an active game playing orientation whereby a chosen one of said game types may be played; and  
   (D) a retaining member adapted to retain the selected one of said game surfaces in the active game playing orientation.    
   
   
       2 . A game table according to  claim 1  including a third play area having a third game surface adapted for use in playing a game of a third type and wherein said rotatable game playing assembly is adapted to rotate among first, second, and third play orientations so as to selectively place a respective one of said first, second, and third game surfaces into the active game playing orientation whereby a chosen one of said game types may be played.  
   
   
       3 . A game table according to  claim 2  wherein said first, second, and third game surfaces are oriented at acute angles to one another such that said rotatable game playing assembly has a cross-section generally configured in the shape of a triangle.  
   
   
       4 . A game table according to  claim 2  including a fourth play area having a fourth game surface adapted for use in playing a game of a fourth type and wherein said rotatable game playing assembly is adapted to rotate among first, second, third, and fourth play orientations so as to selectively place a respective one of said first, second, third, and fourth game surfaces into the active game playing orientation whereby a chosen one of said game types may be played.  
   
   
       5 . A game table according to  claim 4  wherein said first, second, third, and fourth game surfaces are oriented approximately perpendicularly with respect to one another such that said rotatable game playing assembly has a cross-section generally configured in the shape of a square.  
   
   
       6 . A game table according to  claim 1  wherein said retaining member is a threaded bolt associated with one of said first and second upright supports and movable between 
 (A) a locked state to lock said rotatable game assembly against rotation, and    (B) an unlocked state thereby to permit rotation of said rotatable game assembly.    
   
   
       7 . A game table according to  claim 6  including a position stop disposed on said rotatable game playing assembly and adapted to align with one of said first and second upright supports.  
   
   
       8 . A game table according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second game types are selected from the group consisting of billiards, hockey, foosball, bumper pool, air hockey, soccer, shuffleboard, table tennis, and casino games.  
   
   
       9 . A game table for use in playing games, comprising: 
 (A) a first upright support;    (B) a second upright support longitudinally spaced apart from said first upright support;    (C) a first support member adapted to be rotatably supported relative to said first upright support;    (D) a second support member adapted to be rotatably supported relative to said second upright support;    (E) a first game module adapted to be supported between said first and second support members for playing a game of a first type;    (F) a second game module adapted to be supported between said first and second support members for playing a game of a second type that is different from said first type wherein said first and second support members are adapted for common rotation about a longitudinally extending rotation axis thereby to advance a selected one of said game modules into an active game playing orientation whereby a chosen one of said game types may be played; and    (G) a retaining member adapted to retain the selected one of said game types in the active game playing orientation.    
   
   
       10 . A game table according to  claim 9  including a third game module adapted to be supported between said first and second support members for playing a game of a third type and wherein said first and second support members are adapted to advance a selected one of said first, second, and third game modules into the active game playing orientation.  
   
   
       11 . A game table according to  claim 9  including a third game module adapted to be supported between said first and second support members and adapted to pivot relative to one of said first and second support members.  
   
   
       12 . A game table according to  claim 11  wherein said first, second and third game modules are oriented at acute angles to one another.  
   
   
       13 . A game table according to  claim 11  wherein said third game module includes 
 (A) an upper game panel for playing a game of a third type, and;    (B) an oppositely facing lower game panel for playing a game of a fourth type; and    (C) wherein said third game module is adapted to pivot between a closed orientation whereby said upper game panel may be selectively oriented in the active game playing position and an open orientation whereby said lower game panel may be selectively oriented in the active game playing position.    
   
   
       14 . A game table according to  claim 13  including a second retaining member adapted to retain said third game module in the closed orientation.  
   
   
       15 . A game table according to  claim 14  wherein said second retaining member is a latch.  
   
   
       16 . A game table according to  claim 13  wherein said first, second, and third game types are selected from the group consisting of billiards, hockey, foosball, bumper pool, air hockey, soccer, shuffleboard, table tennis, and casino games.  
   
   
       17 . A game table according to  claim 13  wherein said fourth game type is basketball or darts.  
   
   
       18 . A game table according to  claim 9  wherein said first and second support members are respective first and second end panels.  
   
   
       19 . A game table according to  claim 18  wherein said first and second game modules each include 
 (A) a planar game surface and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending upwardly from said game surface; and    (B) wherein a portion of each said first and second end panels forms a respective end wall which, together with said first and second sidewalls, defines an enclosure about said planar game surface.    
   
   
       20 . A game table according to  claim 9  wherein each of said first and second upright supports includes a leveling member disposed thereon that is adapted to engage the support surface and operative to adjust said first and second upright supports whereby the selected one of said game modules the active game playing orientation is horizontal relative to the support surface.  
   
   
       21 . A game table for use in playing games and adapted to be placed on a horizontal support surface, comprising: 
 (A) a first upright support;    (B) a second upright support longitudinally spaced apart from said first upright support;    (C) an axle extending longitudinally between said first and second upright supports;    (D) a first support member supported by said axle for rotation relative said first and second upright supports;    (E) a second support member supported by said axle for rotation relative said first and second upright supports;    (F) a first game panel supported interposed between said first and second support members and supported thereby for playing a game of a first type;    (G) a second game panel interposed between said first and second support members and supported thereby for playing a game of a second type that is different from said first type wherein said first and second support members are rotated to advance a selected one of said game panels into an active game playing orientation whereby a chosen one of said game types may be played; and    (H) a first retaining member associated with one of said first and second upright supports to retain the selected one of said game types in the active game playing orientation.    
   
   
       22 . A game table according to  claim 21  including a second retaining member associated one of said first and second upright supports to retain the selected one of said game types in the active game playing orientation.  
   
   
       23 . A game table according to  claim 22  wherein both first and second retaining members are in the form of a threaded bolt.  
   
   
       24 . A game table according to  claim 21  including a third game panel interposed between said first and second support members and supported thereby for playing a game of a third type that is different from said first and second game types, and wherein said first and second support members are rotated to advance said third game panel into the active game playing orientation whereby said third game type may be played.  
   
   
       25 . A game table according to  claim 24  including a fourth game panel interposed between said first and second support members and supported thereby for playing a game of a fourth type that is different from said first, second, and third game types, and wherein said first and second support members are rotated to advance said fourth game panel into the active game playing orientation whereby said fourth game type may be played.  
   
   
       26 . A game table according to  claim 25  wherein said first, second, third, and fourth game types are selected from the group consisting of billiards, hockey, foosball, bumper pool, air hockey, soccer, shuffleboard, table tennis, and casino games.  
   
   
       27 . A game table for use in playing games, comprising: 
 (A) a first upright support;    (B) a second upright support longitudinally spaced apart from said first upright support;    (C) a rotatable game playing assembly interposed between and rotatably supported by said first and second upright supports, said game assembly including 
 (1) a first game module for playing a game of a first type, and;  
 (2) a second game module for playing a game of a second type that is different from the first type; and  
 (3) wherein said rotatable game playing assembly is adapted to be rotated between said first and second game modules to selectively orient said first and second modules into an active game playing orientation whereby a chosen one of said game types may be played.  
   
   
   
       28 . A game table according to  claim 27  wherein said second game module includes 
 (A) a first game panel for use in playing said game of said second type; and    (B) a second game panel for oppositely facing said first game panel for playing a game of a third type that is different from said first and said second game types; and    (C) wherein said second game module is adapted to pivot relative to one of said first and second support members between 
 (1) a closed orientation whereby said first game panel may be selectively oriented in the active game playing orientation; and  
 (2) an open orientation whereby said second game panel may be selectively oriented in the active game playing position.  
   
   
   
       29 . A game table according to  claim 28  including a latch operative to retain said second module in the closed orientation.  
   
   
       30 . A game table according to  claim 27  including a third game module for playing a game of a third type that is different from said first and second game types and adapted to be disposed on the selected one of said game modules that is oriented in the active game playing position.  
   
   
       31 . A game table according to  claim 27  including a third game module for playing a game of a third type that is different from said first and second game types wherein said rotatable game playing assembly is adapted to be rotated among said first, second, and third game modules to advance a selected game type into the active game playing orientation.  
   
   
       32 . A game table according to  claim 27  including a retaining member to retain the selected game type in the active game playing orientation.  
   
   
       33 . A game table for use in playing games, comprising: 
 (A) a first upright support;    (B) a second upright support longitudinally spaced apart from said first upright support;    (C) a first support member supported by said first upright support;    (D) a second support member supported by said second upright support;    (E) a first game module interposed between said first and second support members and adapted for pivotal movement relative to one of said first and second upright supports, including 
 (1) a first game panel for playing a game of a first type;  
 (2) a second game panel for playing a game of a second type that is different from said first game type; and  
 (3) wherein said first game module may be moved between 
 (a) an open position to orient said first game panel in an active game playing position whereby said first game type may be played; and  
 (b) a closed position closed position to orient said second game panel into the active game playing position that said second game type may be played.  
 
   
   
   
       34 . A game table according to  claim 33  wherein said first and second support members are adapted for common rotation about a longitudinally extending rotation axis.  
   
   
       35 . A game table according to  claim 34  including a second game module for playing a game of a third type that is different from said first and second game types, wherein said first and second support members are rotated to selectively orient one of said second game type or third game types in the active game playing position.  
   
   
       36 . A game table according to  claim 35  including a third game module for playing a game of a fourth type that is different from said first, second, and third game types and wherein said first, second, and third game modules are oriented at acute angles to one another such that said first and second support members may be rotated to selective orient one of said second, third, or fourth game types in the active game playing position.