Game Table Assembly And Method Utilizing

Abstract

Game table ( 10 ) includes four upstanding legs ( 12 ) that mount a plurality of construction panels referred to as side panels or end panels. First end panels ( 14 ) and first side panels ( 16 ) extend between pairs of adjacent legs ( 12 ) to surround and define a play area ( 17 ). End brace ( 19 ) and side brace ( 20 ) help to stabilize the game table. Each leg ( 12 ) includes a pair of arcuate webs ( 64, 65 ) having a C-shaped slideway ( 66, 67 ) at opposite leg edge portions ( 68, 69 ) oriented at an angle with respect to one another. Floor ( 15 ) is supported by the upper edges of second end panels ( 24 ) and second side panels ( 26 ) to provide the playing surface for game table ( 10 ). End panels ( 14 ) and side panels ( 16 ) are then mounted to legs ( 12 ) by inserting respective ribs ( 75 ) of panel sections ( 34, 35, 46, 4 7) in slideways ( 66, 67 ).

1 . A game table adapted to be placed on a support surface, comprising: 
 (A) a plurality of elongated legs each having a longitudinal axis and each including a first end adapted to engage the support surface and a second end opposite said first end;    (B) a plurality of side panels each adapted to extend between a pair of adjacent said legs when in an assembled state and each having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposite end edges, each said side panel including an end profile on each of its said end edges with said end profiles operative to slideably engage a respective one of said legs for slideably movement therealong whereby each side panel may be positioned at a selected location along said respective pair of said legs, said side panels when in the assembled state defining a play area;    (C) positioning elements associated with each said leg and operative to position at least some of said side panels at selected locations along respective ones of said legs; and    (D) at least one floor panel adapted to extend across the play area and be supported by at least some of said side panels, said floor panel operative to define a game floor.    
   
   
       2 . A game table according to  claim 1  wherein each of said legs is arcuate in cross-section so as to have opposite longitudinally extending leg edge portions oriented at an angle with respect to one another, each end portion having a longitudinally extending slideway formed therein, each said end profile including a rib sized and adapted for mated engagement with the slideway.  
   
   
       3 . A game table according to  claim 2  wherein each positioning element is defined by a rod of selected length and sized for mated engagement with the slideway.  
   
   
       4 . A game table according to  claim 1  wherein each said leg includes an foot member disposed at the first end thereof, said foot member including a level adjuster associated therewith.  
   
   
       5 . A game table according to  claim 1  wherein each said leg includes an end cap disposed at the second end thereof.  
   
   
       6 . A game table according to  claim 1  wherein each of said legs is formed by a pair of elongated tubular sections joined by a web, each said end profile including a slide bracket having a C-shaped portion sized and adapted to mateably engage a respective said tubular section.  
   
   
       7 . A game table according to  claim 6  wherein each positioning element is defined by a positioning bracket that is securable to a respective said leg at selected locations therealong.  
   
   
       8 . A game table according to  claim 1  including a plurality of play rod assemblies and wherein at least some of said side panels are formed by a pair of cooperative panel section having confronting edges with cut-outs that register with one another to define openings adapted to receive and support respective ones of said play rod assemblies.  
   
   
       9 . A game table according to  claim 8  wherein said play rod assemblies are selected from a group consisting of table hockey rod assemblies and table soccer rod assemblies.  
   
   
       10 . A game table according to  claim 1  wherein at least some of said side panels have goal opening formed therein.  
   
   
       11 . A game table according to  claim 10  including a ball collector associated with each goal opening.  
   
   
       12 . A game table according to  claim 1  wherein said side panels include a first set of opposed side panels and a second set of opposed side panels, said first and second sets adapted for configuring two different games.  
   
   
       13 . A game table according to  claim 1  including at least two floor panels adapted for configuring two different games.  
   
   
       14 . A game table according to  claim 1  including a plurality of brace members each adapted to extend between a pair of adjacent said legs.  
   
   
       15 . A game table according to  claim 14  including a shelf supported by said brace members.  
   
   
       16 . A game table according to  claim 1  including a game assembly adapted to be supported by said side panels in the play area.  
   
   
       17 . A game table according to  claim 16  wherein said game assembly is selected from a group consisting of table tennis, billiards, basketball, roulette, baseball, football, softball, darts, bowling, chess, checkers, table tennis, craps, poker, card games, bingo, hockey, soccer, dice games, video games.  
   
   
       18 . A game table adapted to be placed on a support surface, comprising: 
 (A) a plurality of elongated legs each having a longitudinal axis and each including a first end adapted to engage the support surface and a second end opposite said first end;    (B) a plurality of side panels each adapted to extend between a pair of adjacent said legs when in an assembled state to define a play area, each said side panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposite end edges, each said side panel including an end profile on each of said end edges with said end profiles operative to slideably engage a respective one of said legs for slideably movement therealong whereby each side panel may be positioned at a selected location along said respective pair of said legs, said plurality of side panels including: 
 (1) a first set of opposed side panels adapted for configuring a game of a first type, the side panels in said first set each formed by first pairs of cooperative panel sections having confronting edges with cut-outs that register with one another to define first openings and  
 (2) a second set of opposed side panels adapted for configuring a game of a second type different from the first type, the side panels in said second set each formed by second pairs of cooperative panel sections having confronting edges with cut-outs that register with one another to define second openings;  
   (C) positioning elements associated with each said leg and operative to position at least some of said side panels at selected locations along respective ones of said legs;    (D) a first floor panel adapted to extend across the play area and be supported by at least some of said side panels for configuring the game of the first type and a second floor panel adapted to extend across the play area and be supported by at least some of said side panels for configuring the game of the second type; and    (E) a first set of play rod assemblies adapted to be received in and supported by the first openings for playing the game of the first type and a second set of play rod assemblies adapted to be received in and supported by the second openings for playing the game of the second type.    
   
   
       19 . A game table according to  claim 18  wherein each of said legs is arcuate in cross-section so as to have opposite longitudinally extending leg edge portions oriented at an angle with respect to one another, each end portion having a longitudinally extending slideway formed therein, each said end profile including a rib sized and adapted for mated engagement with the slideway.  
   
   
       20 . A game table according to  claim 19  wherein each positioning element is defined by a rod of selected length and sized for mated engagement with the slideway.  
   
   
       21 . A game table according to  claim 18  wherein each said leg includes an foot member disposed at the first end thereof, said foot member including a level adjuster associated therewith.  
   
   
       22 . A game table according to  claim 18  wherein each said leg includes an end cap disposed at the second end thereof.  
   
   
       23 . A game table according to  claim 18  wherein each of said legs is formed by a pair of elongated tubular sections joined by a web, each said end profile including a slide bracket having a C-shaped portion sized and adapted to mateably engage a respective said tubular section.  
   
   
       24 . A game table according to  claim 23  wherein each positioning element is defined by a positioning bracket that is securable to a respective said leg at selected locations therealong.  
   
   
       25 . A game table according to  claim 18  wherein said first set of play rod assemblies are table soccer rod assemblies and wherein said second set of play rod assemblies are table hockey rod assemblies.  
   
   
       26 . A game table according to  claim 18  wherein at least some of said side panels have goal opening formed therein.  
   
   
       27 . A game table according to  claim 26  including a ball collector associated with each goal opening.  
   
   
       28 . A game table according to  claim 18  including a plurality of brace members each adapted to extend between a pair of adjacent said legs.  
   
   
       29 . A game table according to  claim 28  including a shelf supported by said brace members.  
   
   
       30 . A game table according to  claim 1  including a game assembly adapted to be supported by said side panels in the play area.  
   
   
       31 . A game table according to  claim 30  wherein said game assembly is selected from a group consisting of table tennis, billiards, basketball, roulette, baseball, football, softball, darts, bowling, chess, checkers, table tennis, craps, poker, card games, bingo, hockey, soccer, dice games, video games.  
   
   
       32 . A game table adapted to be placed on a support surface, comprising: 
 (A) a plurality of side panels each having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposite end edges, said side panels adapted to be assembled in an assembled state to surround a play area, at least some of said side panels being formed by pairs of cooperative panel sections having confronting edges with cut-outs that register with one another to define openings;    (B) a floor panel adapted to extend across the play area and be supported by at least some of said side panels, said floor panel operative to define a game floor; and    (C) a plurality of play rod assemblies adapted to be received in and supported by respective ones of the openings.    
   
   
       33 . A game table according to  claim 32  including a plurality of elongated legs each having a longitudinal axis and each including a first end adapted to engage the support surface and a second end opposite said first end, said side panels and said floor panel being supported by said legs.  
   
   
       34 . A game table according to  claim 32  wherein said play rod assemblies are selected from a group consisting of table hockey rod assemblies and table soccer rod assemblies.  
   
   
       35 . A game table according to  claim 32  wherein at least some of said side panels have goal opening formed therein.  
   
   
       36 . A game table according to  claim 35  including a ball collector associated with each goal opening.  
   
   
       37 . A method of configuring a game table, comprising: 
 (A) interconnecting a plurality of side panels in an assembled state to surround a play area wherein each said side panel has a top edge, a bottom edge and opposite end edges and wherein at least some of said side panels are formed by pairs of cooperative panel sections having confronting edges with cut-outs that register with one another to define openings;    (B) supporting a floor panel across the play area to define a game floor; and    (C) positioning a plurality of pre-assembled play rod assemblies in respective ones of the openings.    
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 37  wherein said side panels include a first set of opposed side panels and a second set of opposed side panels, said first and second sets adapted for configuring two different games, the step of interconnecting a plurality of side panels including a step of selecting one said first and second sets of opposed side panels to be assembled and a step of storing the other one of said first and second sets of opposed side panels.  
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 37  wherein said play rod assemblies are selected from a group consisting of table hockey rod assemblies and table soccer rod assemblies.