Leveling system for a playing surface

Abstract

Apparatus and system for leveling a playing surface on a table, such as a billiards or pool table, which utilizes a plate which supports the playing surface and which is tiltable about an x and y-axis for maintaining contact with the playing surface regardless the angle of the surface relative to the frame. Further, the apparatus is height adjustable to assist with leveling the playing surface in engagement with the plate of the leveling apparatus. Leveling apparatus are also provided between the legs of the table and the frame and which can be pre-leveled before positioning the playing surface to minimize the amount of leveling required to level the playing surface relative to the frame.

1 . Apparatus for leveling a playing surface supported in a frame comprising:
 a bracket for connection to the frame;   a threaded member supported in the bracket and extending axially upwardly therethrough, an effective height of the member being adjustable axially along a z-axis within the bracket; and   a contact plate for supporting the playing surface thereon in a substantially level orientation, the contact plate supported at a top end of the threaded member for tilting about an x-axis and a y-axis, the plate being moveable thereabout for freely orienting the contact plate relative to an underside of the playing surface so as to substantially maintain distributed contact with the playing surface when the effective height of the threaded member is adjusted to position the plate at the underside of the playing surface.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the contact plate is connected to the top end of the threaded member through a ball and socket connection. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the threaded member is a bolt, the bolt further comprising nuts threaded thereon for fixing the effective height relative to the bracket. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the playing surface is one or more pieces of slate and the apparatus are adapted for supporting the one or more pieces of slate at a periphery of the one or more pieces of slate. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the contact plate is concave. 
   
   
       6 . A system for leveling a playing surface supported in a frame having a plurality of legs for supporting the frame, the system comprising:
 apparatus for leveling the frame on the plurality of legs, each leg leveling apparatus comprising:
 one or more externally threaded rods connected between the leg and the frame for supporting the frame thereon, each of the one or more rods being axially moveable therebetween for adjustment to an effective height for leveling the frame relative to the leg; and 
   apparatus for leveling the slate relative to the frame, each slate leveling apparatus comprising:
 a bracket for connection to the frame; 
 a threaded member supported in the bracket and extending axially upwardly therethrough, an effective height of the member being adjustable axially along a z-axis within the bracket; and 
 a contact plate for supporting the playing surface thereon in a substantially level orientation, the contact plate supported at a top end of the threaded member for tilting about an x-axis and a y-axis, the plate being moveable thereabout for freely orienting the contact plate relative to an underside of the playing surface so as to substantially maintain full contact with the playing surface when the effective height of the threaded member is adjusted to position the plate at the underside of the playing surface, 
   wherein   the effective height of each of the one or more rods of each leg leveling apparatus are adjusted so as to level the frame supported on the legs; and thereafter   the effective height of the threaded member of each of the slate leveling apparatus is adjusted for leveling the slate relative to the frame.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the contact plate is connected to the top end of the threaded member through a ball and socket connection. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the apparatus for leveling the frame further comprises:
 three threaded rods connected between each leg and the frame.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the threaded rod is rotated for adjusting the effective height. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a mounting bracket for connecting each of the legs to the frame, the leg leveling apparatus extending through the mounting bracket, the mounting bracket having one or more upstanding members for connecting to the frame.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the mounting bracket conforms to a corner of the frame. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the mounting bracket is a unitary bracket having an upstanding member conforming to the corner of the frame and a substantially horizontal plate supported on a top of the leg, the leg leveling apparatus extending through the substantially horizontal plate. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising at least an internally threaded socket fit within a bore in a top of the leg for accepting the threaded rod therein, the rod being threaded into the socket for adjusting the effective height of the rod. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the playing surface supported in the frame is a billiards table.