Support device for slidable shafts of table soccer games

Abstract

Support device for slidable shafts or rods of table soccer games, including a frame in which a seat is formed for the passage of a rod slidable along its axis, and at least one pulley or wheel, provided with race and rim, respectively, and rotatably associated with the frame so that the race or rim defines a portion of the seat, the remaining seat portion being closed by the frame.

1 . A support device for table soccer games comprising a slidable rod, said rod being capable of axially sliding along a direction parallel to its axis and of simultaneously rotating about such axis, the device comprising:
 a support frame;   a seat defined in the frame for the passage of the slidable rod in conditions of substantial absence of radial clearances, with reference to the longitudinal rod axis;   a rotating member associated with the frame so that its axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the rod and so as to define, by its rotating surface, a first portion of said seat;   
       wherein a second portion of the rod seat in the frame, located substantially diametrically opposite the first portion with respect to the rod, is defined by a piece which is stationary relative to the frame, and at least one area of said stationary piece forms a slide abutment for the rod, so that the sliding and rotational movement of the rod in the seat takes place by rolling friction with respect to the rotating member and by sliding friction with respect to said abutment and slide area. 
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support frame can be associated with the structure of the table soccer game by integrated or separate means. 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotating member includes a pulley or a wheel, provided with race and rim, respectively, and wherein said race and rim define the first portion of said seat for the slidable rod in the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the abutment and slide area extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod over a length significantly greater than the length of the contact area between the rod and the rotating member, measured along the same direction. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rod is received within the seat in the frame in a condition of reduced radial clearance, with reference to the longitudinal axis of the rod, namely, the rod is freely slidable along a direction parallel to its axis while being simultaneously rotatable about the axis itself, but it is substantially prevented by the pulley and the stationary piece from displacing in the seat in a direction perpendicular to said axis, apart from a clearance of the order of some tenths of millimeter. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stationary piece of the frame comprises a surface with low friction coefficient applied onto the frame inside the seat and defining the abutment and slide area for the rod. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the abutment and slide area extends transversally to the sliding direction of the rod over an arc of circumference of about 180° and longitudinally over a length significantly greater than the length of the contact area between the rod and the rotating member, measured along the same direction. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotating member comprises a pulley ( 17 ) provided, in correspondence with the central line of the race ( 19 ), with at least one annular groove ( 31 ). 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the annular groove houses a ring aimed at reducing the noise due to the sliding of the surface of the slidable rod on the surface of the race. 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said ring is made of a resilient material, for instance charged neoprene. 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes two axial containment ring nuts intended to engage the wall of a support structure where the central body of the frame is blocked. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said ring nuts are provided with a hole for the passage of the rod, with protrusions and with fastening pins. 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the axial containment ring nut is obtained in two parts, which can be separated to allow the insertion of the rod in a radial direction. 
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the rod seat is defined in correspondence of the holes in the ring nuts, and the length of the abutment and slide area is substantially equivalent to the length of the holes and to the thickness of the ring nuts. 
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the central body of the frame comprises two portions that may be associated together in order to close the seat of the rod around said rod.