Retractable Table Tennis Net Support

Abstract

Table tennis tables include a base that support two playing surfaces and a net supported between two playing surfaces by a left and right net support posts. For regulation table tennis tables, the table tennis net must extend a regulation distance beyond the left and right edges of the playing surface boards and a regulation height above the playing surfaces. The net support systems may comprise a net retraction system that is automatic or manual. An automatic net retraction system will move the net support posts from an in-use extended configuration to a retracted storage configuration.

1 . A table tennis table, comprising:
 a playing surface rotatably mounted to a table base, wherein the playing surface may be rotated relative to the table base from a storage configuration to a playing configuration;   a table tennis net support slidably connected to the table base, characterized in that the table tennis table comprises:   a flexible band connected to and extending from the table tennis net support and through a channel of the table base; and   a playing surface contacting member connected to the flexible band, wherein a playing surface contacting member is in contact with playing surface as the playing surface is rotated from the storage configuration to the playing configuration thereby moving the band and sliding the table tennis support net from a net storage position to a net playing position.   
     
     
         2 . The table tennis table of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible band comprises a playing surface contact plate. 
     
     
         3 . The table tennis table of  claim 2 , wherein a top surface of the playing surface contacts the playing surface contact plate to move the flexible band and the table tennis support net from the net storage position to the net playing position. 
     
     
         4 . The table tennis table of  claim 3 , wherein one of the flexible band or the table tennis net support is biased toward the net storage position. 
     
     
         5 . The table tennis table of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible band or the table tennis net support is biased by gravity, a spring, or an elastic component. 
     
     
         6 . The table tennis table of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible band is connected to the table tennis net support on a horizontal section of the flexible band and the flexible band is connected to the playing surface contact plate on a vertical section of the flexible band. 
     
     
         7 . The table tennis table of  claim 6 , wherein the table tennis net support slides horizontally. 
     
     
         8 . The table tennis table of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is a U-shaped channel and the band is slidable within the U-shaped channel. 
     
     
         9 . The table tennis table of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the flexible band is moved in a upward direction by rotation of playing surface from the storage configuration to the playing configuration causing the table tennis net support to be moved in a horizontal direction to the net playing position. 
     
     
         10 . A table tennis table, comprising:
 a first playing surface and second playing surface, wherein both of the first playing surface and the second playing surface are rotatably mounted to a table base and may be rotated relative to the table base from a storage configuration to a playing configuration;   a first table tennis net support and a second table tennis net support, wherein both the first table tennis net support and a second table tennis net support are slidably connected to the table base, characterized in that the table tennis table comprises:   a first flexible band and a second flexible band, wherein one end of the first flexible band is connected to the first table tennis net support and one end of the second flexible band is connected to the second table tennis net support;   a table tennis net connected from the first table tennis net support to the second table tennis net support, wherein the table tennis net comprises a net playing position and a net storage position;   a first playing surface contact plate connected to the other end of the first flexible band and a second playing surface contact plate connected to the other end of the second flexible band, wherein rotation of either the first playing surface or the second playing surface results from the storage configuration to the playing configuration causes upward movement of the first playing surface contact plate and the second playing surface contact plate, sliding of the first table tennis net support and the second table tennis net support away from each other, and extension of the table tennis net from the net storage position to the net playing position.   
     
     
         11 . The table tennis table of  claim 10 , wherein one of the flexible band or the table tennis net is biased toward the storage position. 
     
     
         12 . The table tennis table of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible band or the table tennis net support is biased by gravity, a spring, or an elastic component. 
     
     
         13 . The table tennis table of  claim 10 , wherein both of the first flexible band and the second flexible band extends from the table tennis net support and through a channel of the table base. 
     
     
         14 . The table tennis table of  claim 6 , wherein the first table tennis net support and the second table tennis net support slide horizontally toward each other as the table tennis net moves from the playing position to the storage position. 
     
     
         15 . The table tennis table of  claim 10 , wherein the first flexible band is connected to the first table tennis support net on a horizontal section of the first flexible band and connected to the first playing surface contact plate on a vertical section of the first flexible band.