US3496887A - Game table - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1970 R. F nu PONT GAME TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11, 1968 INVENTOR. Richard P. DuPont MPM ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 24, 1970 R. P. bu PONT GAME TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Richard F? DuPont T AB $.3

Filed April 11, 1968 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 24, 1910 m; ou PONT 3,496,887

I Gunman: Filed April 11, 1968 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Richard P. DuPont BY $00M ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,496,887 GAME TABLE Richard P. DuPont, Box 222, Bethayres, Pa. 19006 Filed Apr. 11, 1968, Ser. No. 720,548 Int. Cl. A47b 85/06; A63f 1/06, 9/00 US. Cl. 108-25 13 'Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A game table is provided, particularly adapted for card games, such as poker and the like, wherein the table top is generally of circular construction comprising a flat circular center portion surrounded by an annular channel which is divisible into a number of segments corresponding to the number of players, the channel being adapted for holding poker chips and the like, with divider members being disposed in the channel, adjacent divider members defining seating positions for players therebetween, and wherein each divider member has one or more seating means in an upper surface thereof, for receiving a glass, ash tray or the like therein. A particularly novel means is provided for indicating the seating positions of players to space players around the table equidistantly, irrespective of the number of players.

Background of the invention While game tables, such as circular card tables are well known in the art, most such tables do not make provisions 1 for retaining necessary game components, such as chips for poker and the like, unless the same is to be carried on the generally planar playing portion of the table top. Furthermore, other articles such as drinking glasses, ash trays and the like are conventionally used by players, but most game tables do not make provisions for the same, requiring that the players place such articles on the playing surface where they may be readily accidentally upset. Still further, prior art types of game tables are deficient in that they fail to provide means for readily equidistantly circumferentially dividing the spacing around the table into as many parts as there are persons who will be playing thereon, at the same time leaving the playing portion of the table free and accessible for game purposes.

Summary of the invention The present invention seeks to fulfill the deficiencies of prior art types of game tables, in providing a game table top of circular configuration having an annular recess for receiving poker chips and the like, the recess being readily divisible by movable dividers which function also as coasters for glasses and the like, and wherein the table carries indicia or markings for readily determining seating positions equidistantly about the table, such seating positions being dependent upon the number of players.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a game table top of circular configuration which utilizes a plurality of sets of indicia means disposed about the table, for designating a plurality of table divisions for equidistantly arcuately positioning players about the table, regardless of the number of players.

It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the above object, wherein each set of table divisions corresponds to a different number of players, with the 3,496,887 Patented Feb. 24, 1970 indicia means in each set being spaced about the table top.

It is another object of this invention to accomplish the above object, wherein one marking or indicia means in each set coincides geometrically with one marking in each other set, such that a single marking is common to each set of indicia means or markings.

It is a further object of this invention to accomplish any of the above objects, wherein readily discernible characteristics are provided for indicia means in each set, such as color coding and the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel game table having a table top with a generally circular innermost playing portion, surrounded by an annular channel, the channel being adapted to receive articles therein, and having movable dividers disposed therein, for separating the annular channels into as many portions as there are players, the dividers being also adapted to receive other articles disposed thereon.

Other objects and advantages of the present inven tion will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the following brief description of the drawing figures, the detailed descriptions of the drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a game table top of this invention, having dividers disposed in a channel about the playing surface of the table, wherein the num-,

ber of dividers indicates a seating capacity for five players, as arranged.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a table having the table top of FIGURE 1, and wherein seating markings, or indicia means are illustrated disposed about the outer peripheral edge of the table.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, fragmentally illustrated, of a table top of this invention, taken generally along the line IIIIII of FIGURE 1, and wherein the annular channel with a seating divider disposed therein is clearly illustrated.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, developed end view of a table top of this invention, wherein the angular spacing of one marking or indicia means in each set, relative to a single reference position is clearly illustrated.

FIGURE 5 is a top perspective view, of approximately full size, of a divider of this invention, wherein its arcuately configured opposite ends and article-receiving recesses are clearly illustrated.

FIGURE 6 is an aggregate plan view of a plurality of game table tops of this invention, wherein the view portions A, B, C, D, and E, correspond respectively, to table top divisions having capacity for seating 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 players;

Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to FIGURE 2, wherein there is illustrated a game table generally designated by the numeral 10, comprising a generally circularly configured disk-like base 11, a cylindrical vertically disposed post 12, and a table top 13.

The table top 13, as illustrated particularly in FIG- URES 1 and 3, comprises a central lower support 14 which may be of metal plate construction or the like, and which is secured to the upstanding post 12, a lower disk-like member 15, of wooden construction or the like, secured to the plate 14 by any suitable means, and an upper disk-like member 16, of wooden construction or the like, and of substantially less diameter than the member 15, the member 16 being disposed above and secured to the member 15, concentrically thereon.

The disk-like member 16 is covered with a felt or other suitable material 17, leaving an uppermost planar playing surface 18, with the felt 17 extending downwardly to cover the peripheral surface 19 of the member 16.

The outermost peripheral surface 21 of the disk-like member has secured thereto a wooden strip 22, extending circumferentially around the surface 21, the strip 22 being of a sufficient width to protrude above the upper surface 23 of the disk 15, substantially to the height of the playing surface 18, to define an annular channel 24 between the strip 22 and outer peripheral surface of the felt-covered disk 16, above the surface 23 of the larger disk 15.

An annular plastic strip 25 is disposed on the radial outermost portion of surface 23 of the disk 15, between the downwardly bent felt portion 20 and the inner arcuate surface 26 of the strip 22.

A plurality of dividers, generally designated by the numeral 27 are disposed in the annular channel 24, equidistantly arcuately thereabout, between the radially spaced opposing surfaces 20 and 26 thereof.

With particular reference to FIGURE 5, each divider is generally of wooden construction, and has upper and lower surfaces 28 and 30 respectively, with desirably configured side surfaces 31 and 32, respectively. Radial innermost and outermost end surfaces 33 and 34, respectively, are concentrically arcuately configured, for mating engagement against respective opposite channel surfaces 20 and 26, and are slidable with such surfaces in engagement, around the annular channel 24 of the table top 13, for selective positioning of players about the table 13, and for defining between adjacent dividers 27 a seating position for an individual player.

An uppermost surface of each divider 27 is provided with a pair of seating recesses 35 and 36, substantially of short depth blind bore construction, for receiving therein the bottom of a glass, an ash tray or the like.

The various player seating positions are marked on the outermost peripheral surface 29 of the table top 13, although other placement of such marking means or indicia may be desired. A reference position comprising a marking of T-shaped configuration is provided, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the T being preferably of black coloring and comprising a base point or position, from which all other seating positions are measured.

With reference to FIGURES 4 and 6A, it is seen that four dividers 27 would be utilized, one such divider being positioned in the annular channel 24, just inside the placement of the base T-shaped indicia 40, the other three such dividers being equidistantly arcuately spaced therefrom, just inside that portion of the annular channel 24, wherein the white markings or indicia are disposed on the outer surface 29 of the strip 22, such white markings or indicia being disposed 90 apart from one another, as measured from the T 40.

Similarly, with reference to FIGURE 6B, five such dividers 27 are utilized, and are equidistantly arcuately spaced inside the channel 24, just opposite corresponding blue markings or indicia 42, disposed 72 apart from one another as measured from the T 40.

In FIGURE 6C, six dividers 27 are utilized, one of which is positioned in the channel 24 just inside the T 40, the other five of which are positioned just inside the channel 24 from a blue marking 43, the markings 43 being disposed about the surface 29 at 60 from one another.

FIGURE 6D discloses seven such seating positions separated by dividers 27, with one such divider 27 being disposed inside the T-shaped mark 40, with the remaining dividers 27 being equidistantly arcuately spaced about the channel 24, as indicated by a set of black markings 44, disposed at 51 43' from one another.

In FIGURE 6E, eight such dividers are illustrated, with one positioned inside the channel 24 opposite the T-shaped mark 40, and with the others positioned inside red markings or indicia 45, disposed about the strip surface 29. at 45 from one another.

It is thus seen that the several sets of color markings or indicia accurately designate divider positions and therefore accurately designate seating positions between dividers.

It is to be noted that the extension 39 of each of the positions about the annular channel 24, yet preventing unwanted turning of the dividers 27 within the channel 24, to positions in which the arcuate surfaces 33 and 34 of the dividers 27 would not be in engagement against opposite channel surfaces 20 and 26, respectively.

While only a particular disclosed embodiment of the game table top of this invention has been selected for illustration and description, and with only a single indicia arrangement, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the structural details, and in the indicia or marking arrange ment, for providing seating positions.

What is claimed is:

1. A game table top of substantially circular configuration having a plurality of sets of indicia means disposed thereabout for designating a plurality of table divisions, each set of table divisions corresponding to a different number of players, and the indicia means in each set being equidistantly arcuately spaced about said table top.

2. The game table top defined in claim 1, wherein said indicia means are disposed about the periphery of said table top.

3. The game table top defined in claim 1, wherein one said indicia means in each set coincides geometrically with one said indicia means in each other set to comprise a single marking common to each set of indicia means.

4. The game table top defined in claim 1, wherein indicia means in each set have a common readily observable characteristic, distinct from common readily observable characteristics of indicia means in other sets.

5. The game table top defined in claim 4, wherein said characteristics comprise color coding.

6. The game table top defined in claim 1, wherein said table top has an upper surface comprising a flat planar circularly configured central portion surrounded by an annular recessed portion.

7. The game table top defined in claim 6, including a plurality of dividers disposed in said recessed portion, said dividers being equidistantly arcuately spaced from one another an amount determined by the arcuate spacing of indicia means in one of said sets of indicia means.

8. The game table top defined in claim 7, wherein said recessed portion of said table top has opposite circumferential concentric surfaces, said dividers being disposed between said surfaces and having opposite arcuate concentric surface portions in conforming relation to adjacent portions of said recessed portion surfaces.

9. The game table top defined in claim 7, wherein said dividers have seating means in upper surfaces thereof for receiving and seating articles therein.

10. The game table top defined in claim 3, wherein indicia means in each set have a common readily observable charcteristic, distinct from common readily observable characteristics of indicia means in other sets, and wherein five said sets of indicia means are provided.

11. A game table having a table top of substantially circular configuration, said table top comprising a central portion of flat circular configuration having an annular channel disposed thereabout, including a selected number of divider means disposed in said channel for arcuate movement within said channel for dividing the table into a number of portions corresponding to a desired number of players.

12. The game table top defined in claim 11, wherein each said channel has opposite circumferential concentric surfaces, said divider means being disposed between said surfaces and having opposite arcuate concentric surface portions in conforming and sliding relation to adjacent concentric surfaces.

13. The game table top defined in claim 11, wherein said divider means have article-receiving seating means in upper surfaces thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Mason 273-l36 Byham 312234.4 Elliott 10826 Mays. Greitzer IDS-25 Theis 10825 XR Kellegham 108-25 XR Slattery 108-26 10 JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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