US3811673A

US3811673A - Replaceable game table rail

Info

Publication number: US3811673A
Application number: US00262339A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Baker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-06-13
Filing date: 1972-06-13
Publication date: 1974-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-21

Abstract

A game table wherein the cushion rails are replaceably removable for repair, and keyed in operating position by cooperative engagement with the table and corner and/or pocket member configurations which provide interface engagements that accurately locate the cushioned rails. To facilitate such accurate locating of the rails, the end faces of the corner and/or pocket members are upwardly and outwardly divergent while the end faces of the rails are complementary thereto. Additionally, a cleat extends between the pocket and/or corner members. Over this cleat is positioned a rabbet, which rabbet is recessed into the bottom of the rails and is of greater heighth and width than the cleat.

Description

United States Patent [1 91 Baker May 21, 1974 REPLACEABLE GAME TABLE RAIL [76] Inventor: Raymond J. Baker, 3136 Yale Ave.,

Marina Del Rey, Calif. 90291 [22] Filed: June 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 262,339

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 540,405 6/1895 Rommel 273/4 B 364,677 6/1887 Schoening 273/9 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I 106,313 l/l967 Denmark 273/3 C Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard T. Stouffer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wi11iam H. Maxwell [5 7] ABSTRACT A game table wherein the cushion rails are replaceably removable for repair, and keyed in operating position by cooperative engagement with the table and corner and/or pocket member configurations which provide interface engagements that accurately locate the cushioned rails. To facilitate such accurate locating of the rails, the end faces of the corner and/or pocket members are upwardly and outwardly divergent while the end faees of the rails are complementary thereto. Additionally, a cleat extends between the pocket and/0r corner members. Over this cleat is positioned a rabbet, which rabbet is recessed into the bottom of the rails and is of greater heighth and width than the cleat.

20 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures a F )E r [1 \&\\ 0 o o o o o 1 1K K ,1- o .4 O 3 3 as being square, and they are characterized by cushioned rails which are accurately formed and must so be maintained. It is the latter rail with which the present invention is primarily concerned and which is most often installed permanently at the perimeter of the table and onto which the cushion is secured and covered with felt or the like. The table rail presents a resilient curb from which the game balls rebound, and like the table top per se the said cushions are covered with felted fabric. Needless to say, such game tables are subject to normal wear and abuse; and from time to time it is necessary to recover them and/or to replace and repair the said cushions. Cushion repair is usually a difficult task with ordinary table construction, due to the inability to conveniently remove the rails which support and carry the cushions. Therefore, it is a general object of this invention to provide for replaceability of the rails for repair and primarily for servicing the cushions and their felt covers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Billiard and pool tables involve perimeter rails which join at right angular corners and which are interrupted by pockets in the case of pool tables. That is, the rails are usually mitered at each comer of the table and more or less permanently fastened to the table with no facility for easy removal; and the pool table pockets are correspondingly cut into or fastened onto the rails at and intermediate the mitered comers. Likewise, the cushions are correspondingly interrupted by the corners and the pockets. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to improve upon the permanency of rails per se and the formation thereby or therein of the pockets, and to this end it is an object of this invention to provide easily removable and replaceable rails. With the present invention, the comers and pockets involve permanently installed members which remain undisturbed and which are advantageously employed to locate and accurately position the replaceable rails.

It isan object of this invention to provide a game table rail construction of the type hereinabove referred to and which employs the configuration of the corner members and/or pocket members to locate the replaceable rails for their accurate placement.

It is another object of this invention to provide a game table rail construction of the type hereinabove referred to and which employs the table configuration to locate the replaceable rails for their accurate placement. 7

It is also an object of this invention to provide a game table of the type hereinabove referred to and which cooperatively employs both the pocket member and table configurations to locate the replaceable rails for their accurate placement.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a game table of the type hereinabove referred to and which cooperatively employs the pocket member configurations and hold down means to locate the replaceable rails for their accurate placement.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The game table described and shown herein is a pool table which involves, generally, a frame F with legs having leveling means (not shown). The frame is a rigid structure adapted to support a table top in a flat horizontal plane within the perimeter boundary established by cushioned rails R. It is the cushioned rails R with which this invention is primarily concerned, and specifically the replaceability thereof. In this instance the table includes comer as well as intermediate pockets, and in accordance with this invention the said corners and/or intermediate pockets involve key members CP and P respectively. Although not shown, it is to be understood that the table, a pool table, includes all the necessary ball runs and a collection box therefor. It is the configuration of the corner pocket members CP and intermediate pocket members P which cooperate with the sectional rails R that will now be described.

DRAWINGS The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred form and application thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pool table embodying the present invention and showing a section of rail R replaceably removed therefrom;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of a corner section of the table as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional view of a portion of the table and taken as indicated by line 3-3 on FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are elevations taken as indicated by lines 4-4 and 5-5 on FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively, FIG. 4 being rotated in order to' show the rail section erect.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the table frame F involves a rectangular structure having pairs of opposite parallel sides and ends 10 and 1 1 within which there extends a coextensive platform 12 upon which there is supported a surface member 13 of slate or the like. The surface member 13 rests upon the platform 12 confined to its working position by side members 114 and end members 15 that substantially equal the thickness of said slate member and its cover 16. In practice, the parts and members 10, ll, 12, 14 and 15 are three quarter inch thick plywood panels the side and

end members

14 and 15 being of a width to coextensively underlie the rails R later to be described. The

members

14 and 15 are equal in vertical thickness to that of the slate surface member 13, and each member presents a flat horizontal upper surface 17 substantially coplanar with the top playing surface of the surface member 13. As shown, the inner edge 18 is in each instance normal to engageably abut against the outer edge of the surface member 13. In accordance with this invention a cleat 20 extends longitudinally of each side and end member parallel with said inner edge 18 thereof, said cleat projecting upwardly and of limited transverse width and presenting an outwardly faced shoulder 21 disposed at a normal right angle to the said horizontal upper surface 17. Cleat 20 also has a top 22 of limited height disposed parallel with the said surface 17. The table A with its side and

end members

14 and 15, and with its longitudinal disposed cleats 20 parallel to the inner edges 18, presents the features which are advantageously employed cooperatively with the rail members R The hereinabove described end member extends between corner pocket members CP, while the side members 14 extends between the corner pocket members CP and intermediate pocket member P as shown. However, it is to be understood that the corner members may or may not include pockets, and that the side members 14 may or may not be divided by intermediate pocket members. In other words, all variations of billiard and pool tables are to be included, and fundamentally therefore, the rails R are sectional members that extend between the comer members CP, and intermediate members P when employed. In the preferred form, each member CP and P is a casting having the form shown which includes a transverse cross sectional configuration corresponding to that of the rail R, insofar as said member and rail project above the surface 17 of the frame. The two members CP and P are essentially alike, with opposite end faces 25 to oppose the abutted ends of continuous rail sections. That is, the rails R are sectional and the members CP and P include the

pockets

26 and 27 centered between the opposite faces 25 thereof.

Pocket members P and comer pocket members CP are cast to the cross sectional configuration required with a bottom 28 to have flat supported engagement upon the top face of platform member 12. Oppositely projecting ears 29 coplanar with bottom 28 project from the opposite faces 25 and each has an opening therethrough to pass a fastener 30 into the frame. There are inner and

outer faces

31 and 32 extending between opposite endfaces 25, the inner face being interrupted by the pocket, as required. In the case of pocket member P the unit thereof is straight with the faces 25 extending between the inner and

outer faces

31 and 32 at opposite ends of the unit. In the case of comer pocket member CP the unit thereof is angular with the faces 25 thereof disposed generally at right angles between correspondingly right angularly

related faces

31 and 32 at the opposite ends of the unit. In each instance the top 33 conforms to the next adjoining rail configuration.

The rails R are sectional members as they extend between the opposed end faces of spaced members CP and P and between which the cleat is coextensive. The rail sections R are of elongated uniform cross section having a flat bottom 35 supported against the upper surface 17 of the side and

end members

14 and 15, and having inner and

outer faces

36 and 37 continuing from the

faces

31 and 32 respectively of the members CP and P. The tops 38 of the rail sections are inclined inwardly and upwardly while the inner faces 36 which carry the cushions X are pitched inwardly and downwardly as shown. The angle is the pitched faces 36 and cross sectional configuration of the cushions X are refined substantially as shown.

In accordance with this invention a rabbet 40 extends longitudinally and coextensively of each rail section R and parallel with the inner face 36 and attached cushion X; said rabbet being recessed upwardly into the body of the rail and presenting an inwardly faced shoulder 41 disposed in a normal right angle to the said bottom 35. The channel forming the rabbet 40 is substantially wider than the cleat 20 which it receives and is of greater depth than the height of the cleat, and all to the end that only said

shoulders

21 and 41 thereof are engageable respectively when the said rails are properly aligned as shown.

In accordance with this invention, the rail sections R have opposite end faces 45 adapted to oppose and having interfacial engagement with opposed end faces 25 of spaced members CP and P. The engagement between

faces

25 and 45 is flared, the plane of engagement being angular or tapered so as to be substantially nonsliding and operable to positionable engage the rail sections under endwise compression when they are positioned by the shoulders of cleats 20 engaged with the shoulders of rabbets 40. It will be observed that the rail sections R must move downwardly and inwardly into working position, and in accordance with this invention the

engageable faces

25 and 45 are inclined at compound angles; firstly, the opposite planes of wedged engagement separate as they extend and thereby open upwardly; and secondly the opposite planes of wedged engagement separate as they extend and thereby open outwardly. Thus, the

complementary shoulders

21 and 41 engage simultaneously with the bottoms 35 engaged with surfaces 17 and with wedged engagement of

faces

25 and 45 at opposite ends of the replaceable rail sections R.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the structural formations involved herein are practically employed to optimum advantage. The rail sections R can be moved into and removed from working position with facility, and fastened or released thereat by means of suitable fasteners 50 as may be required. As shown, there are spaced fasteners 50 entered through each rail section R and engaged into the frame F, preferably spaced vertical fasteners with heads engaged with and drawing the rail section onto the frame and with nuts in the frame threadedly engaged thereby, so as to clamp the rail section in working position accurately placed by the aforementioned flanged and cleat-rabbet engagements. It is preferred that the shoulders of the cleat and rabbet engage so as to ensure parallelism of the cushioned rail and edge of surface member 13 engaged with edge 18. However, it is to be understood that the spaced bolts 50 can be accurately located and closely fitted so as to govern the placement of the rail sections R upon the frame F; in which case parallelism is determined by the simultaneous engagement of the divergent faces, bottoming of the rail section onto the table, and fitting of said closely fitted locating bolts.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art: t

I claim:

1. The combination of a pool table and a replaceable rail therefor: the table having a flat surfaced supporting platform, an elongated member of substantial width overlying the marginal portion of the platform and having a flat upwardly faced supporting surface and a straight inner edge, a flat planar surface member overlying the inner portion of the said platform and having a straight outer edge engageable with the inner edge of the first mentioned member, an elongated cleat fixedly projecting from the supporting surface of said elongated member and presenting and outwardly faced shoulder, spaced inwardly opening pocket members fixedly projecting from the platform and above the supporting surface of said elongated member at opposite ends of said cleat and presenting spaced and opposed divergent faces at opposite sides of the pocket therein; the rail having a flat bottom engageable upon said supporting surface of said elongated member, an elongated rabbet recessed into the bottom of the rail and presenting an inwardly faced shoulder engageable with the first mentioned cleat shoulder, and said rail having opposite divergent end faces complementary to and having interfacial abutting engagement with the first memtioned divergent faces of said spaced members, said shoulders and complementary faces being simultaneously disengageable; and means releasably securing the rail to the table.

2. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim ll wherein the spaced inwardly opening pocket members are comer pocket members.

3. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim ll wherein the spaced inwardly opening pocket members are alternate corner and side pocket members.

4. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim ll wherein the rabbet has an inner wall spaced from said shoulder thereof a distance substantially greater than the width of the cleat having a wall spaced therefrom for substantial inward movement of the cleat into said shouldered engagement.

5. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said complementary divergent faces and opposed ends of the rail diverge upwardly and outwardly for downward reception of the rail into engagement with the table.

6. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said complementary divergent faces of the said spaced members and opposite ends of the rail diverge laterally outward for laterally inward reception of the rail into engagement with the table.

7. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said complementary divergent faces of the said spaced members and opposite ends of the rail diverge upwardly and outwardly as well as laterally outward for both downward reception and laterally inward reception respectively of the rail into engagement with the table.

8. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rabbet has an inner wall spaced from said shoulder thereof a distance substantially greater than the width of the cleat having a wall spaced therefrom for substantial inward movement of the cleat into said shouldered engagement, and wherein the said complementary divergent faces and opposed ends of the rail diverge upwardly and outwardly for downward reception of the rail into engagement with the table.

9. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rabbet has an inner wall spaced from said shoulder thereof a distance substantially greater than the width of the cleat having a wall spaced therefrom for substantial inward movement of the cleat into said shouldered engagement, and wherein the said complementary divergent faces of said spaced members and opposite ends of the rail diverge laterally outward for laterally inward reception of the rail into engagement with the table.

10. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rabbet has an inner wall spaced from said shoulder thereof a distance substantially greater than the width of the cleat having a wall spaced therefrom for substantial inward movement of the cleat into said shouldered engagement, and wherein the said complementary divergent faces of the said spaced members and opposite ends of the rail diverge upwardly and outwardly as well as laterally outward for both downward reception and laterally inward reception respectively of the rail into engagement with the table.

11. The combination of a table and a replaceable rail: the table having a flat supporting surface, spaced members fixedly projecting from said surface and presenting spaced and opposed divergent faces diverging upwardly and outwardly as they project away from said surface; the rail having a flat bottom engageable upon said supporting surface, and said rail having opposed divergent end faces complementary to and having simultaneous interfacial abutting engagement with the first mentioned divergent faces of said spaced members for downward reception of the rail into engagement with the table; and vertically disposed fastener means releasably locating and securing the ral to the table.

12. The table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein the said complementary upwardly and outwardly divergent faces of the said spaced members and opposite ends of the rail diverge laterally outward as well, for both downward reception and laterally inward reception respectively of the rail into engagement with the table.

13. The combination of a table and a replaceable rail: the table having a flat supporting surface, an elongated cleat fixedly projecting from said surface and presenting an outwardly faced shoulder, spaced members fixedly projecting from said surface at opposite ends of said cleat and presenting spaced and opposed divergent faces, diverging as they project away from said surface, the rail having a flat bottom engageable upon said supporting surface, an elongated rabbet recessed into the bottom of the rail and presenting an inwardly faced shoulder engageable with the first mentioned cleat shoulder and having an inner wall spaced from said shoulder thereof a distance substantially greater than the width of the cleat having a wall spaced therefrom for substantial inward movement of the cleat into said shouldered engagement, and said rail having opposite divergent end faces complementary to and having interfacial abutting engagement with the first mentioned divergent faces of said spaced members, said shoulders and complementary faces being simultaneously disengageable; and means releasably securing the rail to the table.

14. The table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein the said complementary divergent faces and opposed ends of the rail diverge upwardly and outwardly for downward reception of the rail into engagement with the table.

15. The table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein the said complementary divergent faces of the said spaced members and opposite ends of the rail diverge upwardly and outwardly as well as laterally outward for both downward reception and laterally inward reception respectively of the rail into engagement with the table.

16. The combination of a game table and a replaceable rail therefor: the table having a flat surfaced supporting'platform, an elongated member of substantial width overlying the marginal portion of the platform and having a flat upwardly faced supporting surface and a straight inner edge, a flat planar surface member overlying the inner portion of the said platform and having a straight outer edge engageable with the inner edge of the first mentioned member, an elongated cleat fixedly projecting from the supporting surface of said elongated member and presenting an outwardly faced shoulder, spaced members fixedly projecting from the platform and above the supporting surface of said elongated member at opposite ends of said cleat and presenting spaced and opposed divergent faces diverging as they project away from said surface; the rail having a flat bottom engageable upon said supporting surface of said elongated member, an elongated rabbet recessed into the bottom of the rail and presenting an inwardly faced shoulder engageable with the first mentioned cleat shoulder and having an inner wall spaced from said shoulder thereof a distance substantially greater than the width of the cleat having a wall spaced therefrom for substantial inward movement of the cleat into said shouldered engagement, and said rail having opposite divergent end faces complementary to and having interfacial abutting engagement with the first mentioned divergent faces of said spaced members, said shoulders and complementary faces being simultaneously disengageable; and means releasably securing the rail to the table.

17. The game table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein the said complementary divergent faces and opposed ends of the rail diverge upwardly and outwardly for downward reception of the rail into engagement with the table.

18. The game table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein the said complementary divergent faces of the said spaced members and opposite ends of the rail diverge upwardly and outwardly as well as laterally outward for both downward reception and laterally inward reception respectively of the rail into engagement with the table.

19. The game table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 16, wherein the said complementary divergent faces of the said spaced members and opposite ends of the rail diverge laterally outward for laterally inward reception of the rail into engagement with the table.

20. The game table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 16, wherein the said complementary divergent faces of the said spaced members and opposite ends of the rail diverge upwardly and outwardly as well as laterally outward for both downward reception and laterally inward reception respectively of the rail into engagement with the table.

Claims

2. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spaced inwardly opening pocket members are corner pocket members.

3. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spaced inwardly opening pocket members are alternate corner and side pocket members.

4. The pool table and replaceable rail combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rabbet has an inner wall spaced from said shoulder thereof a distance substantially greater than the width of the cleat having a wall spaced therefrom for substantial inward movement of the cleat into said shouldered engagement.

16. The combination of a game table and a replaceable rail therefor: the table having a flat surfaced supporting platform, an elongated member of substantial width overlying the marginal portion of the platform and having a flat upwardly faced supporting surface and a straight inner edge, a flat planar surface member overlying the inner portion of the said platform and having a straight outer edge engageable with the inner edge of the first mentioned member, an elongated cleat fixedly projecting from the supporting surface of said elongated member and presenting an outwardly faced shoulder, spaced members fixedly projecting from the platform and above the supporting surface of said elongated member at opposite ends of said cleat and presenting spaced and opposed divergent faces diverging as they project away from said surface; the rail having a flat bottom engageable upon said supporting surface of said elongated member, an elongated rabbet recessed into the bottom of the rail and presenting an inwardly faced shoulder engageable with the first mentioned cleat shoulder and having an inner wall spaced from said shoulder thereof a distance substantially greater than the width of the cleat having a wall spaced therefrom for substantial inward movement of the cleat into said shouldered engagement, and said rail having opposite divergent end faces complementary to and having interfacial abutting engagement with the first mentioned divergent faces of said spaced members, said shoulders and complementary faces being simultaneously disengageable; and means releasably securing the rail to the table.