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EP 1 114 655 A
EP001114655A2
(11) EP 1 114 655 A
(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
(43) Date of publication:
11.07.2001 Bulletin 2001/
(21) Application number: 01100025.
(22) Date of filing: 04.01.
(51) Int Cl.^7 : A63B 67/04 , A63D 15/
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU
MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI
(30) Priority: 04.01.2000 US 477381
(71) Applicant: Ram, Uzi
Givat Elah (IL)
(72) Inventor: Ram, Uzi
Givat Elah (IL)
(74) Representative: Modiano, Guido, Dr.-Ing. et al
Modiano, Josif, Pisanty & Staub, Baaderstrasse 3 80469 München (DE)
(54) Floating ball game table
(57) A floating platform for playing table ball games
in aquatic environment, such as a pool. The floating plat- form comprises a layered structure of which the lower layer is made of foamed or other low-density floatable material. The upper face is made of Formica or any other smooth layer of hard veneer providing an upper surface on which the ball will bounce properly and is attached
to the lower layer. The platform may be anchored using retaining rope. A net may be stretched across the upper surface and a game of Ping Pong (table tennis) may be played in the pool. By installing a rail around the upper surface, and by providing holes to receive balls, the plat- form can be modified to serve as a play table for the snooker game in aquatic environment.
EP 1 114 655 A
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Description
Field and Background of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a ta- ble game to be played in a water environment, such as a pool. [0002] Table tennis is a well known and popular game and sport, comprising of a table with a net mounted across its center. Two or more players, which stand on opposite sides of the table holding hand rackets by which they hit a small celluloid ball in order to transfer it over the net into the opponent's side of the table. [0003] As an official sport, the rules of table tennis and the specification of the equipment used, have been con- stant over the years. As a social game however, table tennis game can be played in any manner one wishes. [0004] Many recreation and leisure activities like bath- ing, swimming, sailing, fishing are carried out in water. Frequently people get bored in the water or want to en- hance their enjoyment by having a social activity as playing a game such as water polo, volleyball or basket- ball in it. These games require many participants, typi- cally eight or more. There thus exists a need for occu- pying and keeping bathers entertained while in a pool.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] The present invention establishes a new table tennis game that resembles table tennis, by providing the elements needed to relocate the familiar same to water. [0006] The players will typically stand in shallow water on the floor of a swimming pool on opposite sides of a floating platform which has a net mounted across its center, and will use hand racquets to deliver a bouncing ball over the net to each other side of platform. [0007] The platform is designed to have a rigid flat and void free upper surface while its lower section comprises of low-density material such as plastic foams, special low-density wood and a like. The platform will float on water, due to its low mean density. Alternatively, the ta- ble may be a rigid flat surface supported by floating air bags. [0008] The platform size is typically smaller than that of the official table tennis table because the water limits the movements of the players. No legs for the table sup- port are needed, although provisions for its anchoring are provided. [0009] With some modifications, such as the installa- tion of a rail around its rim and providing holes at its up- per surface, the platform will serve as a play table for snooker or billiard game in an aquatic environment. [0010] It is therefore the object of the invention to en- hance the joy and enthusiasm of people staying in a swimming pool by providing them a new way of playing familiar games. [0011] It is another object of the invention to provide
a play table for playing table ball games in an aquatic environment. [0012] It is another object of the invention to provide a play table for playing table ball games in an aquatic environment which is smaller and lighter then the ter- restrial table and which is easier to store and to trans- port. [0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a platform for playing singles table tennis game in an aquatic environment. [0014] It is another objective of the invention to pro- vide a platform for playing doubles or multi player table tennis game in an aquatic environment. [0015] It is another objective of the invention to pro- vide a platform of playing a billiard game in an aquatic environment. [0016] Other objects of the invention will become ap- parent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings
[0017] The invention is here described, by way of ex- ample only, with reference to the accompanying draw- ings wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the two sections of a floating table tennis play surface according to the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the assembled platform with a net across it where it is prepared to serve as a floating table tennis table according to the present invention. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the assembled platform with a rail around it, and holes in its upper surface to accommodate balls where it is prepared to serve as a billiard table according to the present invention.
Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment
[0018] Referring now to Fig.1, the floating platform comprises two sections: Section 11, hereinafter the "male" section, and section 12 hereinafter the "female" section. Sections 11 and 12 have a layered structure of which the lower layer 13, typically 15 cm. thick, is made of foamed (expanded) Polystyrene or Polyurethane or other low-density material. In order to float, the mean specific density of the platform has to be less then that of water. The upper face 14 of both sections 11 and 12 is made of Formica or any other layer of smooth and hard veneer needed to obtain an upper surface on which the ball will bounce properly. The upper layer is attached to the thicker lower layer with glue or any other suitable attachment means, mechanical or otherwise. Alterna- tively. the face 14 may float on air bags (not shown). [0019] The area of the combined sections 11 and 12 is smaller then the area of a regular table tennis table
