US20190328126A1

US20190328126A1 - Gaming table

Info

Publication number: US20190328126A1
Application number: US16/394,364
Authority: US
Inventors: Jamie MacBain; Patrick Meyer
Original assignee: Wood Robot LLC
Current assignee: Wood Robot LLC
Priority date: 2018-04-25
Filing date: 2019-04-25
Publication date: 2019-10-31

Abstract

A multipurpose table may include an inner recessed area having a floor, a ledge around at least a portion of the perimeter of the table, and one or more rails between the floor and the ledge. The floor may be adjustable between various heights. A plurality of table covers may rest on the rails and be flush with the ledge. Table accessories may include attachment mechanisms for securing the accessories to the ledge. The attachment mechanisms may include stops insertable through a top surface of the table surface proximate the rail, and a cavity securable around the ledge. A stop receiver may also be positioned around the ledge and capable for receiving the stop.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/740,667 filed on Oct. 3, 2018 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/662,321 filed on Apr. 25, 2018, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to furniture and, more particularly, a gaming table.

BACKGROUND

In the context of furniture, a table is generally considered to include a top surface with at least legs or supporting members. Tables are well known to be commercially available in a variety of dimensions in consideration of the room spacing and principal purpose intended for the table. For a dining room, purchasers often select a rectangular table sufficiently long to seat an appropriate number of diners depending on the size of the room. Round, semi-circular, or oval table top surfaces are also commonly available. Although tables are available in a variety of dimensions, those dimensions are typically fixed, meaning purchasers need to purchase appropriately dimensioned tables as required for the particular room the table is to be placed in for the particular use principally envisioned for the table.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
A table may include an interior area, a rail and a table accessory. The interior area may be defined by a floor, a plurality of inner side walls around at least a portion of the floor, and a ledge on at least one of the inner side walls positioned opposite the floor, the ledge having an inner side defined proximate the rail and an opposed outer side. The rail may have a top rail surface, and the rail may be provided on the at least one of the inner side walls between the floor and the ledge. The table accessory may be positionable in a secured position on the ledge, and the table accessory may include a top surface, a slot positioned proximate the rail when the table accessory is in the secured position with the slot passing from the top surface through the table accessory, a stop insertable through the slot at the top surface, and ledge cavity dimensioned to fit around the outers ide of the ledge in the secured position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a table in a closed position.

FIG. 2 illustrates a reverse perspective view of the table of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a table in an open position with coverings inserted in slots in an extended position.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a table in an open position with coverings in a stored position.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first attachment mechanism of a table accessory in a secured position.

FIG. 6 illustrates the first attachment mechanism and table accessory of FIG. 5 in a pre-secured position.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second attachment mechanism of a table accessory in a secured position.

FIG. 8 illustrates the second attachment mechanism and table accessory of FIG. 7 in a pre-secured position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description and the appended drawings describe and illustrate some embodiments of the disclosure for the purpose of enabling one of ordinary skill in the relevant art to make and use these embodiments. As such, the detailed description and illustration of these embodiments are purely illustrative in nature and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner. It should also be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and in certain instances details may have been omitted, which are not necessary for an understanding of the embodiments, such as details of fabrication and assembly. In the accompanying drawings, like numerals represent like components.
A table may include an interior area, a rail and a table accessory. The interior area may be defined by a floor, a plurality of inner side walls around at least a portion of the floor, and a ledge on at least one of the inner side walls positioned opposite the floor, the ledge having an inner side defined proximate the rail and an opposed outer side. The rail may have a top rail surface, and the rail may be provided on the at least one of the inner side walls between the floor and the ledge. The table accessory may be positionable in a secured position on the ledge, and the table accessory may include a top surface, a slot positioned proximate the rail when the table accessory is in the secured position with the slot passing from the top surface through the table accessory, a stop insertable through the slot at the top surface, and ledge cavity dimensioned to fit around the outers ide of the ledge in the secured position.
In further embodiments, the stop may contact the top rail surface when inserted through the slot. The stop may abut the inner side of the ledge so as to prevent the table accessory from being pulled away from the ledge in the secured position. The table accessory may include a stop receiver, the stop receiver may include an aperture, and the stop may be mutually received within the slot and the aperture in the secured position. The stop receiver may include a stop receiver cavity dimensioned to be positioned around the rail in the secured position. The floor may be adjustable between a first height and a second height, the second height having a greater distance from the rail than the first height, and the floor is positioned at the second height when the table accessory is in the secured position. The table may include a plurality of first and second holes in the inner side walls and a plurality of projections each positionable through one of the first or second holes, the plurality of first holes positioned at the first height and the plurality of second holes positioned at the second height. The floor may rest on the plurality of projections, the plurality of projections are provided in the plurality of first holes as the floor is at the first height, and the plurality of projections are provided in the plurality of second holes as the floor is at the second height. The table may include a plurality of ornamental tiles attachable to an outside of the table. The plurality of first and second holes may be concealed from visibility from the outside of the table by the plurality of ornamental tiles. The stop receiver may include a second aperture positioned between the aperture and the ledge in the secured position, the second aperture dimensioned to optionally receive the stop. The rail may have a cuboid shape. The table may include a removable table cover which can be positioned over the interior area in a covered position, the table cover resting on the rail in the covered position, and the table cover having a top surface which is flush with the ledge in the covered position
With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a table 26 may include an interior recessed area having a floor or base surface, a ledge or top surface 30, and surrounding inner side walls between the base and top surfaces. The interior recessed area may be covered by removably securable covers 18, 20, 22, 24. The inner side walls of the interior recessed area may include a rail 28, and each cover may be positionable so as to be supported by these rails 28. In the illustrated embodiment, rail 28 extends along the perimeter of the interior recessed area on the inner side walls. A closed position of table 26 may be defined by having a plurality of covers positioned to cover the interior recessed area. In the closed position, a bottom surface of covers 18, 20, 22, 24 may rest on at least a portion of one or more rails 28 and a top surface of covers 18, 20, 22, 24 may be flush or coplanar with the ledge 30 of table 26 so as to create a flat, smoot top surface of the table.
Table 26 may include outer side walls about the perimeter of the table, and one or more outer side walls may include a slot 10, 12, 14, 16. Each slot may be dimensioned to receive a cover 18, 20, 22, 24. In the illustrated embodiment, one slot is provided per outer side wall, and the slots are positioned below the bottom surface of the inner recessed area to accommodate the insertion of the covers into their respective slots. One or more covers may be partially inserted into slots so as to provide writing or surface storage when the table is in an open position.
The base surface of the interior recessed area may be held at its elevation by a plurality of removable screws, rods, or any other similar type of insert which may inserted through an elevation hole 34 passing through at least the inner side wall (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8). In some embodiments, the elevation hole 34 may mutually pass through the inner and outer side walls. The floor may be adjustably raised or lowered to a different elevation by removing the screws and reinserting them through different elevation holes 34 at a different elevations. In another embodiment, the table side walls, either in their entirety or at least an inner surface of the side walls, may be adjusted to move with respect to the floor so as to create a deeper or shallower recessed area. To facilitate the adjustment of the screws, a plurality of holes may be provided at various elevations along the side walls. In the illustrated embodiments, the holes are provided at each edge of the side wall where the sidewalls meet into corners.
A plurality of ornamental tiles 32 may be attachable on the table side walls, and the tiles may attachable so as to cover the 34 holes. These tiles may be attachable, for instance, by magnets. Plugs or electrical outlets 31 may be provided in side walls so as to permit user to charge electronic devices or connect electronic devices with other multimedia through the outlets. One or more side walls and ledges may be removed so as to permit two tables to be connected. A plurality of tables may be modularly connected to accommodate rooms of various sizes and dimensions.
FIGS. 5-8 illustrate accessories 100 which may be attachable to ledge 28, such as a cup holder, pad holder, or tray. These accessories may include grooves or cavities that are dimensioned to the ledge within the groove or cavity. The accessories may optionally be provided with a high friction work surface, such as a leather, rubber, silicon or plastic surface (or any other suitable material known in the art) to better retain paper, dice, and other items placed on same. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an embodiment of an accessory having a work surface and two clips which may be used to help secure papers or score cards that are being kept on the work surface. This table accessory may also include a groove along the right side which may be used to hold pens, pencils, dice, or other small objects. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of a table accessory 100 having a cup holder and a smaller work surface, which may hold a small snack, pad, counters, cards, dice, or anything else that fits on the smaller work surface.
A first embodiment of an attachment mechanism for table accessories 100 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Rails 28 may include a top rail surface 29. Rail 28 may be a cuboid piece of wood or other material to be attached on the inner side wall of the table. Accessory 100 may include a top surface 102 and a cavity 104 provided on an underside of accessory 100. Slot cavity 104 may be dimensioned to receive an outer edge of ledge 30. Table ledge 30 may be slid into slot cavity 104 into a secured position on table 26. To ensure accessory 100 is kept in the secured position, a stop 106 may be insertable into a slot 108 provided on top surface 102. Stop 106 may be dimensioned to pass through slot 108 and rest on top rail surface 29. By inserting stop 106 when the accessory 100 is in the secured position, accessory 100 may be prevented from being pulled away, intentionally or unintentionally, from ledge 30. Stop 106 may also be dimensioned to project above top surface 102 thereby permitting stop 108 to interact with items placed on top surface 102, such as a flat or concave outwardly facing surface of stop 108 serving as a backstop to playing cards of dominos placed on top surface 102. As shown in FIGS. 5-6, the working surface may be recessed to further secure papers on same or to allow dice to be more securely rolled on same. Vertical slats may be provided to hold cards, counters, books or notepads. As shown, these may be shaped with a recess in the middle to allow easier access to items kept between them.
A second embodiment of an attachment mechanism for table accessories 100 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. A plurality of stops 106 are utilized, and each stop may be engageable with a conformingly dimensioned slot 108. Stops 106 may be dimensioned as pins insertable into a circularly dimensioned slots 108. In the secured position, the bottom side of stops 106 may be positioned laterally beyond strip 30. The bottom side of stops 106 may be insertable into a stop receiver 110, and more particularly in an aperture 112 on the top side of a stop receiver 110. Stop receiver may also include a stop receiver cavity 114 dimensioned to fit around the top and bottom surfaces of rail 28. In this regard, it should be appreciated that the floor is shown in a lower position in FIG. 8 than in FIG. 6, thereby exposing a top, unutilized hole 30 in FIG. 8. In this regard, this second embodiment of table accessory 100 may be effectively utilized when the table flower is lowered below its top position. The illustrated embodiment also shows two stops 106 utilized with two stop receivers 110 as described. It should also be appreciated that utilizing stop receivers 110 may permit slots 108 to be positioned further towards the longitudinal end of accessory 100, which may permit a larger portion of top surface 102 to be utilized. Moreover, utilization of stop receivers 110 may decrease the likelihood of unintentional removal of stops 106 from slots 108. In some embodiments, stop receivers 110 may include multiple apertures 112 so as to permit stops 106 to be received at different positions with respect to rail 28. One position for apertures 112 may be over stop receiver cavity 112, and the bottom side of stop 110 may extend into the cavity, which may be possible in the secured position due to the existence of holes provided in strip 30 which the bottom side of stop 110 can pass through. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the work surface of an accessory can be the same as the top surface, and need not have a higher friction material.
Persons of skill in the art will recognize that other types of accessories or securing mechanisms for securing accessories to a table that are known in the art or to be developed cam be used in accordance with the disclosed concepts.
The descriptions set forth above are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Various modifications of the embodiments, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the concepts described herein. Each patent, patent application and publication cited or described in this document are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entireties.
The foregoing description of possible implementations consistent with the present disclosure does not represent a comprehensive list of all such implementations or all variations of the implementations described. The description of some implementation should not be construed as an intent to exclude other implementations. For example, artisans will understand how to implement the embodiments in many other ways, using equivalents and alternatives that do not depart from the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, unless indicated to the contrary in the preceding description, none of the components described in the implementations are essential to the embodiments disclosed. It is thus intended that the embodiments be considered as illustrative, with a true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A table comprising:

an interior area defined by a floor, a plurality of inner side walls around at least a portion of the floor, and a ledge on at least one of the inner side walls positioned opposite the floor, the ledge having an inner side defined proximate the rail and an opposed outer side,

a rail having a top rail surface, the rail provided on the at least one of the inner side walls between the floor and the ledge; and

a table accessory postionable in a secured position on the ledge, the table accessory including

a top surface,

a slot positioned proximate the rail when the table accessory is in the secured position, the slot passing from the top surface through the table accessory,

a stop insertable through the slot at the top surface, and

a ledge cavity dimensioned to fit around the outer side of the ledge in the secured position.

2. The table of claim 1, wherein the stop contacts the top rail surface when inserted through the slot.

3. The table of claim 2, wherein the stop abuts the inner side of the ledge so as to prevent the table accessory from being pulled away from the ledge in the secured position.

4. The table of claim 1, wherein the table accessory further includes a stop receiver, the stop receiver includes an aperture, and the stop is mutually received within the slot and the aperture in the secured position.

5. The table of claim 4, wherein the stop receiver further includes a stop receiver cavity dimensioned to be positioned around the rail in the secured position.

6. The table of claim 5, wherein the floor is adjustable between a first height and a second height, the second height having a greater distance from the rail than the first height, and

wherein the floor must be positioned at the second height when the table accessory is in the secured position.

7. The table of claim 6 further including a plurality of first and second holes in the inner side walls and a plurality of projections each positionable through one of the first or second holes, the plurality of first holes positioned at the first height and the plurality of second holes positioned at the second height,

wherein the floor rests on the plurality of projections, the plurality of projections are provided in the plurality of first holes as the floor is at the first height, and the plurality of projections are provided in the plurality of second holes as the floor is at the second height.

8. The table of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of ornamental tiles attachable to an outside of the table,

wherein the plurality of first and second holes are concealed from visibility from the outside of the table by the plurality of ornamental tiles.

9. The table of claim 4, wherein the stop receiver includes a second aperture positioned between the aperture and the ledge in the secured position, the second aperture dimensioned to optionally receive the stop.

10. The table of claim 1, wherein the rail has a cuboid shape.

11. The table of claim 1 further including a plurality of first and second holes in the inner side walls and a plurality of projections each positionable through one of the first or second holes, the plurality of first holes positioned at the first height and the plurality of second holes positioned at the second height,

12. The table of claim 1 further including a removable table cover which can be positioned over the interior area in a covered position, the table cover resting on the rail in the covered position, and the table cover having a top surface which is flush with the ledge in the covered position.