Wheel chair abstract
A wheel chair-accessible billiard table having a table top with
a bottom being substantially parallel to the upper surface of the
table top, smooth, and free of any obstruction. A central support
column is below the table top, and the central support column is
on a base. The central support column has dimensions such that the
large wheels and pilot wheels of a wheel chair as well as the arm
rests of a wheel chair can be moved under the bottom of said table
top, and the base is low enough to avoid the foot rests of a wheel
chair while also having lateral dimensions such that a foot rest
of a wheel chair will contact the central support column before
a pilot wheel of the wheel chair contacts the base.
Wheel chair claims
I claim:
1. A wheel chair-accessible billiard table, which comprises: a
table top having an edge, and upper surface, and a bottom with the
bottom being substantially parallel to the upper surface, smooth,
and free of any obstruction; soft, moveable pockets attached to
said table top; a rail, having an inner edge, on top of said table
top adjacent to the edge of said table top; a side cushion adjacent
to the inner edge of said rail; a central support column below said
table top, said central support column having dimensions such that
the large wheels and pilot wheels of a wheel chair as well as the
arm rests of a wheel chair can be moved under the bottom of said
table top; and a base below said central support column, said base
being low enough to avoid the foot rests of a wheel chair and having
lateral dimensions such that a foot rest of a wheel chair will contact
said central support column before a pilot wheel of the wheel chair
contacts said base and said base having a bottom and a lateral surface.
2. The wheel chair-accessible billiard table as recited in claim
1, further comprising: at least one bolt which connects said table
top to said base.
3. The wheel chair-accessible billiard table as recited in claim
2, wherein: said table top comprises: a layer of felt; a layer of
slate under said layer of felt; a first layer of wood below said
layer of slate; a second layer of wood under said first layer of
wood; a rail on top of said layer of felt and adjacent to the edge
of said table top.
4. The wheel chair-accessible billiard table as recited in claim
3, further comprising: one or more bolts that hold said rail to
said layer of felt, said layer of slate, said first layer of wood,
and said second layer of wood.
5. The wheel chair-accessible billiard table as recited in claim
2, further comprising: one or more bolts that hold said rail to
said layer of felt, said layer of slate, said first layer of wood,
and said second layer of wood.
6. The wheel chair-accessible billiard table as recited in claim
1, wherein: said table top comprises: a layer of felt; a layer of
slate under said layer of felt; a first layer of wood below said
layer of slate; a second layer of wood under said first layer of
wood; a rail on top of said layer of felt and adjacent to the edge
of said table top.
7. The wheel chair-accessible billiard table as recited in claim
6, further comprising: one or more bolts that hold said rail to
said layer of felt, said layer of slate, said first layer of wood,
and said second layer of wood.
8. The wheel chair-accessible billiard table as recited in claim
1, further comprising: one or more bolts that hold said rail to
said layer of felt, said layer of slate, said first layer of wood,
and said second layer of wood.
Wheel chair description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation of copending U.S. application Ser.
No. 09/905,725, filed on Feb. 01, 2000, which will issue as U.S.
Pat. No. 6,709,341 on Mar. 23, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a billiard table that can be used
by an individual who is utilizing a wheel chair.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Billiard tables have been known for many years. The standard
billiard table cannot, however, be utilized by one sitting in a
wheel chair.
[0006] Players in wheel chairs have to struggle to make shots that
could easily be made by a standing player. This is largely because
a standard billiard table prevents a player in a wheel chair from
"facing up" to a shot because their chairs and knees are
blocked by the traditional billiard table. The player in a wheel
chair usually must sit sideways or use a bridge to make a straight-on
shot. Furthermore, the underneath edges of the traditional or standard
billiard table are large, coarse, and rough so that they can tear
clothing and inflict injury to legs which have no feeling.
[0007] In summary, the traditional billiard table lacks clearance
under the table for wheel chairs and the legs of one occupying a
wheel chair, possesses a rough configuration under the billiard
table which can cause injury, has rigid pockets that present barriers
to a player in a wheel chair, employs table legs which prevent movement
of a wheel chair under the edge of the table, and uses a mainframe
and decorative aprons that prevent access by a wheel chair.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,781 discloses a game table that rises
from a central column. The construction of that game table is, however,
not such as to create a true, stable playing surface. Moreover,
the base to which the column is fastened would contact the pilot
(front) wheels of a wheel chair well before the foot rest of the
wheel chair would reach the column, thereby minimizing the ability
of the player to get near or extend the player's body partially
over the playing surface, as is often done in the game of billiards.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention supports the playing surface (table
top) of a billiard table with a central support column.
[0010] The column is of dimensions such that forward clearance
of the footrest of a wheel chair (and, consequently, the player-occupant's
knees) and vertical clearance for the seat of the wheel chair meet
the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Furthermore,
the large wheels and pilot wheels of the wheel chair as well as
the arm rests of the wheel chair can be moved under the bottom of
the table top, providing lap clearance that complies with the Americans
with Disabilities Act.
[0011] Notably, a base upon which the central support column preferably
rests and to which the central support column is preferably attached,
is low enough to avoid the foot rests of a wheel chair and has lateral
dimensions only slightly larger than those of the central support
column so that the foot rest of a wheel chair will contact the central
support column before the pilot wheels of the wheel chair contact
the base.
[0012] The preceding is accomplished while maintaining the playing
surface of the billiard table at a traditional or standard playing
height.
[0013] And trueness as well as thinness of the top of the table
is achieved through the use of a layer of slate bolted to a wooden
layer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0014] FIG. 1 is a lateral view from a side of the Wheel Chair-accessible
Billiard Table.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a lateral view from an end of the Wheel Chair-accessible
Billiard Table.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the top of the Wheel
Chair-accessible Billiard Table taken along lines A-A in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred construction
of the central support column for the Wheel Chair-accessible Billiard
Table taken along lines B-B in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an interior support
tube in a preferred construction of the central support column.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred construction
of the central support column for the Wheel Chair-accessible Billiard
Table taken along lines D-D in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a traditional billiard table.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] As portrayed in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the Wheel Chair-accessible
Billiard Table has a table top 7 on a central support column 26.
The central support column 26 is placed on a base 4.
[0022] The upper or playing surface 27 of the table top 7 has the
traditional configuration depicted in FIG. 7.
[0023] The pockets 3 attached to the table top 7 are soft and moveable
so that they will fold out of the way upon contact with a player's
knees or a wheel chair.
[0024] As mentioned above, the central support column 26 and the
base 4 are of dimensions such that forward clearance of the footrest
of a wheel chair (and, consequently, the player-occupant's knees)
and vertical clearance for the seat of the wheel chair meet the
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Thus, the large
wheels and pilot wheels of a wheel chair as well as the arm rests
of the wheel chair can be moved under the bottom 2 of the table
top 7.
[0025] The distance 6 between the edge 28 of the table top 7 and
the lateral surface 29 of the central support column 26 is at least
19 inches and, preferably is 19 inches.
[0026] Additionally, the table top 7 is, as illustrated in FIG.
3, preferably constructed of a layer of felt 14 having a layer of
slate 15 underlying the layer of felt with a first layer of wood
16 below the layer of slate 15 and a second layer of wood 17 under
said first layer of wood 16. A rail 12 lies on top of the layer
of felt 14 adjacent to the edge 28, and bolts 11 preferably hold
the rail 12 and the various layers 14, 15, 16, and 17 together.
This enables the table top 7 to maintain trueness while also being
thin enough (preferably a distance 8 of 5 and 1/8 inches) that the
upper surface 27 of the table top 7 is at a traditional or standard
playing height while the vertical clearance discussed above is also
achieved. The bottom 2 of the table top 7 is at least a distance
5 of 27 inches and, preferably is 27 inches, from the bottom 30
of the base 4.
[0027] Bolting of the rail 12 also helps to assure that the rail
12 will not loosen when wheel chair players utilize the rail 12
to pull themselves around the Wheel Chair-accessible Billiard Table
during a game.
[0028] Adjacent to an inner edge 37 of the rail 12 is a side cushion
38.
[0029] Also as discussed above, the base 4 is low enough, preferably
no greater than 2.5 inches in height and most preferably 2.5 inches
in height, to avoid the foot rests of a wheel chair and has lateral
dimensions only slightly larger than those of the central support
column 26 so that the foot rest of a wheel chair will contact the
central support column 26 before the pilot wheels of the wheel chair
contact the base 4.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, the central support column 26 preferably
comprises two or more, preferably three, support tubes 19. Preferably,
a backer 21 encloses all the support tubes 19. Also preferably,
the backer 21 is composed of plywood and is 1/4 inch thick.
[0031] As seen in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, each support tube 19 has a
retaining plate 23 at the top end 31 of the support tube 19 and
also at the bottom end 32 of the support tube 19. Preferably each
support tube 19 has a thickness of 1 and 1/4 inches.
[0032] At least one bolt 22 connects the two layers of wood 16,
17 to the retaining plate 23 at the top 31 of the support tube 19,
and at least one bolt 22 connects the base 4 to the retaining plate
23 at the top 32 of the support tube 19. Additionally, at least
one, and preferably four, bolts 20 connect the first layer of wood
16 to the base 4.
[0033] Preferably, a pad 1 covers the backer 21 of the central
support column 26.
[0034] The base 4 preferably contains one or more apertures 18
for bolting the base 4 to a floor.
[0035] The bottom 2 of the table top 7 is substantially parallel,
and is preferably parallel, to the upper surface 27 of the table
top 7 and is preferably smooth. Furthermore, the bottom 2 is, from
the edge 28 of the table top 7 to the surface 29 of the central
support column 26 free of any obstruction.
[0036] Preferably, between the pockets 3 the edge 28 of the table
top 7 is comprised of side caps 13 attached, preferably with fasteners
33, to the rail 12 and one of the layers of wood 16, 17 and preferably
having a top 34 that is level with the top 35 of the rail 12 and
a bottom 36 that is level with the bottom 2 of the table top 7.
[0037] Also preferably, all fasteners 33 and 11, 20, 22 are countersunk;
and, preferably, plastic caps 10, which also serve as division spots,
are placed on the rail 12 above each bolt 11.
[0038] The Wheel Chair-accessible Billiard Table preferably complies
with the BCA Equipment Specifications, which require the following:
[0039] Table sizes:
1 Pocket Billiard Tables 4 by 8 and 41/2 by 9 Carom Billiard Tables
41/2 by 9 and 5 by 10 American Snooker Tables 41/2 by 9 and 5 by
10
[0040] Playing Area:
[0041] Measured from the cloth-covered nose of cushion rubber to
the opposite cushion rubber, both width and length:
2 4 by 8 table playing area 44-inch width by 88-inch length 4 by
8 table playing area of 46-inch width by 92-inch length 41/2 by
9 table playing area of 56-inch width by 112-inch length
[0042] BCA will sanction Tournament Play on Home and Coin-operated
tables produced in sizes other than those recognized above, if the
playing area width is one-half the length, measured. cushion to
opposite cushion.
[0043] Table Bed Height:
[0044] The table bed playing surface, when measured from the bottom
of the table leg, will be 29 1/2 inches minimum to 31 1/2 inches
maximum.
[0045] Pocket Openings and Measurements:
[0046] Pocket billiard tables: pocket openings are measured at
two points--the first being measured between opposing cushion noses
where the direction changes into the pocket (tip to tip). This is
called the mouth. The second point of measurement is at the narrowest
point at the back of the facing. This is called the throat.
3 Corner Pocket: Mouth 47/8-inch minimum to 51/8-inch maximum Throat
4-inch minimum to 41/4-inch maximum Side Pocket: Mouth 51/8-inch
minimum to 55/8-inch maximum Throat 43/8-inch minimum to 45/8-inch
maximum
[0047] Vertical Pocket Angle 12.+-.1 degree
[0048] Shelf: The shelf is measured from the center of the imaginary
line that goes from one side of the mouth to the other where the
nose of the cushion changes direction to the center of the vertical
cut of the slate pocket radius.
4 Shelf: Corner Pocket 15/8-inch minimum to 17/8-inch maximum Side
Pocket 0-inch minimum to 3/8-inch maximum
[0049] Drop Point Slate Radius: The pocket radius measured from
the vertical cut of the slate to the playing surface.
5 Drop Point Slate Radius 1/8-inch r. minimum to 1/4-inch r. maximum
[0050] Playing Bed:
[0051] the playing surface must be capable, either by its own strength
or a combination of its strength and that of the table baseframe,
of maintaining an overall flatness within .+-.0.020 inch lengthwise
and 0.010 inch across the width. Further, this surface should have
an additional deflection not to exceed 0.030 inch when loaded with
a concentrated static force of 200 pounds at its center. If more
than one slab is employed, the slab joints must be in the same plane
within 0.005 inch after leveling and shimming. The bed must be covered
with a billiard fabric, the major portion of which is made of wool,
with proper tension to avoid unwanted ball roll-off. Commercial
tables must have a three-piece set of one-inch slate with a wooden
frame of at least 1/4 inch attached to slate. All playing surfaces
must be secured t base frame with screws or bolts.
[0052] Cushion:
[0053] Rubber cushions should be triangular in shape and molded
with the conventional K-66 profile with a base of 1{fraction (1/16)}
inch and a nose height of 1 inch, with control fabric molded to
the top and base area of the cushion. On carom billiard tables,
the triangular K055 profile cushion is to be maintained, with the
control fabric on the underside of the cushion to effect a slower
rebound action. On snooker tables, the triangular K66 profile or
L-shaped snooker cushion is to be used. The balance of the rail
section to which the rubber cushion is glued should be of hardwood
construction and attached to the slate bed with a minimum of three
(3) heavy duty, threaded rail bolts per rail. |