Scrolling multi-game table
View Patent ↗A combination game table having a plurality of games therein includes a mechanism for scrolling a sheet having different game surfaces thereon. The combination game table includes a table frame assembly having side members and a bottom surface, and a cavity located in the table frame assembly. The mechanism is positioned in the cavity and in contact with the sheet to translate the sheet from one position to a next position. In this regard, an operator is able to view a desired game surface by translating the sheet via the mechanism.
1. A combination game table comprising:
a table frame assembly having side members, end members, and a bottom surface member;
a cavity located within the table frame assembly;
a plurality of rollers positioned within the cavity;
a sheet wound about the plurality of rollers and having a plurality of game surfaces thereon;
an electric motor mounted to the table frame and generating an output to turn the plurality of rollers to selectively translate the sheet from one position to a next position, and
an electric switch configured to control operation of the electric motor to position one of the plurality of game surfaces in alignment with the top surface, and wherein a different one of the plurality of game surfaces is positioned in alignment with the top surface with each activation of the electric switch.
2. The combination game table of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of rollers is located at each of the end members and parallel thereto.
3. The combination game table of claim 1 wherein the sheet is wound about one of the plurality of rollers and stretchedly connected to another of the plurality of rollers.
4. The combination game table of claim 1 wherein the sheet is formed about the plurality of rollers in a substantially S-shaped configuration.
5. The combination game table of claim 1 wherein the sheet comprises a continuous sheet of a flexible polymeric substance suitable for being wound through the plurality of rollers and to retain a printed game surface thereon.
6. The combination game table of claim 1 further comprising a pressure equalization assembly configured to tension the sheet and equalize the pressure applied by the plurality of rollers on opposing ends of the sheet.
7. The combination game table of claim 1 further comprising a top surface situated within the table frame assembly, wherein the top surface is transparent.
8. The combination game table of claim 7 further comprising a lighting system configured to illuminate the game surface in alignment with the top surface.
9. The combination game table of claim 1 further comprising a table drive shaft connected to one of the plurality of rollers.
10. A multi-game game table comprising:
a table frame assembly;
a transparent top surface member on a top side of the table frame assembly;
a plurality of rollers located in the table frame assembly, wherein the rollers support a game belt having a plurality of games thereon;
a table drive shaft having a first end connected to one of the plurality of rollers to drive rotation thereof; and
a motorized drive system to drive rotation of the table drive shaft to scroll the game belt to display a desired game through the transparent top surface member, the motorized drive system comprising:
a reversible electric motor to generate a rotational power in either a forward or reverse direction;
a motor drive shaft to receive the rotational power and rotate in one of the forward or reverse direction responsive thereto; and
a roller chain connected to the motor drive shaft and to a second end of the table drive shaft to transmit the forward or reverse rotation from the motor drive shaft to the table drive shaft to turn the plurality of rollers in either the forward or reverse direction.
11. The multi-game game table of claim 10 further comprising a switch configured to control operation of the motorized drive system to position one of the plurality of games in alignment with the transparent top surface member, and wherein a different one of the plurality of games is positioned in alignment with the transparent top surface member with each push of the button.
12. The multi-game game table of claim 11 wherein the switch is configured to control operation of the motorized drive system to drive rotation of the table drive shaft in the forward direction when actuated to a first position and drive rotation of the table drive shaft in the reverse direction when actuated to a second position.
13. The multi-game game table of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of rollers is located at each of an end member of the table frame assembly parallel and adjacent to the end member.
14. The combination game table of claim 10 further comprising a display member situated within the table frame assembly and configured to support the sheet at a position below the game that is visible through the transparent top surface member.
15. The combination game table of claim 10 wherein the plurality of games includes at least two of a table tennis surface, an air hockey surface, a chess surface, a backgammon surface, a table soccer surface, a shuffle board surface, a bowling surface, a checkers surface, and a pool surface.
16. The combination game table of claim 10 further comprising a lighting system configured to illuminate the game in alignment with the transparent top surface member.