US 12,239,893 B2
Speed-pong game
Gary R. Krause, Livonia, MI (US); and Kevin C. Morse, Flint, MI (US)
Filed by Gary R. Krause, Livonia, MI (US); and Kevin C. Morse, Flint, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/244,937.
Application 17/244,937 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/884,586, filed on Jan. 31, 2018, granted, now 11,027,179.
Prior Publication US 2021/0291027 A1, Sep. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. A63B 67/06 (2006.01); A63B 63/08 (2006.01); A63B 67/04 (2006.01); A63B 71/06 (2006.01)
CPC A63B 67/06 (2013.01) [A63B 63/08 (2013.01); A63B 67/04 (2013.01); A63B 71/06 (2013.01); A63B 2071/0694 (2013.01); A63B 2225/093 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A compact, multi-level speed-pong table game assembly for use in a game including at least one ping gong type game ball and a plurality of ball receiving open topped beverage cups, each cup having a nominal height h and a maximum lip diameter d1, wherein said table game assembly comprises:
a first table forming a substantially circular upwardly facing flat/smooth horizontal playing surface and a circumferentially continuous outwardly facing edge having a nominal diameter of dimension D1;
a second table forming a second substantially circular upwardly facing flat/smooth horizontal playing surface, a bottom surface and a circumferentially continuous outwardly facing edge having a nominal diameter of dimension D2, wherein dimension D1 is greater than the sum of dimension D2 plus two times the cup maximum lip diameter d1;
a vertical support member concentrically rigidly interconnecting the first table playing surface with the second table bottom surface, said support member having a maximum lateral dimension equaling D2 and vertically interspacing the first and second table playing surfaces by a dimension approximately equaling nominal beverage cup height h;
a plurality of cup positioning markers formed on said first and second table playing surfaces for locating said beverage cups thereon, said cup positioning markers located on said first table playing surface being disposed radially intermediate said first table outwardly facing edge and said second table outwardly facing edge;
an elongated barrier assembly extending vertically above said first and second playing surfaces and horizontally bisecting said first upwardly facing playing surface and said second upwardly facing playing surface, said vertical barrier operative to define discrete opposed team play areas enabling a plurality of teams to play simultaneously on opposed sides of said barrier and to prevent horizontal travel of game balls between opposing team play areas, said barrier supported by at least one vertically elongated support stanchion dimensioned for removable slip-fit within an associated bore formed within at least on of said playing surfaces to enable selective removal and insertion thereof,
said barrier assembly comprising a substantially rigid semi-transparent screen having a touch-sensitive reconfigurable electronic display formed on at least one surface thereof; and
an electrical controller operative to detect the impact of a game ball against said at least one surface and to generate an optically sensible message on said screen surface in response thereto.