Foldable Tennis Table with Multi-Ball Storage Contraption with Adjustable Position

Description

PRIOR ART

Prior art ball storage and retrieval devices are known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,472,189, 5,810,681, 5,820,499 6,050,625, and Pub. No. US 2012/0142459 A1 describe table-mounted tubular devices for picking up and dispensing balls. Others, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,659,007, 3,853,316, Pub. No. U.S. 2016/0016049 A1, and Pub. No. U.S. 2018/0050240 A1 describe permanently-attached storage boxes, some with openings only on one side.

Tennis ball player belts for quick ball retrieval are also known as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,396,136 and 4,836,427.

Currently known art fails to provide a convenient solution for storing multiple balls for quick and easy retrieval during games, that will simultaneously allow for ball storage between games within the folded table in an organized and convenient manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The described embodiments relate to the field of sports and games. More particularly, this invention relates to a foldable tennis table design that includes a contraption with adjustable positions for the storage of multiple tennis balls and their continuous use in serial multi-ball training sessions or games on the table playing surface.

During training sessions or games, quite often athletes score points or miss, with balls landing far beyond the tennis table. Picking up dropped balls takes time and significantly reduces the speed required for effective training, adds inconvenience, and extends game time. For continuous use, multiple tennis balls need to be stored within easy and quick reach of a player.

Tennis tables are traditionally sold with no attached devices designed for the storage of—and continuous pick and use of—multiple tennis balls. The commercially available attachments are typically designed to hold a pair of rackets and few balls solely for storage purpose. Alternatively, there are previously described tubular or special shape storage racks with a few balls and an opening for single ball retrieval that could be mounted on a side of a table. Those attachments do not allow for storing large numbers of balls, nor the quick continuous sequential picking of multiple balls by a player. Side-mounted tubular racks are hard to load and use. The bigger storage attachments may also compromise the table's ability to fold. Alternatively, various stand-alone storage and dispensing racks or baskets with balls are used. However, if the racks or baskets are positioned in close proximity to a player for them to reach the balls easily, then those devices compromise the player's free range of motion throughout the game.

The proposed foldable tennis table with a multi-ball storage contraption with adjustable position allows to eliminate these aforementioned problems by providing a convenient way of storing multiple balls during games and consecutively picking them up at any moment when needed. This system also allows for the secure storage of multiple balls within the table when it is folded for storage between games—making it convenient and organized. The contraption may also have 1-2 packets attached on its one side to store rackets between games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Foldable Tennis Table with Multi-Ball Storage Contraption with Adjustable Position is a system comprising two co-operating components: foldable tennis table and multi-ball storage mechanism (contraption).

The foldable tennis table can be a standard size table consisting of two horizontal panels on a support frame that can be folded to a vertical position for convenient storage. The support frame consists of a foldable carcass underneath the table panels and typical height legs. The table legs have pivot-type attachments to the frame. The frame has full openings on each player's side to accommodate the multi-ball storage contraptions on each side. The storage contraption can be of any shape, for example a rectangular box, attached to the frame with flexible straps or metal rods with eye loops. The straps or rods allow the position of the storage contraption underneath the table to be changed depending on the position of the table panels. The panel of the box that is facing the player, is fully open. It allows the player to place multiple balls for storage and quickly access them for retrieval during games.

When the table is opened and set up for a game, the multi-ball storage contraptions are automatically positioned with an angle to the table panels. The preferred angle is 30-45 degrees. It allows the player to keep multiple balls inside and to easily retrieve them. When the table is being folded for storage, the storage contraption changes its position gradually to become parallel to the table panels, while maintaining its opening on top. The change in position allows the contraption to be maintained within the external dimensions of the folded frame and keep balls inside for storage. When the table is being opened for use, the contraption gradually changes its position in the opposite way to achieve the desired 30-45 degree when the table is fully open. Folding the table and changing the position of the contraption within the frame between the table storage and use allows for keeping multiple balls inside without the need to take them out and then put them back.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 shows left and right views of the Foldable Tennis Table with Multi-ball Storage Contraption with Adjustable Position when it is open for use. FIG. 3 shows the Table when it is being folded (halfway) for storage. FIG. 4 shows the Table in open position from one player side with access to the Multi-ball storage contraption.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a Foldable Tennis Table with Multi-Ball Storage Contraption with Adjustable Position

In at least some embodiments (FIGS. 1-4) the table surface consists of two co-planar identical panels 1a, 1b divided by the middle line gap 2, along which where a net is positioned. The first 1a and the second 1b table panels are pivotally connected to the support legs 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h. There are 8 legs in total, 4 legs on each long side of the table. The support legs 3a and 3b are pivotally connected with a metal bar 4a. The support legs 3c and 3d are pivotally connected with a metal bar 4b. In the same way support legs 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h are connected with metal bars 4c and 4d of the other side of the table, respectively. The pivot-type connection of the support legs with the table panels and metal bars allows to fold the table in the vertical direction.

The support legs 3b and 3c are permanently connected with a flat metal bar 7a. The support legs 3f and 3g on the other side of the table are permanently connected with a flat metal bar 7b.

The support legs 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, metal bars 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and flat metal bars 7a and 7b form the table's support frame. The described components can be of any materials and any shape (straight, curved) and dimensions that can create the foldable table support and perform functions described below. The support legs are preferably made of hollow metal tubular material, and may or may not have wheels.

The tennis table's inside support legs 3b, 3c, 3f, 3g remain on the ground and support the table when it is in a folded position. The tennis table inside legs may have wheels for moving the table when folded for storage.

The tennis table frame allows for the unobstructed open space underneath table panels 1a and 1b on each player's side (FIG. 4). This open space allows to position the Multi-ball Storage Contraptions 5a and 5b on each player's side.

In at least some embodiments, the disclosed contraption is a various size flat box that can accommodate multiple tennis balls. One side of the box facing player is completely open with no lid or other cover. It allows for quick picking balls one by one when they are needed. The box can be made of various materials, such as carboard, plastic or thin metal. The preferred shape can be a rectangular box with dimensions where length and depth exceed the width. The box is attached underneath the tennis table in such a manner that it turns to a vertical position with the opening on top when the table is folded allowing to keep the balls in the box. When the table is being unfolded, the box gradually changes its position (rotates) with its opening facing toward the player. There may be one or two boxes attached to one table, one on each side for each player.

The box is attached to the table frame or panels, preferably to metal bars 4a, 4d, with flexible straps or metal rods 6a, 6b, 6g, 6h on one player's side; and to metal bars 4b, 4c with flexible straps or metal rods 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f on one player's side. The straps can be made of any flexible material, such as leather, plastic, or metal chain. The metal rods preferably have eye loops for pivot-type connection. The straps or pivotally connected rods allow to change position of the storage contraption underneath the table depending on the position of the table panels.

When the table is opened and set up for a game, the multi-ball storage contraptions 5a and 5b are automatically positioned with an angle to the table panels 1a and 1b. The preferred angle is 30-45 degrees. It allows the player to keep multiple balls inside and to easily retrieve them. When the table is being folded for storage, the storage contraptions 5a and 5b change their position gradually to become vertical and parallel to the table panels 1a and 1b, while maintaining their openings on top (FIG. 3). The preferred shape of the contraptions 5a and 5b and their parallel to the table panels 1a and 1b positions allow the contraptions to be maintained within the external dimensions of the folded frame and keep balls inside for storage. When the table is being opened for use, the contraptions 5a and 5b gradually changes their positions in the opposite way to achieve the desired 30-45 degree when the table is fully open. Folding the table and changing the position of the contraption within the frame between the table storage and use allows for keeping multiple balls inside without the need to take them out and then put them back. Gradual change of the contraption position allows to maintain the opening on top all the time to prevent spilling of the balls. For convenience and protection of balls during storage, the opening may have lid.

The description of the shapes, connections of the components and principles of the operation of the Foldable Tennis Table with Multi-Ball Storage Contraption with Adjustable Position does not set limits and those components and it can be modified. For example, modifications can be made to the dimensions and shape of the contraption or its angle. The points of affixing the straps or metal bars to the frame could be different, such as undersurface of the table panels 1a and 1b or support legs 3a-3h.