Set for playing a sport comprising a concave table

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Section 371 National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/EP2023/076471, filed Sep. 26, 2023, and published as WO 2024/074341 A1 on Apr. 11, 2024, not in English, which claims priority to and the benefit of French Patent Application No. 2210177, filed Oct. 5, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The field of disclosure is that of the design and manufacture of sporting equipment.

The disclosure more particularly relates to a playing set comprising a table and a ball, the ball being designed to be exchanged by shots of players above the table.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the field of the disclosure, table tennis is well known, which is a racquet sport played by two or four players opposite to each other around a table.

A table tennis table has a rectangular, planar and horizontal playing surface. The table comprises a base supporting the playing surface.

The playing surface is divided into two identical parts by a net extending over the playing surface.

In table tennis, the ball is a sphere of a plastic material.

The table and the ball are configured so that the ball can bounce sufficiently when it hits the playing surface.

Indeed, a table tennis ball has to meet some bounce requirements, which means that, especially when dropped thirty centimeters above the playing surface, it has to bounce at least 23 centimeters.

When playing, players exchange shots with the ball by hitting it with rackets to make it pass over the net and bounce on the opposing part of the playing surface.

To learn to play table tennis, it is necessary for beginners to understand and anticipate the trajectory of the ball, taking into account not only its direction but also its bounce.

For young beginners, anticipating the bounce can be complex.

In the field of the disclosure, tables with a convex surface implemented in the sport called “Teqball” (registered trademark) are also known.

In this sport, players use balls that they have to make bounce on the opposite surface, by sending it from their side using, for example, their head or their legs.

Of course, learning such a sport for beginners, especially beginners with no knowledge of football, is even more complex than for table tennis.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a set for playing a sport, designed for an exchange of shots between two players, comprising:

• • a ball;
  • a table comprising a playing surface longitudinally extending between two opposite action edges, between which the players are caused to exchange shots with the ball; characterized in that the playing surface has a curved profile, between its two action edges, delimiting a concavity open above the table, and in that the playing surface and the ball are configured to absorb bounces of the ball on the playing surface, the table comprising a frame carrying the playing surface, and means of absorbing the playing surface relative to the frame.

By virtue of an aspect of the present disclosure, players are caused to roll the ball on the playing surface, which is concave.

Due to the concave shape of the playing surface, and the configuration of the playing surface and the ball to absorb bounces, the same will have its bounces absorbed, following its return, to arrive towards the opposite player by rolling on the playing surface.

A beginner therefore does not have to anticipate a bounce of the ball when they have to return the ball that is coming towards them by rolling over the ball.

By virtue of the curved profile of the playing surface, the ball rises towards the opposite player, who can hit the ball as soon as it crosses the border of the playing surface in a trajectory that is easily predictable for the player.

The set according to an aspect of the present disclosure therefore facilitates learning a racquet sport for beginners.

By virtue of the frame and the absorption means, when the ball hits the playing surface, part of the kinetic energy of the ball is transmitted to the playing surface, which does not fully return it to the ball due to the absorption of the playing surface relative to the frame. The ball absorption on contact with the playing surface is thus enhanced.

According to one preferred characteristic, the frame comprises three cross-members supporting the playing surface and extending perpendicular to the longitudinal profile of the playing surface, including:

• • two end cross-members positioned in the immediate proximity of the action edges of the playing surface;
  • a central cross-member equidistant from the two end cross-members, the playing surface not being supported between the cross-members, at least at a longitudinal median section of the table.

By virtue of this characteristic, the playing surface can have relative flexibility between the cross-members.

This relative flexibility improves absorption of the ball on contact with the playing surface between the cross-members, especially where the ball is most likely to first hit the playing surface after a player's return.

According to one preferred embodiment, the profile of the playing surface has:

• • a primary arc section longitudinally centered on the playing surface, with a primary radius of curvature°;
  • two secondary arc sections positioned on either side of the primary arc section, each with a secondary radius of curvature smaller than the primary radius of curvature.

This profile of the playing surface facilitates rolling of the ball on the table after a return and allows the ball to be raised once it reaches the action edge.

Preferably, the table comprises a central obstacle extending perpendicular to the longitudinal profile of the playing surface, and overhanging the playing surface, while providing a space for the ball to pass therethrough.

By virtue of this central obstacle, players have to control the return of the ball in order to roll it along the playing surface and make it cross the central part of the table.

In this case, advantageously, the central obstacle is height-adjustably mounted to the table relative to the playing surface.

By adjusting height of the central obstacle, it is possible to position this central obstacle higher for beginners and lower for experienced users.

According to one advantageous alternative, the table comprises two side walls extending in height from two side edges of the playing surface, between the action edges.

Such side walls prevent the ball from rolling off the playing surface along the side edges of the playing surface. They also allow different playing strategies to be developed by deflecting the ball against the side walls.

Preferably, each side wall has a fixed central section and, in proximity to each action edge, a dismountable end.

The ball is therefore allowed to leave the playing surface via the ends of the side edges of the playing surface.

In this way, the set can be more easily used by four players playing doubles.

Advantageously, the ball has a rebound resilience from a height of 254 cm, less than or equal to 15%, preferably 12%, at a minimum of 23° C., and between 25% and 35%, preferably between 25% and 30%, at 45° C.

Such a ball can, for example, be a hollow rubber sphere with a low bounceability.

The ball then corresponds to a ball used in playing squash.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of one or more aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following description of different preferred embodiments of the disclosure, given as illustrative, non-limited examples, and the appended drawings, including:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a table of a set according to an aspect of the disclosure, in a bottom view, especially illustrating a playing surface and cross-members of the table;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a longitudinal profile of the playing surface of a table of the set according to an aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the table across the longitudinal section III-III represented in FIG. 1, illustrating the playing surface supported by the cross-members as well as a table base, as well as side walls extending in height from side edges of the playing surface, and a central obstacle under which a ball of the set has to roll;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective representation of the table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a table 1 of a set according to an aspect of the disclosure for playing a sport is represented.

The set is designed for two players, or four players, to exchange shots with the ball.

The set thus comprises a ball that is especially specific to the set.

As detailed below, this ball is designed not to have a high bounceability on the table 1.

A reference frame XYZ is represented in these figures. Three axes are thus defined, including an axis X, an axis Y, and an axis Z. The axis X is orthogonal to the axis Y, and the axis Z is orthogonal to the axis X and the axis Y.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, table 1 comprises a playing surface 2.

The set is thus designed so that the ball rolls on this playing surface 2.

As is visible in FIG. 1, the playing surface 2 has a rectangular shape in a bottom view.

This playing surface 2 longitudinally extends between two action edges 21 opposite to each other.

Especially, the playing surface 2 longitudinally extends along axis X.

These two action edges 21 extend parallel to each other.

The two action edges 21 thus extend orthogonally to axis X and parallel to axis Y.

Between these two action edges 21, the players are caused to exchange shots with the ball above the playing surface 2.

The playing surface 2 also has two side edges 22.

These side edges 22 extend, in an orthogonal projection in a plane defined by axes X and Y, parallel to each other.

The side edges 22 thus extend in a plane orthogonal to axis Y.

These two side edges 22 join the two action edges 21 and each extend in a plane perpendicular to these action edges 21.

The side edges 22 have a greater length than that of the action edges 21.

According to one contemplatable embodiment, the side edges 22 may have a length less than that of the action edges.

The action edges 21 and the side edges 22 together form a border of the playing surface 2.

The playing surface 2, for example, is made of a 3 mm thick polypropylene plate.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the playing surface 2 has a curved longitudinal profile.

By longitudinal profile, it is understood the line formed by the playing surface in a plane defined by axis X and axis Z, and extending orthogonally to the two action edges 21 which each extend in a same plane.

With a curved profile, the playing surface 2 has a longitudinal profile comprised of at least one arc section with a radius of curvature whose point of origin is located above the playing surface.

It is also contemplatable that the curvature of the playing surface does not follow an arc of a circle with a constant radius in the vertical plane.

Playing surface 2 has this curved longitudinal profile between its two action edges 21.

Of course, along axis Y, the playing surface 2 has the same longitudinal profile.

The curved longitudinal profile of the playing surface 2 delimits a concavity open above the table 1.

With reference to FIG. 2, the profile of playing surface 2 has a primary arc section 201 longitudinally centered on playing surface 2 and having a primary radius of curvature RP.

Furthermore, the profile of playing surface 2 has two secondary arc sections 202 positioned on either side of the primary arc section 201.

Each secondary arc section 202 has a secondary radius of curvature RS.

As is visible in FIG. 2, the secondary radius of curvature RS is of a smaller value than the primary radius of curvature RP.

In an indicative and non-limited way, the main radius of curvature (RC) has a value of 5,687 mm, while the secondary radius of curvature (SC) has a radius of curvature value of 642 mm.

Each secondary arc section 202 is directly butted to the primary arc section 201.

Further, the longitudinal profile of the playing surface 2 has straight sections 203 directly extending from the secondary arc sections 202 to the action edges 21.

In other words, the playing surface 2 successively displays, from one action edge 21 to the other action edge 21, a straight section 203, one of the secondary arc sections 202, the primary arc section 201, the other secondary arc section 202, and then the other straight section 203.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, according to the present embodiment, the table 1 comprises a frame that carries the playing surface 2.

The frame comprises 3 cross-members that support the playing surface 2.

The three cross-members are especially comprised of:

• • two end cross-members 31 positioned in proximity to the action edges 21 of the playing surface 2;
  • a central cross-member 32 equidistant from the two end cross-members 31.

The frame also comprises a base 33.

The cross-members are integral with the base 33.

Each cross-member extends parallel to the action edges 21 of the playing surface 2.

Table 1 also comprises means of absorbing the playing surface 2 relative to the frame.

These means of absorbing the playing surface 2 make it possible to limit bounce of the ball on the playing surface 2, causing it to roll rather than bounce.

According to the embodiment represented, the playing surface 2 is not supported between the adjacent cross-members, at least at a longitudinal median section of the table 1.

In the absence of support, an absorption resulting from the flexibility of the playing surface between the adjacent cross-members is conferred on playing surface 2.

The way in which playing surface 2 is maintained relative to the frame forms the aforementioned means of absorption.

According to the present embodiment and with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the table 1 comprises two side walls 5 which especially extend in height from the two side edges 22 of the playing surface 2, between the action edges 21.

According to the present embodiment, the two side walls 5 are integrated into the frame.

Indeed, each side wall 5 has a groove into which the side edge 22 of the playing surface 2 is inserted.

According to one alternative, the playing surface 2 is restricted to the inside of the side walls 5 to have its curved shape.

According to another alternative, the playing surface 2 can be preformed and inserted into the grooves.

To participate in the absorption capacity of playing surface 2, the grooves provided in the side walls 5 have a width greater than the thickness of playing surface 2, allowing space for movement of playing surface 2 relative to side wall 5.

Alternatively, the playing surface 2 can be assembled to the side walls 5 and the assembly is designed to confer an absorption capacity on the playing surface, for example by implementing elastically deformable studs to support the playing surface.

By extending in height from the side edges 22 of the playing surface 2, each side wall 5 allows the ball 2 to be returned to the inside of the playing surface 2 when the same hits one of the side walls 5.

The side walls 5 extend between the action edges 21. The side walls 5 more precisely extend to the action edges 21.

According to the present embodiment, each side wall 5 has a fixed central section 51 and, in proximity to each action edge 21, a dismountable end 52 relative to the central section 51.

By dismounting the dismountable ends 52, a ball rolling on playing surface 2 is allowed to leave this playing surface 2 through the mounting location of the dismountable end 52.

With reference to FIG. 3, the table 1 also comprises a central obstacle 4 which extends parallel to the action edges 21, and thus perpendicular to the longitudinal profile of the playing surface 2.

This central obstacle 4 overhangs the playing surface 2, while providing a space for the ball to pass therethrough.

This central obstacle 4 is especially height-adjustably mounted to the table 1 relative to the playing surface 2.

According to the present embodiment, the central obstacle 4 is especially height-adjustably mounted to the two side walls 5, and more specifically to the central section 51.

The central obstacle 4 especially takes the form of a small plate which could be made of wood, for example.

The ball in the set is comparable to a squash ball with a very low bounceability, such as the one used at professional levels.

This ball of the set takes the form of a hollow rubber sphere, for example.

The ball advantageously has a rebound resilience from a height of 54 cm of less than or equal to 15%, and preferably equal to 12%, at a minimum of 23° C., and between 25 and 35%, preferably between 25 and 30%, at 45° C.

The set according to an aspect of the disclosure may also comprise rackets enabling players to hit the ball back towards the playing surface after the same has left the playing surface via one of the action edges 21 or one of the side edges 22 at the location of a dismountable end 52 disassembled from the table 1.

An aspect of the present disclosure therefore overcomes the drawbacks of prior art.

More precisely, an aspect of the disclosure provides a set for playing a sport, of the type comprising a table and a ball to be used on the table, which is easy for a beginner to learn, and especially easier than table tennis.

An aspect of the disclosure provides such a set, wherein a beginner can more easily comprehend trajectories of the ball than in the aforementioned sports.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more examples, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the disclosure and/or the appended claims.