Inflatable pong table

Abstract

An inflatable pong table comprises a substantially hollow inflatable member. The inflatable member may be formed with an opposing pair of end recesses and having an intermediate recess interposed between the end recesses. The pong table may further comprise a pair of end inserts that are removably insertable within the end recesses. Each of the end inserts preferably includes a plurality of apertures formed therein. Each of the apertures may be sized and configured to receive the base of a beverage container. An intermediate insert is preferably configured to be removably insertable into the intermediate recess. The intermediate insert is preferably formed with a substantially hard and planar upper surface to facilitate bouncing of a ball thereagainst.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH / DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND[0003]The present invention relates generally to games and, more particularly, to a pong table that is specifically adapted to be inflatable such that participants may play the game in a swimming pool or other body of water. Advantageously, the inflatable nature of the pong table allows for deflation to a reduced size for convenience in storage and transportability.[0004]Water pong is an immensely popular game that is similar in some aspects to the traditional game of ping pong. The game of water pong entails the use of a relatively smooth and hard surface upon which a ball such as a ping pong ball may be bounced. In playing the game, participants at opposed ends of the table take turns throwing the ball lengthwise across the table in an attempt to bounce the ball off a central hard surface and into one of many containers or cups located at o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]In one aspect, the intermediate and end recesses are preferably fabricated from a polymeric material such as plastic and, more preferably, acrylic material. In addition, each of the intermediate and end inserts may preferably be fabricated with a generally planar and hardened upper surface. Particularly, the intermediate insert is preferably fabricated to have a generally hardened and planar upper surface for facilitating bouncing of a ping pong ball thereagainst such that the ball will bounce in a predictable direction and manner.

Problems solved by technology

One drawback associated with the game board of Lundstrom is that the game board is essentially a rigid or hardened surface which occupies a relatively large volume making transportability and storage of the game board difficult and inconvenient.

One drawback associated with the game table of the Roig reference is similar to the above-mentioned drawback associated with the generally rigid table of the Lundstrom reference.

The game table of Roig is generally rigid and non-collapsible such that transportability and storage is also inconvenient.

The printed messages on the ping pong balls, or alternatively, color coding of each of the balls adds a degree of complexity to the game in that the participants must perform the acts printed on the ping pong ball and / or as provided by the color coding of the ping pong ball.

Similar to the above-mentioned drawbacks associated with the Lundstrom and the Roig references, the game system disclosed in the Trokan reference possesses the undesirable deficiency of the table being substantially rigid and non-collapsible such that storage and transportability is inconvenient.

However, each of the references possesses the above-described drawbacks associated with a substantially rigid table that is relatively large, heavy and bulky.

Unfortunately, the rigid nature of the prior art tables renders the table difficult and inconvenient to transport and store.

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