DEVICE FOR STORING PLATES THAT FORM A DINING PLATE FOR A BILLIARD TABLE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to equipment for playing billiards, and more particularly to a storage device for a dining tray on a billiard table. The invention also relates to a billiard table equipped with such a device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Billiards is a game of skill played by one or more players on a table bordered by cushions and covered with cloth. The game consists of rolling balls across the table by striking them with a cue.

[0003] Billiard tables are heavy and bulky pieces of furniture, and generally serve no other purpose than playing billiards. To overcome this drawback, it is common practice to cover the billiard table with a tabletop to transform it into a dining table that can comfortably seat ten people.

[0004] While such a transformation allows for better use of interior space in a dwelling, the tabletop must be removed and stored somewhere when not in use. However, the tabletop is particularly bulky, and moving it requires considerable effort, especially since its storage location is far from the table. Prior art document US2021 / 346786A1 describes a device for storing plates forming a dining tabletop for a billiard table, according to the preamble of claim 1. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention aims to provide a storage device for a dining tray for a billiard table, which at least partially overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] To this end, the invention provides a storage device for plates forming a dining tabletop for a billiard table. The storage device comprises a support frame arranged to hold the dining tabletop plates, and cleats for fixing the support frame to a billiard table frame. The cleats are arranged to allow vertical movement of the support frame between a retracted position, in which the support frame is intended to extend horizontally close to the frame, and an extended position, in which the support frame is intended to extend horizontally away from the frame. The cleats are provided with means for supporting the support frame in the extended position and, above the support means, with means for retaining the support frame in the retracted position.

[0007] Such a storage system allows the plates forming the dining tabletop to be stored under the billiard table, the support frame being able to be concealed when not in use to receive said plates.

[0008] According to a particular characteristic, the support frame comprises a wire structure having two first wires connected to each other by second wires, the first wires including end sections forming tenons intended to be received in a groove made in the cleats.

[0009] In particular, the end sections of the first wires extend in the same direction.

[0010] In particular, the end sections of each of the first wires extend along the same axis.

[0011] According to a particular characteristic, each of the cleats comprises a body having lateral walls delimiting the groove, the lateral walls each having a window inside which extends a tongue which is made of material with the lateral wall and which is provided with a relief turned towards the inside of the groove to form the retaining means, the tongues being elastically deformable between a state of rest in which the reliefs define a passage section less than a diameter of the end sections of the first wires of the support reinforcement, and a deformed state in which the reliefs define a passage section equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of said end sections.

[0012] In particular, the raised edges of the tabs are rounded.

[0013] The invention also relates to a billiard table comprising a frame under which is fixed a storage device according to any one of the preceding claims via the cleats. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The invention will be better understood in light of the following description, which is purely illustrative and not limiting, and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, among which: [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 is a perspective view of a billiard table equipped with a storage device according to a particular embodiment of the invention, in which the frame supporting the storage device is in the deployed position and carries three plates forming a dining tabletop; Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 is a view analogous to the figure 1 , in which the table is covered with the dining top, with the support frame for the storage unit in the retracted position; Fig. 3 ] there figure 3 is another perspective view of the billiard table illustrated in the figure 2 , in which the storage device is visible; [ Fig. 4 ] there figure 4 represents a perspective view of the supporting frame of the storage device illustrated in the figure 3 ; Fig. 5 ] there figure 5 represents a perspective view and a front view of one of the fixing cleats of the support frame illustrated in the figure 4 ; Fig. 6A ] there figure 6A is a view analogous to the figure 3 , in which the basket of the storage device is in an inclined position; [ Fig. 6B ] there figure 6B is a view analogous to the figure 6A , in which the storage device basket is in the deployed position; [ Fig. 6C ] there figure 6C is a view analogous to the figure 6B , in which the dining tray is supported by the frame supporting the storage unit; [ Fig. 6D ] there figure 6D is a side view of the billiard table illustrated in the figure 6C . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] With reference to figures 1 à 3 The invention is described in application to a billiard table 1 equipped with a dining tabletop 10 and a storage device 20 for the dining tabletop 10.

[0016] Table 1 of the billiard table comprises, in a manner known in itself: a rectangular plate 2, here made of slate, extending in a horizontal plane and having an upper face covered with a mat 3 defining a rolling surface for balls; a playing frame 4 surrounding the plate 2 to delimit with the mat 3 an area for the movement of the balls, and on which are fixed return strips 5 here based on natural rubber; a rectangular frame 6, on which the plate 2 rests and the playing frame 4 is fixed; and a base 7 on which the frame 6 is fixed.

[0017] The frame 6 comprises two side members 6.1 having their ends connected by two main cross members 6.2 to form a support frame for the slate plate 2. The side members 6.1 and the main cross members 6.2 have substantially identical cross sections and extend respectively along a longitudinal direction X and a transverse direction Y of the billiard table, the transverse direction Y being orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X.

[0018] To prevent any deformation of the plate 2 under its own weight, the chassis 6 also includes three secondary cross members, called reinforcement cross members, connecting the longitudinal members 6.1 together so as to ensure, in the same way as the said longitudinal members 6.1 and the main cross members 6.2, the support of the plate 2. The secondary cross members extend between the main cross members 6.2, parallel to them, and include a central cross member 6.3 and two intermediate cross members 6.4 extending symmetrically on either side of the central cross member 6.3.

[0019] The base 7 comprises four legs 7.1 having upper ends connected by two longitudinal cross members 7.2 and two transverse cross members 7.3, and lower ends fitted with height-adjustable glides 7.4 to allow leveling of the running surface when the table 1 rests on the floor. The secondary cross members 6.3, 6.4 of the frame 6 rest on the longitudinal cross members 7.2 and the transverse cross members 7.3 of the base 7, and the frame of the chassis 6 (formed by the longitudinal members 6.1 and the main cross members 6.2) is attached to the legs 7.1 by means of four struts 7.5.

[0020] The dining table 10 is here formed by three identical plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, each of the plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 having a length substantially equal to a width of the playing frame 4, and a width substantially equal to one third of a length of the playing frame 4. The plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 thus each have a covering area substantially equal to one third of the area delimited by the outer edges of the playing frame 4, so as to be able to cover in full said playing frame 4.

[0021] To transform the billiard table 1 into a dining table, the plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 forming the dining tabletop are arranged on an upper face of the playing frame 4, extending from one another along the longitudinal direction X of the table 1, so as to completely cover said playing frame 4 and form a flat surface ( figure 2 ).

[0022] When the billiard table 1 is used for playing billiards, the plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 forming the dining tabletop are, as will be seen later, stored in the storage device 20 arranged under the billiard table 1, said plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 being stacked one on top of the other ( figure 1 ).

[0023] The storage device 20 includes a support frame 21 mounted movably between a high position called "retracted" and a low position called "deployed" on the chassis 6 via four fixing cleats 22, the support frame 21 extending substantially horizontally in the retracted and deployed positions, respectively near and far from the chassis 6.

[0024] The support frame 21 is symmetrical and includes a wire frame, made here of steel, on which two lateral guide plates 23 are fixed.

[0025] The framework comprises two first wires 21.1 extending globally along the longitudinal direction X of the table, and two second wires 21.2 extending globally perpendicularly to the first wires 21.1 along the transverse direction Y. The second wires 21.2 have ends welded to the first wires 21.1 so that said first wires 21.1 are connected to each other by said second wires 21.2. The first and second wires 21.1, 21.2 have a constant diameter approximately equal to 10 millimeters.

[0026] With reference to the figure 4 , each of the first sons 21.1 includes: a main section 21a; two intermediate sections 21b which extend on either side of the main section 21a and which are connected to said main section 21a by first bends obtained by first 90-degree folds of the first wire 21.1; and two end sections 21c which extend along the same axis in the continuation of the intermediate sections 21b and which are connected to said intermediate sections 21b by second bends obtained by second 90-degree folds of the first wire 21.1, to form tenons extending outwards from the support frame 21.

[0027] The main section 21a and the end sections 21c extend along the longitudinal direction X of table 1, and the intermediate sections 21b extend in a direction orthogonal to the second wires 21.2. The guide plates 23 have ends welded to the intermediate sections 21b of the first wires 21.1 and extend parallel to the second wires 21.2 so as to be spaced at a distance slightly greater than the length of the plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3.

[0028] With reference to the figure 5 The cleats 22 are identical and comprise a single-piece body 22.1 which is elongated along a vertical direction Z orthogonal to the longitudinal and transverse directions X, Y of the table 1. The body 22.1 is symmetrical and has a vertical groove 22.2 into which one of the end sections 21c of the support frame 21 is received. The groove 22.2 delimits: an upper wall 22a of the body 22.1 from which extend horizontally two lugs 22.3 for fixing the body 22.1 to an underside one of the two intermediate cross members 6.4 of the frame 6 of the table 1; two side walls 22b of the body each having an upper edge connected to the upper wall 22a, the side walls 22b having internal faces forming a non-zero angle α, here equal to 10 degrees; a lower wall 22c having upper edges connected to lower edges of the side walls 22b, the lower wall 22c having two internal faces forming a non-zero angle β, here equal to 90 degrees; and a bottom of the body 22d connecting the upper wall 22a, the side walls 22b and the lower wall 22c to each other.

[0029] As we will see later, the angle α is chosen so as to be able to bring the support armature 21 from the retracted position or the deployed position to a first intermediate position or a second intermediate position, called "inclined", either of these intermediate positions being able to be adopted to go from the retracted position to the deployed position or vice versa.

[0030] The side walls 22b each comprise a window 22.4 facing each other and of identical dimensions. The windows 22.4 are notched into the side walls 22b over approximately the upper half of their height along the vertical direction Z. Inside each of the two windows 22.4 extends a tongue 22.5 joined to the corresponding side wall 22b. Each window 22.4 has a rectangular shape defined by two lateral sides extending vertically along the window along the vertical direction Z of the body 22.1, and an upper and a lower side extending horizontally along the window in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction Z of the body 22.1. The tongue 22.5 extends vertically in projection from the lower flank towards the upper flank, and includes an inner face provided with a rounded relief 22.6 turned towards the inside of the groove 22.2 of the body 22.1.

[0031] The 22.5 tabs are elastically deformable between a rest state (illustrated in the figure 5 ), said of retention, in which the reliefs 22.6 define a passage section less than the diameter of the end sections 21c of the first wires 22.1 of the support armature 21, and a deformed state (not shown), said of escape, in which the reliefs 22.6 define a passage section equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of said end sections 21c of the first wires 22.1.

[0032] It is understood that when the tabs 22.5 are in a deformed state, the end section 21c of the support reinforcement 21 received in the groove 22.2 of the body 22.1 can move along the vertical direction Z between a high position and a low position (illustrated in dashed lines on the figure 5 ) in which the end section 21c is respectively in contact with the upper wall 22a and the lower wall 22c of the body 22.1.

[0033] It should be noted that the angle β, being non-zero, ensures that the end section 21c is centered in the lower position in the groove 22.2 of the body 22.1.

[0034] It is also understood that when the tabs 22.5 are in the rest state and the end portion 21c of the support frame 21 is in the high position, said tabs 22.5 prevent said end portion 21c from reaching the low position.

[0035] The support reinforcement 21 is said to be in the retracted position when all the end sections 21c of the support reinforcement 21 are in the raised position in their respective notch 22.

[0036] The support reinforcement 21 is said to be in the deployed position when all the end sections 21c of the support reinforcement 21 are in the lower position in their respective notch 22.

[0037] The support armature 21 is said to be in an inclined position when the end sections 21c of one of the first wires 21.1 of the support armature 21 are in a lower position and the end sections 21c of the other of the first wires 21.1 are in a higher position.

[0038] It is then understood that the tabs 22.5 of the cleats 22 form means of retaining the support reinforcement 21 in the retracted position, and that the lower walls 22c of the cleats 22 form means of supporting the support reinforcement 21 in the extended position. The tabs 22.5 of the cleats 22 are arranged to support the weight of the support reinforcement 21 and to maintain said support reinforcement 21 in the retracted position.

[0039] The operation and use of the storage device 20 will now be detailed with reference to figures 3 , 6A-6D .

[0040] While all the plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 forming the dining tabletop 10 are in place on the billiard table 1 ( figure 3 ), a sufficient transverse force is exerted on the main section 21a of one of the first wires 21.1 of the support reinforcement 21 to bring the support reinforcement 21 from the retracted position (in which all the end sections 21c are in the raised position) to one of the inclined positions (in which two of the end sections 21c are in the raised position and the other two in the lower position) by generating a deformation of the relevant tabs 22.5 which then pass from the rest state to the deformed state before returning to the rest state ( figure 6A ).

[0041] It is understood that the passage of the support reinforcement 21 from the retracted position to the inclined position corresponds to a rotation of said support reinforcement 21 around the axis defined by the two end sections 21c which remained in the high position, in other words to a pivoting of the support reinforcement 21 from its retracted position.

[0042] Similarly, a sufficient transverse force is then exerted on the main section 21a of the other of the first wires 21.1 of the support armature 21 to bring the support armature 21 from the inclined position to the deployed position in which all the end sections 21c are in the lower position, causing a deformation of the relevant tabs 22.5 which then pass from the rest state to the deformed state before returning to the rest state ( figure 6B ).

[0043] It is understood that the passage of the support reinforcement 21 from the inclined position to the deployed position corresponds to a rotation of said support reinforcement 21 around the axis defined by the two end sections 21c which remained in the lower position, in other words to a pivoting of the support reinforcement 21 from its inclined position.

[0044] It is also understood that a single person positioned on one side of the billiard table 1 can bring the support frame 21 from the retracted position to the deployed position.

[0045] One of the plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 forming the dining tabletop is then placed on the support frame 21 by turning said plate 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 by 90 degrees and sliding it on said support frame 21 in the direction of the width of the billiard table 1, between the guide plates 23 of the support frame 21, until the plate 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 is substantially centered on the support frame 21.

[0046] The two other plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 are then stacked one after the other on the plate already placed on the support frame 21 ( figure 6C-6D ).

[0047] It is then understood that all the plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 are stored under the billiard table 1, being supported by the support frame 21.

[0048] It should be noted that when stored on the support frame 21 of the storage device 20, the tray plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 are: relatively visible to the player when the latter is positioned on a longitudinal side of the table ( figure 6D ), and relatively invisible to the player when the latter is positioned on a transverse side of the table ( figure 6D ), the transverse crossbars masking said plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3.

[0049] It should also be noted that when retracted, the support frame 21 is relatively invisible to the player. Therefore, the support frame 21 should be retracted when not in use for storing the plates 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3, although this is not necessary for playing billiards.

[0050] It should also be noted that it is possible to bring the support frame 21 from the retracted position to the deployed position without going through one of the inclined positions, by simultaneously exerting a transverse force on the first two wires 21.1 of the support frame 21, which requires the presence of two people, each positioned on one side of the billiard table 1.

[0051] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0052] The tabs 22.5 can be replaced by any other means of retention suitable for holding the support frame 21 in the retracted position: pins, removable supports...

[0053] Although here the support frame 21 has a wire frame, it can be of a completely different nature: solid, openwork, basket-shaped...

[0054] The support frame 21 may have a different shape from that illustrated as long as it is suitable for supporting the plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3.

[0055] Although the end sections 21c extend here along the longitudinal direction X of table 1, they can also extend along the transverse direction Y of the table. The cleats 22 must then be rotated 90 degrees. The inclination of the support frame 21 will then be along an axis of rotation extending along the transverse direction Y of table 1.

[0056] Plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 are not necessarily identical, particularly in terms of dimensions.

[0057] The number of plates 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 forming the dinner tray 10 can be less than or greater than three.

[0058] The storage unit is optional in the sense that it can be added to an already existing pool table.

[0059] Although the invention is described here in application to a billiard table 1, the storage device 20 can be adapted to any other game table (foosball...).

Claims

1. A storage device (20) for storing plates (10.1, 10.2, 10.3) forming a dinner tray (10) for a pool table (1), comprising a support frame (21) arranged to carry the dinner tray plates, and stops (22) for fixing the support frame to a chassis (6) of the pool table, characterized in that the stops are arranged to enable a vertical movement of the support frame between a returned position, in which the support frame is intended to extend horizontally to the proximity of the chassis, and a deployed position, in which the support frame is intended to extend horizontally at a distance from the chassis, the stops being provided with means for supporting the support frame in the deployed position and, above the support means, means (22.5) for retaining the support frame in the returned position.

2. The storage device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the support frame (21) comprises a wired framework comprising two first wires (21.1) connected to one another by second wires (21.2), the first wires comprising end sections (21c) forming tenons intended to be received in a groove (22.2) provided in the stops (22).

3. The storage device (20) according to claim 2, wherein the end sections (21c) of the first wires extending along one same direction (X).

4. The storage device (20) according to claim 3, wherein the end sections (21c) of each of the first wires extending along one same axis.

5. The storage device (20) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each of the stops (22) comprises a body (22.1) comprising side walls delimiting the groove (22.2), the side walls each comprising a window (22.4) inside which a tab (22.5) extends, which is formed integrally with the side wall and which is provided with a raised element (22.6) rotated towards the inside of the groove to form the retaining means, the tabs being elastically deformable between a rest state in which the raised elements define a passage cross-section less than a diameter of the end sections (21c) of the first wires (22.1) of the support frame (21), and a deformed state in which the raised elements define a passage cross-section equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of said end sections.

6. The storage device (20) according to claim 5, wherein the raised elements (22.6) of the tabs (22.5) are rounded.

7. A Pool table (1) comprising a chassis (6), under which a storage device is fixed, according to any one of the preceding claims via the stops (22).