Multi-Station Table Tennis Table With Rigid Barrier Folding Layout

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing table tennis game tables with multiple playing stations face challenges in compact storage and net misadjustment issues, limiting their practicality and convenience.

Innovation Solution

A game table design featuring rigid semicylindrical barriers that intersect in the center, allowing for easy folding and storage, with embodiments providing three or four independent playing stations, and incorporating a dolly for support and transport, eliminating the need for nets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a table tennis game table is designed with multiple playing stations (3-4 stations), then the productivity and social utility of the table is improved, but the device complexity and storage difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of playing stationsVSAvoidtable structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The table top is divided into multiple independent quarter-section pieces that can be separated and folded together. Each quarter-section corresponds to a playing station, allowing the table to provide 3-4 independent playing areas while enabling compact storage by folding the sections together.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The quarter-section pieces are designed to fold and nest together in a compact configuration for storage. The sections are hingeably intercoupled so that they can be folded into a space-efficient arrangement, with inner quarter-section pieces nested within the overall folded structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If nets are used to divide playing stations, then the game can be played according to standard table tennis rules, but the reliability of the playing surface division deteriorates due to net misadjustment and slackness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with table tennis rulesVSAvoidstability of playing surface division

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the nets from the table structure, replacing them with rigid semicylindrical barriers that form permanent, stable divisions between playing stations. This removes the reliability issues associated with net misadjustment and slackness while maintaining the functional separation of playing areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using flexible nets to create divisions, the invention uses rigid barriers that permanently define the playing station boundaries. The barriers are integrated into the table structure itself rather than being added as separate components, inverting the conventional approach to achieving playing station separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If rigid barriers are used instead of nets, then the reliability of playing surface division is improved, but the ease of manufacture and assembly may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of playing surface divisionVSAvoidbarrier installation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid semicylindrical barriers are merged with the quarter-section pieces of the table top, forming an integrated structure. The barriers are positioned on the table surface and work in conjunction with the hingeably intercoupled quarter-sections, combining the division function with the modular table structure to simplify overall assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If the table is designed for compact storage by folding quarter-section pieces, then the ease of storage and transport is improved, but the device complexity increases due to hinges and support mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage and transport convenienceVSAvoidfolding mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The table is designed with dynamic folding capabilities, where the quarter-section pieces are hingeably intercoupled to allow movement between an extended playing configuration and a compact folded storage configuration. This dynamic design enables easy storage and transport while maintaining the integrity of the playing surface when in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7637827B2Table tennis game having a playing surface divided into multiple independent playing stations by intersecting rigid barriers

Publication Date: 2009.12.29 BANGERTER VERN WILLIAM

AI summary

A game table for playing variations of table tennis using at least one ball includes a table top having a playing surface and a plurality of generally identical, intersecting, equiangularly-spaced, rigid barriers positioned atop the playing surface and radiating from a center point thereof, the rigid barriers dividing the playing surface into at least three and no more than four independent playing stations, all of which are of identical size and shape. The table top of one embodiment is made of four interfolding pieces which are supported by four folding leg assemblies and a storage/transport dolly. That of another is made of three or four separate pieces, which are shaped to fit together, in regions beneath the barriers, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. That of another is divided into hingeably intercoupled halves which can be folded together for storage, with each half corresponding to two playing stations.