GB2115707A - Apparatus for simulating ball games including snooker - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a board having a smooth surface on which playing discs (5, 5' and 6) are slidable. The board may provide a playing area (10) representing a snooker table and a side area (11) from which a playing disc (6) can be propelled by hand in order to strike and propel another disc (5 or 5') especially for directing it into a pocket (3). One or more of the upstanding side and end edge members of the board may be readily removable to expose a side and/or end area for such hand propulsion. The board may be located on a table (2) by a depending rib (12). The playing discs may be bevelled or convex at their underside for propulsion with a spinning action and cues may be provided. Modifications for simulating bowls or golf are described. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Board game The object of this invention is to provide a board game of simple form in which the playing procedure and skill entailed of such games as snooker, billiards, pool or other ball games can be closely simulated in a novel and fascinating manner as will be apparent from the following description.

According to this invention a board game comprises a board having a smooth surface and playing discs slidable on the surface at least one of which can be propelled on the surface in relation to another playing disc or discs thereon especially for striking and propelling one or more of the latter in simulating a ball game.

Examples of the game are shown in the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view from above of one form of game, FIGURE 2 is a similar view of a modified form of the game, and FIGURE 3 is a detail cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of removable side mounting.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the board 1 provides a playing area 10 representing in miniature that of a snooker or billiard table and also a side area 11 for the purpose of propelling a playing disc 6 as later described.

That part of the board 1 under the side area 11 is provided with a depending rib such as the strip 12 shown for locating the board on a table 2 and against an edge 20 of the latter.

The playing area 10 is provided with corner pockets or receptacles 3 and also a further or midpocket 3 at that side of the playing area 10 opposite to the side area 11. Upstanding strips of rubber or other suitable resilient material extend between the pockets to provide cushions 4 in the manner of a snooker or billiard table.

The playing area 10 is marked out accordingly and is shown provided with a number of playing discs 5, 5' coloured to correspond to snooker balls, discs 5 coloured red being initially arranged in a triangular formation for the start of the game.

In the example shown ten red discs 5 are provided but the number may be varied, e.g. to correspond to the usual fifteen red balls of the game of snooker.

The surface of the playing area 1 0 and side area 11 of the board 1 is smooth such as polished wood or may consist of or have a facing of suitable plastic or other material so that the discs 5, 5' and 6 are capable of having a suitable sliding movement on the playing area 10 which is not too fast or too slow and is preferably similar to that obtained in the well-known game of shovehalfpenny. Thus the discs 5, 5' representing the coloured balls may be each similar in size and weight to a new halfpenny of British currency whilst the playing or white disc 6 is preferably larger and similar in size and weight to a twopence piece (or old currency halfpenny). The discs 5, 5' and 6 may be of metal, plastic or other suitable material and together with the playing and side areas 10, 11 may be of any suitable size.

With the board 1 positioned and located on a table or other suitable support, the discs 5, 5' representing the coloured balls are set out in the manner shown and the playing disc 6 is played from the side area 11 by placing it with some overlap at a required point along the outer edge of the side area 11 and striking it with the thumb or palm of the hand so as to propel it on to the playing area 10. When first played in this way the white disc 6 is directed at the triangular formation of red discs 5 to "break" the latter, subsequent play of the disc 6 being then directed at an individual coloured disc 5 or 5' with a view to directing it into a pocket 3, usually with a deflecting action.

In particular the rules and skill of snooker can be closely followed in that a coloured disc 5 or 5' can be played to "snooker" an opponent, even though some scope is afforded in positional play of the white disc 6 from the side area 11. The white disc 6 and also any of the coloured discs 5 or 5' can be played off the cushions 4 by striking and rebounding from the latter.

It is found that the provision of the side area 11 alongside the playing area 10 provides suitable acess to the latter in effectively playing the game and only results in the loss of one mid-pocket which can still be provided if desired and as later described. Other or further suitable acess to the playing area 10 may be provided.

The underside of the white playing disc 6 may be slightly bevelled or convex so that it can be propelled with a spinning action corresponding to that of "side" applied to the white ball in order to obtain required propulsion of a coloured disc 5 or 5' when struck by the spinning playing disc 6. The coloured disc 5, 5' may be similarly formed.

Two white discs (one with a black spot) and a red disc, e.g. similar to the disc 6 may be provided for playing a game similar to billiards on the playing area 10 and closely following the rules of that game.

Similarly a set of discs may be provided coloured to simulate the balls used in the game of Pool such as American or Russian Pool. The board may then be employed to play the game of Pool by following the rules of that game.

Referring to FIGURE 2 the board 1 is provided with side and end members 40, 41 at both sides and ends the members 40, 41 carrying cushions 4 and formed in relation to pockets 3 or defining the latter.

As indicated in FIGURES 2 and 3 preferably at least one side member 40' and/or end member 41' is removable to provide a side area 11 or end area 14 for playing the game of snooker, billiards or the like in the manner already described.

However where the table is provided with all four sides 40, 41 and six pockets 3, the disc 6 in the case of the game of snooker is propelled by a cue 7 preferably having a flat lower edge at its leading end 70, for sliding contact with the surface of the playing area 10 of the board 1. Thus the cue may consist of a length of square section wood or other material e.g. " (10 mm) square or thereabouts at its leading end. The remainder of the cure may be shaped to simulate a normal snooker or billiards cue.

The removable side 40' and/or end 41' may be located on the board 1 by pin and socket or other suitable engagement 44 shown in FIGURE 3 or the side member 40' may have a tight push fit on to the strip 12 i.e. by engagement with a projection or projections of the latter.

When the side 40' is removed and exposed midpocket 3 may be left for inclusion in the game or filled in with a removable disc i.e. flush with the surface of the board. Alternatively the side members 40, 40' and 41, 41' may simply define the pockets 3 without any recessing of the surface of the board 1.

Other ball games may be simulated such as golf or bowls. Thus in the game of golf each pocket 3 represents a "hole" and may be provided with a marker flag. An area at the side and/or end of the playing area 10 may represent a "tee' and other areas may be marked on the board representing bunkers or other hazards. A disc similar to the disc 6 represents the player's club and a smaller diameter white disc similar to a disc 5 or 5' represents the golf ball. Thus the white disc is propelled on contact by the "club" disc 6 for direction into a pocket or "hole" 3. The disc 6 may be propelled by a cue of the kind already described in which case the D-shaped area D may serve as a "tee".

For playing a simulation of the game of bowls, a small white disc represents the "jack" ball and larger discs e.g. similar to the disc 6 represent the bowls or "woods". The "jack" disc is positioned near one end of the playing area 10 and preferably the end member 41 ' at the other end of the board 1 is removed for enabling the bowl discs to be propelled from that end of the playing area 10 towards the "jack" disc. Particularly in this case the underside of each bowl disc is preferably bevelled or convex so that the disc can be propelled with a spinning action to obtain a curved path of travel to some extent similar to that obtained by the bias of a bowl or "wood".

Claims (9)

1. A board game comprising a board having a smooth surface and playing discs slidable on the surface at least one of which can be propelled on the surface in relation to another playing disc or discs thereon especially for striking and propelling one or more of the latter in simulating a ball game.

2. A board game according to claim 1 wherein the board is provided with pockets or receptacles thereto for receiving a playing disc directed therein.

3. A board game according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the board is provided with a side and/or end area from an edge of which a playing disc can be propelled by hand onto a playing area of the board.

4. A board game comprising a board having a smooth surface with pockets or receptacles thereto, and playing discs slidable on the surface at least one of which can be propelled from an edge of the board in order to strike and propel another playing disc or discs on the board especially for directing a disc into one of the pockets or receptacles.

5. A board game according to any of the preceding claims wherein resilient material such as rubber is provided along at least one side edge and along one or both end edges of the board and upstanding therefrom to provide cushioning for the rebound of a playing disc striking it.

6. A board game according to any of the preceding claims wherein the board is provided with side and end edge members upstanding therefrom, one or more of which is or are readily removable to expose a side and/or end area for hand propulsion of a playing disc therefrom onto a playing area of the board.

7. A board game according to any of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the playing discs is or are bevelled or of convex form at the underside for propulsion with a spinning action.

8. A board game according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least one cue is provided having a leading end formed for sliding contact with the surface of the board in propelling a playing disc along the latter.

9. A board game substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURE 1, 2 or 3 of the accompanying drawings.