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Article support apparatus, system, and methodRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Games Accessories, Game Supporting Tables Or SurfacesArticle support apparatus, system, and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070241509, Article support apparatus, system, and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for supporting and positioning an article, such as a gaming device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an article support apparatus for facilitating article interaction such as game play in a spaced player setting, such as may be defined by board game play at an oblong table. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] The game of checkers is ancient. It is thought that the earliest form of checkers was a game discovered in an archeological dig at Ur in Iraq. Carbon dating of the artifacts found at the archeological dig at Ur would support a finding that a version of this game was played around 3000 B.C. However, the game used a slightly different board, a different number of pieces and no one is quite certain of the exact rules. The continued popularity of the ancient game of checkers underscores the longevity of games as well as their usefulness in society. Game enthusiasts continue to develop novel ways and means to enhance the appeal and excitement of the gaming experience. Some of the more pertinent patented prior art relating to gaming tables and the like for enhancing the gaming experience are listed and briefly described hereinafter. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,185,114 ('114 Patent), which issued to Consin, discloses a Retractable Table Top Shelf. The '114 Patent teaches a slidingly mounted shelf which is slidingly bracketed to an underneath side of a restaurant or an equivalent table and which, when it is not in use, is retracted to assume a hidden or concealed position beneath and within the perimeter limits of the table top but is available and is so mounted at least one accessible end of the table that is may be withdrawn and caused to assume an outstanding position where it then provides an extra facility which is capable of being used in a number of ways. For instance, where the service involved is that which is afforded in a cafeteria it will be evident that the extending shelf may be employed to support one or more empty trays which are to be returned to the kitchen for washing. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,052, which issued to Shelnutt, discloses a Game and Cruciform Game Table. The '052 Patent teaches a game table having a cruciform shape when seen in plan view. A generally circular "in play" area is bounded by four generally rectangular and contiguous base areas. he table top is flat and the "in play" area and the surrounding base areas are demarcated only by a generally circular line of demarcation. Four ball-receiving pockets are equidistantly and circumferentially spaced about the periphery of the circular "in play" area, and points are scored by holing balls in those pockets. No ball can be holed unless it is in the "in play" area. However, each player may take a positioning shot to knock a ball into the "in play" area prior to taking a scoring shot. There are two different sets of balls and in some games, all members of one set must be holed before any members of the second set. A cue ball and a bogey ball are also involved in play, and detailed rules govern the several games. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,465 ('465 Patent), which issued to Delaye et al., discloses a Table Assembly with Circumferentially Disposed Retractable Extension Members. The '465 Patent teaches a table assembly with circumferentially disposed retractable extension members. The extension members, when not in service, are vertically stored beneath the table plate in radially space relationship with each other. On purpose to facilitate such a storing, each extension member is articulated to the table plate by a hinge-slider assembly. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,636 ('636 Patent), which issued to Kilmer, discloses a Multi-Game Table Top System. The '636 Patent teaches a multi-game table top system for providing a table top which converts into a multi-game recreational area allowing multiple people to utilize said table top for recreational purposes such as golf, soccer, or hockey, and thereafter reverting to the table top's original purpose. The inventive device includes a reticulated table top, a golf transparent board, a soccer transparent board, and a hockey transparent board where said boards are removably securable to the upper surface of the reticulated table top by a plurality of securing magnets around the edges. The reticulated table top is constructed from steel coated with a permanently bonded plastisol coating approximately one-quarter of an inch. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,646 ('646 Patent), which issued to Wolpert, et al., discloses a Portable Game Table. The '646 Patent teaches a portable game table having a protective outer surface when in the closed position. The portable game table includes a game table having an outer surface and a case configured to attach to the game table. A portion of the outer surface of the game table includes a portion of the protective outer surface. The game table may be configured to have a game played thereon, such as football, billiards and air hockey. [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,434 ('434 Patent), which issued to Roig et al., discloses a Floating Amphibious Game Table. The '434 Patent teaches a floating amphibious game table that may be used on both land and water. The game table has a base member that has an upper surface and a lower surface. A plurality of upper openings in the upper surface of the base member is adapted to receive beverage containers. A plurality of lower openings in the lower surface of the base member is adapted to receive a plurality of legs. The game table floats to allow for use on water. The game table receives the plurality of legs to allow for use on land. [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,747 ('747 Patent) which issued to Wolfe, discloses a Game Table with Recessed Game Board Storage Area. The '747 Patent teaches a game table which includes a storage area with a center leaf horizontally mounted in the storage area. When the top cover is in a closed position, the center leaf is positioned at the bottom of the storage area. A pulley system is used to raise the center leaf into a playing position when the top cover is moved to the open position. When the top cover is closed again, the pulley system lowers the center leaf into the storage area. A game board and game pieces positioned on the center leaf are maintained in the same position when the top cover is closed and the center leaf is lowered into the storage area. By maintaining the center leaf in a horizontal position, persons playing a game can suspend the game and safely keep the game pieces in the same position by merely closing the top cover. The game may be resumed by opening the top cover to raise the center leaf back into the playing position. [0012] It will be seen from an inspection of the foregoing as well as from a general consideration of the state of the art that the prior art does not teach a game support apparatus for enabling game play in a spaced player setting whereby the game support apparatus essentially comprises a game support plate, certain plate-extending means, and certain plate-anchoring means. Thus, the prior art perceives a need for a game support apparatus for enabling game play in a spaced player setting whereby the game support apparatus essentially comprises a game support plate, certain plate-extending means, and certain plate-anchoring means. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a game support apparatus for enabling game play in a spaced player setting whereby the game support apparatus essentially comprises a game support plate, certain plate-extending means, and certain plate-anchoring means. The plate-extending means function to extend the game support plate away from the anchoring means, which anchoring means function to interface the game support apparatus with a gaming support surface such as a common kitchen or recreational table. Inherently, the gaming support surface has physically separated player stations. [0014] The game support plate functions to support a gaming device such as a common board game. The selected gaming device is supportable atop the game support plate and has a play-enabling portion such as playing surface. The game support plate is thus selectively extendable to the separated player stations and the play-enabling portion of the gaming device enables game play. Thus, the game support apparatus functions to enable game play in a spaced player setting. [0015] Certain gaming methodology is further contemplated by the present invention and in this regard, the method may be summarized as comprising the steps of centralizing a game-positioning assembly relative to separated player stations; extending the game-positioning assembly to a select (initial) player station for enabling assembly-extended game play; and retracting the game-positioning assembly from the select player station for enabling assembly-retracted game pause. [0016] Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated or become apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] Other features of my invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief description of patent drawings: [0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming system of the present invention showing an oblong game support structure, a plurality of separated or spaced player stations, a game support apparatus in a first extended state shown in solid, the game support apparatus in a second extended state shown in phantom, and a common board game supported by the game support apparatus. [0019] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the game support apparatus of the present invention in an extended state and depicting rotational movement about a first pivot axis. [0020] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the game support apparatus of the present invention in a retracted state and showing a hidden plate-positioning assembly in broken lines. [0021] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the game support apparatus of the present invention in a retracted state and showing a phantom checker board playing surface in broken lines. Continue reading about Article support apparatus, system, and method... Full patent description for Article support apparatus, system, and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Article support apparatus, system, and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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