AN IMPROVED GAME AND EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a game and for apparatus for use in said game. In particular, the game is an outdoor game, especially suited to be played in a garden and having an affinity to the well-known games of pool and croquet.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The herein disclosed invention aims to provide a mallet for use in a newly devised game also as described herein. The game contemplated is primarily aimed at being played in a garden or park area, but can also be played indoors if so desired.

The disclosed game combines features from two well-known games: one an indoor game and the other an outdoor game. The primary game to which the disclosed game is related is that of pool which is played on a flat surface bounded by resilient cushions and having (usually) six pockets within those cushions to receive balls which are moved across the playing surface. In the main version of pool, each player attempts to pot, into the pockets, the balls of a particular colour using a white strike ball, whilst avoiding, until all the balls of his colour are potted, potting a black ball. The secondary game is the, probably, less well-known game of croquet in which players attempt to manoeuvre balls, through hoops staked to the ground, around a course. To achieve this each player is provided with a croquet mallet with which to strike a ball.

As the game disclosed herein requires a player to strike a ball with a mallet, yet is played within a defined area, bordered by barriers, conventional mallets used in croquet are unsuitable for use. The mallet as defined herein is therefore utilised to ensure the game can proceed more easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a mallet for use in a game, the mallet suitable to strike single or multiple balls of mass of 340 g, the mallet comprising:

- a shaft, said shaft being connected at one end to a mallet head;
- the mallet head comprising a first planar strike face the plane of the first strike face being parallel to that of the shaft axis,
- a second planar oblique strike face also parallel to the shaft axis, the angle between the first and oblique planar strike faces being less than 90 degrees.

The oblique strike face is so orientated with respect to the first strike face that a player is able to strike a ball away from a barrier section more easily than would otherwise be the case.

The angle between the first and the oblique strike face is preferably 10-60°, and especially preferably 30-45°. The angle is conveniently less than 45°.

Optionally the first edge of the oblique strike face, parallel to the shaft is connected by a second strike face to a first edge of the first strike face. This enables firstly an alternative strike face to be provided to a user with which the user can strike a ball and also for more flexibility in the weight distribution of a mallet. Further optionally, a second edge of the oblique strike face is connected by a third strike face to a second edge of the first strike face. Yet further optionally, the second strike face and still yet further the third strike face are perpendicular to the first strike face.

Optionally, an oblique strike face is smoothly curved to increase the skill levels required to effectively use that face. Further optionally, the curve is a concave curve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only an embodiment of a game and embodiments of apparatus for use in the game. In the drawings:

FIG. 1a is a diagram of a playing area and FIG. 1b an expanded view of the area shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2 shows a view of a hoop;

FIGS. 3a, 3b are designs of a pocket to retain a ball passed through a hoop;

FIGS. 4a to 4c show plan views of mallet heads and FIG. 4a (i) a side view of the mallet head of FIG. 4a;

FIGS. 5a to 5c show further plan views of mallet heads;

FIGS. 6a to 6c show still yet further views of mallet heads having a curved striking surface;

FIGS. 7a and 7b are end views of mallet heads and FIG. 7c a side view; and

FIGS. 8a, 8b show designs of mallet handles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially to FIG. 1a, this illustrates a playing area suitable for use with the herein disclosed game. The game is designed to be playable outdoors, for example in a garden. Alternatively, due to the boundary elements of the game being removably placeable in position a surface such as a tennis court can also be utilised as well as indoor areas such as gymnasia or sports halls. The game is designed to be played with individual players standing up to make a shot when it is their turn. The playing area should be therefore of sufficient size to allow a player to set foot and possibly move about the playing area.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1a, the sides of the playing area 10 are delineated by a number of barrier sections 11. For convenience of manufacture and assembly, each barrier section 11 is of the same length and width. Overall the assembled playing area has a length of around 360 cm and a width of around 180 cm. It will be appreciated, however, that other lengths and widths as well as ratios of length to width can be utilised depending on the dimensions of the barrier sections 11, and the space available. Indeed, areas other than rectangular/square can be envisaged, such as an “L”-shape if the players so desire. The barrier sections 11 can be formed from conventional materials known in the art such as a plastics material or wood.

The boundary of the playing area 10 includes pockets 12 into which a player attempts to strike a ball (see below) during play. The width of the pocket entrance is dependent upon the diameters of the balls, which is typically around 9.5 cm, and also the level of skill of the players, but in the illustrated embodiment the width is 12.5 cm.

In FIG. 1b, the ends of the barrier section 11 are shown to have holes 13 through the barrier section 11. The holes serve to assist in anchoring a barrier section 11 to the ground, where the game is to be played on a lawn, field or other outdoor surface in which a securing peg (not illustrated) can be pushed into the surface.

Referring to FIG. 2, this shows a means of securing the barrier sections 11, which means also serves as part of a pocket 12. A hoop 14 has two legs 15a, 15b which are passed through the holes 13 and into the ground 16. When all hoops 14 are therefore in position, the barrier sections and therefore the playing area are fixed. It will again be recognised that although the hoops 14 add to the appearance of the game, and also ensure the pockets 12 are the correct size, they are not essential and other means can be used to hold a barrier section 11 in position. The cross-sectional shape of a hoop 14 can be polygonal, such as square or circular. Preferably the cross-sectional shape is complementary to that of the hole 13 into which it is passed and also of similar size to reduce movement of a barrier section 11.

Where the game is to be played on a surface into which a hoop or other securing means cannot be pushed, then alternative means of holding a barrier section in position can be used. For example, a barrier section can be formed of a high density material to increase its mass so that movement is resisted. Similarly, to aid transport, the barrier section can be hollow with means being available to allow water to be poured into and retained within the hollow volume to increase the weight of the barrier. Alternatively, where the surface is hard, then means known in the art to introduce a partial vacuum between a barrier section and the surface can be included.

FIGS. 3a, 3b show embodiments of pocket backs 31, 32. The pocket backs 31, 32 serve to prevent a ball having passed into the pocket from rolling away. In the embodiment of the pocket back shown in FIG. 3a, the pocket back 31 comprises a tapered cup-like portion 33 secured to one end of a mount 34. The second end of the mount 34 is secured to a barrier section 11. The hole 36 in the cup-like portion 33 allows the pocket back 31 to be secured into position to the ground.

The embodiment of pocket back 32 of FIG. 3b has two sections 37a, 37b formed of, for example, wood, a plastics material or metal. The sections 37a, 37b are held together by a connector 38, which is preferably formed of an elastics material to absorb the energy of a ball entering the pocket and so minimise the risk of the ball bouncing back into the playing area. Each of the sections 37a, 37b is secured to a hoop 14 by further connectors 39a, 39b which again are formed of an elastics material to enhance energy absorption.

As part of the game a player is required to strike balls on the playing area and attempt to knock them into a pocket. A player is therefore provided with a mallet similar to that used in croquet comprising a handle and a head, said head having at least one strike face which is brought into contact with a ball to strike a ball in the desired direction.

A conventional croquet mallet would however be difficult to use, for example when the ball to be struck is against a barrier section. The player would be unable to swing the mallet such that a strike face of the mallet would go between the barrier section and the ball, and strike the ball in anything other than a direction parallel to the barrier section.

The present invention contemplates a mallet having a mallet head which has two faces which together form a wedge. This allows the mallet to penetrate between a barrier section and a ball such that a strike face of the mallet impacts the ball at an angle which is non-parallel to the wall allowing the ball to be moved away from the wall and in the desired direction.

As such in FIGS. 4a to 4c are shown plan views of mallet heads suitable for use.

In respect of 4a and 4a (i) a first embodiment of a mallet, generally referenced 40 has a shaft or handle 41 which the player holds whilst taking a shot. The shaft 41 is joined to the mallet head 42. As a suitable example of such a join, the mallet head 42 can include a hole of complementary shape to the cross-section of the shaft 41 allowing the shaft 41 to be inserted into the head 42 and secured therein, either by adhesive, other means known in the art, such as a screw or nail, or combinations thereof. Alternatively, where the mallet is formed of a plastics material, the handle can be integrally moulded with the head.

The mallet head 42 has therefore three main strike faces 43, 44, 45 with which to strike a ball, although the other two link faces 46, 47 could also be used if the player so wished. The first face 43 is a conventional face, rectangular in shape and whose strike face faces in the same direction as a line perpendicular to the face 43 joining the shaft to the face. For many shots therefore the player is expected to use this first face 43. For this reason the handle 41 preferably is joined to the mallet head 42 approximately on a line through the centre of the face 43 ad perpendicular to the place of the face 43. This assists also the normal mode of use of the mallet which is to stand with the legs slightly apart and swing the mallet between the legs to strike the ball, as is known in conventional croquet.

The mallet head faces 44, 45 are at angles to the first face 43, such that the faces are neither parallel to nor perpendicular to the plane of the first face 43. The illustrated angle α is less than 45° and enables a ball to be struck at an angle out of the plane of a conventional swing across the playing surface, which plane is along the centre of the shaft 41 and through the mid-point 48 of the top edge of the first face 43. The faces 44, 45 can therefore be used when the ball is close to a barrier section 11 and needs to be struck in a direction away from the barrier section 11. Link faces 46, 47 join, respectively, and along respective common edges 49, 50 the faces 44, 45 with the first face 43.

The dotted lines in FIG. 4a are to a version of the first embodiment of a mallet head which is generally thinner than the above-described embodiment, but which otherwise has the same features, and where the angle between the faces 44, 45 is more acute than for the mallet head 42.

In FIG. 4b a second embodiment of a mallet head 52 is shown. The mallet head is joined to a shaft as with the first embodiment of FIG. 4a. The plan view shows the head 52 to have a generally trapezoidal shape having a conventional first strike face 53 with two perpendicular strike faces 54, 55 extending therefrom. The strike faces 54, 55 are linked together by an oblique strike face 56. The angle β illustrated is again less than 45°. The oblique strike face 56, as with the first embodiment enables balls close to a barrier section 11 to be struck easily away from the barrier section 11.

It will be noted that the mallet head 52 would be easier to use when striking balls with the face 54 moving parallel to a barrier section 11, but that this only allows a ball to be struck 26 in one general direction relative to a barrier section. For example in FIG. 1a, the ball 17 is struck using the mallet head 52, travelling in the direction of arrow A. The ball 17 can then, following the strike, only travel within the quadrant 57, shown as a hatched area of FIG. 1a.

The mallet head 62 shown in FIG. 4c is the mirror image of the mallet head 52 and enables balls to be struck into the opposite quadrant 58 by using the oblique face 66. When playing a game therefore, a player, or group of players can be provided with a set of different mallets, including ones having either a mallet head 52 or 62, from which set the player then selects a mallet, in order to make a shot. Alternatively, a mallet head 52 or 62 can include a hole in the previously lowermost face enabling the shaft to be removed should the securing means allow, from one face and inserted into the other so effectively converting a mallet head 52 into one of configuration 62 and vice versa.

The mallet heads 72 and 82 of FIGS. 5a, 5b respectively are as described above for 52 and 62, with the dotted lines showing optional angles for the oblique face 56, 66.

In FIG. 5c, a triangular mallet head 92 is shown. Again, the upper surface of the head 92 defines a hole into which a shaft 91 is fitted. The dotted lines again show alternative angles for the oblique faces 94, 95 relative to the face 93. The triangular head 92 in effect combines the heads 52, 62 of FIGS. 4b, 4c and allows the same mallet to be used to strike a ball in either direction away from a barrier section 11.

In the above embodiments, the angle subtended between an oblique face and the first face of the particular mallet head is from 10-60°, and preferably from 30-45° to provide a head which is sufficiently strong and which enables a ball to be struck away from a barrier section. The angle is ideally less than 45°.

FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate mallet heads 102, 112 similar to those shown in FIGS. 4b, 4c. The oblique faces 56, 66 are replaced with curved surfaces 104, 114. The curvature adds an element of chance to the use of the mallet and could be used, for example as a form of handicap for a player who is far better at the game than other participants. The concave curvature of the illustrated surfaces 104, 114 can be, in an alternative embodiment, convex, although the concave curvature is preferred.

The embodiment in FIG. 6c is not an embodiment of the claimed invention but is suitable for use as part of the game and again adds elements of chance to taking a shot and require increased skill levels to use effectively.

FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate possible shapes for the end, conventional strike face of mallet heads 122, 132 as described in relation to surfaces 43, 53 of FIGS. 4a, 4b respectively. The dotted lines in FIGS. 7a, 7b illustrate the shaft 41 within the mallet heads 122, 132. It will be recognised that in the mallets in accordance with the current invention only one conventional strike face is needed.

In FIG. 7c, a further feature of mallets in accordance with the invention is shown in that the mallet head 142 has rounded corners 147, 148 at—assuming a conventional swing to utilise the conventional strike face 143—the leading (strike) face and the trailing face. The a rounded corners aid the swing of the mallet and reduce the chance of scuffing the mallet on the ground. The other end 144 of the mallet head 142 can be profiled as described above to include obliquely angled faces. Optionally the upper corners 149a, 149b can also be curved to reduce weight or change the balance of the mallet overall.

To assist some players, the mallet can be weighted to change the centre of gravity of the mallet.

The strike faces as described above are smooth, with no surface features. However the strike faces can include features such as, for example, ridges. In this case, the ridges allow a user to impart spin to a ball on striking the ball.

With reference to the mallets 150, 160 of FIGS. 8a, 8b respectively, the length of the shaft 151 is typically greater than 60 cm, but not usually more than 100 cm. The shaft can include a gripping section to enable the player to easily hold and use the mallet. Although a shaft having a circular cross-section can be contemplated, polygonal cross-sections such as hexagonal or octagonal can also be utilised. Typically the diameter of a shaft is around 2 cm diameter or greater.

Using the mallet as described above a game can be played according to the following rules. The game is played on a playing surface or court which is typically rectangular in shape and approximately twice as long along its long edges as across its short width edges. Six hoops or pockets are provided, one in each corner and one half way along each long edge. Suitable dimensions are a length of 360 cm and a width of around 180 cm. Where a far larger court is used, then further pockets can be included along the edges.

Balls of four different colours, but of the same size are placed onto the court. Usually, one black coloured ball, two white balls and six or eight coloured balls (half in one colour and half in another colour such as red and yellow) are utilised. In order for the balls to run true, particularly in windy conditions, or where the games is being played on grass, then the mass of balls is around 12-16 oz (340-460 g), and having a diameter of around 8½ cm. Moreover, within the game as described below the mallet is intended to be able to move two balls at the same time and so the total mass moveable by the mallet can be 24-32 oz (680-920 g). It is evident therefore that the mallet needs to be sufficiently strong to provide an impulse large enough to set the balls in motion: often over an uneven or rough surface.

The coloured (i.e. not black or white) balls are placed in a triangle in the event that six coloured balls are being utilised or other polygonal shapes. The black ball is placed behind the triangle along one of the edges of said triangle, and approximately 1 ft. (30 cm) from a short end of the court.

A decision is made as to which player is to go first. Said player then puts their white ball at the opposite end of the court to the black ball and around 30 cm from the other short end. The first player then strikes the white ball with their mallet and hits it towards the coloured balls. Movement of the balls is along the ground and the ball is not to be lofted off the ground when moving. The colour of the ball hit by the first player determines which of the balls in the rest of the game are those belonging to the first player. For the rest of the game therefore the first player will be attempting to send balls of this colour through the hoops or pockets. The first player is then allowed to pick his white ball up and place it next to the coloured ball which was first struck. The first player then attempts to strike the white ball in such a way that it sends the coloured ball through a hoop. If the first player fails to achieve this, then the turn passes to the second player. However, if the first player is successful in sending the coloured ball through a hoop the first player then has a further turn.

In the event that a ball is close to an edge, i.e. a barrier section 11, the player, using for example a mallet in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 4b, stands facing the ball with legs apart, in the general direction the player wishes to send the ball. The player swings the mallet to strike the ball with a strike face of the mallet. In the event the player wishes to send the ball parallel to the barrier section 11, the player strikes the ball with the surface 53 of the mallet head 52. Should the player wish to move the ball away from the barrier section 11 then the mallet can be turned round and the ball struck with the surface 56.

In the event the ball is close to a corner, a different action can be employed in which the mallet is positioned with the surface 56 against the ball, and the ball moved by a twisting action applied to the handle by the player to strike the face 56 against the ball, causing the ball to move.

Play continues in this manner until a player has passed (hooped) all his coloured balls through a hoop. Said player then attempts to pass the black ball through a hoop. The player who manages to pass the black ball through a hoop is deemed to be the winner.

During the game, play can be governed by further rules relating to the conduct and actions taken by the players. Firstly, should one player's white ball hit the other player's white ball before his white ball hits his own colour (or the black ball in the event that said player's colours have already been hooped) then the turn passes to the other player. In the event that a player's white ball strikes a coloured ball of the other player before striking his own coloured ball, then again play passes to the other player. Similarly, should a player fail to hit any ball at all then the turn passes to the other player. In the event that the first ball struck by a player's white ball is the black ball then the second player obtains an additional turn.

In the event that a player passes the black ball through a hoop when one or more of his coloured balls are still on the court then the other player is deemed to be the winner.

In order for a ball to be judged to be through a hoop, then if the majority of said ball is passed beneath the hoop it is deemed to have passed through. The ball is then removed so as not to block the hoop. In striking a white ball, said white ball is not allowed to be pushed. In the event that the white ball is in an unstrikeable position then a player is allowed to twist his mallet in order to move the white ball. In the event that a player, in attempting to strike the white ball, misses and strikes another ball on the court, then play passes to the second player. If, during play a player hoops one of his coloured balls and the white then continues on to strike another of his own coloured balls then the player can pick up his white ball and place it next to the coloured ball just hit and play from there.

It will be recognised that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

AN IMPROVED GAME AND EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

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