Patent Application
20170340938
This invention relates generally to devices, systems and methods used to play ball games. More specifically, this invention relates to a device, as well as to a system and a method, that is used to provide a unique ball retrieving game for a plurality of players.
Ball games, or ball sports, are well known. Such games are played in some form or other wherein a ball is a key feature of the game and can be one of several different types. For example, “target” or “goal” ball games such as basketball, golf and bowling require that the ball hit, land within or pass through some sort of target. “Impact” ball games such as baseball and tennis require that the ball be impacted or hit by another object, such as a bat and a racquet, respectfully, in order to impart a desired trajectory of the ball by the user. Tennis and volleyball would also be examples of “net” ball games.
The present invention is adapted from another type of ball game—a game originating in the streets of Chicago, which is called “pinners.” The pinners game was played, and continues to be played, using the stairs of the front-stoop of a building or walls with angled bricks/stones which “pop” a tossed ball up and into the air on rebound from the stairs. The game utilizes traditional Chicago “row house” architecture, with most houses having a front stoop or stairs that lead from the front door to the sidewalk. In pinners, a first player (sometimes referred to as a “batter”) throws a highly resilient rubber (polybutadiene) ball, such as a SUPER BALL® (SUPER BALL is a registered mark of Wham-O Holding, Ltd.) or a simple tennis ball directed at the edge of a step or angled wall brick, with both being considered the “sweet spot” for that throw, after which secondary players attempt to catch the ball as it bounces back and away from the step in some fairly unpredictable way. Normal play would be throwing the ball at the ground first. The ball would hit the wall or front of the step and bounce high out to the field. The ball could also be thrown at the wall or front of the stair, then it would hit the ground and bounce low but fast—like a line drive. The edge or corner was the home run or sweet spot mentioned above.
Sometimes the secondary, or defending, players would wear mitts. The scoring rules were similar to baseball, but with runs being determined by where the ball lands, although variations to the rules were adopted and used depending on the number of players and other factors. For example, a single, double, triple or home run would be predetermined landmarks, such as curbs, sidewalks, trees, cars, etc. As with most neighborhood games, however, the rules varied by the groups playing and house rules would be determined at the start of the game, including base locations.
In the view of this inventor, an adaptation of the pinners game had to be created such that the players could enjoy this venerable ball-toss-and-catch game, but in locations where stairs do not exist as well as in a wide variety of other alternative play locations.
The device of the present invention provides for a ball game apparatus that includes a ball-rebounding body having a frame within which a resilient surface is suspended. It is desirable to have the frame be configured such that it is immovable for optimizing ball rebound. In this way, the body can be used on virtually any surface and the game played in virtually any environment.
In a preferred embodiment, the frame would have a base and a rebound surface-supporting structure. The resilient rebound surface is continuous and is tiltable. The resilient surface is also inwardly tapered such that ball rebound and trajectory is rendered unpredictable, or predictable depending on the skill of the ball thrower. In the preferred embodiment, defense boundaries, offensive lines and other features are included to provide a wide variety of game formats.
In this preferred embodiment, the ball-rebounding body would be configured to be placed at or near the water's edge of a body of water. That is, the ball-rebounding body would be placed on the sand of a beach such that it faces outwardly toward the water. In this way, the game can be played as a water sport.
The foregoing and other features of the device, system and method of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows.
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout,
The frame 20 comprises a primary frame member 22 that is configured as a circular structure. See also
The frame 20 further comprises two front support members 24 that support the frame 20 from below. Also see
It is also to be appreciated that the front and rear support members 21, 24, 25 can be configured as tubular structures having a variety of inner and outer diameters to provide structural support to the frame 20 while also making the support members lightweight for ease of movement. Further, the front and rear support members 21, 24, 25 can be constructed from any number of materials, metallic and nonmetallic, or a combination thereof. Still further, all of the frame members 21, 22, 24, 25 can be permanently connected to one another or temporarily connected to allow for ease in breakdown and transport of the frame 20 for game playing in one environment, such as on concrete, and then on another one, such as grass. Still further, the rear support members 21 that support the circular frame member 22 from behind can be configured as telescoping structures, if desired or required.
As comparatively shown in
Disposed within and suspended from the circular frame member 22 is a resilient and substantially conical ball impact and rebound member, generally identified 30. The conical member 30 is intended to be made of a resilient material such as materials of the type used in trampolines and the like. This could include, but is not limited to, a waterproof canvas, polypropylene material or other strong fabric. The material could also be net-like, as long as it can be pulled into tension and a ball can be rebounded by it without having the ball pass through the net at whatever speed the ball is thrown. At its outer perimeter or edge 32, the conical member 30 is secured to the circular primary frame member 22 at multiple points such that the front of the conical member 30 is suspended at its outer perimeter 32 by the circular primary frame member 22, the member 30 being held in tension. Each attachment point comprises a frame attachment member 32. As shown in
At the center and bottommost portion of the conical ball impact and rebound member 30 is a center aperture 34 having an edge 35. See
Referring back to
Referring now to
Irrespective of the surface on which the game is played, additional game “boundary” elements are provided in the system and method of the present invention. Those include a forward thrower line 52 disposed in front of and closest to the ball-rebounding device 10, beyond which the thrower may not step. A rearward thrower line 54 is disposed behind the thrower (not shown) beyond which the through may not step. At angles extending away from the rearward thrower line 54 is a pair of angular out-of-bounds lines 56 that can project away from the rearward thrower line 54 to form boundaries for the game. Additional extensions 59 can be provided and the ends of the extensions 59 can be staked, as can the ends of the out-of-bounds lines 56, particularly where water play is the environment, to maintain line position in the body of water. Any of the lines 52, 54, 56 can comprise a linear material such as a cord and lines 54, 56 may be comprised of a single length of cord. The lines 52, 54, 56 are held in position by a plurality of line positioning members, generally identified 58. Relative to the angular out-of-bounds lines 56, the positioning members 58 can be colored to designate, for example, a first base hit, a second base hit, a third base hit and a home run hit, all in accordance with the way that the users choose to play the game. In all cases, however, the defensive players are positioned within and between the out-of-bounds lines 56. It is also possible to configure the same elements as having glow-in-the dark features for nighttime play and other embellishments of the game.
As alluded to previously, the ball-rebounding device 10 and the other boundary elements 56, 58 can be position on a beach wherein the forward thrower line 52 is positioned on sand and all of the other boundary elements are buoyant, wherein the defensive players assume their positions in the water for appropriate ball retrieval. Depending on the water depth, the out-of-bounds lines 56 can be movable inwardly to offset water resistance imparted on the players. The ball game system further includes stakes 51 for anchoring the ends of the out-of-bounds lines 56 when the system is used at the edge of a water body. Again, see
In application, the ball-rebounding device 10 and its boundary elements 52, 54, 56 are set in place. The ball 60 is then thrown at the ball-rebounding device 10 and its substantially conical ball impact and rebound surface 30. Ball rebound trajectory 62 then depends on two factors—how hard the ball 60 is thrown and where the ball 60 strikes the substantially conical ball impact and rebound surface 30, which is comprised of a resilient surface. As can be appreciated, this resilient surface is tapered such that ball 60 rebound and trajectory 62 is rendered unpredictable, or predictable depending on the skill of the ball thrower.
