The present invention relates generally to badminton, and in particular, to an illuminated badminton game system.
Lawn games such as horseshoes, lawn darts, croquet, volleyball, and badminton are popular outdoor recreational activities for small residential gathering. They are particularly popular during parties and picnics. While such games are indubitably fun, they are primarily intended for use during daytime hours. In fact, many of these games are actually dangerous when played with low visibility such as during nighttime hours.
Even when safety concerns are minimal, it is extremely difficult to see various game components in the dark. Most such games rely heavily on a visual component to allow participants to either aim for a target or react to an opponent's move. Even in the presence of artificial lighting such as streetlights, torches, floodlights, and the like, depth perception is hindered and some areas of a yard are not as well lit as others. Most lawn games include small game pieces, and such pieces become lost easily in the unlit areas. As pieces are lost, the game becomes less and less interesting and provides an increased burden when trying to locate the pieces the next day.
Due to the abovementioned factors, most such games typically stop when it becomes dark. However, this is less than ideal, because parties and gatherings often extend well into the night, leaving the participants searching for activities to replace those games.
Various attempts have been made to provide lighted games. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. Patents and U.S. Patent Applications, such as U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0220001, U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,438, U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,290, U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,388, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,130. However, none of these designs are similar to the present invention.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Many such devices do not provide illumination for all of the components necessary to play a game. Many such devices rely solely on expendable energy sources. Many such devices do not provide illumination to the area around the game. Accordingly, there exists a need for a badminton game system without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need.
In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a badminton game system with all expected features of a badminton set and providing visibility to all of the game's components and the area of play for nighttime use. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need.
To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide an illuminated badminton play set for participating in the game of badminton during either daytime hours or during periods of low visibility such as cloudy weather or nighttime. The system includes a boundary line, a net, a plurality of racquets, and a shuttlecock.
Another object of the present invention is to provide illumination to all of the components of the system.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to illuminate the entire boundary of the play area with the boundary line and a plurality of boundary line illumination means. The boundary is a translucent plastic tube and the plurality of boundary line illumination means is preferably a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED's).
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide both corded and battery power sources for the boundary line with a boundary line power cord and a user-replaceable boundary line secondary battery source. The boundary line further includes a power switch for activating or deactivating the boundary line, so that the boundary line can be used during daylight in a common manner and quickly activated at any point as daylight fades to increase visibility.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to illuminate a perimeter of the net with a length of net tube and a plurality of net illumination means. The net tube is a translucent tube similar to the boundary line and molded to the perimeter of the net. The net tube houses the net illumination means spaced throughout the tube.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide both corded and battery power sources for the net illumination means by routing the net tube through a net support pole and downwardly to a ground surface for connection to either an existing residential power supply or standalone operation from a net secondary battery power source. The net has a net power switch similar to the boundary line.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to illuminate each racquet during use with a plurality of racquet illumination means spaced around a perimeter of a head of the racquet. A frame of the head is constructed of a transparent or translucent material that houses the racquet illumination means and allows them to be seen during use.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to power the racquet illumination means with a racquet power source comprising a replaceable battery stowed within a handle of each racquet. The battery is accessed by removing a cap from an end of the racquet handle and actuated by a racquet power switch located on the cap. The racquet power switch is located such that it can be quickly actuated during use but will not be contacted during normal use of the racquet while playing badminton.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated shuttlecock comprising an internal shuttlecock illumination means housed within the shuttlecock and a translucent rubber or plastic base that enables users to see the shuttlecock illumination means during use.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to power the shuttlecock illumination means with a small, replaceable integral battery. The battery is accessed by threadingly removing the base from a skirt portion of the shuttlecock. The battery can further be removed to utilize the shuttlecock as a common, un-illuminated shuttlecock.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof construction of the boundary line, net tube, racquets, and shuttlecock to prevent damage in the presence of precipitation.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of acquiring the boundary line, net, racquets, and shuttlecock, installing the boundary line and net in a common manner, plugging in the corded power sources of the boundary line and net if desired, providing a battery for each of the components, utilizing the system to play badminton in a common manner, selectively providing illumination to one (1) or more components of the system to increase visibility, replacing the batteries as necessary, and providing visibility to the spatially significant components of a badminton game in order to play badminton during periods of low visibility in a full and uninhibited manner.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
The present invention describes an illuminated badminton play set (herein described as the “system”) 10, which provides a means for participating in the game of badminton preferably during nightfall or in less than desirable lighting situations, yet may also be utilized during daylight hours.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The boundary line illumination means 22 is powered via a boundary line power cord 24 which is plugged into a boundary line battery compartment 25 and further to be inserted into a common household circuit. The boundary line power cord 24 may be removed to enable a boundary line secondary power source 26 which is preferably a plurality of appropriate and common user-replaceable batteries to power the boundary line illumination means 22 in lieu of the boundary line power cord 24. The boundary line battery compartment 25 would include housing which encloses a transformer circuit and sensing relays which enable the power source to switch from the boundary line power cord 24 or the boundary line secondary power source 26 as desired. When the boundary line secondary power source 26 is utilized alone, a tube power switch 71 upon the boundary line battery compartment 25 is depressed to activate or deactivate the boundary line illumination means 22. The tube power switch 71 is depicted as a common pushbutton, yet other switching devices may be utilized without limiting the scope of the system 10.
Referring now to
A length of a net tube 37 is attached to the exterior perimeter edge of the border 36 via common molding techniques to provide additional illumination 15 to the playing area 75. The net tube 37 is similar to the abovementioned boundary line tube 21 in that it is preferably a common rope lighting which is comprised of a plastic tube which encompasses length of net illumination means 38. The net illumination means 38 is preferably LED's routed within the net tube 37. The net tube 37 is routed through a pair of net tube apertures 39 upon a pole 31 which further interconnects the net illumination means 38 to a net power cord 40 and net secondary power source 42 which enables current to be sent via a common household circuit or user replaceable batteries, respectively. The net secondary power source 42 is housed within a net battery compartment 42 which is similar as the abovementioned boundary line battery compartment 25. When the net secondary power source 42 is utilized alone a net power switch 72 which is similar to the abovementioned net power switch 72 upon the net battery compartment 41 is depressed to activate or deactivate the net illumination means 38.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the system 10, it would be installed as indicated in
The method of utilizing the boundary line 20 may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the boundary line 20; positioning the boundary line 20 on a level surface and inserting the spikes 23 into said level surface; placing a boundary line secondary power source 26 into the boundary line battery compartment 25 as needed; plugging in the boundary line power cord 24 into the boundary line battery compartment 25 as needed; and, transmitting a current to the boundary line illumination means 22 via the boundary line secondary power source 26 or the boundary line power cord 24 as desired and illuminating the boundary line illumination means 22 within the boundary line tube 21 to create illumination 15 around the desired playing area 75.
The method of utilizing the net 30 may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the net 30; positioning each pole 31 at an equidistant width opposing each other and bisecting the playing area 75; attaching the net 30 to each pole 31 via inserting a hook portion 33b of each net attachment cord 33a into each respective net cord aperture 34; placing a net secondary power source 42 into the net battery compartment 41 as needed; plugging in the net power cord 40 into the net battery compartment 41 as needed; and, transmitting a current to the net 38 illumination means 22 via the net secondary power source 42 or the net power cord 40 as desired and illuminating the net illumination means 38 within the net tube 37 to create illumination 15 around the desired playing area 75 and upon the netting 32.
The method of utilizing the racquet 45 may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the racquet 45; grasping the racquet 45 at the handle 46 and depressing the racquet switch 47 to illuminate the racquet illumination means 53, head 48, and strings 44 as necessary; disengaging the cap 49 from the handle internal portion 51 to replace the racquet power source as needed; and, repeating for a desired amount of racquets 45.
The method of utilizing the shuttlecock 55 may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the shuttlecock 55; removing the base 56 from the attachment member 62 via disengaging the base threaded portion 61 from the base attachment 63; inserting a shuttlecock power source 60 as needed to illuminate the shuttlecock illumination means 57; replacing the base 56 onto the attachment member; and, removing the skirt 58 from the attachment member 62 via disengaging the skirt threaded portion 59 from the skirt attachment 64 as desired for replacement purposes.
The method of utilizing the system 10 may be achieved by performing the following steps: striking the shuttlecock 55 with the racquets 45 over the net 30; and, participating in the game of badminton at daylight or at nighttime in a conventional manner. The system 10 may also be used during daytime or in adequate light without using the illumination means 15.
The method of utilizing a pair of boundary lines 20 may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a pair of boundary lines 20; positioning a boundary line 20 on a level surface and inserting the spikes 23 into said level surface; positioning another boundary line 20 on a level surface opposing the first boundary line 20 and inserting the spikes 23 into said level surface; placing each boundary line secondary power source 26 into each boundary line battery compartment 25 as needed; plugging in each boundary line power cord 24 into the boundary line battery compartment 25 as needed; and, transmitting a current to the boundary line illumination means 22 via the boundary line secondary power source 26 or the boundary line power cord 24 as desired and illuminating the boundary line illumination means 22 within each boundary line tube 21 to create illumination 15 around the desired playing area 75.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Various modifications and variations can be appreciated by one skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the invention.
The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/347,858 filed May 25, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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