Patent Application
20240216789
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The disclosure relates to game systems and more particularly pertains to a new game system for playing a game simulating a basketball game.
The prior art relates to game systems which use a structure with a goal in the shape of a hoop, cup, hole, or the like for launching a projectile in an attempt to direct the projectile into the goal. The projectile in the prior art game systems is typically a spherical ball meant to simulate a basketball. In some cases, the projectile is launched by throwing it by the hand. In other cases, it is launched by a component of the game system.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base member. A rod is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base member. The rod is elongated. A plurality of closed loops is coupled to a distal end of the rod with respect to the base member. Each closed loop of the plurality of closed loops has a vertically orientated channel extending therethrough, and the plurality of closed loops being arranged radially around the rod.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A plurality of balls 24 may be provided for use in a game utilizing the simulated basketball game system 10. The vertically oriented channel 20 of each of the closed loops 16 has a size configured to allow passage of each ball 24 therethrough. Each of the balls 24, which are typically comprised of a plastic or elastomeric material to resemble a conventional but diminutive basketball, may have a spherical shape 26 and may include a first set 28 of balls 24 and a second set 30 of balls 24. A basketball indicia 32 is coupled to each ball 24 of said first set 28 of balls 24 which simulates an appearance of a basketball and visually differentiates each ball 24 of the first set 28 of balls 24 from each ball 24 of the second set 30 of balls 24. “Indicia” as used in the specification and the claims is used to refer to both a singular and a plurality of markings or indicating features. Each ball 24 of the second set 30 of balls 24 is photoluminescent. Each ball 24 of at least one of the first 28 and second 30 sets of balls 24 may also comprise alternative indicia to the basketball indicia 32 for visually differentiating the first 28 and second 30 sets of balls 24. The alternative indicia may include letters, numbers, graphical images, geometric shapes, colors, logos, or the like.
The base member 12 has a plurality of recesses 36 extending through a top surface 38 of the base member 12, each of which is shaped for receiving one of the balls 24. Each of the plurality of recesses 36 is convexly arcuate. Each of a plurality of score indicia 40 is positioned in one of the plurality of recesses 36 for indicating a score value for an associated one of the recesses 36. The score indicia 40 may comprise numbers, letters, graphical images, geometric shapes, colors, or the like. Each recess 36 may also have one of a plurality of spacers 42 positioned therein which is coupled to the base member 12. When a ball 24 lands in one of the recesses 36, an associated spacer 42 for the recess 36 positions the ball 24 to protrude out of the recess 36 for easy removal of the ball 24.
A deflector 44 is also coupled to and extends outwardly away from the rod 14. The deflector 44 is positioned below the closed loops 16 and is shaped to deflect the balls 24 away from the rod 14 when the balls 24 fall through one of the closed loops 16. The rod 14 is detachable from the base member 12, and the top surface 38 has a slot 46 extending therein for receiving the rod 14. The plurality of closed loops 16 is collectively detachable from the rod 14. The closed loops 16 form an interior perimeter 48 that is abuttably positionable on a shoulder 50 of the rod 14 formed by an increase in the rod's 14 diameter.
A rebound panel 52 is positioned adjacent to and extending forwardly from a front side 54 of the base member 12. The rebound panel 52 has a rebounding surface 56 which faces upwardly and is oriented horizontally. A plane of the rebounding surface 56 is spaced vertically above a plane of the top surface 38 of the base member 12. In some embodiments, a graphical image depicting a basketball court is positioned on the rebounding surface 56. A score table 58 may also be positioned on the rebounding surface 56 which includes fields to write scores obtained during the play of a game using the simulated basketball game system 10. In embodiments with a score table 58 positioned on the rebounding surface 56, the rebound panel 52 comprises a material for writing on such as a chalkboard, a dry erase board, or the like.
A backboard 60 is coupled to and extending upwardly from the base member 12 for preventing balls 24 from passing behind the base member 12. The backboard 60 is positioned adjacent to a back side 62 of the base member 12. A horizontal plane of a top edge 64 of the backboard 60 is vertically spaced above a horizontal plane of the distal end 18 of the rod 14. The backboard 60 extends between a pair of lateral sides 66 of the base member 12. The backboard 60 is detachable from the base member 12, and the base member 12 has a notch 68 extending into the top surface 38 for receiving the backboard 60 therein.
A perimeter wall 70 is attached to and extending upwardly from the base member 12. The perimeter wall 70 has a front wall 72, a back wall 74, and a pair of lateral side walls 76. The rebound panel 52 is pivotally coupled to an upper edge 78 of the front wall 72 and defines a cover 80 for pivoting and covering the base member 12. The cover 80 is positionable in a closed position 82 wherein the cover 80 covers the base member 12, and the cover 80 is securable in the closed position 82.
A support 84 is coupled to a distal edge 86 of the rebound panel 52 relative to the front wall 72. The support 84 extends downwardly from the rebound panel 52 when the rebound surface is upwardly facing to engage a surface and retain the rebound panel 52 in a horizontal orientation. At least one fastening member 88 is coupled to the support 84 and the perimeter wall 70 for securing the rebound panel 52 in the closed position 82. The at least one fastening member 88 comprises a first mating element 90 and a second mating element 92, the first mating element 90 being releasably attachable to the second mating element 92. The first mating element 90 is coupled to the support 84, and the second mating element 92 is coupled to the perimeter wall 70. The support 84 is pivotal with respect to the rebound panel 52 and is extended downwardly from the rebound panel 52 when the rebound surface is downwardly facing such that the first 90 and second 92 mating elements are engageable with each other. The at least one fastening member 88 comprises a hook-and-loop fastener 94, but may comprise a latch, buckle, or the like.
A pair of trays 96 may also be included which each have a plurality of depressions 98 for holding one of the sets of balls 24. In one embodiment, the trays 96 holding the sets of balls 24, the rod 14, the plurality of closed loops 16, and the backboard 60 are positionable between the base member 12 and the cover 80 when the cover 80 is in the closed position 82 for convenient storage and portability.
In use, a first player and a second player play a game using the basketball simulation game system 10. One of the first 28 and second 30 sets of balls 24 is selected for playing the game. The second set 30 of balls 24 may be chosen to facilitate playing the game in a darkened environment, because each ball 24 of the second set 30 of balls 24 is photoluminescent. Photoluminescent materials may also be incorporated into at least one of the base member 12, the rod 14, the plurality of closed loops 16, the plurality of tubular nets 22, the deflector 44, the backboard 60, and the perimeter wall 70 to increase visibility in the darkened environment.
In a round of play, the first player consecutively throws each ball 24 of the selected set of balls 24 toward the rebounding surface 56 in an attempt to land each ball 24 in one of the closed loops 16. Points are awarded to the first player when one of the balls 24 passes through one of the closed loops 16. Points are also awarded to the one player when the ball 24 lands in one of the recesses 36 in the base member 12, whether or not the ball 24 passes through one of the closed loops 16. The thrown balls 24 are collected, and the second player also throws each ball 24 of the selected set of balls 24 in like manner to the first player. In one variation of the game, two points are awarded for passing one of the balls 24 through one of the closed loops 16, and the value of points awarded for landing one of the balls 24 in one of the recesses 36 is equal to the score indicated by the score indicia 40 associated with the recess 36 in which the ball 24 landed. In embodiments with a score table 58, the score for each player may be recorded on the score table 58. The first and second players repeat these steps for three more rounds of play. A total score for each player is calculated by summing the scores for all rounds of play for each player. The player with the greater total score wins the game.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
