GB2338905A

GB2338905A - Ball game apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2338905A
Application number: GB9826260A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Patrick Beal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-07-03
Filing date: 1998-11-30
Publication date: 2000-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-30
Also published as: GB2338905B; GB9826260D0; GB9814495D0

Description

2338905 BALL GAME APPARATUS This invention relates to ball game apparatus.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide ball game apparatus which is different from the many known types of ball game apparatus that are available, which is inexpensive to produce, and which is capable of generating continued player interest.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided ball game apparatus comprising at least one ball and at least one receptacle for catching the ball, the ball being a ball which does not bounce.

The ball game apparatus can be used in a variety of different ways to enable players to play different types of games with the ball game apparatus. The games can be played indoors or outdoors. Because the ball does not bounce, it does not tend to bounce out of the receptacle once it has been caught and this is important for playing indoors where damage could be done if the ball were to keep bouncing out of the receptacle.

The ball game apparatus can be played by two players with each player having one of the receptacles. In this case, there will usually only be one of the balls. For more players playing the ball 2 game apparatus, each player will usually have one of the receptacles, and the game may be played with one or more of the.balls as may be desired.

The ball may be a ball which is known as a hackysac ball. The ball may alternatively be known by the names of bean bag ball or a juggling ball.

The ball may comprise a cover and a loose filling material inside the cover. The ball is thus soft and pliable, but non-elastic.

The loose filling material may be in the form of granules or particles. The granules or particles may be of different shapes and sizes. The loose filling material may be a synthetic material, for example a synthetic plastics or resin material. The loose filling material may be contained in a bag inside the cover. The bag may be a plastics bag.

Any suitable and appropriate type of cover may be employed. Preferably, the cover is formed from separ ate panels which are stitched together. The panels are preferably leather panels but other materials may be employed. The panels may be provided with an inner lining material, for example of mesh cloth.

Preferably, the receptacle is a tube. Other types of receptacle may however be employed.

Preferably, the receptacle does not have. a 3 handl e If desired however, the receptacle may have a handle.

Preferably, the receptacle is made of cardboard or a plastics material. Other materials may be used.

Advantageously, the receptacle is such that its outside is provided with decoration. Any suitable and appropriate type of decoration may be employed.

The game apparatus will normally be one in which the ball slides easily into the receptacle, but not so easily as to over simplify the catching of the ball in the receptacle, By way of example, it is mentioned that the game apparatus may be one in which the receptacle has a 3 inch (7. 62cm) mouth, and in which the ball is 2.25 - 2.75 inches. (5.715 - 6. 985cm) in diameter. In this case, the receptacle may be' a parallel sided tube which is 9.5 inches (24.13cm) in length or, alternatively, the receptacle may be a parallel sided tube which is 3.75 - 4.00 inches (9. 525 - 10.16cm) in length.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows two players playing with ball game apparatus of the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of one of the receptacles shown in Figure 1; 4 Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the ball shown in Figure 1; Figures 4, 5 and 6 show three dif f erent types of receptacle to the receptacle shown in Figure 2; and Figures 7 - 10 show f our dif f erent methods of play using the ball game apparatus of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 there i.s shown ball game apparatus 2 comprising a ball 4 and two receptacles 6. As shown in Figure 1, one receptacle 6 is held by a player 8 and the other receptacle 6 is held by a player 10. The player 8 is shown using an arm 12 to throw the ball over arm. The player 10 is shown using an arm 14 to throw the ball 4 under arm. Other ways of throwing the ball 4 can be employed so that, for example, the ball 4 could be thrown by swinging it out of its receptacle 6.

The ball 4 is one that does not bounce. The ball 4 is known as a hackysac ball 4 which comprises a cover 16 and loose filling material (not shown) inside the cover 16. The ball 4 is thus a round deformable ball with a loose filling which is usually of a synthetic particulate material. As can be seen f rom. Figure 3, the cover 16 is formed from separate panels 18. The panels 18 are made from leather and they are stitched together.

The receptacle 6 is a parallel sided tube. Preferred dimensions for the receptacle 6 are 9.5 (24.13cm) inches long and 3 inches (7.62cm) in diameter. Preferred dimensions for the ball 4 are 2.75 inches (6.985cm) in diameter, or 2.25 inches (5.715cm) in diameter. The outside of the receptacle 6 is decorated with stripes 20 as shown. The stripes 20 will usually be in different colours. The panels 18 may also be in different colours.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the receptacle 6 is a plain parallel sided tube that does not have a handle. An alternative receptacle 22 is shown in Figure 4. This receptacle 22 is cup-shaped so that it has a mouth 24 which is the same size as the diameter as the receptacle 6, but the receptacle 22 tapers down towards a base 26.

Figure 5 shows a further alternative receptacle 28 which is like the receptacle 6 shown in Figure 2 but which is only 3.75 - 4 inches (9.525 10.16cm) inches in length.

Figure 6 shows a further alternatiVe receptacle 30 which is like the receptacle 28 shown in Figure 5 but which is provided with a handle 32. As can be seen, the receptacles 22, 28, 30 are all provided with different types of decoration on their outsides. The decoration will usually be of a bright nature, in 6 order to give the ball game apparatus good commercial selling appeal.

In Figure 1, the players 8, 10 are shown throwing the.ball 4 to each other with the intention that the ball 4 should be caught in the receptacle 6 held by each -player 8, 10. Figure 7 shows an alternative method of play in which the players 8, 10 take one step backwards as indicated by the arrows 34 each time one of the players 8, 10 successfully catches the ball 4 in the receptacle 6. This backwards movement increases the distance between the players 8, 10 making it progressively harder to catch the ball 4 in the receptacles 6.

Figure 8 shows an alternative method of play using the ball game apparatus 2. In Figure 8 there are four players 36 each with a receptacle 6. The playe.rs 36 are playing on a marked out area 38, with two players 36 being one side of a net 40 and the other two players 36 being the other side of the net 40. The players 36 are using one ball 4 so that the players 36 are playing a type of doubles game.

Figure 9 shows ten players 36 arranged in a circle with a further player 42 being positioned inside the circle formed by the players 36. The players 36 are shown throwing two balls 4 to the 7 player 42. Only one ball 4 or more than two balls 4 can be used in the method of play shown in Figure 9.

Referring now to Figure 10, there is shown a method of play utilizing the ball game apparatus 2 in which two players 8, 10 see how far they can stand apart and still catch the ball 4 in the receptacle 6. In the game shown in Figure 10, both of the players 8,10 -share the same receptacle 6, or if desired both of the players 8,10 may have their own receptacle 6. One player throws the ball 4 to the other player. The distance between the players may be marked -as shown by a marking 44 in metres. The marking 44 may be obtained in an approximate manner by pacing, or a tape measure (not shown) may be employed to give a more accurate distance measurement.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the panels 18 may be made of a material other than leather, and they may be secured together by fixing means other than stitching. Also, the receptacles 6 may be of shapes other than those shown. There are many ways of playing games with the ball game apparatus. If desired, points may be awarded in order to determine a winner of a game 8 played with the board game apparatus. Generally speaking, such games may be played in sets of 3 - 5, with each set consisting of ten points. A point may be deducted every time a player fails to catch the ball in the receptacle. A point may be added every time a player successfully catches the ball in the receptacle. The first player to reach a predetermined number of points, for example ten points, wins the set being played. The first player to win a predetermined number of sets, for example 3 - 5 sets, is the overall winner of the game. Where a net is employed,. for example a net 40 as shown in Figure 6, then the net can be arranged to be high or low as may be desired. Games played with the ball game apparatus can be indoors or outdoors as may be desired. Where the games are played outdoors, then they may be played in gardens or parks or on pavements and beaches. The ball game apparatus provides a safe urban game since the ball is not going to bounce, for example into other people's gardens or into roads.

9

Claims

1 Ball game apparatus comprising at least one ball and at least one receptacle for catching the ball, the ball being a ball which does not bounce.

2. Ball game apparatus according to claim I in which the ball is known as a hackysac ball.

3. Ball game apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the ball comprises a cover and a loose filling material inside the cover.

4. Ball game apparatus according to claim 3 in which the loose filling material is a particulate material.

S. Ball game apparatus according to claim 4 in which the particulate material is a synthetic material.

6. Ball game apparatus according to any one of claims 3 - 5 in which the cover is formed from separate panels which are stitched together.

7. Ball game apparatus according to claim 6 in which the panels are leather panels.

8. Ball game apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the receptacle is a tube.

9. Ball game apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the receptacle does not have a handle.

10. Ball game apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the receptacle is made of cardboard or a plastics material.

11. Ball game apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the receptacle is such that its outside is provided with decoration.

12. Ball game apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the ball slides easily into the receptacle, but not so easily as to over simplify the catching of the ball in the receptacle.

13. Ball game apparatus according to claim 12 in which the receptacle has a 3 inch (7.62cm) mouth, and in which the ball is 2.25 - 2.75 inches (5. 715 6.985cm) in diameter.

14. Ball game apparatus according to claim 13 in which the receptacle is a parallel sided tube which is 9.5 inches (24.13cm) in length.

15. Ball game apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. Ball game apparatus according to claim 13 in which the receptacle is a parallel sided tube which is 3.75 - 4.00 inches (9.525-10.16cm) in length.