Electronic Ball Game

• US 20070200298A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Antony Course
• Original Assignee: Antony Course
• Inventors: Course, Antony
• Application Number:
  US10/599,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200298A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/317.500
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0043 Systems for locating the point of impact on a specific surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34

Abstract

An interactive ball game, which uses software associated with an existing computerized ball game, in which a ball projected by a player provides input to the interactive game, which would otherwise be provided by a joystick or similar control device, includes a screen upon which the game is displayed, and which acts as a target, and a device for preventing the ball from hitting the screen. The interactive ball game further includes a ball sensing apparatus, which detects the motion of the ball as it passes through the ball sensing apparatus. The ball sensing apparatus includes software which determines the trajectory of the ball and a player'"'"'s level of success in the game relative to the target.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. An interactive ball game using software for playing an existing computerized ball game, which a ball projected by a player provides input for said interactive ball game which would otherwise be provided by a display control device, said interactive ball game comprising:

a ball;

a screen upon which said interactive ball game is displayed, said screen acting as a target for said ball;

means for preventing said ball from hitting said screen; and

,

ball sensing means for detecting motion of said ball as said ball passes through said ball sensing means, said ball sensing means including software for determining trajectory of said ball and a player'"'"'s level of success in said interactive ball game relative to said target.

19. The interactive ball game according to claim 18, wherein said screen is static.

20. The interactive ball game according to claim 18, wherein said screen is an interactive video display responsive to characteristics of a particular game.

21. The interactive ball game according to claim 18, wherein said means for preventing said ball from hitting said screen is a mesh forming a net placed in front of said screen through which said screen is visible to the player.

22. The interactive ball game according to claim 21, wherein said net is translucent.

23. The interactive ball game according to claim 21, wherein said net has a lower edge, adjacent with a lower edge of said screen, with an elongate member attached thereto via elastic members to a surface between said screen.

24. The interactive ball game according to claim 23, further comprising a ramping component, wherein said lower edge of said net is connected to said ramping component between said ramping component and said surface.

25. The interactive ball game according to claim 18, further comprising a housing in which said interactive ball game is enclosed.

26. The interactive ball game according to claim 25, wherein said housing is a framework covered in a “

see through”

mesh material.

27. The interactive ball game according to claim 18, wherein said means for preventing said ball from hitting said screen is a mesh forming a net placed in front of said screen through which said screen is visible to the player, and wherein said ball sensing means includes an array of sensors located in front of said net.

28. The interactive ball game according to claim 27, wherein said ball sensing means includes a plurality of said array of sensors located in front of said net, with each said array of sensors of said plurality of said array of sensors being separated from one another by a predetermined distance.

29. The interactive ball game according to claim 27, wherein said array of sensors includes a rectangular frame having individual sensors located on an inner surface of said rectangular frame.

30. The interactive ball game according to claim 18, wherein said ball sensing means includes sensors that are infra-red transmitters and receivers.

31. The interactive ball game according to claim 18, wherein said ball sensing means is capable of sensing passage of said ball in a plurality of planes.

32. The interactive ball game according to claim 18, further comprising a housing in which said interactive ball game is enclosed and an alarm for ensuring that said ball does not leave said housing without a player obtaining authorized access to remove said ball from said housing.