CONVERTIBLE GAME ASSEMBLY

• US 20080252018A1
• Filed: 04/10/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sop Services Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sop Services Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chung, Safari
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/402
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0079 Balls tethered to a line or cord A63B43/007 takes precedence; other games using tethered balls A63B67/10; games using a bat or racket with a ball tethered thereto A63B67/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

A convertible game assembly comprises a convertible frame having at least one adjustable joint separating a back frame portion and a front frame portion. The front frame portion is configured to pivot upward and backward about the adjustable joint to convert the frame from an open to a closed configuration. The assembly further includes an elevated back target piece coupled to the back frame portion and a front target piece coupled to the front frame portion. The frame is positionable in an open configuration to allow a game player to throw projectiles toward the back target piece, with the open configuration defining a first player position. Additionally, the frame is positionable in a closed configuration to allow a game player to kick projectiles toward the front target piece, with the closed configuration defining a second player position closer to the back frame portion than the first player position.

Claims

1. A convertible game assembly, comprising:

a convertible frame having a back frame portion and a front frame portion and at least one adjustable joint separating said back and front frame portions, wherein said front frame portion is configured to pivot upward about said adjustable joint toward said back frame portion to convert said frame from an open configuration to a closed configuration;

an elevated back target piece coupled to said back frame portion;

a front target piece coupled to said front frame portion;

wherein said frame is positionable in the open configuration to allow a game player to throw projectiles toward said back target piece, said open configuration defining a first player position in front of said front frame portion; and

wherein said frame is positionable in the closed configuration to allow a game player to kick projectiles toward said front target piece, said closed configuration defining a second player position in front of said front frame portion and closer to said back frame portion than the first player position.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said front frame portion includes at least one base section for contacting a support surface when said frame is in said open configuration, wherein said base section of said front frame portion is configured to pivot about said adjustable joint toward said back frame portion to position said frame in said closed configuration.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said front target piece is planar, wherein said front target piece is positioned substantially flat on a support surface when said frame is positioned in said open configuration and wherein said front target piece is positioned substantially perpendicular to the support surface when said frame is positioned in said closed configuration to expose said front target piece to receive kicked projectiles.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one basketball goal assembly coupled to said back target area.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said basketball goal assembly includes a basketball hoop, a basketball net hanging from said hoop, and a hoop mount for mounting said basketball hoop to said back target piece.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said basketball goal assembly includes at least one scoring sensor for indicating passage of a basketball through said basketball hoop.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one football target area on said back target piece, wherein said at least one football target area includes a score designation.

8. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising at least one impact scoring sensor on said football target area.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one soccer target area on said front target piece, wherein said at least one soccer target area includes a score designation.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a soccer ball and a tether having a first end coupled to said front frame portion and a second end coupled to said soccer ball.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said adjustable joint includes first and second mating connection members and a connecting pin for locking said mating connection members together at desired rotational positions, wherein said first mating connection member is configured to engage said back frame portion and said second mating connection member is configured to engage said front frame portion.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein each of said connection members includes a splined mating surface for engaging the other of said connection members at selected angular positions.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein an angle between said connection members is about 180 degrees when said frame is positionable in said open configuration and about 90 degrees when said frame is positionable in said closed configuration.

14. A convertible game assembly, comprising:

a convertible frame configured to convert between a first configuration for playing a throwing game and a second configuration for playing a kicking game, said first configuration being different from said second configuration, wherein said frame includes a rear base portion and a forward pivoting portion;

a throwing target area engaged with said rear base portion of said frame;

a kicking target area engaged with said forward moveable portion of said frame, said second target area being different from said first target area;

wherein said frame is positionable in said first configuration for a player to play the throwing game utilizing said throwing target area; and

wherein said frame is positionable in said second configuration by pivoting said forward pivoting portion to orient said kicking target area for a player to play a kicking game.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said frame includes at least one pivot joint separating said rear and forward portions, wherein said pivot joint is adjustable to convert said frame between said first and second configurations.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said throwing target area includes at least one basketball goal and said kicking target area includes at least one soccer target.

17. A system, comprising:

a convertible game assembly for converting between at least one kicking game and at least one throwing game;

wherein said assembly includes a convertible frame having two adjustable side joints to convert said frame between throwing and kicking game-playing configurations, wherein said frame includes a back base frame portion and a front pivoting frame portion, with said adjustable side joints positioned between and separating said front and back frame portions;

wherein said assembly includes a throwing target area engaged with said back base frame portion and having at least one of a basketball goal and a football target for use in playing basketball or football, respectively, when said frame is positioned in said throwing game-playing configuration; and

,

wherein said assembly includes a kicking target area engaged with said front pivoting frame portion and having at least one soccer target for use in playing soccer when said frame is positioned in said kicking game-playing configuration.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of said adjustable joints includes two mating connection members and a connecting pin for locking said mating connection members together at desired rotational positions, wherein each of said connection members includes a splined mating surface for engaging with the other of said connection members at selected angular positions.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein said kicking target area is planar, wherein said kicking target area is positioned substantially flat on a support surface when said frame is positioned in said throwing game-playing configuration and wherein said kicking target area is positioned substantially perpendicular to the support surface when said frame is positioned in said kicking game-playing configuration to expose said kicking target area to receive kicked projectiles.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said throwing target area includes both a basketball goal assembly and a football target for use in playing basketball and football respectively.