BALL-STRIKING GAME

• US 20100181725A1
• Filed: 01/16/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Smalley
• Original Assignee: Thomas Smalley
• Inventors: Smalley, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,336,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/317.600
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/76 with means enabling use in the dark, other than powered illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/50 Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/002 Games using balls, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• 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

Disclosed is a system for simulating a ball-striking game for a batter in a game area. The system includes a fluorescent bat, a fluorescent ball, a tracking device, and a data computing device. The fluorescent bat is adapted to be held by the batter. The fluorescent ball is adapted to be delivered to the batter for hitting the fluorescent ball with the fluorescent bat. The tracking device is capable of detecting a first set and a second set of parameters associated with the fluorescent ball. Further, the tracking device is capable of wirelessly transmitting the first set and the second set of parameters to the data computing device. The data computing device is capable of generating a score for the batter based on the first set and the second set of parameters.

Claims

1. A system for simulating a ball-striking game for a batter in a game area, the system comprising:

a fluorescent bat adapted to be held by the batter;

a fluorescent ball adapted to be delivered to the batter, wherein the batter attempts to bat the fluorescent ball with the fluorescent bat;

a tracking device capable of detecting a first set and a second set of parameters associated with the fluorescent ball, the tracking device further capable of wirelessly transmitting the first set and the second set of parameters, wherein the first set of parameters is associated with the fluorescent ball being delivered to the batter, the first set of parameters comprising at least one of a trajectory motion of the delivered fluorescent ball, a size of the delivered fluorescent ball and a velocity of the delivered fluorescent ball, and wherein the second set of parameters is associated with the fluorescent ball being batted by the batter, the second set of parameters comprising at least one of a velocity of the batted fluorescent ball and a trajectory motion of the batted fluorescent ball; and

a data computing device wirelessly connected to the tracking device, the data computing device capable of wirelessly receiving the first set and the second set of parameters transmitted by the tracking device, the data computing device further capable of generating a score for the batter based on the first set and the second set of parameters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking device is implanted in the fluorescent ball.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a light source in the game area to illuminate the fluorescent bat and the fluorescent ball.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pitching means for delivering the fluorescent ball to the batter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking device is a radio-frequency Identification (RFID) chip.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking device is an optical tracking device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second set of parameters further comprises scores and batting average values.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a target, wherein the batter attempts to hit the target with the fluorescent ball.

4. The system of claim 4, wherein the light source is an ultraviolet light source.