PROJECTILE PASSING GAME SYSTEMS

• US 20110070981A1
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indian Industries Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Indian Industries Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Inventors: Allshouse, James R., Chung, Safari
• Granted Patent: US 8,413,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/476
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

A game system comprises a base game-playing structure and at least two target surfaces each defining at least one target zone and depicting different projectile-passing games. The target surfaces are engageable with the base game-playing structure in one or more substantially vertical orientations and configured to receive passed projectiles. The system also includes at least one sensor engaged with the base game-playing structure. The target zone is positioned at a location on the target surface which is aligned with the sensor. The sensor is configured to detect the presence of a projectile at the target zone. The system may also include an electronic display configured to display the status of the game being played with the game system, and an electronic controller configured to receive signals from the sensor and coupled to the electronic display to reflect the status of the game.

Claims

1. A game system, comprising:

a base game-playing structure;

at least two target surfaces each defining at least one target zone, the target surfaces being engageable with the base game-playing structure in one or more substantially vertical orientations and configured to receive passed projectiles, wherein each of the target surfaces depicts a different projectile-passing game to be played with the game system;

at least one sensor engaged with the base game-playing structure;

wherein the target zone is positioned at a location on the corresponding target surface which is aligned with the sensor when the corresponding target surface is engaged with the base game-playing structure, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the presence of a projectile at the target zone when the corresponding target surface is engaged with the base game-playing structure;

an electronic display configured to display the status of the game being played with the game system; and

an electronic controller configured to receive signals from the sensor and coupled to the electronic display to reflect the status of the game.

2. The game system of claim 1, wherein the at least two target surfaces occupy opposing front and back sides of a double-sided target panel.

3. The game system of claim 1, wherein the at least two target surfaces are positioned on two discrete target panels which are interchangeably and selectively engageable with the base game-playing structure.

4. The game system of claim 1, wherein the target zone is a target zone aperture sized to allow for passage of a projectile therethrough.

5. The game system of claim 4, wherein the sensor is a passing sensor configured to detect if a projectile passes through the target zone aperture and send a signal to the electronic controller.

6. The game system of claim 5, wherein the base game-playing structure includes a frame having a front side and a back side, wherein the passing sensor is a sensor pair comprising an emitter and a corresponding detector, with the emitter and detector being mounted to the frame between the front and back sides.

7. The game system of claim 6, wherein the at least two target surfaces includes a first target surface on a first target panel engageable with the front side of the frame and a second target surface on a second target panel engageable with the back side of the frame.

8. The game system of claim 1, wherein the target zone is a target zone impact area designated on the target surface.

9. The game system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is an impact sensor configured to detect if a projectile impacts the target panel within the target zone impact area and to then send a signal to the electronic controller.

10. The game system of claim 1, wherein the base game-playing structure includes a stand, a frame engaged with the stand, and a backboard panel engaged with the frame, wherein the sensor is mounted to the backboard.

11. The game system of claim 1, wherein the base game-playing structure includes a stand, a frame engaged with the stand, and a rotating mechanism operably and rotatably engaging the frame with the stand at opposing engagement positions, wherein the rotating mechanism is configured to allow the frame to pivot with respect to the stand so that the frame may be positioned at a vertical position and a plurality of vertically angled positions.

12. The game system of claim 10, wherein the backboard panel includes a front side and an opposite back side, with the sensor being mounted to the front side, wherein the target surfaces are discrete target panels which are interchangeably and selectively engageable with the base game-playing structure adjacent the front side of the backboard panel.

13. The game system of claim 1, comprising an apron mounted to the base game-playing structure extending forward underneath a target surface engaged with the base game-playing structure at a downward angle to receive a projectile and to return the projectile to a player.

14. A game-playing apparatus, comprising:

a frame and backboard assembly;

at least two target surfaces each defining at least one target zone impact area, the target surfaces being engageable with the frame and backboard assembly in a substantially vertical orientation and configured to receive passed projectiles, wherein each surface depicts a different projectile-passing game to be played with the game-playing apparatus;

at least one impact sensor mounted to the frame and backboard assembly;

wherein the target zone impact area is positioned at a location on the target surface which is aligned with the impact sensor when the corresponding target surface is engaged with the frame and backboard assembly, wherein the sensor is configured to detect if projectile impacts the target surface within the target zone impact area when the corresponding target surface is engaged with the frame and backboard assembly; and

an electronic display system configured to receive signals from the sensor and display the status of the game being played with the game-playing apparatus.

15. The game-playing apparatus of claim 14, comprising a stand, wherein the frame and backboard assembly is moveably engaged with the stand so that the frame and backboard assembly may be positioned in a vertical position and at least one angled position with respect to the stand.

16. The game-playing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the target surfaces are engageable with the frame and backboard assembly through the use of hook and loop fasteners.

17. The game-playing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the frame and backboard assembly includes a frame and a backboard panel engaged with the frame, the backboard panel having a front side and an opposite back side, with the impact sensor being mounted on the front side of the backboard panel, wherein the target surfaces are selectively and interchangeably engageable with the frame and backboard assembly adjacent the front side of the backboard panel.

18. The game-playing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least two target surfaces occupy opposing front and back sides of a double-sided target panel.

19. The game-playing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least two target surfaces are positioned on two discrete target panels which are interchangeably and selectively engageable with the base game-playing structure.

20. A kit, comprising:

a base stand, a frame engageable with the base stand in a substantially vertical orientation, and a backboard panel carried by the frame;

at least two target panels each defining at least one target zone impact area, the target panels being selectively and interchangeably engageable with the frame or backboard panel in a substantially vertical orientation and configured to receive passed projectiles, wherein each panel depicts a different projectile-passing game to be played;

at least one impact sensor mounted on the backboard panel;

wherein the target zone impact area is positioned at a location on the corresponding target panel which is aligned with the impact sensor when the target panel is engaged with the frame or backboard panel, wherein the sensor is configured to detect if projectile impacts the target panel within the target zone impact area when the corresponding target panel is engaged with the frame or backboard panel; and

an electronic display system configured to receive signals from the sensor and display the status of the game being played.