PLAY DEVICE FOR A REBOUND SPORT

• US 20180250576A1
• Filed: 05/07/2018
• Published: 09/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fun With Balls GmbH
• Original Assignee: Fun With Balls GmbH
• Inventors: Kern, Markos Aristides
• Granted Patent: US 10,668,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/06 Squash
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0059 Exercising apparatus with reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/02 Shaping of the surface of courts according to the necessities of the different games surface construction E01C
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2019/067 Machines for marking
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/12 Electrically powered or heated
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/14 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 : Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance

Abstract

A play device for a rebound sport with a play area is provided, on which a ball can be played by a player to rebound from an impact position in accordance with a predetermined set of rules of the rebound sport, which includes a sensor system configured to detect two-dimensional first coordinates of the impact position and to transfer the two-dimensional first coordinates to a computing unit configured to determine two-dimensional second coordinates, a size and/or a shape of a target field depending on the first coordinates in accordance with a predetermined specification and to control a projector to project the target field to be optically perceptible by the player on a projection area, wherein the ball can be played by the player on the target field to rebound from the target field in accordance with the set of rules of the rebound sport.

Claims

1. A play device for a rebound sport, the play device comprising:

a play area configured to permit a ball to be played by a player to rebound from an impact position of the play area in accordance with a predetermined set of rules of the rebound sport, the ball being played by the player on at least one target field to rebound from the at least one target field in accordance with the predetermined set of rules of the rebound sport;

a computing unit;

a sensor system in communication with the computing unit and configured to detect two-dimensional first coordinates of the impact position and to transfer the two-dimensional first coordinates to the computing unit;

the computing unit being configured to;

determine two-dimensional second coordinates, and at least one of a size and a shape of the at least one target field depending on the two-dimensional first coordinates in accordance with a predetermined specification, and

control a projector of the play device configured to project the at least one target field on a projection area arranged within the play area to be optically perceptible by the player.

2. The play device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises a light barrier for each of the two-dimensional first coordinates.

3. The play device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises a light grid for each of the two-dimensional first coordinates.

4. The play device according to claim 1, wherein:

the sensor system comprises a light barrier configured to detect one of the two-dimensional first coordinates and a camera having an image processing unit and being configured to capture the play area, and

the image processing unit is configured to detect another of the two-dimensional first coordinates.

5. The play device according to claim 1, wherein:

the sensor system comprises a light grid configured to detect one of the two-dimensional first coordinates and a camera having an image processing unit and being configured to capture the play area, and

the image processing unit is configured to detect another of the two-dimensional first coordinates.

6. The play device according to claim 1, further comprising a server configured to at least one of:

permit the predetermined specification to be input in the computing unit, and

manipulate the predetermined specification in the computing unit.

7. The play device according to claim 1, further comprising a client-computing unit configured to at least one of:

remotely input the predetermined specification in the computing unit, and

manipulate the predetermined specification in the computing unit.

8. The play device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system is configured to:

detect an impact of the ball in the at least one target field, and

be coupled to the computing unit to report back a detection of the impact of the ball to the computing unit.

9. The play device according to claim 8, wherein the computing unit is configured to evaluate the detection reported back and to control the projector to project evaluation information as an evaluation display on the projection area.

10. The play device according to claim 1, wherein:

the rebound sport is squash, and

the play area includes at least one of a front wall, a side wall, and a floor of a squash court.

11. A squash court comprising the play device according to claim 10.

12. A method for playing a rebound sport, comprising:

playing a ball by a player on a play area to rebound from an impact position of the play area according to a predetermined set of rules of the rebound sport;

detecting two-dimensional first coordinates of the impact position;

determining two-dimensional second coordinates, and at least one of a size and a shape of at least one target field depending on the first coordinates in accordance with a predetermined specification;

projecting the at least one target field on a projection area arranged within the play area, the at least one target field being optically perceived by the player;

subsequently playing the ball by the player to rebound from the at least one target field in accordance with the set of rules of the rebound sport.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

detecting an impact of the ball in the at least one target field.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

evaluating a detection reported back, and

projecting an evaluation information as an evaluation display on the projection area.