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Tethered ball game and apparatus

  • US 4,270,757 A
  • Filed: 04/02/1979
  • Issued: 06/02/1981
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1979
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Game apparatus for playing simulated racquetball on an open playing surface by one or more players using racquets, which comprises:

  • line means positioned on the playing surface for defining a bounce zone and a playing zone separated by a substantially straight boundary line of predetermined length, said boundary line means having a midpoint;

    said boundary line means separating the playing zone in which the players move during the game, and the bounce zone on the playing surface;

    a base positioned on the playing surface in predetermined spaced apart relationship in a direction substantially normal to the midpoint of said boundary line means, said base being located within the playing zone;

    an elastic tether cord of predetermined length in relaxed condition substantially equal to the distance between said base and boundary line means, said tether cord having two ends;

    swivel means for rotatably connecting one end of said tether cord to said base;

    a resilient ball having a hollow interior and a radial aperture extending between substantially spherical inside and outside surfaces;

    an inelastic loop positioned in the aperture of said ball and having inside and outside ends, the outside end of said loop being connected to the other end of said tether cord; and

    plug means secured to the inside end of said loop within said ball for preventing separation of said loop from said ball;

    said ball having bounce characteristics similar to a standard racquetball and being suitable for repeated bouncing and hitting by racquets held by the players;

    said ball, tether cord and boundary line means cooperating such that said ball, when struck with a racquet and hit over said boundary line means, bounces in the bounce zone and is returned by said tether cord and caused to bounce in the playing zone in a manner simulating that in which a free racquetball rebounds from the walls of a conventional enclosed racquetball court.

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