Basketball game having scoring slap-pads

• US 5,300,920 A
• Filed: 08/17/1992
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BMC Toys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Larsson, Ake, Cookson, Michael, Tura, Pat, Caselli, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Tim
• Application Number:
  US07/930,573
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 273/1.5 A, 273/1.5 R, 273/371, 273/374, 340/323 R, 340/323 B, 340/665, 340/309.15, 340/718, 364/410, 364/411, 364/412, 364/526, 434/248, 434/249, 377/5
• US Class Current: 473/480
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• 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 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

A basketball game includes a generally planar backboard supporting a circular hoop having a basketball net extending downwardly therefrom. A center housing is supported beneath the hoop and secured to the backboard. A pair of score indicators having digital score indicating displays are supported on either side of the backboard. A pair of slap actuated depressible slap-pads are secured to and supported by the indicator housings. A flexible score sensor is secured to the center housing and extends into the net passage. The score sensor includes a flexible joint having a flex gauge or strain gauge operative therewith to provide an electrical signal each time the ball is successfully shot by a player and passes through the hoop and basketball net. In the preferred play pattern, the player having successfully scored a basket is able to increment the player'"'"'s indicated score by slapping the appropriate one of the slap-pads following the successful shot. In the absence of a successful preceding shot, the slap-pads remain ineffective and operation thereof fails to alter the displayed player'"'"'s score. A multi-jointed, generally tubular support frame supports the backboard and basketball hoop at a predetermined adjustable height.

Claims

1. A basketball game for use in combination with a ball comprising:

a generally planar backboard;

a generally circular hoop supported by said backboard;

a pair of player score indicators;

a pair of slap-pads each having a touch responsive pad supported by said backboard;

a score sensor proximate said hoop having means responsive to the passage of said ball through said hoop to produce a sensed basket signal in response to said ball passage; and

control means for controlling said pair of player score indicators, said control means being coupled to said score sensor, said pair of slap-pads, and said pair of score indicators increasing the displayed score on a score indicator in response to the actuation of the appropriate one of said slap-pads in response to a sensed basket signal.

2. A basketball game as set forth in claim 1 wherein said backboard defines a lower edge and wherein said slap-pads extend at least partially below said lower edge.

3. A basketball game as set forth in claim 2 wherein said slap-pads are disposed on opposite sides of said hoop.

4. A basketball game as set forth in claim 3 wherein said score indicators, each include a digital score number display.

5. A basketball game as set forth in claim 4 having a support frame for supporting said backboard spaced above a play surface.

6. A basketball game as set forth in claim 5 wherein said support frame includes means for adjusting the spaced height of said backboard above said play surface.

7. A basketball game as set forth in claim 6 wherein said score sensor includes an elongated shaft having a flexible joint therein.

8. A basketball game as set forth in claim 7 wherein said score sensor includes a strain gauge operatively coupled to said flexible joint.