Illuminated croquet set

• US 5,370,390 A
• Filed: 10/26/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wayne L. Swanson
• Original Assignee: Wayne L. Swanson
• Inventors: Swanson, Wayne L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/142,181
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 273/DIG. 24, 273/83, 273/56
• US Class Current: 473/410
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/36 Croquet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/60 of mallet type, e.g. for croquet or polo
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/24 Luminescent, phosphorescent

Abstract

A croquet set includes a mallet, ball, wicket, and stake, each of which has a light emitting source removably mounted to each individual component. The mallet handle is hollow and formed of a transparent material, with a chemical light stick removably mounted therein to provide light. The mallet head preferably has a groove along the outside surface of the body to removably receive a chemical light stick thereon. The croquet ball preferably has a groove formed in the outside circumference to receive a chemical light stick. The wicket includes a pair of ground engaging anchors with an inverted U-shaped light stick attached to the upper ends of the ground engaging anchors. The stake is a clear hollow tubular member with a ground engaging end. A chemical light stick is removably mounted in the stake to provide the light source.

Claims

1. A croquet set, comprising:

a croquet mallet having an elongated handle portion with upper and lower ends;

said mallet handle portion having a cylindrical aperture therein extending from the upper to the lower end;

a head portion mounted to the lower end of the handle, having at least one ball contacting surface formed thereon;

light emitting means removably mounted within said handle aperture;

said handle portion formed of material which will transmit light therethrough;

said mallet head having light emitting means removably mounted thereon;

a solid croquet ball having light emitting means removably mounted thereon;

a croquet wicket formed from a chemical light stick having a resilient elongated body formed into an inverted generally U-shaped orientation, and ground engaging means for removably engaging the ends of the light stick to the ground; and

a croquet stake including an upright tubular member having an aperture extending substantially the entire length thereof;

said stake including a lower portion with ground engaging means thereon;

light emitting means removably mounted within said stake aperture; and

said stake formed of a material which will transmit light therethrough.

2. The croquet set of claim 1, wherein said mallet handle and stake are formed of transparent material.

3. The croquet set of claim 1, wherein said light emitting means are chemical light sticks having resilient flexible elongated cylindrical housings.

4. The croquet set of claim 1, further comprising a truncated cylindrical groove extending generally longitudinally along the surface of the cylinder of a size to receive a light stick of a predetermined diameter.

5. The croquet set of claim 3, wherein said ball has a truncated cylindrical groove extending around the circumference thereof having a diameter adapted to receive a light stick of a predetermined diameter therein.

6. The croquet set of claim 1, further comprising a removable cap for selectively closing said mallet handle aperture.

7. A croquet set, comprising:

a croquet mallet having an elongated handle portion with upper and lower ends;

said mallet handle portion having a cylindrical aperture therein extending from the upper to the lower end;

a generally cylindrical head portion mounted to the lower end of the handle having at least one ball contacting surfaced formed thereon;

light emitting means removably mounted within said handle aperture;

said handle portion formed of material which will transmit light therethrough;

said mallet head having light emitting means removably mounted thereon;

a solid croquet ball having light emitting means removably mounted thereon;

a croquet wicket having removable light emitting means extending in an inverted generally U-shaped orientation, and ground engaging means for removably engaging the wicket to the ground;

a croquet stake including an upright tubular member having an aperture extending substantially the entire length thereof;

said stake including a lower portion with ground engaging means thereon;

light emitting means removably mounted within said stake aperture;

said stake formed of a material which will transmit light therethrough;

said light emitting means being chemical light sticks having resilient flexible elongated cylindrical housings;

a truncated cylindrical groove extending generally longitudinally along the surface of the mallet head of a size to receive a light stick of a predetermined diameter; and

said groove extending in a spiral around the circumference of the head.

8. A croquet set, comprising:

a croquet mallet having an elongated handle portion with upper and lower ends;

said mallet handle portion having a cylindrical aperture therein extending from the upper to the lower end;

a generally cylindrical head portion mounted to the lower end of the handle having at least one ball contacting surfaced formed thereon;

light emitting means removably mounted within said handle aperture;

said handle portion formed of material which will transmit light therethrough;

said mallet head having light emitting means removably mounted thereon;

a solid croquet ball having light emitting means removably mounted thereon;

a croquet wicket including a hollow tubular member with light emitting means removably mounted therein, said tubular member being formed of a material which transmits light therethrough and formed in a generally inverted U-shape;

said wicket including ground engaging means for removably engaging said tubular member and supporting the tubular member above the ground;

a croquet stake including an upright tubular member having an aperture extending substantially the entire length thereof;

said stake including a lower portion with ground engaging means thereon;

light emitting means removably mounted within said stake aperture;

said stake formed of a material which will transmit light therethrough;

said light emitting means being chemical light sticks having resilient flexible elongated cylindrical housings;

a truncated cylindrical groove extending generally longitudinally along the surface of the mallet head of a size to receive a light stick of a predetermined diameter; and

said groove extending in a spiral around the circumference of the head.

9. The croquet set of claim 8, wherein said wicket ground engaging means includes first and second anchors having a lower pointed end for engaging the ground and an upper end with means for removably attaching one end of said hollow tubular member.

10. The croquet set of claim 8, wherein said wicket ground engaging means includes first and second anchors having a lower pointed end for engaging the ground and an upper hollow tubular end for receiving one end of a light stick therein.