One-on-one basketball game apparatus

• US 5,876,036 A
• Filed: 11/10/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darryl Mathis
• Original Assignee: Darryl Mathis
• Inventors: Mathis, Darryl
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US08/967,427
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 273/317.1, 273/317.3, 273/108.1, 273/108.55, 273/108.56, 273/399
• US Class Current: 273/317.3
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0612 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0664 Electric

Abstract

A basketball game apparatus comprising a playing field having first and second tracks embedded in a court floor, a target supported above the court floor and a basketball. A motorized defensive basketball player figurine coupled in the first track for movement therein and a motorized offensive basketball player figurine coupled in the second track for movement therein. First and second hand-held game control devices wherein each control device alternately controls the movement of the defensive basketball player figurine when in a defensive playing mode and the movement of the offensive basketball player figurine when in an offensive playing mode.

Claims

1. A basketball game apparatus comprising:

a playing field having first and second tracks embedded in a court floor;

a target supported above said court floor;

a motorized defensive basketball player figurine coupled in said first track for movement therein;

a motorized offensive basketball player figurine coupled in said second track for movement therein;

first and second hand-held game control devices wherein each control device of said first and second hand-held control devices alternately controls the movement of said defensive basketball player figurine when in a defensive playing mode and the movement of said offensive basketball player figurine when in an offensive playing mode; and

,

a basketball member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second energized tracks are concentric arch-shaped tracks.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said defensive basketball player figurine essentially resembles a basketball player wherein said defensive basketball player figurine maintains an erect position with its arms fully extended above its head to block the ball;

and,

said offensive basketball player figurine essentially resembles a basketball player wherein said offensive basketball player figurine maintains a basketball shooting posture.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said offensive basketball player figurine comprises:

a first hand for supporting said basketball; and

a second hand which is spring biased to apply a force of pressure to the basketball member to propel the basketball member forward in the direction of the target.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a first score/time keeping panel for displaying a score of a first player and displaying a count down of a predetermined time interval in which said first player is in said offensive playing mode; and

,

a second score/time keeping panel for displaying a score of a second player and for displaying a count down said predetermined time interval in which said second player is in said offensive playing mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said playing field comprises:

a first wall perpendicularly coupled to a back edge of said court floor;

a second wall perpendicularly coupled to a first side of said court floor;

a third wall per perpendicularly coupled to a second side of said court floor wherein said second wall and said third wall are substantially triangularly-shaped wherein the hypothenuse of the triangularly-shaped second and third walls extends from the front to the back of said court floor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said motorized defensive basketball player figurine is propelled in said first track by first propulsion means for propelling coupled to the feet of said motorized defensive basketball player figurine and said motorized offensive basketball player figurine is propelled in said second track by second propulsion means for propelling coupled to the feet of said motorized offensive basketball player figurine wherein said first propulsion means and said second propulsion means each comprise:

a front axle,

first and second front wheel members coupled to each end of said front axle for rotation on said court floor,

a rear axle,

first and second rear wheel members coupled to each end of said rear axle for rotation on said court floor, and

a motor means for rotating said front axle and said rear axle;

wherein said first propulsion means further comprises;

a track guide member coupled in a channel of said first track, and

first and second direction contacts coupled to first and second flange members, respectively of said first track; and

wherein said second propulsion means further comprises;

a track guide member, coupled in a channel of said second track, having a basketball actuation control signal contact, and

first and second direction contacts coupled to first and second flange members, respectively of said second track.

13. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said playing field comprises:

a first wall perpendicularly coupled to a back edge of said court floor;

a second wall perpendicularly coupled to a first side of said court floor;

a third wall per perpendicularly coupled to a second side of said court floor wherein said second wall and said third wall are substantially triangularly-shaped wherein the hypothenuse of the triangularly-shaped second and third walls extends from the front to the back of said court floor.

8. A basketball game apparatus comprising:

a playing field having first and second tracks embedded in a court floor;

a target supported above said court floor;

a motorized defensive basketball player figurine coupled in said first track for movement therein;

a motorized offensive basketball player figurine coupled in said second track for movement therein;

first propulsion means for propelling said motorized defensive basketball player wherein said first propulsion means is coupled to the feet of said motorized defensive basketball player figurine and is receivable in a channel of said first track;

second propulsion means for propelling said motorized offensive basketball player wherein said second propulsion means is coupled to the feet of said motorized offensive basketball player figurine and is receivable in a channel of said second track;

first and second hand-held game control devices wherein each control device of said first and second hand-held control devices alternately controls the movement of said defensive basketball player figurine when in a defensive playing mode and the movement of said offensive basketball player figurine when in an offensive playing mode; and

,

a basketball member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first and second energized tracks are concentric arch-shaped tracks.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said defensive basketball player figurine essentially resembles a basketball player wherein said defensive basketball player figurine maintains an erect position with its arms fully extended above its head to block the ball;

and,

said offensive basketball player figurine essentially resembles a basketball player wherein said offensive basketball player figurine maintains a basketball shooting posture.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said offensive basketball player figurine comprises:

a first hand for supporting said basketball; and

a second hand which is spring biased to apply a force of pressure to the basketball member to propel the basketball member forward in the direction of the target.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a first score/time keeping panel for displaying a score of a first player and displaying a count down of a predetermined time interval in which said first player is in said offensive playing mode; and

,

a second score/time keeping panel for displaying a score of a second player and for displaying a count down said predetermined time interval in which said second player is in said offensive playing mode.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first propulsion means and said second propulsion means each comprise:

a front axle,

first and second front wheel members coupled to each end of said front axle for rotation on said court floor,

a rear axle,

first and second rear wheel members coupled to each end of said rear axle for rotation on said court floor, and

a motor means for rotating said front axle and said rear axle;

wherein said first propulsion means further comprises;

a track guide member coupled in a channel of said first track, and

first and second direction contacts coupled to first and second flange members, respectively of said first track; and

wherein said second propulsion means further comprises;

a track guide member, coupled in a channel of said second track, having a basketball actuation control signal contact, and

first and second direction contacts coupled to first and second flange members, respectively of said second track.

15. A basketball game apparatus comprising:

a playing field having first and second tracks embedded in a court floor;

a motorized defensive basketball player figurine coupled in said first track for movement therein;

a motorized offensive basketball player figurine coupled in said second track for movement therein;

first and second hand-held game control devices wherein each control device of said first and second hand-held control devices alternately controls the movement of said defensive basketball player figurine when in a defensive playing mode and the movement of said offensive basketball player figurine when in an offensive playing mode;

a basketball member; and

a target supported above said court floor wherein said target comprises;

a hoop member,

a net,

a lever means projecting in said hoop for closing a means for switching wherein when said switch means when closed indicates said basketball member has passed through said hoop member of said target.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first and second energized tracks are concentric arch-shaped tracks.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said defensive basketball player figurine essentially resembles a basketball player wherein said defensive basketball player figurine maintains an erect position with its arms fully extended above its head to block the ball;

and,

said offensive basketball player figurine essentially resembles a basketball player wherein said offensive basketball player figurine maintains a basketball shooting posture.