Recreational game

• US 6,012,987 A
• Filed: 12/23/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ralph Wynyard Nation
• Original Assignee: Ralph Wynyard Nation
• Inventors: Nation, Ralph Wynyard
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/981,755
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/150-158, 473/198-200, 364/410.1, 364/411.1, 273/DIG. 26, 273/459, 273/460, 273/461
• US Class Current: 473/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3691 Golf courses; Golf practising terrains having a plurality of driving areas, fairways, greens special golf games, e.g. miniature golf, A63B67/02; mats for simulating golf greens A63B69/3661
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/26 Point counters and score indicators

Abstract

Apparatus to facilitate the playing of a recreational game. The apparatus includes an electronic surveillance camera (8) and a motion sensor (20) mounted above and focused on a target area (2). The image data generated by the camera (8) and the data generated by the motion sensor (20) is transmitted to a central processing unit. The image of the target area transmitted by the surveillance camera (8) is displayed on the screen of a video monitor. Movement of an object on the target area (2) is detected by the motion sensor (20) and displayed on the monitor screen. The central processing unit includes a library of target area overlays to alter the viewed charateristics of the target area on the monitor screen. Each target area may include a marker surrounded by a spaced apart scoring ring or rings so that a ball lying on the target area can, if it lies within a predetermined area, be allocated a score.

Claims

1. Apparatus for facilitating the playing of a recreational game, said apparatus consisting of:

a surveillance camera capable of detecting the presence of an object on the target area,

means to detect and record the movement of an object on the target area,

means to display the target area and the position of an object lying on the target area on the screen of a video monitor remote from the target area,

means to display movement of an object on the target area on the screen of said video monitor,

means to alter details of a target overlay which can be displayed on the screen of the said video monitor to alter the characteristics of the target area, and

means to enable a score to be allocated to an object lying on the target area.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to maintain details of the target area, the means to display movement of an object on the target area and the display of image data generated by the surveillance camera are controlled by a programmned data processor.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the target overlay comprises a contour line which overlays the image of the target area being displayed on the screen of the monitor.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein details of a number of target areas are stored in a library accessed by the said data processor.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each target area and/or each target overlay is allocated a degree of difficulty factor which is utilised in the calculation of the score obtained by an object lying on the target area.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to detect the arrival of a ball on the target area comprises a motion sensor.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, including means to process data from the surveillance camera to identify the position of an object lying on the target area relative to a defined location on the target area.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the data processor identifies the relative position of each object lying on the target area and calculates a score to be allocated to each said object.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the data processor calculates and retains the scores of different players.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object said object is a ball.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target area simulate the shape of a golf green.