Racquet game with foam ball and net stand apparatus

• US 6,878,079 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roger M. Peskin
• Original Assignee: Roger M. Peskin
• Inventors: Peskin, Roger M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunter, Jr., Alvin A.
• Application Number:
  US10/099,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20020094889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 472/92, 473/416, 473/459, 473/465, 473/473, 473/474, 473/490, 473/428, 473/469, 473/475, 473/614, 473/600, 473/613, 273/317.4, 273/340, 273/119.R, 273/317
• US Class Current: 473/474
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2043/001 Short-distance or low-velocity balls for training, or for playing on a reduced area
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/002 Games using balls, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A ball game assembly is disclosed for a ball game to be played with a tennis-type racquet, a net and a foam ball, whose speed and/or action is reduced to increase play activity. The tennis racquet is smaller than a conventional adult tennis racquet, e.g., a junior tennis racquet, and the game is played on a tennis court of reduced size, with a net dividing the court into halves. The ball is larger and lighter in weight than a tennis ball, and it moves slower and has a softer bounce than a tennis ball. Preferably the net is supported across the playing area by net supports that are positioned at mid-court on either side of the court.

Claims

1. A ball game assembly for playing a tennis-like ball game in which opposing players return a ball within a prescribed playing unit extending along a horizontal playing surface in opposite longitudinal directions over a net, comprising:

at least two junior tennis racquets, each having a handle portion and a head portion;

a net;

a net apparatus for supporting the net in a vertical plane at substantially regulation tennis height or less across a playing court; and

a soft resilient foam ball, said ball being sufficiently dense, resilient, compressible and durable so as to withstand repeated and sustained impact by said racquets at various angles and forces,

wherein said ball has a diameter from about 3.5 to 4.5 inches, weighs from about 0.75 to 1.25 oz., is formed of an open-celled, spherical construction, has a surface layer coating of acrylic ream or latex paint, and has a maximum compression of 10% after 90% compression for 22 hours at 158°

F. (70°

C.), wherein said ball may be struck by said racquets and returned over said net or bounced off said playing court at a reduced speed, and wherein the players achieve the sense and feel of playing regular tennis while being able to play at a reduced pace and with less skill than is normally required.

2. A ball game assembly for playing a tennis-like ball game in which opposing players return a ball within a prescribed playing unit extending along a horizontal playing surface in opposite longitudinal directions over a net, comprising:

a playing surface disposed in or immediately above the ground;

at least two junior tennis racquets, each having a handle portion and a head portion;

a net;

a net apparatus for supporting the net in a vertical plane at substantially regulation tennis height or less across the playing surface; and

a soft resilient foam ball, said ball being sufficiently dense, resilient, compressible and durable so as to withstand repeated and sustained impact by said racquets at various angles and forces,

wherein said ball has a diameter from about 3.5 to 4.5 inches, weighs from about 0.75 to 1.25 oz., has a maximum compression of 10% after 90% compression for 22 hours at 158°

F. (70°

C.), is formed of an open-celled, spherical construction, and has a surface layer coating of acrylic resin or latex paint, wherein said ball may be struck by said racquets and returned over said net or bounced off said playing court at a reduced speed, and wherein the players achieve the sense and feel of playing regular tennis while being able to play at a reduced pace and with less skill than is normally required.

3. A ball game assembly for playing a tennis-like ball game in which opposing players return a ball within a prescribed playing unit extending along a horizontal playing surface in opposite longitudinal directions over a net, comprising:

a playing surface disposed in or immediately above the ground;

at least two junior tennis racquets, each having a handle portion and a head portion;

a net;

a net apparatus for supporting the net in a vertical plane at substantially regulation tennis height or less across the playing surface; and

a soft resilient foam ball, said ball being sufficiently dense, resilient, compressible and durable so as to withstand repeated and sustained impact by said racquets at various angles and forces,

wherein said ball has a diameter from about 3.5 to 4.5 inches, weighs from about 0.75 to 1.25 oz., is formed of an open-celled, spherical construction, has a maximum compression of 10% after 90% compression for 22 hours at 158°

F. (70°

C.), and has a surface layer coating of acrylic resin or latex paint, wherein said ball may be struck by said racquets and returned over said net or bounced off said playing court at a reduced speed, and wherein the players achieve the sense and feel of playing regular tennis while being able to play at a reduced pace and with less skill than is normally required;

said net apparatus comprising two weighted bases and an upstanding element mounted within each said base, whereby the net is attached to a first upstanding element at one end and to a second upstanding element at another end;

said net apparatus further comprising a tension device for preventing said upstanding element from leaning due to tension from said attached net;

the tension device comprising a tension cord tat is attached to the top of said upstanding element at a first end to an attachment point on said base at a second end;

said attachment point comprising a screw or pin element and the second end of said tension card hooks about said screw or pin element.

4. A ball game assembly for playing a tennis-like ball game in which opposing players return a ball within a presented playing unit extending along a horizontal playing surface in apposite longitudinal directions over a net, comprising:

a playing surface disposed in or immediately above the ground, the playing surface comprising a plurality of interconnected tiles resting on the ground;

at least two junior tennis racquets, each having a handle portion and a head portion;

a net;

a net apparatus for supporting the net in a vertical plane at substantially regulation tennis height or less across the playing surface; and

a soft resilient foam ball, said ball being sufficiently dense, resilient, compressible and durable so as to withstand repeated and sustained impact by said racquets at various angles and forces,

wherein said ball has a diameter from about 3.5 to 4.5 inches, weighs from about 0.75 to 1.25 oz., is formed of an open-celled, spherical construction, has a maximum compression of 10% after 90% compression for 22 hours at 158°

F. (70°

C.), and has a surface layer coating of acrylic resin or latex paint, wherein said ball may be struck by said racquets and returned over said net or bounced off said playing court at a reduced speed, and wherein the players achieve the sense and feel of playing regular tennis while being able to play at a reduced pace and with less skill than is normally required.

5. A ball game assembly for playing a tennis-like ball game in which opposing players return a ball within a prescribed playing unit extending along a horizontal playing surface in opposite longitudinal directions over a net, comprising:

at least two junior tennis racquets, each having a handle portion and a head portion;

a net;

a net apparatus for supporting the net in a vertical plane at substantially regulation tennis height or less across a playing court disposed in or immediately above the ground; and

a soft resilient foam ball, said ball being sufficiently dense, resilient, compressible and durable so as to withstand repeated and sustained impact by said racquets at various angles and forces;

said ball having a diameter substantially between 3.5 and 4.5 inches, has a maximum compression of 10% after 90% compression for 22 hours at 158°

F. (70°

C.) and being formed of an open-celled, spherical construction, said ball adapted to be struck by said racquets and returned over said net or bounced off said playing court; and

the playing surface comprises a plurality of interconnected tiles resting on the ground.

6. A ball game assembly for playing a tennis-like ball game in which opposing players return a ball within a prescribed playing unit extending along a horizontal playing surface in opposite longitudinal directions over a net, comprising:

at least two junior tennis racquets, each having a handle portion and a head portion;

a net;

a net apparatus for supporting the net in a vertical plane at substantially regulation tennis height or less across a playing court disposed in or immediately above the ground; and

a soft resilient foam ball, said ball being sufficiently dense, resilient, compressible and durable so as to withstand repeated and sustained impact by said racquets at various angles and forces;

said ball having a diameter substantially between 3.5 and 4.5 inches being formed of an open-celled, spherical construction, said ball adapted to be struck by said racquets and returned over said net or bounced off said playing court; and

the ball has a maximum compression of 10% after 90% compression for 22 hours at 158°

F. (70°

C.).

7. A method of playing a tennis-like ball game, comprising the steps of:

supplying a first player with a first junior tennis racquet and supplying a second player with a second junior tennis racquet, each of the first and second racquets having a handle portion and a head portion;

supporting a net in a vertical plane at substantially regulation tennis height or less across a playing surface;

supplying a soft resilient foam ball having a maximum compression of 10% after 90% compression for 22 hours at 158°

F. (70°

C.), having a diameter substantially between 3.5 and 4.5 inches and being formed of an open-celled, spherical construction that is sufficiently compressible and durable, and adapted to withstand repeated and sustained impact by the racquets at various angles and forces; and

hitting the ball between the first and second players in accordance with a set of rules.