Racquet and ball sport court and target system

• US 7,311,619 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Accutennis, LLC
• Original Assignee: Accutennis, LLC
• Inventors: Leftwich, Don “Kip”
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US11/204,299
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 473/459, 473/465, 473/473, 473/474, 473/415, 473/422, 473/490
• US Class Current: 473/474
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/002 Games using balls, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings

Abstract

A system for training to play better at tennis includes indicia for indicating desired target areas of a tennis court and rules for determining points to be given for striking a desired target area. Preferably, points are given only on the last shot of a play.

Claims

1. A method of playing a tennis match comprising the steps of:

a) providing a tennis court having a court surface, a net, and marked boundaries, the net dividing the court surface into opposing ends;

b) providing a package containing;

a document that displays court markings that correspond to selectable tennis game options,

one or more rolls of material for applying temporary markings to the court that correspond to one of the marking options, and

an applicator that enables a user to apply the material to the court surface;

c) selecting one of the game options;

d) using the temporary marking material to mark the court surface with temporary markings that define target areas;

e) playing the game wherein the target areas each define a point value that can be added to a player'"'"'s score when the player strikes the target area with a ball; and

f) wherein in step “

e”

different target areas have different point values.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the court marking options includes different marking options for opposing sides of the court.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step “

d”

includes marking the court surface with marking material that includes lines that form and acute angle with the net.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step “

d”

includes marking the court surface with marking material that includes lines that form a right angle with the net.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the areas are areas bounded by permanent markings and temporary markings.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein some of the temporary markings are parallel to the net.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein some of the temporary markings are perpendicular to the net.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the areas include triangular areas that are bounded by both permanent and temporary markings.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the areas include rectangular areas that are bounded by both permanent and temporary markings.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the temporary markings include lines that are not linear.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the temporary markings surrounding at least one area include lines that are a combination of at least one line parallel to the net and at least one line perpendicular to the net.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the temporary markings surrounding at least one area include lines that are a combination of at least one line parallel to the net and at least one line that forms an acute angle with the net.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the target areas farther from the net have higher point values.

14. A method of playing a tennis match on a tennis court having a court surface, a net, and marked boundaries, the net dividing the court surface into opposing ends that are occupied by opponents during a match, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a package containing;

a document that displays court markings that correspond to selectable tennis game options,

one or more rolls of material for applying temporary markings to the court that correspond to one of the marking options, and

an applicator that enables a user to apply the material to the court surface;

b) selecting one of the game options;

c) using the temporary marking material to mark the court surface with temporary markings that define target areas;

d) playing the game wherein the target areas each define a point value that can be added to a player'"'"'s score when the player strikes the target area with a ball; and

e) wherein in step “

d”

different target areas have different point values.

15. A method of playing a racquet and ball match comprising the steps of:

a) providing a court having a court surface and a net that divides the court surface into opposing ends;

b) providing a package containing;

a document that displays multiple court marking options that correspond to selectable game options,

one or more rolls of material for applying temporary markings to the court that correspond to one of the marking options, and

an applicator that enables a user to apply the material to the court surface;

c) selecting one of the game options;

d) using the temporary marking material to mark the court surface with temporary markings that define target areas;

e) playing the game wherein the target areas each define a point value that can be added to a player'"'"'s score when the player strikes the target area with a ball; and

f) wherein in step “

e”

different target areas have different point values.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein one of the court marking options includes different marking options for opposing sides of the court.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein step “

d”

includes marking the court surface with marking material that includes lines that form and acute angle with the net.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein step “

d”

includes marking the court surface with marking material that includes lines that form a right angle with the net.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the court has permanent markings before applying temporary markings in step “

d”

, wherein each of the target areas are areas bounded by permanent markings and temporary markings.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein some of the temporary markings are parallel to the net.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein some of the temporary markings are perpendicular to the net.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the areas include triangular areas.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein the areas include rectangular areas.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein the temporary markings include lines that are not linear.

25. The method of claim 15 wherein the temporary markings surrounding at least one area include lines that are a combination of at least one line parallel to the net and at least one line perpendicular to the net.

26. The method of claim 15 wherein the temporary markings surrounding at least one area include lines that are a combination of at least one line parallel to the net and at least one line that forms an acute angle with the net.

27. The method of claim 15 wherein the target areas farther from the net have higher point values.