Ball game kit

• US 7,775,910 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Lessack
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Lessack
• Inventors: Lessack, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour; Mitra
• Application Number:
  US11/986,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20090134580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 473/415, 473/416, 473/465, 473/490, 273/317, 273/317.1
• US Class Current: 473/415
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 61/00 Tennis nets or accessories for tennis or like games , e.g. volley-ball devices for holding or carrying balls A63B47/00; for table tennis A63B67/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0045 specially adapted for games played with rackets or bats A63B60/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/02 for large-room or outdoor sporting games
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/00 Design or layout of playing courts, rinks, bowling greens or areas for water-skiing; Covers therefor golf courses A63B69/3691; water roundabouts A63G3/00; construction of surfaces of foundations E01C; roofs E04B7/00; buildings or groups of buildings for sports E04H3/10; swimming or splash baths or pools E04H4/00; coverings for baths E04H4/06

Abstract

A ball game kit is easily carried and readily assembled to facilitate play in recreational areas such as parks or beaches. The kit includes a container housing paddles, balls, and a unilateral court assembly appointed to be laid on a ground surface and secured thereto by way of securing mechanism to yield a playing field. The playing field is divided into two opposing player courts separated by a middle zone or dead zone. The court assembly includes a continuous rope or cord-like member. The court can be readily and accurately adjusted from a singles playing court to a doubles playing court by condensing and/or expanding the court assembly, without having to add sections or dismantle the court assembly. Glow in the dark properties may be provided to the court assembly, paddles, and/or balls for play in dimly lit or foggy conditions.

Claims

1. A ball game kit, comprising:

a. a kit container that is portable in nature;

b. a plurality of paddles;

c. a plurality of balls having varying weights;

d. a preassembled unilateral court assembly appointed to be laid on a ground surface and secured thereto by way of securing means to yield a playing field divided into two opposing player courts separated by a middle zone or dead zone demarcated by a divide line;

e. said court assembly being preassembled and comprised of a rope or cord-like member and constructed having an outer perimeter, dual lengthwise fold lines, and dual widthwise fold lines, wherein said dual lengthwise fold lines are appointed to be condensed or folded to form a singles playing court and expanded to form a doubles playing court;

wherein said court assembly can be readily and accurately adjusted from said singles playing court to said doubles playing court (and vise versa) by condensing or expanding, respectively, said court assembly, without having to add sections or dismantle said court assembly.

2. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1, wherein said plurality of paddles comprises a plurality of skill-level paddle sets, wherein each of said skill-level paddle sets are constructed for different game play levels, including novice, intermediate, and professional play levels, and wherein each of said different skill-level paddle set is demarcated to indicate said skiff-level.

3. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said paddle is appointed to be visible in dusk or dimly lit conditions by having a glow-in-the-dark material or surface integrated with or removably attached to each of the paddles.

4. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1, wherein said paddles comprise a rim having a hollow core and a transparent lip, said hollow core being appointed with an electroluminescent light strip housed therein activated by a power source located within a handle portion of said paddle.

5. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1, wherein said plurality of balls comprises a plurality of skill-level ball sets, wherein each of said skill-level ball sets are constructed for different game play levels, including novice, intermediate, and professional play levels, and wherein each of said different skill-level ball set is demarcated to indicate said skill-level.

6. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said ball is appointed to be visible in dusk or dimly lit conditions by having a glow-in-the-dark material or surface.

7. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1, wherein said unilateral court assembly comprises a rope having a fibrous surface with phosphorous bound thereto for glow-in-the-dark properties for night or evening play, or play in foggy conditions.

8. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1, wherein said unilateral court assembly comprises a rope having an outer surface with at least one transparent portion surrounding an electroluminescent lighting core, and wherein said unilateral court assembly includes a battery power supply activated by a control switch for providing current to said electroluminescent lighting core.

9. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1, wherein said unilateral court assembly comprises a polymeric cord wherein said cord has a transparent outer shell surrounding an inner electroluminescent lighting core, and wherein said unilateral court assembly includes a battery power supply activated by a control switch for providing current to said electroluminescent lighting core.

10. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1, wherein said unilateral court assembly comprises an outer perimeter having a first boundary, second boundary opposite said first boundary, and lateral edges connecting said first and second boundaries at corner-joints, and wherein said dual lengthwise fold lines are demarcated and located on said first boundary and second boundary with a mid-fold point to provide a doubles court extension that is folded at said mid-fold point so that said extension folds upon said first boundary and said lateral edge lies parallel with said lengthwise fold line to yield said singles court and said extension and visa vie said lateral edge are simply unfolded at said mid-fold point and extended and secured to form said doubles court.

11. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1, wherein said unilateral court assembly comprises an outer perimeter having a first boundary, second boundary opposite said first boundary, and lateral edges connecting said first and second boundaries at corner-joints, and wherein said first boundary comprises a primary bracket and a secondary bracket located in association with said corner-joint with a condensable section traversing therebetween so that said dual lengthwise fold lines are essentially determined by way of said condensable section, said condensable section is composed of a flexible or gathering outer material and a central elastic core so that elastic core is condensed and outer material is gathered or scrunched when said singles court is formed as said lateral edge lies parallel with said lengthwise fold line, conversely when said doubles court is to be formed said condensable section is expanded by pulling on said secondary bracket and stretching said central elastic core so that said outer material becomes taunt.

12. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1 comprising a coin device for determining play order.

13. A ball game kit as recited by claim 1 comprising a rule book containing game playing rules and a player score keeping book or journal.

14. A ball game kit as recited by claim 13, wherein said game playing rules include:

a. choosing to play either a doubles or singles game and selecting teams or players and selecting respective said paddles and balls;

b. utilizing a coin or other device to determine a team or player that serves first;

c. serving said ball by a server, wherein said server must stand anywhere behind an outside line on his or her side of said court and said ball must be served underhand and must clear said “

net”

or dead zone;

d. each player or team serves 3 or 5 times, then said other player or team serves 3 or 5 times and so on until one team reaches 11, 16 or 21 points as is decided prior to starting said game; and

e. once said serve is made, said players may strike the ball in any fashion to return ball to opponent'"'"'s side or court;

f. said game'"'"'s object being to try to hit said ball into said opponent'"'"'s open court and likewise to defend against same, wherein a point is made by either said serving or receiving team each time said ball lands in said opposite court, wherein said ball which lands outside of said court or in said dead zone is a point for said team that did “

NOT”

hit said ball, conversely, said team which hits said ball out is penalized by said opposing team; and

g. said serve changes after each 5 points, thereby rotating to each of said team members.