Ball and game

• US 4,826,177 A
• Filed: 03/31/1988
• Issued: 05/02/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Ponte
• Original Assignee: Paul Ponte
• Inventors: Ponte, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Shapiro, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US07/175,515
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 273/398-402, 273/58 R, 273/58 K, 273/58 B, 273/58 BA, 273/428
• US Class Current: 273/400
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/08 with substantially horizontal opening for ball, e.g. for basketball A63B57/40, A63B63/06 take precedence

Abstract

A game includes a non-spherical, non-rolling ball that is used in combination with a basket supported above the playing surface by support legs. The basket has a rim defined by square, channel shaped, members defining downwardly opening grooves and the legs may be pivoted upwardly into the grooves. The basket is positioned in a playing area and a boundary is marked around the basket. The players attempt to throw the ball into the basket from a number of shooting positions around the boundary. A game ball includes an inflatable cubic bladder. A plurality of stiffeners are disposed within the bladder. The stiffeners include passages with valves that permit the passage of gases through the stiffeners to equalize pressure within chambers formed by the stiffeners.

Claims

1. A game, comprising:

a game ball having a non-spherical shape adapted to retard rolling; and

a basket having a rim, the rim having support structure comprising a plurality of legs adapted to support the rim above a playing surface, the legs being pivotally mounted at an end thereof to the rim, the rim being substantially square-shaped and formed from channel members defining downwardly opening grooves, said legs folding upward into said grooves for convenient carrying and storage, and means for retaining said legs in said grooves, whereby the ball can be thrown with the object of passing the ball through the rim, and the non-spherical shape will retard rolling when the ball contacts the playing surface.

2. The game of claim 1, wherein said channel members are substantially at least half-circular in cross-section and fashioned from a flexible material, at least a portion of said legs substantially matching in cross-section said grooves, whereby said legs will press-fit into said channel members when in the folded position.

3. The game of claim 1, wherein said ball is cubic and constructed from an inflatable bladder.

4. The game of claim 3, wherein a plurality of stiffeners are provided within said ball, said stiffeners substantially spanning opposing sides of said cubic bladder, whereby said cubic bladder will maintain its cubic shape when inflated.

5. The game of claim 4, wherein said stiffeners comprises valve means permitting the passage of gases.

6. A ball for playing games, comprising:

an inflatable cubic bladder, a plurality of stiffeners being disposed within said bladder, said stiffeners substantially spanning opposing sides of said cubic bladder, said stiffeners defining chambers within said inflatable cubic bladder, said stiffeners comprising means for permitting the passage of gases through said stiffeners, said gas passage means comprising valve means; and

,

valve means in said bladder, said valve means being adapted to permit the selective introduction of air or other gas into said inflatable bladder;

whereby said cubic shape of said ball will substantially retard rolling across a playing surface and said stiffeners will retain said cubic shape, and whereby said gas passage valves will substantially equalize pressure within the chambers.

7. The ball of claim 6, wherein said gas passage valve means comprises at least one aperture through said stiffeners, and closure means associated with said aperture and movable between a first position substantially blocking the flow of gas through the aperture and a second position permitting the flow of gas through the aperture, movement of the closure means between the first and second positions being controlled by the difference in gas pressure on opposite sides of said stiffeners.

8. The ball of claim 7, wherein the closure means is a flap pivotally mounted over the aperture.