Rebound wall for ball sports

• US 6,575,851 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2000
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exercise Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sportwall International Inc. (XerTech, Inc.)
• Inventors: Muenter, Steven E., Lamberti, Catherine B., Pierce, Harold D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/643,394
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 473/415, 473/434, 473/435, 473/446, 473/456
• US Class Current: 473/435
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0043 Systems for locating the point of impact on a specific surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0033 Handball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

A rebound wall for a ball sport game permitting a player to hit a ball to the rebound wall and upon the ball rebounding to again hit the ball. The wall is to include sensors and transducers which can calculate and display scoring values based on where the ball strikes the rebound wall. A player can utilize the wall by himself or herself or with other players or with other players exteriorly of its location by connection electronically of the wall to a central location which is also connected to other walls.

Claims

1. A rebound wall for a ball sport game comprising:

at least one thin panel having a bottom edge, said bottom edge adapted to rest on a supporting surface resulting in said panel assuming an upright configuration, said panel having a first front surface, said first front surface adapted to receive a propelled ball that is rebounded away from said first front surface, said panel including an enclosed hollow cavity, said hollow cavity adapted to contain a quantity of weighed matter to function to absorb sound when said panel is struck by a ball;

said first front surface including at least one target area, said target area including illumination means, said illumination means to be activated to function as a target for a propelled ball;

said first front surface also including sensor means, said sensor means for determining an impact point of a ball on said panel producing information accordingly; and

display means for displaying said information.

2. The rebound wall for a ball sport game as defined in claim 1 wherein:

there being a plurality of said target areas mounted within said first front wall, said target areas being located in a spaced-apart arrangement within said panel.

3. The rebound wall for a ball sport game as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said display means being mounted within said panel.

4. The rebound wall for a ball sport game as defined in claim 1 wrherein:

there being a second thin panel which is interconnected and located in juxtaposition to said one thin panel, said second thin panel being separate from said first thin panel, said second thin panel having a second front surface.

5. The rebound wall for a ball sport game as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said second thin panel being angularly disposed relative to said first thin panel so said second front surface is not parallel to said first front surface.

6. The rebound wall for a ball sport game as defined in claim 5 wherein:

both said first thin panel and said second thin panel being tilted rearwardly from the player in order to rebound the ball in an upward flight direction.

7. The rebound wall for a ball sport game as defined in claim 6 wherein:

thereby a third thin panel which is interconnected and located in juxtaposition to both said first thin panel and said second thin panel.

8. The rebound wall for a ball sport game as defined in claim 7 wherein:

said first thin panel being located between said second thin panel and said third thin panel.