Tethered ball game having targets and indicators

• US 7,850,535 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Rabb, Thomas J. Noble
• Original Assignee: David Rabb, Thomas J. Noble
• Inventors: Rabb, David, Noble, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rada, II; Alex F. R. P.
• Application Number:
  US11/474,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 473139-140, 473/143, 473145-149, 473/415, 473/422, 473/424, 473429-430, 473222-226, 273329-331, 273/333, 463/7, 463/49
• US Class Current: 473/140
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/007 Target zones without opening defined on a substantially horizontal surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/10 Games with thread-suspended or swingably-mounted bodies, e.g. balls, pointed bodies shaped as birds, animals, or the like, for aiming at and hitting targets games using a bat with a ball tethered thereto A63B67/20, pin games with tethered balls A63D7/00 ; Games using tethered bodies, e.g. balls, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

The embodiments may relate to games or sports using tangible projectiles. A tethered ball game embodiment may include a play ball and a tether that may be connected to the play ball and a sensor head assembly. The tether may be elastic. The sensor head assembly may have a force sensor to determine an impact power imparted to the play ball, a spin sensor to determine a rotational value of the play ball, a travel path sensor to determine a path of travel of the play ball, and a play ball strike sensor to determine a strike to the play ball. The tethered ball game also includes a target device and a player feedback system having lights and audio feedback, all controlled by a controls system.

Claims

1. A tethered ball game, comprising:

a play ball;

a sensor head assembly remote from the play ball having a force sensor to determine an impact power imparted to the play ball, a spin sensor to determine a rotational value of the play ball, a travel path sensor to determine a path of travel of the play ball, and a play ball strike sensor to determine a strike to the play ball;

a tether adapted to be connected between the play ball and the sensor head assembly;

a target device;

a player feedback system having at least one of light feedback and electrically generated audio feedback; and

a controls system,

where the spin sensor includes a motor both to impart spin into the play ball and to determine a rotational value of the play ball, where the rotational value of the play ball is considered valid and not a false triggering signal when the motor generates no less than 20 millivolts for a duration of more than 160 milliseconds, and

where a game control is configured to be connected through a network to download into the control system new and customized game configurations and to upload player game statistics, where the game control includes a wireless gaming network interface.

2. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where the force sensor includes a plate made of permanently polarized material and where the spin sensor is connected between the plate and the tether.

3. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where the play ball is configured to impart force onto the force sensor and where the force sensor includes a sensitivity adjustment to automatically adjust a width of a blind zone window, where a waveform signal residing in the blind zone window defines no force being imparted by the play ball onto the force sensor and where a waveform signal residing outside the blind zone window defines a force being imparted by the play ball onto the force sensor.

4. The tethered ball game of claim 3, where an upper boundary of the blind zone window is configured to be adjusted higher in bipolar millivolt level through the sensitivity adjustment and where a lower boundary of the blind zone window is restricted from being adjusted below a ambient driven millivolt level.

5. The tethered ball game of claim 3, where the force sensor is configured to translate successive striking of the play ball into a player beats-per-minute (PBPM) count.

6. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where the rotational value of the play ball includes both a rotational spinning value and a spinning direction value.

7. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where a coupler is disposed between the spin sensor and the tether and where the coupler is held in place through compression force imparted by the coupler.

8. The tethered ball game of claim 1 where the force sensor, the spin sensor, the travel path sensor, and the play ball strike sensor are configured to operate and detect play ball activities without making direct contact with the play ball.

9. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where imparted spin into the play ball is accompanied by a sound effect.

10. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where a gaming experience is configured to be customized by a game user by the game user selecting personal options available in a modular nature of a game topology.

11. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where the spin sensor includes an optical strobe disk and an infrared sensor.

12. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where the travel path sensor includes a direction detector attached to an interior of a cone, where the cone is attached to the force sensor, and where the travel path sensor further includes a clapper attached between the force sensor and the tether, where the travel path sensor is configured to determine a radial movement of the play ball within 11.25 degrees.

13. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where the play ball strike sensor includes a microphone and a hardware circuit, where the hardware circuit is configured to confirm a strike to the play ball on receiving a 200 Hz audio frequency input lasting less than 200 mS and at least 5 dB above an ambient room level.

14. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where the target device includes a target that is removably attached to the target device.

15. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where the target device includes a proximity sensor having an emitter light pipe with a light emitting end opening and a detector light pipe with a light receiving end opening, where at least one of the light emitting end opening and the light receiving end opening are arranged to face in the same direction as downward moving environmental light.

16. The tethered ball game of claim 1, where the tether and play ball are selected such that a time required for the play ball to fully extend the tether from a time in which the play ball is struck is approximately the same time as the time required for the tether to sling the play ball to a target of the target device.