Illuminated badminton play set

• US 8,827,848 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ebbie Washburn, Ronald Fabian Letcher
• Original Assignee: Ebbie Washburn, Ronald Fabian Letcher
• Inventors: Washburn, Ebbie, Letcher, Ronald Fabian
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W
• Application Number:
  US13/068,964
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 473/490, 473/465, 473/473, 473/570, 473/47
• US Class Current: 473/490
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/18 Badminton or similar games with feathered missiles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/187 Shuttlecocks
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/193 with all feathers made in one piece
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/197 with special functions, e.g. light emission or sound generation

Abstract

A badminton play set in which all components is illuminated, comprising a boundary line, a net, a pair of racquets, and a shuttlecock. The play set provides a means for participating in the game of badminton during not only daytime, but also nighttime via an illumination means on each component of said play set.

Claims

1. An illuminated badminton playset, comprising:

a boundary line assembly comprising;

a boundary illumination means;

a boundary line power source comprising a housing, further comprising;

a boundary power cord for removably connecting to a conventional wall-mounted socket;

a boundary transformer circuit in electrical communication with said boundary power cord;

a boundary battery source;

a boundary sensing relay for selectively switching between said boundary transformer circuit and said boundary battery source; and

,

a boundary power switch in electrical communication with said boundary transformer circuit and said boundary battery source for selectively activating and deactivating said boundary illumination means;

a length of translucent rope boundary lighting tubing;

a corresponding length of said boundary illumination means enclosed within said boundary lighting tubing and in electrical communication with said boundary line power source; and

,

a plurality of equidistantly-spaced spikes extending outwardly from and longitudinally spaced along said boundary lighting tubing, each capable of engaging a ground surface and anchors said boundary line to said ground surface;

a net assembly comprising;

a net illumination means;

a pair of elongated poles each comprising a pole spike integrally attached upon a proximal end surface capable of being anchored into said ground surface;

a pair of net tube apertures located on at least one of said pair of poles;

a generally rectangular border securely fastened to each of said pair of poles at an upper location and a lower location with a net fastening means;

a netting affixed into interior perimeter sides of said border and enveloping an entire internal area thereof;

a net power source comprising a housing, further comprising;

a net power cord for removably connecting to a conventional wall-mounted socket;

a net transformer circuit in electrical communication with said net power cord;

a net battery source;

a net sensing relay for selectively switching between said net transformer circuit and said net battery source; and

,

a net power switch in electrical communication with said net transformer circuit and said net battery source for selectively activating and deactivating said net illumination means;

a length of translucent rope net lighting tubing routed through said pair of net tube apertures attached to an exterior perimeter edge of said border providing said net illumination means;

a corresponding length of said net illumination means enclosed within said net lighting tubing and in electrical communication with said net line power source;

at least a pair of racket assemblies, each comprising;

a racket illumination means;

a handle, having a first end and a second end;

a stem, having a first end extending outward from said handle second end;

a head extending outward from a second end of said stem, said head comprising a translucent generally oval body comprising a plurality of strings affixed to inner perimeter surfaces thereof, wherein said racket illumination means is embedded therein;

a cap removably attached to a distal end surface of said handle first end;

a racket power source located within said handle; and

,

a racquet power switch located on said cap opposite said handle first end and in electrical communication with said racket power source and said racket illumination means for selectively activating and deactivating said racket illumination means; and

,

a shuttlecock assembly comprising an open conical-shape further comprising;

a shuttlecock illumination means;

an attachment member, comprising a first end having a first attachment means, a grip member, and an opposing second end having a second attachment means;

a weighted base, comprising a translucent body removably attachable to said attachment member first attachment means and further comprising;

a shuttlecock power source retained within said base; and

,

said shuttlecock illumination means removably attachable to and in electrical communication with said shuttlecock power source; and

,

a skirt removably attachable to said attachment member second attachment means;

wherein said attachment member further comprises an aperture aligned with said shuttlecock illumination means to enable illumination generated from said shuttlecock illumination means to project onto said skirt;

wherein said grip member enables a user to grasp said shuttlecock during attachment or removal of said base or said skirt;

wherein said shuttlecock illumination means is continuously activated when in electrical communication with said shuttlecock power source;

wherein said boundary line assembly is placed on said ground surface in a generally rectangular configuration, such that a playing area is defined within; and

,

wherein said net assembly is placed above said boundary line assembly to laterally bisect said playing area.

2. The playset of claim 1, wherein each said boundary illumination means, said net illumination means, said racket illumination means, and said shuttlecock illumination means further comprises a plurality of LED lights.

3. The playset of claim 1, wherein said playing area is approximately 20 feet in width and 40 feet in length.

4. The playset of claim 1, wherein said pair of poles are each approximately 5 feet in length.

5. The playset of claim 1, wherein said net fastening means further comprises a net attachment cord having a first end attached to each adjacent corner of said border and a hook attached to a second end, said hook adapted engage said of each of said pair of poles.

6. The playset of claim 1, wherein said first attachment means and said second attachment means each further comprises a threaded attachment.

7. An illuminated badminton playset, comprising:

a plurality of boundary line assemblies, each comprising;

a boundary illumination means;

a boundary line power source comprising a housing, further comprising;

a boundary power cord for removably connecting to a conventional wall-mounted socket;

a boundary transformer circuit in electrical communication with said boundary power cord;

a boundary battery source;

a boundary sensing relay for selectively switching between said boundary transformer circuit and said boundary battery source; and

,

a boundary power switch in electrical communication with said boundary transformer circuit and said boundary battery source for selectively activating and deactivating said boundary illumination means;

a length of translucent rope boundary lighting tubing;

a corresponding length of said boundary illumination means enclosed within said boundary lighting tubing and in electrical communication with said boundary line power source; and

,

a plurality of equidistantly-spaced spikes extending outwardly from and longitudinally spaced along said boundary lighting tubing, each capable of engaging a ground surface and anchors said boundary line to said ground surface;

a net assembly comprising;

a net illumination means;

a pair of elongated poles each comprising a pole spike integrally attached upon a proximal end surface and capable of being anchored to said ground surface;

a pair of net tube apertures located on at least one of said pair of poles;

a generally rectangular border securely fastened to each of said pair of poles at an upper location and a lower location with a net fastening means;

a netting affixed into interior perimeter sides of said border and enveloping an entire internal area thereof;

a net power source comprising a housing, further comprising;

a net power cord for removably connecting to a conventional wall-mounted socket;

a net transformer circuit in electrical communication with said net power cord;

a net battery source;

a net sensing relay for selectively switching between said net transformer circuit and said net battery source; and

,

a net power switch in electrical communication with said net transformer circuit and said net battery source for selectively activating and deactivating said net illumination means;

a length of translucent rope net lighting tubing routed through said pair of net tube apertures attached to an exterior perimeter edge of said border providing said net illumination means;

a corresponding length of said net illumination means enclosed within said net lighting tubing and in electrical communication with said net line power source;

at least a pair of racket assemblies, each comprising;

a racket illumination means;

a handle, having a first end and a second end;

a stem, having a first end extending outward from said handle second end;

a head extending outward from a second end of said stem, said head comprising a translucent generally oval body comprising a plurality of strings affixed to inner perimeter surfaces thereof, wherein said racket illumination means is embedded therein;

a cap removably attached to a distal end surface of said handle first end;

a racket power source located within said handle; and

,

a racquet switch located on said cap opposite said handle first end and in electrical communication with said racket power source and said racket illumination means for selectively activating and deactivating said racket illumination means; and

,

a shuttlecock assembly comprising;

a shuttlecock illumination means;

an attachment member, comprising a first end having a first attachment means, a grip member, and an opposing second end having a second attachment means;

a weighted base, comprising a translucent body removably attachable to said attachment member first attachment means and further comprising;

a shuttlecock power source retained within said base; and

,

said shuttlecock illumination means removably attachable to and in electrical communication with said shuttlecock power source; and

,

a skirt removably attachable to said attachment member second attachment means;

wherein said attachment member further comprises an aperture aligned with said shuttlecock illumination means to enable illumination generated from said shuttlecock illumination means to project onto said skirt;

wherein said grip member enables a user to grasp said shuttlecock during attachment or removal of said base or said skirt;

wherein said shuttlecock illumination means is continuously activated when in electrical communication with said shuttlecock power source;

wherein said plurality of boundary line assemblies are placed on said ground surface to effect a generally rectangular configuration, such that a playing area is defined within; and

,

wherein said net assembly is placed above said plurality of boundary line assemblies to laterally bisect said playing area.

8. The playset of claim 7, wherein each said boundary illumination means, said net illumination means, said racket illumination means, and said shuttlecock illumination means further comprises a plurality of LED lights.

9. The playset of claim 7, wherein said playing area is approximately 20 feet in width and 40 feet in length.

10. The playset of claim 7, wherein said pair of poles are each approximately 5 feet in length.

11. The playset of claim 7, wherein said net fastening means further comprises a net attachment cord having a first end attached to each adjacent corner of said border and a hook attached to a second end, said hook adapted engage said of each of said pair of poles.

12. The playset of claim 7, wherein said first attachment means and said second attachment means each further comprises a threaded attachment.