Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2001-06-26
Pierce, William M. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
C473S469000, C473S490000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06251033
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a game field and method for playing competitive paintball. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and set of rules for playing competitive paintball that increases the amount of game action and scoring to create a game that appeals to spectators.
The game of paintball generally includes two separate teams of players that each have paintball guns. The paintball guns use compressed gas to propel paint-filled gelatin or plastic shells at players from the opposing team. When a paintball strikes an opposing player, the shell breaks and leaves a splatter mark of paint on the player, indicating that the player has been eliminated.
Currently, paintball competitions are played using one of two basic formats —“center flag” or “dual flag”. In a center flag competition, a single flag is hung at the middle of the playing field. Two competing teams start from different ends of the playing field and attempt to capture the flag and carry it to their opponent's flag station on the opposite end of the field. In the dual flag system, each of the opposing teams begins the game at opposite ends of the field with their team's flag hanging at their own flag station. The object of the game for each team is to capture the opposing team's flag and return it to their team's station while at the same time protecting their team's flag from capture from the opposing team. In each of these games, a team player is eliminated by being shot by a paintball fired from a member of the opposing team.
In the conventional paintball games described above, points are typically awarded for the number of opponents eliminated during the game and for the first team to grab the opponent's flag, with additional points being given to the first team to hang their opponent's flag in the proper station. Each paintball match is played until one of the teams captures their opponent's flag and returns it to the proper flag station, or until the game time expires. Since points are awarded to both teams based on the number of opponents eliminated, a premium is placed on avoiding elimination. As an illustrative example, if a player gets eliminated, the player is giving points to the opposing team, regardless of which team is successful in capturing the flag. This type of scoring places a burden on the individual players to avoid being eliminated by making risky moves or engaging in risky strategies of play. Therefore, paintball games typically evolve into a series of long-range shooting duels, frequently with little or no action for long periods of time.
Because players on each of the opposing teams in a conventional paintball competition tend to remain behind stationary bunkers or obstacles and engage in long-range shoot-outs, paintball competitions have not been able to attract a large number of spectators, either for live action events or televised broadcasts of competitive tournaments. Therefore, a need exists for a paintball game including a set of rules that encourages a fast-paced, high-scoring competition that allows viewers to follow the action and be entertained by risky and daring playing strategies.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of playing a paintball competition that rewards players for aggressive and risky movements between bunkers organized on a playing surface. It is an additional object of the invention to provide a scoring system that rewards the scoring team for scoring a goal, while determining the number of points awarded based upon the position of the opponent's flag when the scoring team scores. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a paintball game that includes various penalties for improper game play and removes a player from the game for committing one of specified penalties. It is an additional object of the present invention to place a time limit on the paintball game that is divided into several individual timed periods. Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a paintball game that returns each team to full strength after each score and upon completion of each period, thereby encouraging the players from each team to make daring moves and score as many points as possible during each period. Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paintball game having a set time limit as opposed to prior games having a varying time limit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a new method, set of rules and playing surface for a paintball competition that increases the amount of action occurring during the competition and increases the desirability of the paintball game for spectators.
The competitive paintball game of the present invention includes a playing surface extending between two end lines and defined by a pair of spaced, parallel side lines. Each end of the playing surface includes a start zone in which opposing teams stand prior to the beginning of game play. The playing surface is divided into a plurality of zones and includes a series of field bunkers positioned on the playing surface and spread between the individual zones. The playing surface also includes a pair of goals, each being positioned in close proximity to one of the end lines of the playing surface. Each goal includes a pair of spaced vertical uprights.
During game play, each of the opposing teams attempts to carry their flag in opposite directions across the playing surface while attempting to shoot opposing players and avoid being struck by a paintball fired by the opposing team. If a player from either one of the two teams is struck from a paintball fired by the opposing team, the player is eliminated and must leave the playing surface.
The game play continues until each player from one of the two teams is eliminated or until a player from either team, scores by carrying the team's flag through the opposing team's goal. When the player carrying his team's flag passes through the opposing team's goal, points are awarded to the scoring team based on the position of the opposing team's flag at the time the goal is scored. Specifically, an increasing number of points are given to the scoring team the further the opposing team's flag is from the scoring team's goal. Thus, both teams are encouraged to advance their own flag as far down the playing surface as possible as quickly as possible to either score points by passing through the opposing team's goal or to reduce the number of points scored by the opposing team.
After either of the teams score, each of the teams return to their start zone and the eliminated players re-enter the game. Thus, each time a goal is scored, both teams return to full strength before the game resumes.
The paintball competition has a specified game time limit, which is divided into a plurality of time periods. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed, the game time is divided into three separate periods. At the termination of each period, both teams switch sides and are returned to full strength by lining the players up again in the start zone.
During the game play, penalties are assessed to players from each team if the players violate the rules set out for running the paintball game. Upon incurring a penalty, the penalized player must leave the playing surface and remain within a penalty box until the penalty period has expired. Additionally, penalties may be incurred that require the entire penalized team to move back or to return their team's flag to the penalized team's goal. The imposed penalties not only regulate the game play but also cause the play to be stopped upon the incurrence of a penalty, thereby allowing the game officials to control the action.
Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5219316 (1993-06-01), Huffman
patent: 5868637 (1999-02-01), Poxon
Special Paintball Leisure Activit
Andrus Sceales Starke & Sawall LLP
Pierce William M.
LandOfFree
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