Amusement devices: games – Surface projectile game; game element – Simulated game
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-22
2001-12-11
Chlu, Raleigh W. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Surface projectile game; game element
Simulated game
C273S1290AP, C446S435000, C446S424000, C446S456000, C414S462000, C180S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328304
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to game apparatus, which is of a type which in use is propelled over a surface and has a means whereby a play member, such as a ball, which moves over the surface, can be caught by the apparatus, held thereby, and eventually propelled from the apparatus over the surface towards an objective, such as a goal, or other similar apparatus.
The apparatus may be in the form of a vehicle which is manually propelled, e.g. a bicycle type machine, or vehicle with its own prime mover, e.g. an engine or motor, or it may be in the form of an attachment which is for connection to such a vehicle, the vehicle being of a size to accommodate a human driver, and the apparatus defining a front, sides and a rear.
Basically, therefore the apparatus is in effect a means whereby a game similar to or based upon soccer can be played, using motorised machines.
There has already been disclosed in International Patent Application No. WO/97/17110, an apparatus of the type described above, and in such apparatus there is a ball receiving funnel at the front of the apparatus, into which the ball rolls when it is caught by the apparatus, and the ball is adapted to be propelled from the apparatus to either side of same.
Other known forms of apparatus of the type to which the invention retates comprise a ball catching means at the front, and the catching means is adapted to propel the ball from the front in the opposite direction from which it was caught.
A problem with the known arrangements, it has been found, is that should the apparatus, after it has caught the ball, stop suddenly or change direction, the ball can undesirably roll from the apparatus and become free on the surface, and this interrupts the flow and enjoyment of the game.
Another form of the same problem is that if the ball is travelling towards the machine and the machine towards the ball, then the force of the impact between ball and machine can cause the ball to bounce away from the machine, which impairs quality of play.
The present invention addresses this problem, and in accordance with the invention there is provided in an apparatus of the type to which the invention relates, a ball holding plate means which rest on the top half of the ball when it has been caught by the apparatus, to prevent unwanted discharge of the ball from the apparatus.
The ball holding plate means may be in the form of a plate of metal, plastics or the like, but this is not essential, and the plate means could take other forms, for example, it could be a bar or bars, or a framework with a tightly strung net across it, similar to a tennis racket, or it could be a framework with stitched in canvas panels, or glued in plastic net or sheet. Indeed, it may take any of a number of forms.
The plate means may rest on the ball by virtue of its own weight, which will be calculated to be sufficient to perform the function of holding the ball in normal playing conditions, but not too great to create so much friction to prevent the ball from rolling as the vehicle is moving during play.
The plate means may be carried by flexible members such as ropes (which may be elastic) or chains, or by a guide which is slidably held in a frame part of the apparatus, so as to be free to move up and down, the arrangement being that when the ball is caught by the apparatus and moves to a position under the plate means (which it will be compelled to do), the plate means rises from an initial rest position, and then rest on top of the ball, and when the ball is propelled from the apparatus, the plate means drops back to the initial position. A suitable stop limits the extent to which the plate means drops, and defines the initial position.
The apparatus may otherwise be in each and every respect and variation similar to the apparatus set forth in said International Application, or it may be of the type wherein the ball is caught at the front, in a mouth for example, and propelled from the front, or indeed in any other direction.
The plate means may be provided with anti-friction means, such as anti-friction rolling elements which engage the ball and limit the friction between the ball and the plate means as the ball is carried with the apparatus during movement thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3240201 (1966-03-01), Shelton
patent: 4346893 (1982-08-01), Landsinger et al.
patent: 4352348 (1982-10-01), Griffith
patent: 4593906 (1986-06-01), Sharma
patent: 5378191 (1995-01-01), Ryan
patent: 5597165 (1997-01-01), Rundle et al.
patent: 5759083 (1998-06-01), Polumbaum et al.
patent: 6068537 (2000-05-01), Lupton
patent: WO 97/17110 (1997-05-01), None
Chlu Raleigh W.
Econ Engineering Limited
Klauber & Jackson
LandOfFree
Vehicle for football game does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle for football game, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle for football game will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2564807