US20090278316A1

US20090278316A1 - Illuminated game

Info

Publication number: US20090278316A1
Application number: US12/116,979
Authority: US
Inventors: Randy LaMarte; Paul Morley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-08
Filing date: 2008-05-08
Publication date: 2009-11-12

Abstract

On aspect of the present invention comprises an illuminated game having a base having a receiving member; a first member removably received within a receiving member; a third member removably received within a different receiving member. The third member oriented substantially perpendicular to the first member. A second member secured to the first member and the third member. A fourth member secured to the first member and the third member. The fourth member disposed downwardly from the third member. A fifth member secured to the first member and the third member. The fifth member disposed downwardly from the fourth member, each member being transparent. An illumination device disposed within at least one the members.

Description

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

This invention was not made with Government support under. The Government does not have any rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games exist for purposes including, but not limited to entertainment and competition. Darkness or a lack of illumination may impede or prevent people from playing a particular game.
U.S. patents have been issued for illuminated games, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,013 for a DAY AND NIGHT CROQUET AND BOCCE; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,940 for an ILLUMINATED FLYING DISC.
The game of “ladder ball” as it may be called, is a relatively new game. This game is often played while camping. In campsites there is usually little artificial light. Thus if one is playing ladder ball while the sun sets, the game may be cut short due to darkness.
As can be seen, there is a need for a way to play ladder ball during the evening or when it is dark.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On aspect of the present invention comprises an illuminated game comprising: a base (50) having a receiving member (90); a first member (20) removably received within a receiving member (90); a third member (40) removably received within a different receiving member (90), said third member (40) oriented substantially perpendicular to said first member (20); a second member (30) secured to said first member (20) and said third member (40); a fourth member (110) secured to said first member (20) and said third member (40), said fourth member (110) disposed downwardly from said third member (40); a fifth member (120) secured to said first member (20) and said third member (40), said fifth member (120) disposed downwardly from said fourth member (110); said first member (20), said second member (30), said third member (40), said fourth member (110), said fifth member (120) being transparent; an illumination device (60) disposed within at least one of said first member (20), said second member (30), said third member (40), said fourth member (110), or said fifth member (120).
Another aspect is an illuminated game comprising: a base (50) having a receiving member (90); a first member (20) removably received within a receiving member (90); a third member (40) removably received within a different receiving member (90), said third member (40) oriented substantially perpendicular to said first member (20); a second member (30) secured to said first member (20) and said third member (40); a fourth member (110) secured to said first member (20) and said third member (40), said fourth member (110) disposed downwardly from said third member (40); a fifth member (120) secured to said first member (20) and said third member (40), said fifth member (120) disposed downwardly from said fourth member (110); said first member (20), said second member (30), said third member (40), said fourth member (110), said fifth member (120) being transparent; an illumination device (60) disposed within at least one of said first member (20), said second member (30), said third member (40), said fourth member (110), or said fifth member (120); a cord receiver (70) disposed in said base (50) so that an extension cord may plug into the illuminated device (60); said base (50) has a base member one (200) connected to said receiving member (90), and a base member five (205) is also connected to said receiving member (90) so that said base member five (205) is disposed along a same linear axis (400) as that of base member one (200); a seal (270) slidably disposed along at least one of said first member (20) or said third member (40), whereby the seal (270) directs water away from traversing within said receiving member.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a first member, second member, and third member of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of a base of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the first member, second member, and third member of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the base of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the system and designated parts. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives, and similar words.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

- 10 illuminated game
- 20 first member
- 30 second member
- 40 third member
- 50 base
- 60 illumination device
- 70 cord receiver
- 80 first member aperture
- 90 receiving member
- 100 base aperture
- 110 fourth member
- 120 fifth member
- 200 base member one
- 205 base member five
- 210 base member two
- 230 base member three
- 235 base member six
- 240 base member four
- 300 straight pipe fitting
- 305 curved pipe fitting
- 400 linear axis

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment on the present invention. The base 50 supports the first member 20 and third member 40. As illustrated, the base 50 may be of a rectangular shape. However it may also be a non-rectangular shape, such as circular or oval. A receiving member 90 is located on the base 50. The receiving member 90 is capable of receiving the first member 20 and third member 40 therein. The first member 20 and third member 40 may be removably secured within the receiving member 90. The first member 20 and third member 40 may be oriented in a substantially or exactly in a vertical position. The receiving member 90 may extend upwardly from the base 50 about ½ of an inch. The base 50 may have a receiving member 90, and a different receiving member 90. The first member 20 and the third member 40 may be secured within said receiving members 90 by a set screw, or as described above, a force fit.
A second member 30, a fourth member 110, and a fifth member 120 may be oriented in a substantially or exactly vertical position and connected at one end to the first member 20, and at the other end to the third member 40. The first member 20 and third member 40 may be of substantially equal length. The second member 30, the fourth member 110, and fifth member 120 may be of substantially equal length.
The first member 20, second member 30, third member 40, fourth member 50, and fifth member 110, and sixth member 120 may be of a material that is transparent or translucent, so that light may emanate from within the respective member so that the respective member is visible in the dark.
FIG. 2 illustrates a light source 60 may be disposed within each member 20, 30, 40, 110, and 120. The light source 60 may be a string of lights or rope-type lighting. A male electronic plug end 80 may be disposed at the first member aperture 80 so that it plugs into a female plug disposed at the base aperture 100. A cord receiver 70 may be disposed on the base so that a power cord from an outlet may be plugged into the cord disposed at the cord receiver 70 to power the system and apparatus.
FIG. 3 illustrates the base 50. The base 50 may have a receiving member 90 that receives a portion of the first member 20 and third member 40 within the receiving member 90. Also illustrated is the base aperture 100. The base aperture 100 may be the same as the receiving member 90, as illustrated. Alternatively, the base aperture may be located in a different position. Further, a cord receiver 70 may be disposed in the base 50. The cord receiver 70 is an aperture that allows an extension cord to be plugged into the cord within the base 50.
FIG. 4 illustrates the members 20, 30, 40, 110, 120 and approximate dimensions for one embodiment. In one embodiment, the first member 20 and third member 40 are about 44.5 inches in height; and disposed on the base 50 about 28 inches apart from each; the third member 30, fourth member 110, and fifth member 120 span about 28 inches from first member 20 to third member 40; and the third member 30 is about 15 inches above the fourth member 110; the fourth member 110 is about 15 inches above the fifth member 120. In one embodiment, each member may be about 1¾ inches thick.
FIG. 5 illustrates the base 50 according to one embodiment of the invention. The base 50 may be a rectangle that is about 36 inches by 32 inches. The base 50 may be made of a base member one 200, connected to a base member two 210 that is substantially perpendicular to base member one 200. A base member three 230 may be connected to the base member two 210. Base member three 230 may be oriented substantially perpendicular to base member two 210; thus base member three 230 may be substantially parallel to base member one 210. A base member four 240 may be connected to the base member three 230 in a substantially perpendicular orientation with respect to base member four 240. On one embodiment each member may be about 1¾ inches in thickness.
In one embodiment the receiving member 90 may have a seal 270 that can slide vertically along the first member 20 and third member 40. The seal 270 can be rested on the receiving member 90. This seal may aid in directing water away from entering the receiving member 90.
In one embodiment, the first member 20 may be connected to the second member 30 via a curved pipe fitting 305, as illustrated in FIG. 1. These fittings may be force fittings whereby the first member 20 may be pushed into the curved pipe fitting 305 where it is held in place by the tight fit between the first member 20 and the curved pipe fitting 305. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first member 20 may be inserted within the curved pipe fitting 305, and a set screw may be disposed through a threadably engaging portion of both the curved pipe fitting 305 and the first member 20 to hold the first member 20 in place with respect to the curved pipe fitting 305. In a further embodiment, the first member 20 may be threadably engaged with the curved pipe fitting 305 so that the first member 20 can be tightened with respect to the curved pipe fitting 305.
Similarly the second member 30 may be connected to the third member 40 via the fitting 300. The fourth member 110 may be connected to the first member 20 and the third member 40 via the fitting 300.
Similarly the base members one, two, three, and four 200, 210, 230, and 240 may be connected via a fitting 300. The receiving member 90 may fit over the base member one 200 and a base member five 205 as illustrated in FIG. 5. A base member five 205 and base member one 200 may both fit within the receiving member 90 so that base member one 200 is aligned in substantially the same linear axis 400 as base member five 205. The base member three 230 and a base member six 235 may both fit within the receiving member 90 in the same way as the base member five 205 and base member one 200.
In one embodiment the game has two colored or glowing balls connected together with ⅜ inch nylon rope that is about 21 inches in length. The balls are thrown from a distance at the illuminated game 10. One object of the game is to have the balls and rope land on either the second member 30, fourth member 110, or fifth member 120. Two illuminated games 10 may be spaced about 40 feet apart. The material used for most of the transparent components may be 1½ inch clear PVC pipe. The illumination device 60 may be rope light. The base 50 need not be illuminated, and need not be made of transparent or translucent material. The game 10 may be sold with sets of balls, six for daytime, and six sets for nighttime use.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An illuminated game comprising:

a base (50) having a receiving member (90);

a lower first member (20) removably received within a receiving member (90) and a fitting (300) upwardly therefrom;

a middle first member (20) removably received within the fitting (300) and another fitting (300) upwardly therefrom;

an upper first member (20) removably received within the other fitting (300) and a pipe fitting (305) upwardly therefrom;

a lower third member (40) removably received within a different receiving member (90) and a different fitting (300) upwardly therefrom;

a middle third member (40) removably received within the different fitting (300) and another different fitting (300) upwardly therefrom;

an upper third member (40) removably received with the other different fitting (300) and a different pipe fitting (305) upwardly therefrom;

said third member (40) oriented substantially parallel to said first member (20);

a second member (30) secured to said first member (20) and said third member (40);

a fourth member (110) secured to said first member (20) and said third member (40), said fourth member (110) disposed downwardly from said third member (40);

a fifth member (120) secured to said first member (20) and said third member (40), said fifth member (120) disposed downwardly from said fourth member (110);

said first member (20), said second member (30), said third member (40), said fourth member (110), said fifth member (120) being transparent; and

an illumination device (60) disposed within at least one of said first member (20), said second member (30), said third member (40), said fourth member (110), or said fifth member (120).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising;

a cord receiver (70) disposed in said base (50) so that an extension cord may plug into the illuminated device (60).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base (50) has a base member one (200) connected to said receiving member (90), and a base member five (205) is also connected to said receiving member (90) so that said base member five (205) is disposed along a same linear axis (400) as that of base member one (200).

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a seal (270) slidably disposed along at least one of said first member (20) or said third member (40), whereby the seal (270) directs water away from traversing within said receiving member.

5. An illuminated game comprising:

a base (50) having a receiving member (90);

a first member (20) removably received within a receiving member (90) a fitting (300) and a pipe fitting (305);

a third member (40) removably received within a different receiving member (90), a different fitting (300) and a different pipe fitting (305), said third member (40) oriented substantially parallel to said first member (20);

said first member (20), said second member (30), said third member (40), said fourth member (110), said fifth member (120) being transparent;

an illumination device (60) disposed within at least one of said first member (20), said second member (30), said third member (40), said fourth member (110), or said fifth member (120);

a cord receiver (70) disposed in said base (50) so that an extension cord may plug into the illuminated device (60);

said base (50) has a base member one (200) connected to said receiving member (90), and a base member five (205) is also connected to said receiving member (90) so that said base member five (205) is disposed along a same linear axis (400) as that of base member one (200); and