WO1996017657A1

WO1996017657A1 - A game ball

Info

Publication number: WO1996017657A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1995/000127
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Irving Hetherington
Original assignee: James Irving Hetherington
Priority date: 1994-12-08
Filing date: 1995-12-05
Publication date: 1996-06-13
Also published as: AU4125196A

Abstract

The playing ball (1) for a game utilising a plurality of such balls has a body (2) featuring some identification significant to the playing of the game and including a transponder (4). As the ball (1) rotates during its passage along an inclined track (5), the transponder (4) can be interrogated by an interrogation means such as aerial (7) so that a unique signal is emitted and a particular ball (1) can be identified.

Description

A GAME BALL

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to games.

In the playing of games it is frequently necessary to be able to accurately identify particular playing pieces.

In one particular game, known as "cue poker", the playing pieces comprise balls of a transparent or translucent material contained within which are representations of values of playing cards, such as 10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings, Aces, Jokers and with a designation of suit, the object of the game being to play a simulated game of poker by the potting of the balls from a table. It is emphasised that this game is given by way of example only and numerous other games will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art of games where a corresponding identification of the various playing balls would be desirable.

At the present time such identification has relied on the player's own identification of the playing balls so that a game score can be kept. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for playing a game which overcomes or at least obviates problems in the identification of playing balls in a game or at least will provide the public with a useful choice.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of playing a game involving a plurality of playing balls, said method comprising providing for one or more of the playing balls a transponder means, said method further comprising the provision of an interrogating means positioned at or adjacent a path taken by one of said playing balls during the playing of a game whereby said ball including the said transponder means can be identified.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method as defined above includes the provision of an inclined track along which said playing balls can pass during the playing of a game and wherein said interrogating means is provided in, on, or adjacent to said track. According to a further aspect of the present invention a method as defined in the paragraph immediately above includes the positioning of said interrogating means so as to be offset relative to a longitudinal axis of said track.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method as defined in either of the two immediately preceding paragraphs which includes the position of a control means to control the passage of said playing balls along said track and so as to maintain a separation therebetween.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of playing a game is provided substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a playing ball, for a game involving a plurality of balls, includes a transponder means positioned thereon or therein, said transponder means providing an identification of said playing ball which can be detected upon an interrogation of said transponder means. According to a further aspect of the present invention a playing ball as defined in the paragraph immediately above has said transponder means embedded within a body of said playing ball.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a playing ball as defined in either of the paragraphs immediately above has a body which is of a transparent or translucent material and includes a visible identification means provided therein and visible externally of said playing ball.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a playing ball for a game is provided substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a game including a plurality of playing balls as defined in any one of the four immediately preceding paragraphs and/or as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of possible embodiments of the invention and wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fiσures la.b: Show diagrammatically a side view and a side view displaced through 45 degrees of one possible embodiment of a playing ball; Fiσures 2a.b: show a plan view and a plan view displaced through 45 degrees according to one possible embodiment of the invention; Figures 3a, b: show a front view and a front cross-sectional view of a playing ball according to one possible embodiment of the invention; Fiσure 4 : shows very diagrammatically a side view of a playing ball identification arrangement according to one possible embodiment of the invention; and Fiσure 5: shows an end view of the arrangement of Figure 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, a playing ball is referenced generally by arrow 1 and is illustrated in this embodiment as having a spherical body 2. This may be of transparent or translucent material such as a clear plastics, resin, glass or the like. The ball 1 may have a substantially solid body 2 which may be integrally formed. Alternatively, the body 2 may possibly be formed from several discrete parts or it may be substantially hollow.

In alternative embodiments, some or all of the playing balls 1 of a particular game may, or may not, have any characteristics of being transparent or translucent and may be solid or hollow balls of any suitable material such as metal, plastics, wood, glass or the like.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 however, the playing balls 1 are substantially transparent or translucent so that visible from externally of the ball is an identification means shown as a curved or arcuate tab, plate or the like 3 on which some appropriate indicia will be featured such as in the game of "cue poker", the designation of some playing card value. As is evident from Figures 1 and 2 particularly, the tab, plate or the like 3 may not have its indicia visible from the side views but has an angled surface so the indicia will come into view as the ball is rotated through 45 degrees towards being front on to the viewer as in Figure 3a. The tab or plate 3 may be of any suitable material and may be embedded or inserted within the ball 1 by any suitable means. In one embodiment it is envisaged that the tab or plate 3 may be held between two halves of the ball 1 as they are secured together.

As shown particularly in Figure 3b, the ball 1 in this embodiment may have a body 2 of a substantially solid construction in which the tab or plate 3 is embedded. A transponder 4 is shown provided in this embodiment positioned within or against the tab or plate 3 but could alternatively be anywhere in or on the ball 1. It is to be appreciated that the tab or plate 3 would be omitted from balls 1 in which their indicia was featured on their outer surface rather than in their interior as is the option with transparent or translucent balls. The transponder 4 may be of any suitable type and may in one embodiment be embedded in the ball 1 by casting, drilling, moulding, bonding or the like. The transponder 4 is adapted to provide a unique signal upon being interrogated by an interrogation means, the signal uniquely identifying the ball 1, so as to distinguish it from all other balls other than those having the same transponder. It is envisaged that the transponder may in one embodiment have its own power supply such as a battery or the like and may be constantly or intermittently generating a signal or may otherwise generate a signal on being triggered to do so. The interrogation means in one embodiment may therefore be simply a signal receiving antenna or the like with a simple signal identifying or decoding means.

The playing balls 1 by means of the interrogation or received signal can be uniquely and reliably identified as the game is played according to its particular rules. The interrogation means may be of any suitable type with the appropriate characteristics of being able to stimulate the transponder 4 so that it emits its unique signal which can be received and decoded by the interrogation means and can be used as appropriate in the playing of the game. In this way the identity, and if appropriate, position, of any playing ball 1 during the playing of the game can be recorded and used as appropriate.

In Figures 4 and 5 the playing ball 1 is shown very diagrammatically travelling along an inclined track 5 in a direction indicated by arrow A, and rotating as it does in a direction indicated by arrow B. A toggle or other control means 6 is shown provided for the track 5 so as to maintain the playing balls 1 separate. Positioned above and offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the track 5 is shown an interrogation means 7 in the form of an antenna positioned offset relative to the track 5 so as to generate an appropriate field or signal which will result in the identification of the playing ball 1 by the response of the transponder 4. The transponder 4 in this embodiment is illustrated as being a substantially cylindrical disc or pellet embedded in the ball 1.

While the transponder 4 is shown positioned substantially centrally of the ball 1, it is envisaged that alternative positioning could be provided and could for example, comprise a positioning at, on, or adjacent the surface of the ball 1. The interrogation means 7 is required to be such that it is able to interrogate the transponder 4 notwithstanding the orientation of the ball 1 as it passes along the track 5. The offsetting of the interrogation means 7 relative to the track 5 as shown in Figure 5 is optional and alternatively the interrogation means 7 could be symmetrically placed.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game involving a plurality of playing balls, said method comprising providing for one or more of the playing balls a transponder means, said method further comprising the provision of an interrogating means positioned at or adjacent a path taken by one of said playing balls during the playing of a game, whereby said ball including the said transponder means can be identified.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 and further including the provision of an inclined track along which said playing balls can pass during the playing of a game and wherein said interrogating means is provided in, on, or adjacent to said track.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said interrogating means is positioned so as to be offset relative to a longitudinal axis of said track.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 and further including the provision of a control means to control the passage of said playing balls along said track and so as to maintain a separation therebetween.

5. A method of playing a game substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings .

6. A playing ball, for a game involving a plurality of balls, which includes a transponder means positioned thereon or therein, said transponder means providing an identification of said playing ball which can be detected upon an interrogation of said transponder means.

7. A playing ball as claimed in claim 6 wherein said transponder means emits a unique signal upon said interrogation.

8. A playing ball as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 having a body which is of a transparent or translucent material and includes a visible identification means provided therein and visible externally of said playing ball.

9. A playing ball as claimed in claim 8 wherein said visible identification means comprises a tab or plate means having indicia thereon and wherein said transponder means is provided in or on said tab or plate means.

10. A playing ball as claimed in claim 9 wherein said tab or plate means is positioned between two halves of said ball which are secured together.

11. A playing ball as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein said tab or plate means has an angled surface so that the visible identification means will come into view as the ball is rotated.

12. A playing ball for a game substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A game including a plurality of playing balls as defined in any one of the claims 6 to 12 and including an inclined track along which said playing balls can pass during the playing of a game and wherein an interrogating means is provided in, on, or adjacent to, said track which can excite said transponder to emit a unique signal identifying a particular playing ball.

1 . A game as claimed in claim 13 wherein said interrogating means is positioned so as to be offset relative to a longitudinal axis of said track.

15. A game as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 and including a control means to control the passage of said playing balls along said track and so as to maintain a separation therebetween.

16. A game as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 played according to the rules of "cue poker" and wherein each playing ball is identified with a respective value of a playing card.

17. A game substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention and with reference to the accompanying drawings.