CA2934018A1 - Tethered ball game device - Google Patents

Abstract

A tethered ball game device comprising:
.cndot. a tether ball assembly including a ball, a handle, an elastic tether having two ends, one attached to the handle, the other to the ball, .cndot. a base assembly including a base body and a plurality of prize tokens.
The player positioned at a suitable distance from the base, holding the tethered ball assembly with one hand and by twisting the wrist, such the ball is rotated typically one or more turns around his position, tentatively lands the ball on the base assembly, such that one of the first contact fastener means along the surface of the ball gets in contact with the second contact fastener means of one of the prize tokens, thus allowing to retreive the contacted prize token from the base body as the ball bounces off the surface of the body top portion.
This game allow to develop the concentration, the visual field, the ambidexterity and the socialisation for users of all ages.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Title of the invention Tethered Ball Game Device Field of the invention The present invention relates to the general field of ball game devices, and is more specifically concerned with a tethered ball game device, and a method of using same.
Background of the invention Tethered ball game devices are well known in the art of outdoor game devices and are typically used in competitive games or simply for improving the physical coordination and motor skills of individuals. Known examples of tethered ball game devices typically include a ball attached at one end of a tether and some sort of target to aim at with the ball such as tokens on the ground, a basket for receiving the ball, the foot of the player, and the likes. The challenge for a player generally consists in suitably handling the free end of the tether such that the ball gets in contact with the target.
Such known tethered ball game devices of the prior art are described in the following utility patent and design patent documents: U.S. Pat. Nos. US300097, to McAllister (June 10, 1884), U.S. Pat. Nos. US4133526, to Anson (Jan.9, 1979), U.S. Pat. Nos.
US5094462, to Boyle et Al, (March 10, 1992), U.S. Pat. Nos. US5566949, to Gorden (Oct.
22,1996), U.S. Pat. Nos. US5669837, to Hauter (Sept. 23,1997), U.S. Pat. Nos. US5722663, to Avigal et Al. ( March 3,1998), and U.S. Design Pat. Nos. USD426585, to Manniso (June 13, 2000).
While these known tethered ball game devices of the prior art can generally fulfill the main objective of providing a playful means for improving the coordination and motor skills of an individual, they are generally limited in terms of number of levels of difficulty required to reach the target with the ball. Consequently, the player is substantially limited in the improvement levels of his or her physical coordination and motor skills.
Indeed, these tethered ball games devices generally offer only one level of difficulty either through a single or multiple identical targets.

- 2 -Against this background, there exists a need to provide an improved tethered ball game device. An object of the present invention is therefore to provide such a tethered ball game device.

- 3 -DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a tethered ball game device 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As best illustrated in Fig. 1 to 4 inclusively, the tethered ball game device 10 comprises a tethered ball assembly 12 and a base assembly 14.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, 2 and 3, the tethered ball assembly 12 includes a handle 16, a tether 18 having a tether first end 20 attached to the handle 16 and a tether second end 22.
The tethered ball assembly 12 further includes a ball 24 having a tether attachment means 26 along a surface thereof. The tether second end 22 is attached to the tether attachment means 26 of the ball 24.
The ball 24 includes a plurality of first contact fastener means 28 distributed in a spaced apart relationship along the surface thereof.
The ball 24 is an inflated type bouncing ball made of an elastomeric material, and has a predetermined radius of between about nine (9) and ten (10) inches (between about 22.8 and 25.4 centimeters), and the weight is preferably in between 180gr. to 200gr..
Other diameter and weight values, and known types of structure and material, which provides bouncing properties to the ball 24, are also possible.
The tether 18 is preferably represented by a flexible doubled cord 30 made of an elastomeric material, and the tether attachment means 26 is preferably an eyelet formed in, or otherwise attached to the surface of the ball 24. The doubled cord 30 has an intermediate portion corresponding to the tether second end 22 that is engaged through the eyelet, with the paired cords ends thereof adjustably attached to the handle 16.
This doubled cord 30 configuration of the tether 18 between the handle 16 and the ball 24 allows a player 100 to induce at least a relatively small rotating effect on the ball 24 about an imaginary axis extending between the tether attachment means 26 and a diametrically opposite point relative thereof on the ball 24.
This at least relatively small rotating effect on the ball 24 about the imaginary axis may be achieved by twisting the wrist of the hand 102 holding the handle 16 when the tether 18 is

- 4 -in a substantially extended state, such as when the player 100 swings the ball 24 at arm's length around his or her position.
The handle 16 may be represented by a relatively rectilinear handle member around which a portion of the tether 18 may be wrapped around for selectively adjusting the distance between the handle 16 and the ball 24. Conveniently, one or more grooves defined along side or ends portions of the handle 16 may be used to secure the desired portion of wrapped tether around the handle 16, thus allowing preserving the selected adjusted length of the tether 18.
Preferably, the overall length dimension of the tether 18, between the handle 16 and the ball 24, may be between about four (4) and eight (8) feet (between about 1.2 and 2.4 meters) which, consequently, results in a doubled cord 30 have twice that length. Typically, several varied lengths of tethers 18 are provided with the game device for accommodating young and adults playing the game.
Other length dimensions for the tether are also possible.
It is to be noted that the doubled cord 30 and eyelet of the tether attachments means 26 allows the replacement of the tether 18 with another having a substantially different length to accommodate young and adult players.
In an alternate embodiment of the tethered ball assembly 12, the tether 18 may be made of a non-stretchable material. Furthermore, others means of attaching the tether second end 22 to the ball 24 are also possible such as, for example, one where the tether second end 22 is molded in the material of the ball 24.
The first contact fastener means 28 may be represented by one part of a Velcro type fastener, a magnet or a combination of these two types of contact fasteners.
Preferably, each one of the first contact fastener means 28 is one part of a Velcro type contact fastener such as, for example, the hook part thereof, and has a surface dimension of between about five (5) and twenty five (25) square centimeters.
Further preferably, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, a first contact fastener means 28 is positioned along a surface portion of the ball 24 that is diametrically opposite the tether attachment means 26, and four additional first contact fastener means 28 are disposed in

- 5 -an equidistantly spaced apart relationship along an equatorial circumference portion of the ball 24 relative thereof, as illustrated in the figures.
In some embodiments, the first contact fastener means 28 opposite the tether attachment means 26 is represented by Velcro type contact fastener with a central portion thereof represented by a relatively flat magnetic element.
In some embodiments, the first contact fastener means 28 around the equatorial portion of the ball 24 are replaced with a continuous equatorial band made of a Velcro type contact fastener (not shown in the figures).
In yet some other embodiments, one or more of the first contact fastener means disposed around the ball 24 may each have a different surface dimension for defining various score levels of ability, as it will be described along an exemplary mode of usage of the tethered ball game device 10 of the present invention further below.
As best illustrated in Fig.4, the base assembly includes a base body 32 and a plurality of prize tokens 34.
Now referring to Figs. 4 to 11 inclusively, the base body 32 includes a body bottom portion 36 adapted for resting on a support surface and a body top portion 38 in a spaced apart relationship above the body bottom portion 36.
The body top portion 38 has substantially rectangular configuration in a top plan view, as best illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 10, thus defining a body front portion 40, a body rear portion 42 and body lateral side portions 44, wherein the body front and rear portions 40 and 42 have a relatively greater horizontal dimension than the body lateral side portions 44.
The body top portion 38 defines a substantially rounded concave portion 46 extending centrally downwardly relative thereof, and transversally through the body front and rear portions 40 and 42, thus forming a pair of raised shoulder portions 48 extending parallelly on each side thereof.
The concave portion 46 extends a predetermined angle of curvature of between 20 and 180 and a radius that is at least slightly greater than the radius of the ball 24.

- 6 -Furthermore, the concave portion 46 and the raised shoulder portions 48 each defines at least one container cavity 50 extending substantially inwardly relative thereof.
Preferably, the at least one container cavity 50 is a single container cavity 50 positioned substantially centrally relative to each one of the concave portion 46 and raised shoulder portions 48.
Furthermore, the single container cavity 50 and corresponding prize token 34 along the concave portion 46 of the base body 32 are suitably dimensioned and shaped such that the token bottom surface portion 52 thereof has a diameter that is relatively smaller than either one of the prize tokens 34 engaged along the pair of raised shoulder portions 48 for defining various score levels of ability.
Preferably, the angle of curvature of the concave portion 46 is about 80 and the radius thereof is about eight (8) inches, which is greater than the radius values for the ball 24 mentioned further above. Other values of angle of curvature and radius of the concave portion 46 are also possible.
The concave portion 46 and the pair of raised shoulder portions 48 may be at least slightly slanted toward the body front portion 40 at a predetermined angle of between five (5) and thirty (30) degree. The predetermined angle is preferably about ten (10) degree.
Other predetermined angle values for the concave portion 46 and raised shoulder portions 48 are also possible.
Further preferably, the pair of raised shoulder portions 48 are each represented by a substantially planar surface.
The base body 32 is preferably made of a suitable plastic material using an injection molding process, a thermoforming process, or a combination thereof.
The plurality of prize tokens 34 are in corresponding number with container cavities of the base body 32.

- 7 -Each one in the plurality of prize tokens 34 has overall dimensions suitably sized shaped so as to be removably insertable upside down in a corresponding one of the container cavities 50, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 to 8 inclusively, with a token bottom surface portion 52 thereof at least partially protruding from the surface of the base body 32 surrounding the container cavity 50 as best illustrated in Fig. 5, 6 and 8.
Each token bottom surface portion 52 is covered with a second contact fastener means 54 compatible with the first contact fastener means 28 along the surface of the ball 24 (e.g. a compatible part of a Velcro type contact fastener, or a suitably polarized magnetic element).
Preferably, the token bottom surface portion 52 has an at least slightly convex configuration protruding outwardly from the surrounding surface of the body top portion 38, for an improved contact with the contact fastener means of the ball 24.
As illustrated in Fig. 9, each one of the plurality of prize tokens 34 defines a token top portion 56. The token top portion 56 is either represented by a prize medal, a prize ribbon, a prize trophy 58 ( as illustrated) or a reclosable container for holding therein an individual prize such as money, a candy, or the likes.
The prize tokens 34 are preferably made of a suitable material, or combination of materials such as, for example, various types and rigidity of polymeric material, rubber, silicone, or the likes.
Referring now more particularly to Fig, 1, an exemplary mode of usage of the tethered ball game device 10 of the present invention may be summarized as follows.
In first step, the player 100 is positioned at a suitable distance from the body base portion 40 of the base assembly 14 and holding the tethered ball assembly 12 with one hand 102.
In a second step, the player 100 suitably swings the tethered ball assembly 12 substantially at arm's length such that the ball 24 is rotated typically one turn around his or her position.
In a third step, by suitably twisting the wrist, the player 100 tentatively lands the ball 24 on the base assembly 14 such that one of the first contact fastener means 28 along the surface of the ball 24 gets in contact with the second contact fastener means 54 of one of

- 8 -the prize tokens 34, thus allowing to retrieve the contacted prize token 34 from the base body 32 as the ball 24 bounces off the surface of the body top portion 38.
The player 100 may get additional ability points for retrieving a prize token 34 from the concave portion 46 of the base body 32 since it is relatively harder to accomplish than retrieving a prize token 34 from one of the raised shoulder portions 48 thereof.
Other modes of usage, or games rules, are also possible. For example. a player may win the game when he or she successfully retrieves the prize token 34 at the center of the base assembly 14 when the latter is positioned the furthest away from the position of the players. Another example, a player may hold the handle 16 with one hand, and with the other hand, hold the flexible doubled cord 30 and like the three steps described above, try to retrieve the prize token.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 12, the base body 32 may further include a base handle 60 along each one of the body lateral side portions 44, and a stretchable strap 62 having opposed ends 64 removably attachable to each one of the base handles 60 and extending over the body top portion 38, so as to conveniently resiliently hold the ball 24 between the strap 62 and the concave portion 46 for ease of transportation of the tethered ball game device 10.
As best illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 10 and 11, the body bottom portion 36 may further include extension portions 70 for increased stability when resting on a support surface. The extension portion 70 extend laterally outwardly from a peripheral edge portion of the body bottom portion 36 and define a plurality of distally spaced apart anchoring apertures 72 for engaging therethrough a corresponding number of ground anchor pins 74 for even more stability of the base assembly 14.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 13, the tethered ball game device 10 may further include at least one open ended, stretchable sleeve 76 manually engageable on the ball 24 so as to cover a major equatorial portion thereof, for allowing a player 100 to draw figures and other ornamentations thereon with a pen 78 or the likes. The sleeve 76 may be made of any suitable material such as rubber, a suitable polymer, a Nylon fabric, or the likes.

- 9 -Advantageously, as illustrated in Fig. 11, the base body 32 may further define an inner storage compartment 66 accessible through a reclosable compartment door 68 positioned along one of the body lateral side portions 44 or body bottom portion 36 (as illustrated in the figure). Thus, various items that may be optionally associated with the tethered ball game device 10 of the present invention such as, for examples, a plurality of sleeves 76, drawings pens 78, score cards, a spare tether 18 and anchoring pins 74, among other items, may be conveniently stored therein.
Fig. 14 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a base assembly 80, according to the present invention. The main difference of the presently described base assembly 80 with the base assembly 14 of the first embodiment 10 of a tethered ball game device described further above essentially resides in that its body top portion 82 has a substantially circular configuration in a top plan view. Furthermore, the body top portion 82 defines a concave portion 84 having a substantially semi-spherical configuration extending centrally downwardly relative thereof, thus forming a raised circular shoulder portion 86 around the concave portion 84.
Likewise the first embodiment described further above, the concave portion 84 and the raised circular shoulder portion 86 each define at least one container cavity disposed in a spaced apart relationship along surface portions thereof. Each one of the at least one container cavity extends substantially perpendicularly inwardly relative thereof, for removably receiving therein a corresponding prize token 34. Furthermore, the concave portion 84 has a predetermined angle curvature of between 20 and 1800 and a radius that is at least slightly greater than the radius of the ball 24.
The base assembly 80 may be made of the same material, and have the same additional characteristics such as base handles and strap combination, an internal storage compartment and extension portions 90 with anchoring apertures as the first embodiment of the tethered ball game device 10 described further above.
Thus, more than one player may be positioned around the base assembly 80 and, in turn, tentatively retrieve a prize token using a tethered ball assembly 12 as described further above.

- 10 -Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention.

- 11 -BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the appended drawings:
FIGURE 1, in a perspective environmental view, illustrates an embodiment of a tethered ball game device, according to the present invention, here shown in action in the hand of a player;
FIGURE 2, in side partial view, illustrates a tethered ball game assembly, here showing a handle attached to one end of a tether;
FIGURE 3, in side partial view, illustrates a tethered ball game assembly, here showing a ball attached to the other end of the tether in Fig. 2;
FIGURE 4, in a perspective exploded view, illustrates a base assembly, here showing a plurality of prize tokens each adapted to be received in a corresponding container cavity defined in a base body;
FIGURE 5, in a perspective view, illustrates the base assembly of Fig. 4, here shown in an assembled state;
FIGURE 6, in a front elevational view, illustrates the base assembly in Fig.
5;
FIGURE 7, in a rear elevational view, illustrates the assembled base assembly and tokens prizes in Fig. 5;
FIGURE 8, in a side elevational view, illustrates the base assembly in Fig.5, an opposite side elevational view being a mirror image thereof;
FIGURE 9, in a side elevational view, illustrates an embodiment of a token prize;
FIGURE 10, in a top plan view, illustrates the base assembly in Fig. 5;
FIGURE 11, in a bottom plan view, illustrates the base assembly In Fig. 5;
FIGURE 12, in a perspective view, illustrates an alternate embodiment of a base assembly, here shown provided with handles and a carrying strap;
FIGURE 13, in a perspective view, illustrates an open ended sleeve element engageable on the ball of the ball assembly; and

- 12 -FIGURE 14, in a perspective view, illustrates an alternate embodiment of a base assembly having a circular configuration.

Claims (12)

- 13 -The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A game comprising:
A. a tethered ball assembly;
said the tethered ball assembly includes a handle, a tether having a tether first end attached to the handle and a tether second end;
said the tether ball assembly includes a ball having a tether attachment means along a surface portion thereof;
said the tether second end is attached to the tether attachment means of the ball;
said the ball includes a plurality of first contact fasteners means distributed in a space apart relationship along the surface thereof;
B. a base assembly;
said the base assembly includes a base body and a plurality of prize tokens;
said the base body includes a body bottom portion adapted for resting on a support surface and a body top portion in a spaced apart relationship above the body bottom portion.

2. The game according to claim 1, wherein the body top portion has a substantially rectangular configuration in a top plan view, thus defining a body front portion, a body rear portion and body lateral side portions, wherein the body front and rear portions have a relatively greater horizontal dimension than the body lateral side portions.

3. The game according to claim 1, wherein the body top portion defines a substantially rounded concave portion extending centrally downwardly relative thereof and transversally through the body front and rear portions, thus forming a pair of raised shoulder portions extending parallelly on each side thereof.

4. The game according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion extends a predetermined angle of curvature and a radius that is at least slightly greater than the radius of the ball.

5. The game according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion and the raised shoulder portions each defines at least one container cavity extending substantially inwardly relative thereof.

6. The game according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion and the pair of raised shoulder portions may be at least slightly slanted toward the body front portion at a predetermined angle.

7. The game according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of prize tokens is in corresponding number with the container cavities of the base body.

8. The game according to claim 1, wherein each one in the the plurality of prize tokens has overall dimensions suitably sized and shaped so as to be removably insertable upside down in a corresponding one of the container cavities, with a token bottom surface portion thereof at least partially protruding from the surface of the base body surrounding the container cavity.

9. The game according to claim 1, wherein each token bottom surface portion is covered with a second contact fastener means compatible with the first contact fastener means along the surface of the ball ( e.g. a compatible part of a Velcro type contact fastener, or a suitably polarized magnetic element).

10. The game according to claim 1, wherein the various components of the tethered ball game device are preferably made of a suitable material or combination of materials such as plastic, vinyl, rubber and the likes using manufacturing processes that are well known in the art of toys such an injection molding process, a thermoforming process, and the likes.

11. The game according to claim 1, wherein in an alternate embodiment of the tethered ball game device, the base assembly defines a body top portion having a substantially circular configuration where the body top portion defines a concave portion having a substantially semi-spherical configuration extending centrally downwardly relative thereof, thus forming a raised circular shoulder portion around the concave portion.

12.The game according to claim 11, wherein the concave portion and the raised circular shoulder portion each define at least one container cavity disposed in a spaced apart relationship along surface portions thereof for removably receiving therein a corresponding prize token.