EP0608922A2

EP0608922A2 - Game

Info

Publication number: EP0608922A2
Application number: EP94200058A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Koen Nelissen
Original assignee: BLUE ZEBRA NV
Current assignee: BLUE ZEBRA NV
Priority date: 1993-01-21
Filing date: 1994-01-12
Publication date: 1994-08-03
Also published as: AU5390794A; EP0608922A3; BE1006635A3

Abstract

Game, characterized in that it mainly consists of the combination of two elements (1) and (2), whereby the first element (1) consists of shoot-off means and collecting means for a projectile, and the second element (2) consists of the above-mentioned projectile (2).

Description

The present invention concerns a game, in particular a game which can be played either as a game as such or as a sport.
More in particular the invention concerns a game whereby, on the one hand, a projectile can be shot off and whereby, on the other hand, a projectile can be caught.
Games are already known whereby a ball or such thrown by an opponent must be caught by means of a collecting element. Hereby, the ball is thrown back and forth between two or more players, and this object is subsequently caught by another player by means of a glove, basket or such like.
Among the known devices for this sort of games, some of them are known to have a collecting element consisting of a round flat face which is held with one hand and which is provided with male elements of so-called adhering means whose aim it is to work in conjunction with a ball which is provided on its entire outer surface with, in this case, female elements of said adhering means.
A disadvantage of the above-mentioned games is that the players must stand at a relatively short distance, in other words at the most the possible casting distance, in relation to one another. Moreover, the speed of the ball or such is low in these games, and it is difficult for the player to determine the casting direction, such that the agility of the players is tried but little.
In order to remedy these and other disadvantages of the known games, the present invention aims a game which mainly consists of the combination of a collecting element, a projectile and means which make it possible to shoot off said projectile.
Thus, the mutual distance between the players is less restricted, and an extra advantage consists in that, thanks to the use of the means for shooting off a projectile, the players can better determine the trajectory of the projectile.
As the collecting element and the above-mentioned means for shooting off a projectile are provided on one and the same device, there are a number of extra advantages, namely that the whole can be held in one hand, whereas the other hand is free and may serve to pick up the projectile or to keep one's balance as the projectile is caught and held while it is being shot off.
To this aim the game according to the invention mainly consists of the combination of two elements of which the first consists of shoot-off means and collecting means for a projectile and the second element consists of the above-mentioned projectile.
In order to better explain the characteristics according to the invention, some preferred embodiments are described below by way of example only and without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

figure 1 illustrates the practice of the game according to the invention in perspective and in a schematic manner;
figure 2 shows a front view of an element of the game according to the invention;
figure 3 shows a back view of the element according to figure 2;
figure 4 shows a section according to line IV-IV in figure 3;
figure 5 shows a front view of the second element according to the invention;
figure 6 shows a side view of the element according to figure 5;
figure 7 is a view similar to that in figure 2, but for a variant of the embodiment;
figure 8 shows a front view of the variant of the embodiment according to figure 7;
figure 9 shows a section according to line IX-IX in figure 8;
figure 10 shows a back view of the element according to figure 8;
figure 11 shows a view of another variant of the second element according to the invention;
figure 12 is a schematic representation of the shooting-off of a second element according to the invention;
figure 13 is a schematic representation of the collecting of a second element according to the invention;
figure 14 represents a front view of a fourth variant of the embodiment of the first element of a game according to the invention;
figure 15 shows a side view of figure 14;
figure 16 shows a second variant of a second element according to the invention;
figures 17 and 18 are schematic representations of the tightening phase and the shoot-off phase of a second element according to the invention, with a variant of the embodiment according to figure 14.

As shown in the figures, the game according to the invention mainly consists of two elements, 1 and 2 respectively, which can each work in conjunction with a hand 3 and 4.
The element 1 which is meant as it were to shoot off a projectile 2 and to catch this projectile 2 mainly consists of a central part 5 which may have any form whatsoever, but which is circular in the embodiment shown, whereby this central part 5 is surrounded by a reinforcement border 6.
This central part 5 is provided on one side with for example male adhering means 7 which are preferably bent somewhat over a whether or not resilient underlayer, in this case in the shape of a sphere segment 8 which is provided to this end on the central part 5.
On the other side of the central part 5, in the embodiment according to the figures 1 to 4, has been fixed a two-piece band whose parts 9 and 10 are connected to one another by means of a preferably metal loop 11 through which the free end 12 of the band 10 can be guided and whereby this band is provided, on the one hand, over part of its length, with for example male adhering means 13, whereas another part of it is provided with female adhering means 14 which can work in conjunction with one another.
At the top, the central part 5 of the element 1 is provided with two protrusions, 15 and 16 respectively, which preferably form a whole with the above-mentioned peripheral border 6, whereby an extensible element, for example an elastic 17, is fixed between the free ends of these protrusions.
The two protrusions 15 and 16 may have any form whatsoever and may be whether or not provided with one or several recesses.
Figures 5 and 6 represent the second element of the game according to the invention, which consists of the projectile 2 with mainly a spherical head 18 which is extended by two identical, divergent, tail-shaped elements, 19 and 20 respectively.
Both the spherical head 18 and the tail- shaped elements 19 and 20 should be preferably made of the same material, in particular an elastic material such as for example rubber, a resilient plastic or such like.
According to another embodiment, the spherical head 18 can be made of an elastic material, whereas the tail-shaped elements 19-20 are made of a hard material.
At the height where the tail- shaped elements 19 and 20 touch the spherical head 18, incisions are provided in said spherical head, 21 and 22 respectively.
The tail- shaped elements 19 and 20 each consist of a flat part 23 upon which a rib 24 is provided which gradually thickens towards the spherical head 18, whereby the free ends of the tail-shaped elements 19-20 show thickenings in the shape of a cross rib 25.
Finally, at least on the foremost part of the spherical head 18 a coating is provided, for example by means of glue, onto which part of the adhering means 26 are provided.
The coating in this case has a corrugated edge, as a result of which said coating can be very easily applied on more than half of the head 18.
In order to play the game according to the invention and according to the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 6, one only has to apply the first element 1 on one hand, for example the left hand 3, between the central part 5 of the element 1 and the bands 9 and 10 whereby the band 10 is pulled such that the hand is firmly joined to the element 1.
Subsequently, a projectile 2 as represented in the figures 5 and 6 with the tail- shaped elements 19 and 20 is to be provided around the elastic 17 whereby the elastic 17 is placed in the recesses 21 and 22 of the element 2 and whereby the tail- shaped elements 19 and 20, behind the elastic 17, are pressed against one another between thumb and forefinger of the second hand 4 around the elastic 17, whereby the rib-shaped thickenings 25 make sure that the projectile 2 does not shoot off unwanted.
Subsequently, all one has to do is pull the elastic as represented in figure 1 and release the projectile in order to make it fly off, whereby the recesses 21 and 22 make sure that a certain guidance is obtained in relation to the elastic 17, which has a positive effect on the directional control of the projectile and whereby the tail- shaped elements 19 and 20 of the projectile, thanks to the elasticity of the ribs 24, open automatically as soon as they are released.
The distance between the protrusions 15-16 and the length of these protrusions make it possible for the projectile to fly off freely in relation to the element 1.
A second player holds an identical element 1 in his hand and will try to catch the projectile 2 with the central part of his element 1 whereby the adhering means 7 and 26 catch hold of one another at that instant.
Then this second player in turn shoots off the projectile 2 with his element 1 to the first player, etc.
Both the adhering means 13-14 on the band 10 and the adhering means 7 and 26 can be made for example of products of the deposited brand VELCRO.
Figure 7 shows a variant of the embodiment of the element 1 according to figure 3 whereby this element is provided at the bottom with a grip 27 with which it can be held as the projectile 2 is being shot off and caught.
Figures 8 to 10 show another variant of the embodiment of an element 1, whereby in this case a disc 28 is provided in the peripheral border 6, for example by means of glue, which is made of a supple material and which has adhering means 7 at the front side, whereby a star-shaped incision 29 is provided in said disc 28.
The disc 28 can be made of any material whatsoever upon which the actual adhering means are applied, but it may also consist of the usual support of such adhering means.
It should be noted that the incision 29 may of course have another shape than this represented in the figures, but the incision always starts from the centre of the central part 5 to its perimeter.
Every edge of an incision 29 should, as is represented in the drawings by the way, preferably end in a large cylindrical recess which so to say forms a hinge for the flaps 30 situated between the edges.
On the back, the peripheral border 6 is provided with the elastic 17 which is attached in this case in two points on the peripheral border which are diametrically opposed to one another, in particular in a straight line which goes through the middle of the star-shaped incision 29.
The second element which can cooperate with a first element 1 according to figures 8 to 10 may consist of either an element as represented in figures 5 and 6, or an element as represented in figure 11 which merely differs from that in figure 5 in that the ribs 24 are shorter and the recesses 21-22 have been left out.
As represented in figures 12 and 13, all one has to do with a game according to figures 8 to 11 is to hold the element with one hand, for example with the left hand which to this end holds the element 1 with the grip 27, whereas a second element 2, always according to the embodiments from figures 1 to 7, should be put with the tail-shaped elements 19-20 around the elastic 17, after which the elastic is tightened by pulling the second element 2 away from the element 1 with the other hand.
When the second element 2 is subsequently released, it will, due to the positioning of the elastic 17, be shot off through the star-shaped opening 29, whereby the triangular flaps 30 are bent open during the passage of the second element 2 as represented in figure 12.
The second player will at this moment try to catch the second element 2 by bringing its spherical head 18, which is provided with adhering means 26, for example female ones, into contact with the adhering means 7, for example male ones, of the element 1.
As represented in figure 13, when the second element 2 is caught in the middle of the disc 28, the flaps 30 will be bent over, as a result of which the grip on the adhering means 26 of the second element 2 is even better.
Figures 14 and 15 show another embodiment whereby the central part 5 can be made for example in the same way as the central part 5 in the embodiment according to figures 1 to 4.
In this case, two bridges 31-32 are provided on the peripheral border 6 which serve as a support for a pipe 33 upon which a grip 34 is provided between the bridges 31-32.
In the above-mentioned pipe are provided two longitudinal grooves 35-36, diametrically opposed to one another and over practically the major part of the length of the pipe, through which a pen 37 is provided onto which, outside the pipe 33, a ring-shaped stop 38 is fixed.
Inside the pipe 33, the free ends of an extensible element, for example an elastic 39 which is bent over around a shaft 40 which is fixed in a screw cap 41 with which the free top end of the pipe 33 is sealed, are connected to the pen 37 in a suitable manner, such that the elastic 39 can be replaced.
Figure 16 shows a second element of projectile 2 according to the invention which in this case consists of a spherical head or ball 18 which is provided with adhering means 26 which can cooperate with the adhering means 7 of the element 1 and whereby a passage 42 is provided in this projectile 2 whose dimensions are slightly bigger than the outside dimensions of the pipe 33, such that the ball 2 can be slid over the pipe 33.
In this variant the element 1 is held with the grip 34, whereas the projectile 2 is applied on the pipe 33 and moved downward over this pipe with the second hand, all this such that, as the projectile 2 makes contact with the stop 38 and thus carries it along downward, the elastic 39 is tightened.
Subsequently, one only has to let go of the projectile or ball 2 to shoot it off, whereby the pipe 33 serves as directional guide and whereby the aim is, still as above, that another player catches the projectile 2 by means of the adhering means 7.
The element 1 can be made of any material whatsoever, such as wood, plastic or such like.
Although the above description always mentions adhering means on the one hand on the first element 1 and on the other hand on the second element 2 which can work in conjunction with one another, it is clear that said adhering means can be replaced by other elements which can work in conjunction with one another, such as for example little suction cups which are provided either on the element 1 or on the element 2.
The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described by way of example and shown in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, such a game according to the invention can be made in various forms and dimensions while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Game, characterized in that it mainly consists of the combination of two elements (1) and (2), whereby the first element (1) consists of shoot-off means and collecting means for a projectile, and the second element (2) consists of the above-mentioned projectile (2).
Game according to claim 1, characterized in that the collecting means of the first element (1) consist of a central part (5) which is coated at the front with male or female adhering means (7).
Game according to claim 1, characterized in that the collecting means of the first element (1) consist of a central part (5) which is coated at the front with suction cups.
Game according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the central part (5) of the first element (1) is surrounded by a peripheral border (6).
Game according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the collecting means of the first element (1) are provided in a flat face.
Game according to claim 5, characterized in that the adhering means (7) of the central part (5) are applied on a disc (28) made of a supple material.
Game according to claim 6, characterized in that the disc (28) consists of the support of the adhering means (7).
Game according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a star-shaped incision (29) is provided in the middle of the disc (28).
Game according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first element (1) is provided with a grip.
Game according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoot-off means of the first element (1) mainly consist of two protrusions (15,16) on the peripheral border (6) whose free ends are connected to one another by means of an extensible element (17), for example an elastic.
Game according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoot-off means of the first element (1) mainly consist of an extensible element (17), for example an elastic which is fixed with its free ends on the peripheral border (6) of the element (1).
Game according to claim 11, characterized in that the free ends of the extensible element (17) are fixed in two points which are diametrically opposed to one another, in particular in a straight line which goes through the middle of the star-shaped incision 29.
Game according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoot-off means of the first element (1) consist of a pipe (33) which is connected to the peripheral border (6) of the first element (1) and over which a stop (38) can move which is connected to a pen (37) which goes through longitudinal grooves (35-36) in the pipe (33) and whereby the free ends of an extensible element (39), for example an elastic, which is bent around a shaft (40) at the free end of the pipe (33), are connected to this pen (37).
Game according to claim 13, characterized in that the shaft (40) is fixed in a screw cap (41).
Game according to claims 1 and 13, characterized in that the projectile (2) mainly consists of a spherical head (18) which is provided with female or male adhering means (26) and in which a passage (42) is provided whose diameter is slightly bigger than the diameter of the pipe (33).
Game according to claims 1 and 10 or 1 and 11, characterized in that the projectile (2) mainly consists of a spherical head (18) and two identical, diverging, tail-shaped elements (19,20), whereby the spherical head (18) is provided at least on the front part with a coating (25) consisting of female or male adhering means (26).
Game according to claim 16, characterized in that the spherical head (18) has two incisions (21,22) which form a guide for the elastic (17).
Game according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that at least the head (28) of the projectile (2) consists of an elastic material, for example rubber.
Game according to any of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the tail-shaped elements (19,20) consist of a flat part (23) onto which a rib (24) is provided.
Game according to any of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the free ends of the tail-shaped elements (19-20) are provided with thickenings in the shape of cross ribs (25).