EP1575681B1 - Target object - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a target object (1) which comprises a receiving element (2) which can accommodate a target subject. The target object (1) can be suspended above a take-off surface (5) in such a manner that the receiving element (2) comprises at least one opening (21) facing said take-off surface (5) through which a balloon (20) filled with a lifting gas and ascending from the take-off surface (5) as the target subject can be guided into the receiving element (2). The invention allows for the playful competition of gas balloons (20) and at the same time provides for an advertising medium that is visible from afar.

Description

INTRODUCTION

The invention relates to a target object with a receiving device in which a target subject is aufehmbar. Target objects of this type are known in various designs for various playful competitions.

For example, gates for foot or handball games are known, which are located on the edge of a playing field directly on the ground and has a substantially cuboid, to the playing field open receiving device extending along the edges of the receiving device stabilizing struts. Also known are basket-like targets for basketball games, which are also supported on the edge of a playing field by means of, for example, a rod-shaped support element above the head level. US-A-5727700 and US-A-5564575 describe devices for display and storage of balloons.

The known target objects are not suitable for simple playful competitions with gas-filled balloons, as they are targeted in the context of promotional events preferably as an attraction for customers or escorts in childhood due to their tailored to the particular ball game shaping. Such competitions are - in the absence of suitable target objects - aligned in the form of long-distance flying competitions.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention has for its object, on the one hand to enable a playful competition with gas-filled balloons and on the other hand to provide a widely visible advertising medium.

SOLUTION

Starting from the known target objects, it is proposed according to the invention that the target object can be suspended above a starting surface in such a way that the receiving device has at least one opening directed toward the starting surface, through which a target as a subject of the starting surface ascending, filled with a carrier gas balloon in the receiving device feasible is. In particular, helium is used as carrier gas. In particular, a balloon made of biodegradable film (so-called "bioballoon") can be used.

The target object according to the invention allows a novel playful competition with gas-filled balloons as target subjects such that balloons, which rise by the buoyancy of the gas from the starting surface and pass through the opening in the receiving device, trigger a profit. On the one hand, the estimation of the air movement between the starting surface and the opening in the receiving device and on the other hand the typical non-uniform movement of a gas balloon ("spinning") represent a particular challenge to the skill of the players.

In addition, the target object according to the invention is excellent as an advertising medium, especially in the context of events both outdoors and in high rooms (for example in exhibition halls) suitable. On the one hand, the side surfaces of the receiving device offer the possibility of attaching areal advertising messages, which then "float" significantly above the ground during operation of the target device. On the other hand, the balloons ascending to the target object as part of the described playful competition involuntarily tempt the viewer to look up again and again at this target object - and the advertising message attached to it.

In this case, the target object according to the invention can have virtually any desired shape for the intended game or advertising purpose. For example, the target object may be designed in the shape of a round disc and have a plurality of circular, segmented, concentrically arranged openings in the manner of a darts game board, wherein a hit with a balloon depending on the struck segment is scored with different scores.

In a preferred embodiment, the target object according to the invention has a registration element, by means of which the air balloon guided into the receiving device can be registered. In particular, a registration element may be attached to the opening of the receiving device. If, moreover, the target object is equipped with an individual identification element, the target object that has arrived in the receiving device can be identified individually by means of the registration element. By transmitting the registration and, if appropriate, the individual identification of the target object that has reached the receiving device by means of a transmission element to an evaluation device arranged, for example, on the starting surface, the score can be determined on the basis of the points obtained.

In particular, barcodes or RFID labels that can be glued or printed onto the target subject come into consideration as an identifiable element that can be realized at low cost.

Corresponding registration elements (so-called "scanners") based on laser technology are widespread in the context of automatic teller machines and are available at low cost in a multitude of designs on the market. For transmitting the registered data to an evaluation device, a cable connection is preferably guided by a tether. Alternatively, a radio link to the evaluation device can also be set up by means of the transmission element.

As an alternative to using a separate identification element, it is also possible to use balloons of different colors, wherein in each case, for example, one color can be assigned to one playing person each.

Preferably, the receiving device in the suspended state of the target object, the receiving device upwardly closing cover element. Thus, in the receiving device arrived balloons are prevented from leaving the receiving device up and their collection and subsequent determination of the winner allows. The alternative design of the receiving device without closing cover element is possible.

Preferably, the target object according to the invention further comprises a destruction device, by means of which in the receiving device guided balloons are destructible. By destroying the balloons that have entered the receiving device, on the one hand an undesirable increase in the buoyancy of the target object is counteracted and, on the other hand, the volume of the balloons collected (as described above) for disposal is reduced. For example, for this purpose, the use of a sharp or pointed ground wire in question.

In a preferred embodiment, the target object according to the invention has a registration element by means of which the air balloon guided into the receiving device can be marked. The registration element may in particular comprise a paint spraying device which marks on a pulse an air balloon guided past the registration element with a splash of paint. In particular, in connection with the collection of the balloons (described above) in the receiving device, the number of balloons can easily be determined on the basis of the number of markings also from the remains of destroyed balloons.

The receiving device of the target object according to the invention is advantageously formed cuboid. The cuboid shape is particularly well suited for the attachment of flat advertising media.

Preferably, a target object according to the invention has a rigid stabilizing device by means of which the shape of the receiving device can be stabilized. Thus, the susceptibility of the receiving device is reduced against deformation under wind pressure and ensures a uniform expression of the target object for the playful competition.

Such a stabilization device preferably has scissors-shaped connected rods, by means of which a rectangular limiting element of the shape of the receiving device can be stabilized and which are parallel to the transport of the target object - and thus space-saving - collapsible. The receiving device can be built particularly simple with straight bars. The scissor-type connection reduces the number of additional connection points required, thus simplifying handling and reducing weight on the one hand.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the target object according to the invention, the delimiting element with the spatial form receiving device can be suspended in the preassembled stabilizing device. For example, a net and two-dimensional advertising media can be hung modularly in hooks attached to the stabilizing device. The assembly and disassembly of the target object according to the invention is thus made particularly simple.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the target object according to the invention has a buoyancy element which can be filled with a carrier gas having a lower density than air such that the target object, supported by the buoyancy of the carrier gas, can be raised to a position above the starting surface. Thus, the weight of the target object according to the invention to be borne by a supporting structure anchored to the ground is significantly reduced. The support structure can then be carried out according to simpler and easier and thus cheaper and easier to transport.

In addition, such a balloon-like buoyancy element offers the advantage, in particular in terms of advertising technology, of a virtually unlimited three-dimensional shaping which can be adapted to the respective advertising purpose. For example, the buoyancy element may be designed to advertise a dairy farm in the form of an oversized cow, in the form of an advertised product - for a tire manufacturer, for example, a tire - or even in the form of a name, company or trade mark, logo or logotype.

An inventive target object advantageously has a holding device by means of which the target object can be held on the ground. Thus, the position of the target object relative to the starting surface can be determined.

In particular, such a holding device has at least one anchor rope, by means of which the target object can be anchored to the ground. The use of ropes for holders only loaded with tension, in turn, enables a design of the target object according to the invention optimized in terms of weight, cost and transportability. We exploited the buoyancy of a buoyancy element so far that the target object according to the invention is lifted in total by the carrier gas, the holding device can even be constructed exclusively of ropes.

On the other hand, the holding device of a target object according to the invention can have at least one rod-shaped support element, by means of which the target object can be supported on the ground. By means of such a support element, on the one hand, a target object, which is not (or not completely) lifted by the buoyancy of a gas filling, can be held in a position above the starting surface.

A rod-shaped support element allows in addition to the tensile and compressive load holder also - at least within limits - a certain torsional load in the direction of the rod axis. By this multi-axial load capacity of a support member, the number of required support members of the holding device can be kept low, which in turn facilitates the handling and transport of the target object according to the invention.

A rod-shaped support element may advantageously be made of fiber-reinforced plastic. A support element made of a fiber-reinforced plastic (known are reinforced with glass, carbon or ceramic fibers) is - in comparison to a support element made of metal (aluminum or steel) - at the same carrying capacity on the one hand considerably lighter and more flexible. For outdoor applications, the lower susceptibility to lightning is also important as a safety aspect.

Such a flexible rod-shaped support member bends when mounting a receiving device at its free end arcuately, so that the slope of the support element is reduced at this free end. The receiving device can then - again in comparison to a rigid support element - be mounted much closer to the free end without the risk of collisions. To reinforce this effect, the support element to the free end towards softer (ie, in particular thinner) be designed to be expectant. The bracing of the receiving device by means of anchor ropes on the ground can be selectively used to achieve a defined deflection of the support element.

In addition, a rod-shaped support element can preferably be mounted in segments. Plug-in or hinged connections between the segments are particularly easy to manufacture and mount, require - in contrast to telescopic support elements - no special design of the segments themselves. The individual segments can then - in the sense of the above, the free end softening execution - be designed so that the diameter of each segment continuously decreases or - much lighter and thus cheaper to produce - that each segment having smaller diameter than the previous one.

A rod-shaped support element is preferably receivable in a receiving element on which a motor vehicle can be lowered for weighting. The rod-shaped support element is already suitable due to the above-described properties and variations in particular for a transportable design. Since the transport usually carried out with a motor vehicle - or at least usually a motor vehicle available at the place of use - is, the weight of this motor vehicle for fixing a receiving element can be used on the ground. Thus, the receiving element itself can again be made small, light and inexpensive.

In particular, for use in areas that do not allow driving on a motor vehicle, or where a visible motor vehicle is to be avoided, other weight elements can alternatively be used - for example barrels filled with water. The receiving element, in order to allow variable inserts, preferably be modular in the manner that a larger actuator plate is connectable to the main element. While a motor vehicle with a wheel can be parked on the main element as described above, the larger control plate has the footprint required to accommodate the respective number of weight elements.

In an advantageous embodiment of such a receiving element in particular an angle between the support member and the horizontal is adjustable by means of an adjusting element. For pre-assembly of the support member to the receiving element, this angle can then be set flat, in particular parallel to the horizontal. For attachment of an object to be lifted - for example, a target object according to the invention, an illumination object, a sunscreen or an advertising medium - can be easily raised by increasing this angle, the free end, for example at head height. Subsequently, the angle for transferring the object to the desired target position down to the vertical - when using a flexible support element also beyond - be increased.

In the context of such a receiving element, the support element and the adjusting element are preferably supported in a common receiving cage. This receiving cage takes on the bearing forces on the one hand of the support element and on the other hand of the adjusting element, passes but only their vertical proportions - according to the weight of the support member with the object attached thereto (and the adjustment) - but not their mutually canceling horizontal shares in the ground or in a bottom plate of the receiving element a.

Such a receiving element preferably impedes the removal of the motor vehicle in the state mounted with the support element, ie it fulfills the function of an "immobilizer". Thus, an unintentional removal of the motor vehicle in the mounted state of the target object according to the invention is effectively avoided and increases its reliability.

As an alternative to such a ground-based receiving element, a target object according to the invention can also be mounted on a mobile lifting crane or a lifting platform (a so-called "Omme" named after a known manufacturer) or - for indoor use - on a hall ceiling.

Embodiment

Fig. 1

ein erstes erfindungsgemäßes Zielobjekt,

Fig. 2a

die Aufnahmeeinrichtung dieses Zielobjekts und

Fig. 2b

die Stabilisierungseinrichtung dieser Aufnahmeeinrichtung,

Fig. 3a

eine alternative Aufnahmeeinrichtung und

Fig. 3b

die Stabilisierungseinrichtung der alternativen Aufnahmeeinrichtung,

Fig. 4a

das Aufnahmeelement des ersten Zielobjekts in einer Draufsicht und

Fig. 4b

dieses Aufnahmeelement in einer Seitenansicht sowie

Fig. 5

ein zweites erfindungsgemäßes Zielobjekt.

The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to drawing figures. These show in

Fig. 1

a first target object according to the invention,

Fig. 2a

the receiving device of this target object and

Fig. 2b

the stabilization device of this receiving device,

Fig. 3a

an alternative receiving device and

Fig. 3b

the stabilizing device of the alternative receiving device,

Fig. 4a

the receiving element of the first target object in a plan view and

Fig. 4b

this receiving element in a side view as well

Fig. 5

a second target object according to the invention.

The first target object 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a receiving device 2 which is suspended on a holding device 4 by means of a holding cable 3 in such a way that its underside 7 facing the starting surface 5 at the bottom 6 has a distance 8 of 6.5 m from this , The holding device 4 consists of a rod-shaped support element 9 made of GRP, which is accommodated on the bottom 6 in a receiving element 10. On the receiving element 10, a motor vehicle 11 is parked.

The support element 9 is fixed in the mounted position 12 of the target object 1 according to FIG. 1 at an angle 13 of 90 degrees to the starting surface 5. By the weight of his at the free End 14 attached receiving device 2, the support member 9 has an arcuate shape, so that the free end 14 is aligned substantially parallel to the starting surface 5.

In addition, FIG. 1 shows a second position 15 of the support element 9 in which it is received in the receiving element 10 parallel to the starting surface 5. In this position 15, the support member 9, which is constructed in a manner not shown here as a "plug mast" of four tubular segments of 3 m length, pre-assembled:

The first segment has an outer diameter of 53 mm and a wall thickness of 8 mm, the second with the same outer diameter, a wall thickness of 4 mm, the third with an outer diameter of 42 mm, in turn, a wall thickness of 4 mm and the fourth segment has an outer diameter of 28 mm and a wall thickness of 3.5 mm. The segments are each connected via corresponding, the different dimensions balancing sleeves. At the free end 14 of the pre-assembled support member 9, the receiving device 2 is then hung and pulled up by transferring into the mounted position 12.

The use of the target object 1 according to the invention requires, starting from the receiving element 10 in a motor vehicle 11 assumed here by way of example a free length 16 of 4 m and in the opposite direction for the pre-assembly of support member 9 and receiving device 2, a free length 17 of 11.5 m. In the assembled state, the target object 1 requires a free height 18 of 9 m. To clarify the size relationships, a person standing on the starting surface 5 19 is shown with a gas-filled balloon 20.

FIG. 2 a shows in detail the receiving device 2 of the target object 1. The receiving device 2 has an opening 21 facing downwardly in the mounted position 12 in the direction of the starting surface 5 and is suspended on the holding device 4 by means of the holding cable 3.

The receiving device 2 essentially consists of a net 22 and a stiff stabilizing device 23 shown once again in FIG. 2 b and two rectangular foil elements 24. The net 22 and the foil elements 24 are in the mounted state of the receiving device 2 according to FIG. 2 a by means of steel rings (not shown) hooked on hooks, also not shown on the stabilizing device 23. The net 22 bounds the receiving device 2 on the one hand by an upwardly closing cover element 25 and on the other hand by four side walls 26. The film elements 24 are printed as an advertising medium in a manner not shown, on a not shown, lightweight clamping frame mounted and hooked by means also not shown hooks on the stabilizer 23.

The stabilizing device 23 has six rods 28 connected in pairs to one another in each case in a centrally arranged joint 27. The net is reinforced on the cover element 25 with two cables 29. At the bottom of the stabilizing device 23 is clamped by means of two fiberglass rods 30.

To transport the receiving device 2, the film elements 24 are first removed from the stabilizing device 23, the net 22 unhooked and then the rods 28 are pivoted about the respective joint 27 so that they are parallel to each other. The foil elements 24, net 22 and the stabilizer 23 are folded together to save space in a transport box, not shown, so that the receiving device 2 is characterized overall by a minimum space requirement.

The alternative parallelepiped-shaped receiving device 31 shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b also has an opening 32 pointing downwards in the mounted state in the direction of the starting surface 5 (not shown here) and can be suspended by means of a holding cable 33 on a retaining device, not shown again here.

The receiving device 31 in turn consists essentially of a network 34 and two rectangular film elements 35. In the film elements 35 rings 36 are incorporated, in the assembled state of the receiving device 31 according to Figure 3a, not shown, engage the net 34 mounted carabiner. The net 34 in turn forms a receiving element 31 upwardly closing cover member 37 and on the other hand, the two end walls 38 of the receiving device 31. The film elements 35 form the side walls 39 of the receiving device 31. The stabilizing device 40 of the alternative receiving device 31 substantially corresponds to the stabilizing device 23 according to the FIGS. 2a and 2b. In contrast to this, however, the net 34 and the film elements 35 enclose the stabilizer 40 and are not suspended within it.

The receiving element 10 shown in detail in Figures 4a and 4b has a stable metallic base plate 41, which also serves as a footprint for the tire 42 of the motor vehicle 11. The base plate 41 is fixed by the Aufliegekraft of the motor vehicle 11 on the bottom 6. The base plate 41 is formed in a manner not shown as the shape of the tire 42 simulated trough, in which the tire 42 is moved over a ramp. The receiving element 10 thus fulfills the function of an "immobilizer" at the same time. The position of the tire 42 is fixed and the risk of misuse of the receiving element 10 minimized. As an alternative to a motor vehicle 11, of course, any sufficiently heavy object for fixing the base plate 41 can be used.

On the base plate 41, a receiving cage 43 is mounted, which receives at its front ends 44 two perpendicular to the direction of travel of the motor vehicle 11 extending, rotatably mounted shafts 45, 46 and thus distributes the force over a large area on the bottom plate. On the first shaft 45, a receiving tube 47 for the support member 9 is attached. This is dimensioned so long as to give the necessary support to the lowermost segment of the support element 9 designed as a plug-in mast, which is exposed to the highest torques. For holding a glass fiber mast, which is to hold a weight of 3 kg, the receiving tube 47 must have a length of at least 80 cm.

At the upper end 48 of the receiving tube 47, a hydraulic cylinder 50 is mounted on a holding point 49, which is supported on the second shaft 46. By adjusting the hydraulic cylinder 50 steplessly different angle 13 of the support member 9 can be adjusted. Thus, the load on the only slightly raised above the bottom 6 support member 9 can be easily mounted and then transported by means of the hydraulic cylinder 50 to the desired height.

The second shaft 46 is arranged slightly lower than the first shaft 45. Thus, the receiving tube 47 can be transferred to the pre-assembly of the support member 9 in a horizontal position.

The drain plug, not shown, of the hydraulic cylinder 50 is secured against unauthorized or improper draining by a closing device. In addition, the maximum opening of the drain plug is limited.

Likewise welded to the base plate 41 is a vertical side wall 51 with a guide means 52 which supports and guides the receiving tube 47 laterally.

The second target object 53 shown in FIG. 5 in turn has a receiving device 54, a buoyancy element 55 and a holding device 56. The cuboid receiving device 54 is bounded below to a starting surface, not shown, by means of a film 57 and open at the top. The film 57 has thirteen circular openings 58 through which an air balloon 59 filled with helium as a carrier gas can be guided into the receiving device 54.

The buoyancy member 55 is closed tubular with a box-shaped cross-section made of a solid, non-stretchable film and also filled with helium as a carrier gas. The inner wall 60 of the buoyancy element 55 laterally delimits the receiving device 54. On the inner wall 60 of the buoyant element 55 is a registration element 61 mounted, by means of which an urging through the openings 58 in the receiving device 54 balloon 59 is registered. The holding device 56 consists of four cables 62, which are anchored in a manner not shown on the starting surface. The target object 53 is suspended by means of the holding device 56 above the starting surface.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

1.

target

Second

recording device

Third

tether

4th

holder

5th

start area

6th

ground

7th

bottom

8th.

distance

9th

support element

10th

receiving element

11th

motor vehicle

12th

mounted position

13th

angle

14th

free end

15th

second position

16th

free length

17th

free length

18th

free height

19th

person

20th

balloon

21st

opening

22nd

network

23rd

stabilizing device

24th

film element

25th

cover element

26th

Side wall

27th

joint

28th

pole

29th

rope

30th

fiberglass rod

31st

recording device

32nd

opening

33rd

tether

34th

network

35th

film element

36th

ring

37th

cover element

38th

bulkhead

39th

Side wall

40th

stabilizing device

41st

baseplate

42nd

tires

43rd

recording cage

44th

front end

45th

wave

46th

wave

47th

receiving tube

48th

top end

49th

halt

50th

hydraulic cylinders

51st

Side wall

52nd

guide means

53rd

target

54th

recording device

55th

buoyancy element

56th

holder

57th

foil

58th

opening

59th

balloon

60th

wall

61st

registry item

62nd

rope

Claims (15)

1. A target object for sporting competitions (1, 53) having a receiving device (2, 31, 54), the target object (1, 53) being suspendable above a starting surface (5) in such a way that the receiving device (2, 31, 54) has one or more openings (21, 32, 58) pointing toward the starting surface (5), through which, in use, a balloon (20, 59) filled with lifting gas may rise freely into the receiving device (2, 31, 54) from the starting surface (5) as the target subject,
   characterized in that all openings (21, 32, 58) are positioned in a bottom (7) of the receiving device (2, 31, 54) and the target object (1) is held on the ground (6) by a rod-shaped support element (9), which is held at an angle (13), which is settable using an adjustment element, between the support element (9) and the horizontal using a receiving element.
2. The target object (53) according to the preceding claim, characterized by a registration element (61), using which the balloon (59) guided into the receiving device (54) may be registered.
3. The target object (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device (2, 31) has a cover element (25, 37), which closes the receiving device (2, 31) on top in the suspended state of the target object (1).
4. The target object according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a destruction device, using which the balloons guided into the receiving device may be destroyed.
5. The target object according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a marking device, using which the balloons guided into the receiving device may be marked.
6. The target object (1, 53) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device (2, 31, 54) is implemented as cuboid.
7. The target object (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a rigid stabilizing device (23, 40), using which the shape of the receiving device (2, 31) may be stabilized.
8. The target object (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the stabilizing device (23, 40) has rods (28) connected in a scissor shape, using which a rectangular delimitation element may be stabilized in the shape of the receiving device (2, 31) and which may be laid together parallel for transport of the target object (1).
9. The target object (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the delimitation element having the spatial shape of the receiving device (2, 31) may be suspended in the pre-mounted stabilization device (23).
10. The target object (53) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a lift element (55), which may be filled with a carrier gas having a lower density than air in such a way that the target object (53) may be lifted into a position above the starting surface, supported by the lift of the carrier gas.
11. The target object (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element (9) is manufactured from fiber-reinforced plastic.
12. The target object (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the support element (9) may be mounted in segments.
13. A receiving element (10) in which a target object (1) may be received according to one of the preceding claims in particular using a support element (9), a motor vehicle (11) able to be parked on the receiving device (10) for weighting.
14. The receiving element (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized by a receiving cage (43), in which the support element (9) and the adjustment element are supported.
15. The receiving element (10) according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the receiving element (10) obstructs the removal of the motor vehicle (11) in the state mounted with the support element (9).

Images