GB2281701A

GB2281701A - Ball apparatus.

Info

Publication number: GB2281701A
Application number: GB9318648A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Charles Gregan
Original assignee: OMNICO
Current assignee: OMNICO
Priority date: 1993-09-08
Filing date: 1993-09-08
Publication date: 1995-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2013-09-08
Also published as: GB2281701B; GB9318648D0

Abstract

A ball apparatus (10) includes an anchoring member (12) adapted to be anchored to a supporting surface; a guide member (18) adapted to be held on a supporting surface spaced away from the anchoring member (12); a cord guide formation associated with the guide member. A cord (16) is attached at one end to the anchoring member (12) passes through the cord guide formation and is attached at its opposite end to a ball (20). The anchoring member (12) may have a holding formation (28, 30) holding a resilient ring (14) in position and the cord (16) may be attached to this ring (4). <IMAGE>

Description

Ball apparatus.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION Various types of ball apparatus are known.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel type of apparatus which can be used to hit a ball for amusement but also for the purpose of practice, e.g. for playing cricket.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the invention, a ball apparatus includes a) an anchoring member adapted to be anchored to a supporting surface; b) a guide member adapted to be held on a supporting surface spaced away from the anchoring member; c) a cord guide formation associated with the guide member; d) a ball; and e) a cord attached at one end to the anchoring member and passing through the cord guide formation of the guide member and being attached at its opposite end to the ball.

Also according to the invention, a ball apparatus includes a) an anchoring member adapted to be anchored to a supporting surface; b) a holding formation on the anchoring member for holding a ring in position; c) a ring fitted into the holding formation on the anchoring member; d) a guide member adapted to be held on a supporting surface spaced away from the anchoring member; e) a cord guide formation associated with the guide member; f) a ball; and g) a cord attached at one end to the ring and passing through the cord guide formation of the guide member and being attached at its opposite end to the ball.

The anchoring member may be in the form of a peg having at least one leg for penetrating into a supporting surface.

The guide member may be in the form of a peg having at least one leg for penetrating into a supporting surface.

The cord may be made of resilient material, e.g. rubber.

The anchoring peg may be of U-shape having two legs and a cross element, and a bent-in part in each of the legs close to the cross element defining the holding formation for the ring.

The guide peg may be of U-shape having two legs and a cross element, the cord guide formation being defined between the cross element and the legs.

The ring may be an oval ring.

The ring may be made of resilient material, e.g. rubber.

The ball may have an eyelet for attachment of the cord.

The ball may be a cricket ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in: FIGURE 1 a side view of a ball apparatus in accordance with the invention and as fitted to a ground surface; FIGURE 2 a plan view seen along arrow 11 in Fig. 1: FIGURE 3 on an enlarged scale, a side view of the anchoring peg of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 but without its rubber attachment ring; FIGURE 4 a plan view seen along arrow IV in Fig.3; FIGURE 5 on an enlarged scale, a plan view of the rubber attachment ring to be fitted to the anchoring peg; FIGURE 6 a sectional side view seen along arrows VI - VI in Figure 5 but showing the rubber attachment ring as fitted to the anchoring peg; FIGURE 7 on an enlarged scale, a side view of the guide or safety peg of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; FIGURE 8 a plan view seen along arrow VIII in Fig. 7;; FIGURE 9 on an enlarged scale, a side view of the ball of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; and FIGURE 10 a side view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 showing two players in action.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the ball game apparatus in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, includes an anchoring peg 12 supporting a rubber attachment ring 14 to which a flexible cord 16 is attached. The apparatus 10 further includes a guide or safety peg 18 and a ball 20 attached to the free end of the cord 16.

By pulling the ball 20 away from the peg 18 and releasing it, it will fly towards the peg 12 and can be hit by a player, e.g. by means of a cricket bat or any other suitable hitting member.

Referring to Figures 3 to 6, the anchoring peg 12 is shown to be of Ushape with two legs 22, 24 and a cross element 26. The legs 22,24 each have a curved bent part 28, 30 near the cross element 26. The oval rubber ring 14 is fitted into these bent parts 28, 30. The legs 22, 24 of the peg 12 diverge slightly away from the cross element 26.

The cord 16 is attached at its end 32 by being knotted to the ring 14 as shown in Figure 6.

As is shown in Figure 7 and the guide or safety peg 18 is also of U-shape having legs 34, 36 and a cross element 38. The legs 34, 36 of the peg 18 diverge slightly away from the cross element 38.

In Figure 9 it is shown how the end 40 of the cord 16 is attached to the ball 20. The ball 20 has an eyelet 42 and the end 40 is passed through it and a knot 44 is formed to prevent it from being pulled back.

The apparatus 10 is fitted to the ground 44 as shown in Figures 1 and 10 by pushing the pegs 12, 18 simply into the ground. The cord 16 then is passed through between the cross element 38 of the peg 18 and the ground 44 and then its end 32 is knotted to the ring 14, which is placed in position in the curved bent parts 28, 30 of the peg 12. The other end 40 of the cord 16 is then attached to the ball 20.

The apparatus 10 can be used as a fun game or as a serious batting practice aid as shown in Figure 10. It can be played on established lawns as well as hard surfaces, such as brick or concrete surfaces ( if the pegs 12, 18 are suitably anchored or if permanent rings are provided in place thereof). It should not be played on loose or sandy soil, e.g. beach sand.

If the pegs 12,18 8 are suitably anchored, in the unlikely event of the anchor peg 12 being loosened, the ring 14 will disengage from the peg 12 and then the ring 14 will be moved towards the peg 18, which acts as a safety barrier to prevent the ring 14 from travelling further.

In Figure 10 it is shown how the apparatus 10 is fitted next to a cricket wicket 46. Two players, a batsman 48 and a bowler 50 are engaged in playing, the bowler 50 pulling the ball 20 and releasing it to allow it to fly towards the batsman 48 into the position 20.1 where it then can be hit by the batsman 48 by means of his cricket bat 52.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A ball apparatus, which includes a) an anchoring member adapted to be anchored to a supporting surface; b) a guide member adapted to be held on a supporting surface spaced away from the anchoring member; c) a cord guide formation associated with the guide member; d) a ball; and e) a cord attached at one end to the anchoring member and passing through the cord guide formation of the guide member and being attached at its opposite end to the ball.

2. A ball apparatus, which includes a) an anchoring member adapted to be anchored to a supporting surface; b) a holding formation on the anchoring member for holding a ring in position; c) a ring fitted into the holding formation on the anchoring member; d) a guide member adapted to be held on a supporting surface spaced away from the anchoring member; e) a cord guide formation associated with the guide member; f) a ball; and g) a cord attached at one end to the ring and passing through the cord guide formation of the guide member and being attached at its opposite end to the ball.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1or claim 2, in which the cord is made of resilient material, e.g. rubber.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the anchoring member is in the form of a peg having at least one leg for penetrating into a supporting surface.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the guide member is in the form of a peg having at least one leg for penetrating into a supporting surface.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the anchoring peg is of Ushape having two legs and a cross element, and a bent-in part in each of the legs close to the cross element defining the holding formation for the ring.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the guide leg is of Ushape having two legs and a cross element, the cord guide formation being defined between the cross element and the legs.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, in which the ring is an oval ring.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, in which the ring is made of resilient material, e.g. rubber.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the ball has an eyelet for attachment of the cord.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the ball is a cricket ball.

12. A ball apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings.