GB2315226A

GB2315226A - Basketball game

Info

Publication number: GB2315226A
Application number: GB9714479A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Mackenzie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-07-15
Filing date: 1997-07-09
Publication date: 1998-01-28
Also published as: GB9714479D0

Abstract

A sheet formed toy is provided in the form of a basketball net 33, backboard 34 and ball (20 figure 7). The toy may be self supporting or may be adapted to fit to a drinks can (figure 9a), over a bottle top (figure 10a) or on a cup (figure 11a).

Description

GAME APPARATUS The present invention relates to apparatus for playing a game.

Companies are constantly seeking to produce game versions of popular sports. Furthermore, companies are constantly looking for new ways of promoting their products. There is a constant demand for inexpensive "novelty" items which companies can give away as promotional gifts either with or without other products of theirs.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising: a substantially planar backboard having two guide slits therein; and, a base mounted for folding about an axis in the plane of or parallel to the backboard; the base carrying a member having opposed arms each of which passes through a respective guide slit such that deployment of the apparatus by folding the base draws the arms of the member through the guide slits to form a bowl with the base and the backboard.

The apparatus therefore effectively provides a "popup" game which is very easily deployed by a user. The apparatus can be decorated so as to resemble apparatus for a particular sport, such as basketball. The bowl may resemble a basket and the backboard of the apparatus may resemble the backboard on which such a basket is conventionally mounted.

The member may have a retaining member between the ends of the arms. The retaining member provides a loop enabling the deployed game to be fitted over the neck of a bottle. The retaining member can also serve to prevent the ends of the arms from being pulled completely through the guide slits during deployment of the game.

At least one guide slit may curve or taper towards the other at an end of said at least one guide slit nearest the base, the member having a locating ear at the end of the arm passing through said at least one guide slit, said ear engaging behind the backboard when the apparatus is deployed.

At least one guide slit may be stepped, the arm passing through said at least one guide slit engaging with the step when the apparatus is deployed.

The base may have a through hole which is bounded by the member when the apparatus is deployed.

A flap may be provided for covering the ends of the arms of the member and, where provided, the retaining member.

The base may have a tab for engagement with a hole in a lid of a drinks container.

The base may have an aperture for engagement with a ring pull of a drinks can.

The apparatus may further comprise a playing piece comprising three discs joined in series and foldable about their respective join lines to form a three-dimensional playing piece fittable in the bowl.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of the apparatus prior to assembly; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the apparatus prior to assembly; Fig. 3 is a front view of the partially assembled apparatus; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the partially assembled apparatus; Fig. 5 is a front view of the completely assembled apparatus; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a playing piece prior to assembly; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the assembled playing piece; Figs. 8A - 8D are schematic views showing deployment of the apparatus; Figs. 9A, 9B, lOA, lOD, llA and 11C are perspective views showing the apparatus fixed to a variety of drinking vessels; Fig. 12 is a perspective view from the rear of a modified version of the apparatus; and, Fig. 13 is a perspective view from the front of the apparatus of Figure 12.

The apparatus 1 for playing a game consists mainly of a single thin sheet of paper, card, plastics, or some other suitable inexpensive material. The apparatus 1 is decorated as will be described in more detail below.

The apparatus 1 has a rectangular backboard portion 2.

Integral with the backboard 2 is a rectangular flap 3 of the same size as the backboard 2. The rectangular flap 3 and the backboard 2 are separated by a perforated line A-B along a common long edge 4.

Along the opposite long edge 5 of the backboard 2 is an integral rectangular base 6 which projects as a tab from the backboard 2. A fold line C-D may be preformed in the base 6 parallel and close to the adjacent long edge 5 of the backboard 2.

An elongate member 7 is integrally formed with the base 6 and connected thereto by a short connecting member 8 at the edge 9 of the base 6 opposite the backboard 2. A fold line E-F is provided at the junction between the connecting member 8 and the base 6. The elongate member 7 is generally arcuate and has opposed arms 10. Each arm 10 has a radially projecting ear 11 which projects generally away from the backboard 2 in the pre-assembled apparatus 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The backboard 2 has a pair of guide slits 12. First relatively narrow portions 13 of the guide slits 12 are substantially parallel to each other and run in a direction between the long edges 4,5 of the backboard 2. The lower portions 14 of the guide slits 12 are relatively wider and curve or taper towards each other. A step 15 is provided in each guide slit 12 just below the point where the guide slits 12 begin to curve or taper towards each other.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the apparatus 1 is assembled by folding the base 6 upwards in Figure 1 and passing the ends of the arms 10 of the elongate member 7 through respective ones of the guide slits 12. A thin arcuate retaining member 16 is joined at its opposite ends to respective ears 11 on the elongate member 7 behind the backboard 2. The retaining member 16 is able to fold at the join lines G,H with the ears 11. Assembly of the apparatus 1 is completed by folding down the cover flap 3 about the fold line A-B. The cover flap 3 serves to protect the arms 10, ears 11, and retaining member 16, particularly during transit.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a playing piece 20 consists of three discs 21 joined in a series by fold lines I,J. At the opposite ends of the strip of discs 21 are provided locking ears 22. The playing piece 20 is assembled by folding about the fold lines I,J and interlocking the locking ears 22. The locking ears 22 have slots 23 which interengage as shown in Figure 7 to lock the playing piece 20 in the assembled configuration. The playing piece 20 may be stored during transit with the apparatus 1 by passing the unassembled playing piece 20 through the guide slits 12 as shown in Figure 8B.

To assemble the apparatus 1, a user lifts the cover flap 3, this being facilitated by provision of a tab 17 on the free long edge of the cover flap 3. The cover flap 3 is then removed by tearing along the perforated line A-B as shown in Figure 8A. The playing piece 20 is then removed from the apparatus 1.

As shown in Figure 8C, the apparatus 1 is then deployed by pulling the central portion of the elongate member 7 away from the backboard 2. This pulls the arms 10 through the guide slits 12, the arms 10 sliding down the guide slits 12 from the narrow portions 13 into the wider portions 14 of the guide slits 12 during this pulling movement. The base 6 unfolds about the fold line C-D and the elongate member 7 folds about the fold line E-F as the arms 10 are pulled through the guide slits 12.

When the apparatus 1 is in the fully deployed configuration shown in Figure 8D, the base 6 is generally or substantially perpendicular to the backboard 2.

Furthermore, the arms 10 have moved fully down into the relatively wide portions 14 of the guide slits 12, at which point the arms 10 flex slightly outwards away from each other to seat under the steps 15. This seating of the arms 10 under the steps 15 of the guide slits 12 prevents the arms 10 moving back up the guide slits 12, thereby locking the apparatus 1 in its deployed configuration. It will be appreciated that the length of the relatively wide portions 14 of the guide slits 12 up to the steps 15 is substantially the same as the width of the arms 10 so that the arms 10 are fully accommodated in the relatively wide portions 14 of the guide slits 12. Furthermore, in the fully deployed configuration, the ears 11 on the arms abut behind the backboard 2, preventing the arms 10 from being pulled completely through the guide slits 12. The retaining member 16, which folds about the fold lines G,H at its connection to the ears 11 on the elongate member 7, bows outwards to form a loop behind the backboard 2 as shown in Figure 8D. A bowl portion 24 is formed by the elongate member 7 and the backboard 2.

The game is played by attempting to flick the assembled playing piece 20 into the bowl portion 24.

Alternatively, counters can be used in the manner of "tiddlywinks" in which one counter is pressed down onto another counter which is flat on a Surface in order to project that second counter upwards and into the bowl 24.

The apparatus 1 is readily collapsed by flexing the arms 10 inwards towards each other. This allows the arms 10 to move up into the relatively thin portions 13 of the guide slits 12, allowing the base 6 to fold upwards and collapse of the loop formed by the retaining member 16.

The base 6 may have an elliptical hole symmetrically formed around the fold line C-D. The hole 18 can be of a shape and size such that a ring pull 25 of a conventional drinks can 26 can be received in the elliptical hole 18 as shown in Figure 9A. This allows the apparatus 1 to be mounted on the drinks can 26 as shown in Figure 9B, whether the drinks can 26 has already been opened or not.

As shown in Figures lOA and lOB, the loop formed by the retaining member 16 behind the backboard 2 can be fitted over the neck of a bottle 27, again providing a convenient mounting for the apparatus 1.

As shown in Figures llA and 11B, the apparatus 1 can be mounted on the lid 28 of a drinks container 29 of the type often dispensed in fast food establishments. Such lids 28 conventionally have a cross-shape hole 30 for receiving a straw centrally of the lid 28. The base 6 of the apparatus 1 can be formed with a central tab 19. The tab 19, formed by cutting an appropriate shape in the base 6, can be pushed outwards for engagement with the hole 30 in the drinks container lid 28 as shown in Figure llA.

A modified version of the apparatus 1 is shown in Figures 12 and 13. The apparatus 1 differs in that the backboard 2 is very elongate and has a stand portion 31 extending below the bowl 24. A hinged supporting leg 32 is provided behind the stand portion 31 so that this modified version of the apparatus 1 is free-standing.

The base 6 may have a through hole (not shown) which is bounded by the elongate member 7 when the apparatus 1 is in its deployed configuration. By this means, the bowl 24 can more accurately represent a basket as in the sport of basketball. The playing piece 20 may be of a size such that it can pass through this through hole.

As can be seen from the drawings, the apparatus 1 can be enhanced by appropriate decoration. In particular, the elongate member 7 may have a basket pattern 33 printed on its outwardly facing surface. The backboard 2 may have printed on its front face a pattern 34 representing the backboard of- a full scale basketball backboard.

An embodiment of the present invention has been described with particular reference to the example illustrated. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made to the example described within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A small game, consisting a vertical backplane at right angles to a base, upon which is formed a box or bowl structure, open on the top surface, into which the player tries, from a specified distance, to flick, either with finger & thumb, or by means of a plastic 'flicker', a playing pierce, ie, a small ball or projectile.

2. A small game, as in Claim 1 which can be manufactured from one strip of paper or plastic.

3. A small game, as in Claims 1 & 2, which relates directly to the game of basketball.

4. A small game, as in Claims 1 & 2, which can be deployed and played on ANY container cur rently in use by the Soft Drinks, Brewing and Fast Food industries to dispense drinks, with out any modifications of any kind to any of those dispensers.

5. A small game, as in Claim 4, which can be manufactured at a cost low enough to be utilised as a 'give-away' by a Soft Drinks, Brewing or Fast Food Company, as an incentive to purchase the product.