GB2408461A

GB2408461A - Target for ball games in water

Info

Publication number: GB2408461A
Application number: GB0327576A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Newton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-26
Filing date: 2003-11-26
Publication date: 2005-06-01
Also published as: GB0327576D0

Abstract

Apparatus providing a target for ball games in water comprises a container such as bag 20, a preferably retractable tether 30 and a floatation device which in its compressed state fits within the container and in an expanded state defines the periphery of a target area. The container is filled with ballast once the floatation device is removed for use, Fig 3 (not shown); the tether may be associated with a spring reel 40 and removable from the floatation device which may be attachable with a rubber sucker 90 to the side of a pool, Fig 4 (not shown). The floatation device may be made of a compressible foam, but preferably is inflatable, eg into the shape of a ring 80 with a central opening 120, for use with ball 130 which can also be inflatable and stored in the container when not in use.

Description

240846 1 - 1

POOLBALL

The present invention is concerned with apparatus for playing games in water, together with methods for deployment of same in water.

When people are in a pool, lake, at the seaside, or at any other location where there is water, it is often desirable to play games in the water. For example, balls may be thrown around between people or sports such as water polo engaged in, requiring the use of 0 large rigid fixed goals attached to the sides of a pool. It is often desirable to have some kind of a goal and for points to be scored by either defending the goal and preventing a ball or other projectile from entering or passing through the goal, or by getting the ball or other projectile to enter or pass through the goal.

is However, the provision of such goals typically requires the use of bulky and inconvenient equipment such as the rigid goals used in water polo.

The present invention seeks to overcome the prior art disadvantages by providing compact and convenient water sports apparatus. According to the present invention there is provided apparatus comprising a container, a tether and a compressible flotation device, said tether connecting said compressible flotation device to said container, said compressible flotation device being expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state, and in said expanded state said compressible flotation device having a shape defining a perimeter about a target area, and said container being dimensioned such that said tether and said compressible flotation device in said compressed state are containable within it. - 2

The apparatus may additionally comprise a projectile which can be used when playing games with it. Examples of useful projectiles include tennis balls, footballs, basketballs, rugby balls, and balls for American football. Such projectiles may be miniature versions of the standard sized projectiles, e.g. they may be miniature footballs, rugby balls, or basketballs.

The compressible flotation device may be made of any material which is expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state. Thus, for example, it may be made of a foam and in such cases the apparatus may also be provided with apparatus such as a bag lo (e.g. a compression bag) to store the flotation device when in its compressed state.

Alternatively, the compressible flotation device may be inflatable, and thus in its compressed state it will be uninflated, and in its expanded state it will be inflated.

Examples of such useful inflatable flotation devices include conventional inflatable rings used in swimming pools.

As detailed below, in use the container (which may, for example, comprise a bag) is loaded with ballast and used via the tether to anchor the compressible flotation device.

Thus it may be desirable for the length of the tether between the container and the flotation device to be extendable and/or retractable. This can be achieved in a large number of ways. For example, a loop can be tied into the tether in order to shorten it and by untying the loop the tether can be lengthened. Alternatively, a reel may be provided around which the tether may be wound and from which it may be unwound. One useful arrangement comprises the provision of a sprung reel about which the tether is woundlunwound. Such devices are well known from, for example, retractable dog leads and can function to either keep the tether at a desired fixed length, or to exert a force urging the retraction of the tether, i.e. urging the movement of the tether towards the ballasted container. The buoyancy provided by the compressible flotation device can counter the force urging it towards the container and thus the tether can be of automatically variable length, allowing for variations in distance between the container - 3 and the flotation device which can result from, for example, different varying depths of water and by, for example, wave action. Generally speaking, the force exerted upon the sprung reel by the ballasted container and the flotation device can be such that the sprung reel is caused to unwind, allowing the ballasted container to sink until it reaches the bottom of the pool/sea etc. or until the tether is fully extended from the sprung reel.

The apparatus of the invention need not be limited solely to using the bag to act as an anchor for the compressible flotation device. In such cases, the flotation device can be provided with attachment means for attaching it to a surface. For example, it may be lo provided with a sucker, such as a rubber sucker, allowing it to be attached to a wall of a swimming pool.

The compressible flotation device may be detachable from the tether and/or the container. Thus, when a compressible flotation device has been attached to a surface such as a wall of a pool, the tether and container may be detached from it.

Also provided according to the present invention is a method of deploying game apparatus comprising with the apparatus according to any of the preceding claims expanding said compressible flotation device from said compressed position to said expanded position, loading said container with ballast and deploying said apparatus in water such that said flotation device floats on the surface of said water and is anchored via said tether to said container loaded with said ballast.

In use, the compressible flotation device is expanded and the container loaded with ballast. The apparatus is then deployed in water with the container loaded with ballast acting to anchor the compressible flotation device via the tether. Thus, for example, to use the apparatus of the present invention for games in water, the compressible flotation device and tether are removed from the container, the container is loaded with a suitable amount of ballast, the compressible flotation device expanded, and the apparatus - 4 deployed in the water. The ballast in the container causes the container to sink and act as an anchor for the expanded flotation device.

In order to safely and securely maintain the ballast in the container, the container may s be provided with closure means such as at least one button or a zip. Other useful closure means include e.g. press-studs, poppers, and Velcro fasteners.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the container comprises a bag and the compressible flotation device comprises an inflatable ring. With the inflatable ring in 0 its compressed (i.e. deflated) state, the container (i.e. the bag) containing the tether and the inflatable ring is small, light and convenient to carry and transport. Even with the addition of a projectile such as a miniature football, the bag and its contents are still conveniently sized.

To further reduce the size of the container with the tether, compressible flotation device and projectile in it, the projectile may also be compressible, e.g. it may be an inflatable football or suchlike.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one form of game apparatus.

Of the Figures: :5 Figure I shows game apparatus of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a close-up of the flotation device part of the game apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows (A) the game apparatus of Figure 1 in a pool with the container ready to be deployed; (B) the game apparatus of - s - (A) with the container deployed; and (C) the game apparatus of (B) with the sprung reel allowing the tether to extend and retract to allow for changes in the depth of the water; and Figure 4 shows the game apparatus of Figure I with the flotation device separated from the tether and container and attached to the side wall of the pool.

As can be seen from the Figures, game apparatus 10 consists of bag 20 having attached to it tether 30 extending from sprung reel 40, which in turn is attached by clip 50 to lo buckle 60 on strap 70 of inflatable ring 80.

Clip SO can be unclipped from buckle 60 to separate inflatable ring 80 from the rest of the apparatus 10 (i.e. bag 20, tether 30, sprung reel 40 and clip SO).

Strap 70 also comprises rubber sucker 90, enabling it to be attached to e. g. the side wall of a swimming pool.

Bag 20 additionally defines handle 100, enabling its convenient carrying. Bag 20 additionally comprises fastener I 10, enabling it to be fastened shut as and when desired.

Inflatable ring 80 is toroidally shaped when fully inflated, and defines a central aperture 120. Game apparatus 10 additionally comprises ball 130 which is dimensioned so as to be able to pass through central aperture 120, enabling inflatable ring 80 to be used as a goal or target in games, and e.g. for points to be scored by getting ball 130 to enter central aperture 120.

In use, game apparatus is initially supplied with all of its component parts contained in bag 20 - inflatable ring 80 is uninflated, and tether 30 is retracted into sprung reel 40. - 6

When ball 130 is an inflatable ball, it can be uninflated, and in other embodiments of the invention when ball 130 is not inflatable, it can be contained within bag 20.

With fastener 110 closed, bag 20 is conveniently fastened shut with the rest of game apparatus 10 (i.e. tether 30, sprung reel 40, clip SO, buckle 60, strap 70, sucker 90, inflatable ring 80 and ball 130) contained inside it.

Handle 100 enables the convenient carrying of bag 20 and its contents.

lo In order to deploy game apparatus 20 for games in water 140 (e.g. in a pool lSO or the sea), bag 20 is opened and inflatable ring 80 removed with tether 30 attached to it via clip SO and sprung reel 40. Inflatable ring 80 is then inflated in order that it is made buoyant and able to float on the surface of water 140. Bag 20 is now empty and is filled with ballast (not shown) in order to weigh it down and give it a negative buoyancy. Bag 20 (containing ballast) is then released and allowed to drop to the bottom of pool l SO, causing force to be exerted upon sprung reel 40, which is prevented from being dragged to the bottom of pool lSO by inflatable ring 80, in turn causing tether 30 to be extended from sprung reel 40 until ballasted bag 20 reaches the bottom of pool I SO.

At this point, inflatable ring 80 is anchored to the bottom of pool l SO by ballasted bag 20, enabling it to be used as a target (e.g. a goal) in games.

As is shown in Figures 3B and 3C, with game apparatus 10 deployed in pool lSO, inflatable ring 80 is able to remain at the surface of water 140, even as the level of water 140 varies e.g. due to waves - in this case, sprung reel 40 urges ballasted bag 20 and inflatable ring 80 together, but the buoyancy of inflatable ring 80 prevents its being drawn below the surface of water 140. As the level of water 140 increases, the buoyancy of inflatable ring 80 causes tether 30 to extend from sprung reel 40, and when the level of water 140 decreases, sprung reel 40 urges inflatable ring 80 and bag 20 together, taking up any slack in tether 30.

When ballasted bag 20 is to be retrieved from the bottom of pool 150, tether 30 is simply pulled upwards, bringing bag 20 towards the surface of water 140, and the ballast (not shown) is removed from bag 20. The rest of game apparatus 10 can then be returned to bag20.

Bag 20 is made of heavy duty nylon or PVC, allowing it to readily contain the ballast lo (not shown) without becoming damaged, thus ensuring a long life for game apparatus 10.

An alternative use for game apparatus 10 makes use of rubber sucker 90 on strap 70. In this case, sprung reel 40 and clip 50 is unclipped from buckle 60 of strap 70. Inflatable ring 80 is then inflated, and rubber sucker 90 used to attach inflatable ring 80 to the side wall of pool 150.

Thus inflatable ring 80 can also act as a target or goal for games when it is attached to a support such as a pool side wall. This can be particularly useful when such supports are available, but means that game apparatus 10 is not restricted in use solely to those occasions when such a support is available. Thus game apparatus 10 is adaptable to different environments, enhancing its usability and convenience of use.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims. - 8

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising a container, a tether and a compressible flotation device, said tether connecting said compressible flotation device to said container, said compressible flotation device being expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state, and in said expanded state said compressible flotation device having a shape defining a perimeter about a target area, and said container being dimensioned such that said tether and said compressible flotation device in said compressed state are containable within it.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, additionally comprising at least one projectile.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, said at least one projectile being dimensioned such that it is no larger than said target area.

4. Apparatus according to either of claims 2 or 3, said at least one projectile being selected from the group consisting of a football, rugby ball, basketball, tennis ball and American football.

5. Apparatus according to any of claims 2-4, said at least one projectile being sized such that it can be held in the hand.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 2-5, said container being dimensioned such that it can contain within it said at least one projectile together with said tether and said compressed flotation device.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, said compressible flotation device being inflatable.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, said compressible flotation device being detachable from said tether.

9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, said compressible flotation device additionally comprising attachment means for attaching to a surface.

lo

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, said attachment means comprising a sucker.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, said tether being extendable.

12. A method of deploying game apparatus comprising with the apparatus according to any of the preceding claims expanding said compressible flotation device from said compressed position to said expanded position, loading said container with ballast and deploying said apparatus in water such that said flotation device floats on the surface of said water and is anchored via said tether to said container loaded with said ballast.

13. A method according to claim 12, additionally comprising providing a projectile.