Game apparatus for encouraging children to become more active and exercise

Abstract

A game apparatus that an individual can play which promotes activity and exercise. The game apparatus includes a rod like member produced from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a predetermined length. Further included is a guide mechanism produced from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined shape. The guide mechanism is connected to a predetermined end of the rod like member. Also included is a hoop like member produced from a third predetermined material and having a predetermined diameter. The guide mechanism is engageable with the hoop like member at the predetermined end of the rod like member to guide and move such hoop like member in a predetermined direction over a predetermined surface.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/695,987 filed on Jul. 5, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a game apparatus for children and, more particularly, the invention relates to a game apparatus for children which promotes activity and exercise while they are playing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sports related games which promote activity and exercise for children such as baseball, basketball, football, etc. have been in existence for many years. However, many of the sports related games require multiple children to play. Furthermore, these type of games have become organized and structured among communities, such that children playing with other neighbor children has almost become a thing of the past.

Another hindrance to children is the conception of video games that involves almost no activity or exercise for children. Many children have become content to spend countless hours in front of the television playing video games instead of enjoying activities outdoors. The lack of exercise has lead to many children becoming overweight and/or physically unhealthy.

A need exists for a game apparatus that promotes activity and exercise for one or more children while providing an alternative to organized sports and video games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention provides a game apparatus for an individual to play which promotes activity and exercise. The game apparatus includes a rod like member produced from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a predetermined length. Also included is a guide mechanism produced from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined shape. The guide mechanism is connected to a predetermined end of the rod like member. Still further included is a hoop like member produced from a third predetermined material and having a predetermined diameter. The guide mechanism is engageable with the hoop like member at the predetermined end of the rod like member. The guide mechanism guides and moves the hoop like member in a predetermined direction over a predetermined surface.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a method of playing a game apparatus which has at least one rod like member, at least one guide mechanism connected to one end of the rod like member and at least one hoop like member. The method includes the steps of engaging the guide mechanism disposed at such one end of the rod like member with the hoop like member and guiding and moving the hoop like member in a predetermined direction over a predetermined surface.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a game apparatus which promotes activity and exercise for children that can be played by one or more players.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus which promotes activity and exercise for children that can offer an alternative to playing organized sports or video games.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus which promotes activity and exercise for children that will decrease the number of unhealthy and/or overweight children due to a lack of exercise.

In addition to the above described objects and advantages of the present invention, various other objects and advantages of the game apparatus will become more readily apparent to those persons skilled in such art from the following more detailed description, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the game apparatus of the present invention particularly showing how the guide mechanism is connected to the rod like member according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the game apparatus, shown in FIG. 1, particularly showing how the guide mechanism is used to control the movement of the hoop like member; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the game apparatus and an individual illustrating how it can be used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the invention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components, having identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several drawing figures.

Referring now, more particularly, to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a game apparatus, generally designated 10, that an individual can play which promotes activity and exercise. The game apparatus 10 includes a rod like member 12 produced from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a predetermined length.

The game apparatus 10 also includes a guide mechanism 14 produced from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined shape. The guide mechanism 14 is connected to a predetermined end 16 of the rod like member 12.

The game apparatus 10 still further includes a hoop like member 18 produced from a third predetermined material and having a predetermined diameter. The guide mechanism 14 is engageable with the hoop like member 18 at such predetermined end 16 of the rod like member 12. The guide mechanism 14 guides and moves the hoop like member 18 in a predetermined direction over a predetermined surface.

The first predetermined material used to produce the rod like member 12 is, preferably, selected from a group consisting of wood, metal and plastic. Also, the first predetermined shape of such rod like member 12 is, preferably, one of generally round and generally rectangular.

The predetermined length of the rod like member 12 is, preferably, generally between about 24 inches and 36 inches. In addition, such rod like member 12, preferably, has a width of generally between about one inch and two inches and a thickness of generally between about one quarter inch and three quarter inch.

The second predetermined material used to produce the guide mechanism 14 is, preferably, one of metal and plastic. The metal, preferably, used to produce such guide mechanism 14 is one of aluminum and steel. Furthermore, the second predetermined shape of the guide mechanism 14 is, preferably, one of generally semicircular and generally rectangular.

The guide mechanism 14 is, preferably, connected to such predetermined end 16 of the rod like member 12 by either screws, bolts, or welding. Such guide mechanism 14 is, preferably, curved at both ends 22 and 24 thereof so players can better control the predetermined direction such hoop like member 18 travels.

The third predetermined material used to produce the hoop like member 18 is, preferably, one of metal and plastic. In addition, the predetermined diameter of such hoop like member 18 is, preferably, generally between about eight inches and twelve inches.

In a presently preferred embodiment of the inventive game apparatus 10, the rod like member 12, guide mechanism 14 and hoop like member 18 will be painted various colors.

Another aspect of the invention includes a method of playing the game apparatus 10 which has at least one rod like member 12, at least one guide mechanism 14 connected at the predetermined end 16 of the rod like member 12 and at least one hoop like member 18. The method includes the step of engaging the guide mechanism 14 disposed at such predetermined end 16 of the rod like member 12 with the hoop like member 18. Then guiding and moving the hoop like member 18 in a predetermined direction over a predetermined surface.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method will include the additional step of timing how long at least one player is able to keep the hoop like member 18 moving in such predetermined direction over such predetermined surface.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method will include the additional steps of setting up at least one obstacle course for at least one player to maneuver the at least one hoop like member 18 through and timing how long such player takes to complete maneuvering such hoop like member 18 through such obstacle course.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the method will include the additional steps of establishing a predetermined distance at least one player is to keep the at least one hoop like member 18 moving in such predetermined direction over such predetermined surface and timing how long the player takes to move the hoop like member 18 the predetermined distance in the predetermined direction over the predetermined surface.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the method will include the additional step of setting up competition between a predetermined plurality of players and timing how long each player takes to move the hoop like member 18 such predetermined distance in such predetermined direction over such predetermined surface.

While the presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the invention have been discussed in considerable detail above, it should be obvious to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art that various modifications and adaptations of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A game apparatus for an individual to play which promotes activity and exercise, said game apparatus comprising:

(a) a rod like member produced from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a predetermined length;

(b) a guide mechanism produced from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined shape, said guide mechanism connected to a predetermined end of said rod like member; and

(c) a hoop like member produced from a third predetermined material and having a predetermined diameter, said guide mechanism engageable with said hoop like member at said predetermined end of said rod like member for guiding and moving said hoop like member in a predetermined direction over a predetermined surface.

2. A game apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined material used to produce said rod like member is selected from a group consisting of wood, metal and plastic.

3. A game apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined shape of said rod like member is one of generally round and generally rectangular.

4. A game apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined length of said rod like member is generally between about 24 inches and 36 inches.

5. A game apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said rod like member has a width of generally between about one inch and two inches and a thickness of generally between about one quarter inch and three quarter inch.

6. A game apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined material used to produce said guide mechanism is one of metal and plastic.

7. A game apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said metal used to produce said guide mechanism is one of aluminum and steel.

8. A game apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined shape of said guide mechanism is one of generally semicircular and generally rectangular.

9. A game apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said guide mechanism is connected to said predetermined end of said rod like member by one of screws, bolts and welding.

10. A game apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said guide mechanism is curved at both ends thereof so that such individual can better control such predetermined direction said hoop like member travels.

11. A game apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said third predetermined material used to produce said hoop like member is one of metal and plastic.

12. A game apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined diameter of said hoop like member is generally between about eight inches and twelve inches.

13. A game apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said rod like member, said guide mechanism and said hoop like member are painted various colors.

14. A method of playing a game apparatus which has at least one rod like member, at least one guide mechanism connected to one end of said rod like member and at least one hoop like member, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) engaging said at least one guide mechanism disposed at said one end of said at least one rod like member with said at least one hoop like member; and

(b) guiding and moving said at least one hoop like member in a predetermined direction over a predetermined surface.

15. The method, according to claim 14, including the additional step of timing how long at least one player is able to keep said at least one hoop like member moving in said predetermined direction over said predetermined surface.

16. The method, according to claim 14, including the additional steps of setting up at least one obstacle course for at least one player to maneuver said at least one hoop like member through and timing how long said at least one player takes to complete maneuvering said at least one hoop like member through said at least one obstacle course.

17. The method, according to claim 14, including the additional steps of establishing a predetermined distance at least one player is to keep said at least one hoop like member moving in said predetermined direction over said predetermined surface and timing how long said at least one player takes to move said at least one hoop like member said predetermined distance in said predetermined direction over said predetermined surface.

18. The method, according to claim 17, wherein said method includes an additional step of setting up competition between a predetermined plurality of players and timing how long each player takes to move said at least one hoop like member said predetermined distance in said predetermined direction over said predetermined surface.