Tethered objects and games

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for playing. A apparatus for playing comprises at least one tethered object and at least one free object, said tethered object comprises a tether and an object which securely connects to one end of said tether. A tethered object may have a handle. The apparatus may further include at least one free object supporter for supporting free objects. To play, put a said free object on a playing surface or on a free object supporter on a playing surface, hold the free end of the tether or the handle of a tethered striking device, and swing or vertically orbit the tethered object to strike the free object to make the free object move. The apparatus may further include at least one goal. One may play in the way of playing golf: strike a free object with a tethered object again and again until the free object targets a goal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/281,816 entitled “Tethered Objects and Games” and filed on Nov. 23, 2009.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to toy and game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People make different things by tethering objects with ropes or strings or chains. There are many usages in game area. One popular game is tetherball. A tethered ball is attached on an erected pole and players strike the tethered ball. Baseball players also use tethered ball to practice batting. A toy is made by tethering an elastic string to a ball. Hold the end of the elastic string and throw the ball and then pull the ball back. U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,665 B1 discloses a tethered fetching, training and play device for animals. This tethered device comprises (1) an elongate tether with a first end and a second end, (2) a target projectile for being tossed, thrown, or moved and thereby acting as the target of an animal's attention wherein the target projectile is coupled to the first end of the elongate tether, (3) a handle coupled for 360 degree rotation to the second end of the elongate tether whereby twisting and tangling of the elongate tether can be avoided, and (4) a means for retaining an animal treat relative to the target projectile whereby an animal treat can be retained relative to the target projectile to act as a motivational tool to entice the animal to chase and seize the target projectile. A user can employ the tethered device to train an animal to perform tasks and tricks, such as fetching and retrieving, by retaining the second end of the elongate tether, tossing, throwing, or moving the target projectile relative to the user and the animal whereupon the animal, knowing of the retained animal treat, will tend to chase and seize the target projectile so that the user can instruct the animal to return with the game projectile and, if necessary, can compel the animal to return by drawing on the elongate tether to pull the target projectile, the retained treat, and the animal to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for playing.

A tethered object for playing comprises a tether and a non-flat object that securely connects to one end of said tether, or comprises a tether that has first end and second end, a non-flat object that securely connects to first end of said tether and a handle that is coupled for 360 degree rotation to second end of the said tether. However, this tethered object does not need any means for retaining an animal treat.

In accordance with the present invention, a basic apparatus for playing comprises at least one tethered object and at least one free object. A said free object is a non-flat object. To play, put a said free object on a playing surface, hold the free end of the tether or the handle of a tethered object, swing or vertically orbit the tethered object and let tethered object strike the free object to make the free object move. The ways of moving include flying, rolling or sliding.

There are many ways to expand said basic apparatus.

First way of expanding the said basic apparatus is to include at least one supporter for supporting free objects for playing. To play, put a said free object on a said supporter and swing or vertically orbit the tethered object and let tethered object strike the free object to make the free object move.

Second way of expanding the said basic apparatus is to include at least one goal. To play, set at least one goal on a playing surface, use a tethered object to strike a free object to make the free object to move to target a goal. Another way to play is like golf game: use a tethered object to strike a free object again and again until the free object targets a goal.

Third way of expanding the said basic apparatus is to include at least one supporter for supporting free objects and at least one goal. To play, set at least one goal on a playing surface, put or erect a free object supporter on the playing surface and put a said free object on said free object supporter, use a tethered object to strike the free object to make the free object to move to target a goal. Another way to play is like golf game: use a said supporter to support a free object at any time when necessary and use a tethered object to strike the free object again and again until the free object targets a goal.

A goal of the apparatus expanded in the Second or Third way of expanding may comprise a goal object and a goal supporter. A goal object is an object with predetermined shape. A goal supporter is an object or an assembly for supporting goal object. Put a goal object on a goal supporter to set a goal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a tethered ball.

FIG. 2 shows a tethered cylinder.

FIG. 3 shows a tethered ball with a rotatable handle that has a hole going from one end to the other.

FIG. 4 shows a tethered ball with a rotatable handle that is hollow and has a hole on one end.

FIG. 5 shows a tethered ball with a handle which has a rotator.

FIG. 6 shows a bar supporter.

FIG. 7 shows a bar supporter with a bar on it.

FIG. 8 shows two cylinder supporters. The one on right is upside down.

FIG. 9 shows a ball on a cylinder supporter which is inserted in ground.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for playing.

A tethered object for playing comprises a tether and a non-flat object that securely connects to one end of said tether, or comprises a tether that has first end and second end, a non-flat object that securely connects to first end of said tether and a handle that is coupled for 360 degree rotation to second end of the said tether. However, this tethered object does not need any means for retaining an animal treat.

In accordance with the present invention, a basic apparatus for playing comprises at least one tethered object and at least one free object. A said free object is a non-flat object. To play, put a said free object on a playing surface, hold the free end of the tether or the handle of a tethered object, swing or vertically orbit the tethered object and let tethered object strike the free object to make the free object move. The ways of moving include flying, rolling or sliding.

There are many ways to expand said basic apparatus.

First way of expanding the said basic apparatus is to include at least one supporter for supporting free objects for playing. To play, put a said free object on a said supporter and swing or vertically orbit the tethered object and let tethered object strike the free object to make the free object move.

Second way of expanding the said basic apparatus is to include at least one goal. To play, set at least one goal on a playing surface, use a tethered object to strike a free object to make the free object to move to target a goal. Another way to play is like golf game: use a tethered object to strike a free object again and again until the free object targets a goal.

Third way of expanding the said basic apparatus is to include at least one supporter for supporting free objects and at least one goal. To play, set at least one goal on a playing surface, put or erect a free object supporter on the playing surface and put a said free object on said free object supporter, use a tethered object to strike the free object to make the free object to move to target a goal. Another way to play is like golf game: use a said supporter to support a free object at any time when necessary and use a tethered object to strike the free object again and again until the free object targets a goal.

A goal of the apparatus expanded in the Second or Third way of expanding may comprise a goal object and a goal supporter. A goal object is an object with predetermined shape. A goal supporter is an object or an assembly for supporting goal object. Put a goal object on a goal supporter to set a goal.

A tethered object can be a tethered ball like that shown at FIG. 1, a tethered cylinder like that shown at FIG. 2, or other tethered thing. A tethered object may have a rotatable handle. FIG. 3 shows a tethered ball with a rotatable handle. The tether is a rope. The handle has a hole from one end to the other. The hole allows the rope to go through and does not allow a knot of the rope to go through. When a player holds the handle and orbits the tethered ball the rope can turn inside the hole. In another word, this handle is rotatable. The handle shown at FIG. 4 is hollow with a small hole on an end. The tether goes through this hole and a knot is made inside the handle and cannot go through the hole. The handle 1 shown at FIG. 5 has a rotator 2 and one end of the tether 3 is securely connected to the rotator 2. When you hold the handle and orbit the tethered ball, the rotator will rotate. But not like the tethered fetching, training and play device for animals disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,665 B1,The tethered object of this invention does not need any means for retaining an animal treat because the tethered object of this invention is for striking balls or other playing objects.

A free object can be a ball, a bar, a thick disc like an Ice Hockey disc, or other thing.

A supporter for supporting a free object can be a tee like a golf tee if the free object is a ball, an assembly with two uprights if the free object is a bar, or other thing. Please see an example of bar supporter shown at FIG. 6. Some free objects may not need supporter such as a thick disc for sliding on ice. To use the supporter for bars, put one end of a bar on one of the uprights and put the other end of the bar on the other upright, and strike the bar with a tethered object such as a tethered cylinder. FIG. 7 shows a bar supporter with a bar on it.

A goal can be a hole like a golf hole, a ball, a pin like a bowling pin, a gate like a wicket in Croquet game, a net goal like a soccer goal, a basket, a flying ring or flying disc, or other thing.

A goal may have a goal object and goal supporter. For example, if a goal object is a ball then you may use a short hollow cylinder with three pins on one of its end as shown at FIG. 8 as a goal supporter. FIG. 8 shows two cylinder goal supporters. The one on right is upside down. The three pins of a cylinder goal supporter are for inserting in ground. To set a goal, first insert a cylinder goal supporter on ground and then put a ball on the cylinder goal supporter (see FIG. 9). A goal supporter can serve as a marker to mark the location of a goal. In this example, after a ball is knocked down the cylinder goal supporter will remain there and remember the goal location although the ball rolls to other location.

There are many games using tethered objects.

First one is a golf type of game. The game system includes at least one ball, at least one tee, at least one tethered ball with or without a handle, and a playing area that has at least one hole as goal. People may play a game like classic golf with only two differences: (1) players use tethered balls instead of golf clubs to strike balls and (2) after tee off, the players may continue to use tees. To use tees after tee off, first insert a tee right behind a ball lying on ground, second pick up the ball and put it on the tee and then swing or orbit a tethered ball to strike the ball on the tee.

Second one is also a golf type of game. The equipment includes at least one ball, at least one tee, at least one tethered ball with or without a handle and at least one goal with a ball as goal object and a cylinder goal supporter. To set a goal, first insert the cylinder goal supporter on ground and then put a goal object—a ball on the cylinder goal supporter. Set at least one goal on a playing surface. People may play a game like classic golf with only three differences: (1) players use tethered balls instead of golf clubs to strike balls; (2) after tee off, the players may continue to use tees; (3) a player strikes a ball again and again until the ball hits down a goal object—a ball. To use tees after tee off, first insert a tee right behind a ball lying on ground, second pick up the ball and put it on the tee and then swing or orbit a tethered ball to strike the ball on the tee. After a player knocks down a goal object—a ball, this ball must be put back on its cylinder goal supporter for the rest of players to continue their play.

Third one is a Croquet type of game. The game equipment includes six balls with different colors, six tethered balls, nine wickets and two stakes. Note that wickets and stakes are all treated as goals. This equipment uses six tethered balls to replace six mallets in classic Croquet game. Game set up and play is the same as classic Croquet with only one difference that players use the tethered balls instead of mallets to propel balls.

Fourth one is also a golf type of game. The equipment includes at least one basket goal, at least one bar, at least one tethered cylinder, and at least one bar supporter which is an assembly with two uprights (see FIG. 6). People play the game like classic golf. When teeing off, put a bar on a bar supporter and then strike the bar with a tethered cylinder. After tee off, put a bar supporter right behind a bar lying on ground, pick up the bar, put the bar on the bar supporter and strike the bar with a tethered cylinder.

Fifth one is also a golf type of game. The equipment includes at least one flying ring used for goals, at least one bar, at least one tethered cylinder, and at least one bar supporter which is an assembly with two uprights (see FIG. 6). To play, first throw a flying ring to set a goal and then play the game like classic golf. When teeing off, put a bar on a bar supporter and then strike the bar with a tethered cylinder. After tee off, put a bar supporter right behind a bar lying on ground, pick up the bar, put the bar on the bar supporter and strike the bar with a tethered cylinder. When a bar touches the flying ring or lies inside the flying ring then this bar has targeted the goal.

Sixth one is a toy. The equipment includes at least one ball and at least one tethered ball with or without a handle. Put a ball on a playing surface and then swing or vertically orbit a tethered ball to strike the ball on the playing surface and watch how far the ball can go. Two or more players may contest with this toy. The winner is the players whose ball goes with the longest distance.

Seventh one is also a toy. The equipment includes at least one ball, at least one tethered ball with or without a handle and at least one tee. Erect a tee, put a ball on the tee, and then swing or vertically orbit a tethered ball to strike the ball on the tee and watch how far the ball can go. Two or more players may contest with this toy. The winner is the players whose ball goes with the longest distance.

Eighth one is also a toy. The equipment includes at least one bar, at least one tethered cylinder and at least one bar supporter which is an assembly with two uprights (see FIG. 6). Put the bar on the bar supporter and then swing or vertically orbit the tethered cylinder to strike the bar and watch how far the bar can go. Two or more players may contest with this toy. The winner is the players whose bar goes with the longest distance.

Ninth one is also a toy for playing on ice. The equipment includes at least one thick disc, at least one tethered cylinder. Swing or vertically orbit the tethered cylinder to strike the thick disc, and watch how far the thick disc can go. Two or more players may contest with this toy. The winner is the players whose thick disc goes with the longest distance.

Claims

1. A tethered object for playing, comprising a tether with first end and second end, a non-flat object that is coupled to the first end of said tether, and a handle that is coupled for 360 degree rotation to the second end of the said tether, but not including any means for retaining an animal treat. Whereby a player may hold said handle and swing or orbit said non-flat object to strike a ball or other playing objects.

2. The tethered object of claim 1, wherein said non-flat object is a ball.

3. The tethered object of claim 2, wherein said handle has a hole from its one end to the other and the second end of the said tether goes through said hole and a knot is made at the second end of the said tether to prevent the tether from being pulled out from the hole of the handle.

4. An apparatus for playing, comprising at least one tethered object and at least one free object, a said free object is a non-flat object; a said tethered object comprises a tether and a non-flat object that is coupled to one end of said tether or comprises a tether that has first end and second end, a non-flat object that is coupled to the first end of said tether and a handle that is coupled for 360 degree rotation to the second end of the said tether. Whereby a player may put a free object on a playing surface, hold the free end of the tether of a tethered object or hold the handle of a tethered object, and swing or vertically orbit this tethered object to strike the free object to make this free object move.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the handle of each tethered object has a hole from its one end to the other, the second end of the tether of the said tethered object goes through the hole and a knot is made at the second end of the said tether to prevent the tether from being pulled out from the hole of the handle.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further including at least one free object supporter for supporting free objects. Whereby a player may put or erect a free object supporter on a playing surface, put a free object on the free object supporter, hold the free end of the tether of a tethered object or hold the handle of a tethered object, and swing or vertically orbit this tethered object to strike the free object to make this free object move.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further including at least one free object supporter for supporting free objects.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 further including at least one goal. Whereby players may set at least one goal on a playing surface, put a free object on a playing surface, and swing or vertically orbit a tethered object to strike the free object to make the free object move to target a goal. Another way to play is like golf game: swing or vertically orbit a tethered object to strike a free object again and again until the free object targets a goal.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 further including at least one goal. Whereby players may set at least one goal on a playing surface, put or erect a free object supporter on a playing surface, put a free object on the free object supporter, and swing or vertically orbit a tethered object to strike the free object to make the free object move to target a goal. Another way to play is like golf game: swing or vertically orbit a tethered object to strike the free object again and again until the free object targets a goal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a said goal comprises a goal object and a goal supporter for supporting goal objects, put or erect a goal supporter on a playing surface and put a goal object on the goal supporter to set a goal.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a said goal comprises a goal object and a goal supporter for supporting goal objects, put or erect a goal supporter on a playing surface and put a goal object on the goal supporter to set a goal.

12. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the non-flat object of each said tethered object is a ball and each said free object is also a ball.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the non-flat object of each said tethered object is a ball, each said free object is also a ball and each said free object supporter is a tee.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the non-flat object of each said tethered object is a ball, each said free object is also a ball and each goal is a hole on a playing surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the non-flat object of each said tethered object is a ball, each said free object is also a ball, each said free object supporter is a tee and each goal is a hole on a playing surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the non-flat object of each said tethered object is a ball, each said free object is also a ball, each goal object is a bowling pin and each goal supporter is disc.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the non-flat object of each said tethered object is a ball, each said free object is also a ball, each goal object is a ball and each goal supporter is a hollow cylinder with at least one pin on one end of said hollow cylinder. Whereby players may insert the pins of the said hollow cylinder in ground and put a ball on the top end of the inserted cylinder to set a goal. The players may set at least one goal on a playing surface. Put a ball on a playing surface and swing or vertically orbit a tethered ball to strike the ball to make this ball move to target a goal. Another way to play is like golf game: swing or vertically orbit a tethered ball to strike a ball again and again until the ball targets a goal.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the non-flat object of each said tethered object is a ball, each said free object is also a ball, each said free object supporter is a tee, each goal object is a ball and each goal supporter is a hollow cylinder with at least one pin on one end of said hollow cylinder. Whereby players may insert the pins of the said hollow cylinder in ground and put a ball on the top end of the inserted cylinder to set a goal. The players may set at least one goal on a playing surface. Erect a tee on ground and put a ball on the tee and swing or vertically orbit a tethered ball to strike the ball on the tee to make this ball move to target a goal. Another way to play is like golf game: swing or vertically orbit a tethered ball to strike a ball again and again until the ball targets a goal.

19. A method of playing comprising the following steps: (a) provide at least one tethered object, at least one free object and at least one free object supporter for supporting free objects, each free object is a non-flat object and each said tethered object comprises a tether and a non-flat object that is coupled to one end of said tether or comprises a tether that has first end and second end, a non-flat object that is coupled to the first end of said tether and a handle that is coupled for 360 degree rotation to the second end of the said tether; (b) choose a playing surface; (c) put or erect a free object supporter on a playing surface, put a free object on said free object supporter and swing or orbit the tethered object to strike the free object to make this free object move.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the non-flat object of each tethered object is a ball, each free object is also a ball and each free object supporter is a tee.