Speed and Agility Game Platform
An athletic game, or sport where a player interacts with ricocheting ping pong balls emitting from an apparatus, challenging the player's reaction speed, and dexterity. The apparatus is wall mounted at about eye-level, or higher, said apparatus containing one or more ball retaining, and dispensing apertures that are controlled by a programmed chip. The game is played by a player anticipating a series of balls, that have no predictable sequence, being dropped from any one of several orifices, seeing each ball drop, strike a shelf, then bounce upward, giving the player an attempt to catch, net, hit, or shoot at a time interval controlled series of balls, before any can reach the floor.
The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/697,520, filed on Nov. 27, 2019 which in turn is a non-provisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 62/917,265, filed on Nov. 30, 2018, which are each incorporated herein by reference and to which priority is claimed pursuant to 35 USC 120.
BACKGROUNDThere are very few electronically enhanced games that can be considered athletic. Other than being good for hand/eye coordination, a typical “gamer” uses very few muscles while playing, and there is little effort that relates to real life. The games described in this application are all actual, not “virtual” reality. The current apparatus offers an alternative for people to escape from the computer screen. Beneficial for all ages, especially for athletes and older people, it provides fun, recreation, and competition with oneself, or others, at very low expense. Considering the intensity, this game would be considered a sport by serious players.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe game is played by turning on the electrical system on a control box and selecting a skill level (namely, a disbursement speed), then instigating the start sequence. The game begins at the conclusion of an audio alert tone. An eye-level wall mounted apparatus will deploy a ball from one of several apertures. The ball will then fall about two to three feet to strike a shelf below, then rebound upward and slightly toward the player, who tries, (depending on the game), to accomplish one of several interactions with the ball before the ball can hit the ground. This follows rapidly by another ball, and another, until the full game has played out when the required number of balls has been dispersed and played. The player has no way of anticipating which of the several apertures will release the ball. Essentially the player has an electronic adversary. The apparatus comprises a microchip or control logic for controlling how the balls are deployed and uses gravity for ejecting the plurality of balls out of the device. The apparatus also comprises a number of small push/pull solenoids which are reliable, cheap, and requires very little electricity.
The current invention provides an apparatus for providing a game or agility training, the apparatus itself includes a ball housing, a plurality of balls disposed within the ball housing, and an adjustable shelf coupled to the ball housing. A control box is also connected to the ball housing, the control box having the capability to regulate how the plurality of balls are dispensed from the ball housing.
In one embodiment, the ball housing includes at least one chamber defined within the ball housing, an aperture defined in a surface of the ball housing and communicated to a distal end of the at least one chamber, and a mechanical switch that is adjacently disposed to the aperture, the mechanical switch including a closed configuration which closes the aperture and an open configuration which opens the aperture. Additionally, the control box here is capable of alternating the mechanical switch between the closed configuration and the open configuration by communicating with the mechanical switch. Specifically, the control box alternates the mechanical switch between the closed configuration and the open configuration according to predetermined sequence. Alternatively, the control box alternates the mechanical switch between the closed configuration and the open configuration according to random sequence. The at least one chamber may also be formed in a zigzag or other configuration defined throughout a height of the ball housing.
In another embodiment the shelf is connected to the ball housing by a plurality of telescoping rods directly beneath a bottom surface of the ball housing.
In a related embodiment, the adjustable shelf includes an adjustment nut configured to change the angle of the shelf relative to a bottom surface of the ball housing.
In yet another embodiment, the apparatus also includes a trough adjacently disposed to the ball housing, wherein the trough includes a net.
In another embodiment, the ball housing specifically includes a recess defined around the perimeter, the recess configured to accommodate a cover plate therein.
The invention also provides a system for providing a game or agility training, the system itself includes a ball housing, an extendable shelf connected to the ball housing, and a plurality of chambers defined within the ball housing. Additionally, the system also includes a plurality of balls disposed within at least one of the plurality of chambers and a plurality of mechanical switches disposed within the ball housing. The extendable shelf is disposed beneath each of the plurality of mechanical switches.
In one embodiment, the system also includes at least one portable trough, the at least one portable trough itself comprising at least one net.
In a separate embodiment, the system further includes a plurality of portable targets, each of the targets including at least one void defined therein. Additionally, at least one of the plurality of portable targets is configured to be hung from a ceiling, a doorway, or other fixture disposed above, while at least another one of the plurality of portable targets includes a stand.
In another embodiment, the extendable shelf is capable of rotating relative to a vertical plane defined by the ball housing.
In a related embodiment, the extendable shelf is made of a plurality of materials, each of the plurality of materials capable of producing a different sound when struck by one of the plurality of balls.
In yet another embodiment, the system includes a control box that is communicated to each of the plurality of mechanical switches, the control box further being capable of controlling each of the plurality of mechanical switches.
In a further embodiment, at least one of the plurality of chambers has a zigzag configuration defined within the ball housing.
In another embodiment, each of the plurality of chambers has an aperture that is disposed at its distal end and at least one surface disposed adjacent to the aperture which is of an angle that is less than fifteen degrees relative to a horizontal axis of the ball housing, or 45/135 degrees to plumb.
The current invention also provides a method for playing a game or engaging in agility training which includes disposing a plurality of balls in a ball housing, dispensing the plurality of balls from the ball housing, and reflecting at least one of the dispensed plurality of balls in a direction away from the ball housing. Next, the at least one reflected plurality of balls is engaged with by a user.
In one embodiment, reflecting at least one of the dispensed plurality of balls in a direction away from the ball housing includes dropping the at least one of the dispensed plurality of balls from the ball housing onto an angled shelf that is disposed beneath the ball housing. The angle of the shelf may then be adjusted relative to a bottom surface of the ball housing.
In another embodiment, dispensing the plurality of balls from the ball housing includes dispensing the plurality of balls from a plurality of chambers defined within the ball housing according to a predetermined sequence.
In a related embodiment, dispensing the plurality of balls from the ball housing may include releasing at least one of the plurality of balls from the ball housing by actuating a mechanical switch disposed within the ball housing.
In yet a further embodiment, dispensing the plurality of balls from the ball housing includes controlling the operation of a plurality of mechanical switches through a control box that is communicated to the ball housing.
In another embodiment, disposing the plurality of balls in the ball housing includes distributing the plurality of balls between a plurality of chambers defined within the ball housing, each of the plurality of chambers comprising at least one surface which has an angle that is less than fifteen degrees relative to a horizontal axis of the ball housing.
In yet another embodiment, engaging with the at least one of the reflected plurality of balls by the user includes directing the at least one of the reflected plurality of balls through at least one void defined within a target.
In a further embodiment, the method also includes adjusting a vertical position of an adjustable shelf relative to a bottom surface of the ball housing.
In another embodiment, disposing the plurality of balls in the ball housing includes stacking the plurality of balls in a zigzag configuration within at least one chamber defined within the ball housing.
The speed and agility game apparatus of the current invention offers many variations of how the player interacts with the balls. Most games do not allow for a score if the ball hits the floor. Some exemplary activities or games using the current apparatus include:
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- Catching the balls with their bare hands. Specifically, the player deposits the caught balls into a trash can or other appropriate receptacle type container that has some dampening effect to retain the balls.
- Catching the balls with the aid of a hand held net or other item.
- Shooting at moving target balls with ball bearings, airsoft pellets, or other projectiles.
- Blindfolded catching. Here, the player participates by listening to the noise from the ball bouncing off the shelf of the apparatus.
- Hitting, or batting at the ball. By using a paddle or racket, the player can direct the ball with the intention of placing it through a substantially vertical hole with a net type capture system for a successful score.
- Using different colored balls. This variation allows for other games like batting the ball thru a matching colored goal, or catching the red ones left handed, or not shooting the blue ones, to name only a few examples.
- LED's Light emitting diode 5
- Mounting board 6
- Tubes for ball containment 7
- Ball 8
- Apparatus body, ball housing unit (molded) 9
- Single molded unit 34
- Wall mount 10
- Chambers (voids) for ball storage 11
- Aperture 12
- Recess for cover plate 13
- Picture attachment means such as super magnets 14
- Electronic strip 15
- Solenoid housing body 16
- Solenoids or stepper motors 17
- Wiring, or cable 18
- Rods or other attachment means to ball housing 19
- Plug socket for removable wire to control box 21
- LED with the solenoid 5
- Shelf 22
- Wall attachment means to shelf 20
- Drop down connecter to the ball housing unit 23
- Shelf angle adjustment and fastening nut 24
- Control box 43, having a programed chip 25, on/off switch 26, drop frequency dial 27, start/stop/pause sequence control button 28, two at a time control 29, wireless transmitter 30, other desirable control features 31
- Power supply ac/dc transformer, batteries for cordless 32 power cord 33
- Wall socket 42
- Target/goal for batting games 35
- Main body 36
- Goal holes 37
- Stand 38
- Net 39
- Base 40
- Trough with net 41
- Side of shelf with irregular surface 50
- Threaded post 51
- Wall mount with slot for post (one of a pair) 20
While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112. The disclosure can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals.
The disclosure and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples of the embodiments defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the embodiments as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSA rebounding ball game, or recreational pastime facilitated by a programed electronic chip and player controls 25-31 as seen in
As seen in
The apparatus further comprises an electrical control box 43 that contains a programed microchip, control buttons/dials 25-31, power supply 32, wiring, and optional wireless transmitters. The preferred embodiment comprises the option of having electronic tones sounding about a half second apart as a countdown.
The game balls 8 are preferably light weight balls made of plastic or plastic composites, similar to a ball used for table tennis.
Turning to
The control box housing 43 is provided with a plurality of operational buttons, (not shown in drawings), with on/off, start, pause, with a dial that adjusts the frequency of the ball disbursement, for setting various skill level speeds, and may contain an optional short play selector to only allow a given number of balls to be released. The microchip can be programed with a random command, or with an extremely long command code that lasts for many play sequences, (starting where the last play ended, or arbitrary). Thus, a player can not anticipate from which aperture the next chambered ball will descend from.
The electronic strip 15 as seen in
The shelf 22 is connected to the ball housing 9 by rods 23 that telescope to be shorter so the rods can retract into, or behind the apparatus, so as not to be seen when the game is not in use. The rods would be similar in structure to the lower half of a typical car antenna. The shelf 22 is mounted directly to a wall with support arms 20 seen in
In another embodiment, the game could also be utilized if broken into separate units, as seen in
Alternatively, the ball housing 9 may be used without a shelf 22 for games entailing the ball striking, and bouncing upward after hitting a hard floor or concrete surface.
The molded ball container units have a recess 13 around the perimeter to accommodate a cover plate (not seen) as best seen in
The system can easily be taken down to be stored out of sight when not in use. If the players or co-residents desire only normal appearing wall decor when the game is not being used, there is an alternative. The cord to the power strip can be unplugged, the shelf 22 retracted up into the ball housing 9. The apparatus' cover panel can be temporarily re-covered by artwork, family photos, or the like, by being attached with super strong magnets, clips, or other temporary fastening means.
In a series of embodiments meant for illustrative purposes only, in a version of play the ball housing 9 would incorporate a hand held net to catch balls 8. Similarly, a ping pong paddle, wicket, tennis, or badminton racquet could be used to propel the balls 8 toward a target 36 with a cut-out 37 void containing a catch 39 net for a score as seen in
The ball housing 9 may be manufactured by boring out a foam block that is, for example, approximately 10″ tall by 36″ long by 2″ thick, with the chambers or voids 11 routed/machine cut into the foam to allow for the storage, and disbursement voids 11 in the upper area of the ball housing 9. This would offer the cheapest way to start-up, using hot wire cutting to cut blocks to size, and then CNC routing out chambers that are just slightly larger than the diameter of the balls, but leaving enough foam remaining for a back panel on the uncut side. For larger scale production a better method to produce large quantities is by molding a rigid foam block of material like expanded polystyrene with voids within that will contain the balls, (and exit holes), but again still offer enough material to form the back panel of the ball housing 9. Said block has a slight recess 13 to accommodate a cover plate that can be clear plastic to form a window, and mounting brackets 20 to affix the ball housing 9 to a wall, and means for attaching a shelf 22. The chambers or voids 11 are formed in a zigzag configuration best seen in
In a preferred embodiment, the majority of the apparatus is constructed from molded EPS. This reduces assembling and material costs by eliminating the need for parts like tubular structures 7 and a back panel 6. Furthermore, the need for machining prior to assembly is reduced because the recess 13 for the cover plate, and the recess' for the mechanical switches 17 and wires are molded in, thus fewer parts are needed including the body of the electronic strip 15. The ball housing 9 may be molded with a technique that causes denser plastic foam to be on the part surface resulting in imparting a hard shell.
The ball housings 9 may be molded in two parts, a softer low density (say one pound per sq. ft.) forming the interior, and a harder, higher density foam of similar, or different composition, to form a “frame” that will be assembled onto/around the interior part resulting in making the edges of the apparatus stronger.
Turning to
It should be noted that other and further embodiments utilizing one or more aspects of the invention described above can be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the ball housing 9 may drop more than one ball simultaneously and/or a plurality of players may practice their skills together. Additionally, any number of different activities like ambidextrous catching, sightless catching, pet training, shooting airsoft guns at moving targets, and martial arts punching and kicking practice could be engaged in and are contemplated herein.
Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following embodiments and its various embodiments.
It must also be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the embodiments includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. A teaching that two elements are combined in a claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the embodiments is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the embodiments.
The words used in this specification to describe the various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.
The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.
The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptionally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the embodiments.
Claims
1. An apparatus for providing a game or agility training, the apparatus comprising:
- a ball housing:
- a plurality of balls disposed within the ball housing;
- an adjustable shelf coupled to the ball housing; and
- a control box coupled to the ball housing,
- wherein the control box comprises means for regulating how the plurality of balls are dispensed from the ball housing.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ball housing comprises:
- at least one chamber defined within the ball housing:
- an aperture defined in a surface of the ball housing and communicated to a distal end of the at least one chamber; and
- a mechanical switch adjacently disposed to the aperture, the mechanical switch comprising a closed configuration which closes the aperture and an open configuration which opens the aperture,
- wherein the control box comprises means for alternating the mechanical switch between the closed configuration and the open configuration.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shelf is coupled to the ball housing by a plurality of telescoping rods directly beneath a bottom surface of the ball housing.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the control box comprises means for communicating with the mechanical switch.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for alternating the mechanical switch between the closed configuration and the open configuration comprises means for alternating the mechanical switch between the closed configuration and the open configuration according to predetermined sequence.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for alternating the mechanical switch between the closed configuration and the open configuration comprises means for alternating the mechanical switch between the closed configuration and the open configuration according to random sequence.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ball housing comprises a recess defined around the perimeter, the recess configured to accommodate a cover plate therein.
8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one chamber comprises a zigzag configuration defined throughout a height of the ball housing.
9. A system for providing a game or agility training, the system comprising:
- a ball housing;
- an extendable shelf coupled to the ball housing:
- a plurality of chambers defined within the ball housing;
- a plurality of balls disposed within at least one of the plurality of chambers; and
- a plurality of mechanical switches disposed within the ball housing,
- wherein the extendable shelf is disposed beneath each of the plurality of mechanical switches.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the extendable shelf comprises means for rotating the extendable shelf relative to a vertical plane defined by the ball housing.
11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a control box communicated to each of the plurality of mechanical switches, the control box comprising means for controlling each of the plurality of mechanical switches.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein at least one of the plurality of chambers comprises a zigzag configuration defined within the ball housing.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of chambers comprises an aperture disposed at its distal end and at least one surface disposed adjacent to the aperture.
14. A method for playing a game or engaging in agility training comprising:
- disposing a plurality of balls in a ball housing;
- dispensing the plurality of balls from the ball housing;
- reflecting at least one of the dispensed plurality of balls in a direction away from the ball housing; and
- engaging with the at least one reflected plurality of balls by a user.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein reflecting at least one of the dispensed plurality of balls in a direction away from the ball housing comprises dropping the at least one of the dispensed plurality of balls from the ball housing onto an angled shelf disposed beneath the ball housing.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein dispensing the plurality of balls from the ball housing comprises dispensing the plurality of balls from a plurality of chambers defined within the ball housing according to a predetermined sequence.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein dispensing the plurality of balls from the ball housing comprises releasing at least one of the plurality of balls from the ball housing by actuating a mechanical switch disposed within the ball housing.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein dispensing the plurality of balls from the ball housing comprises controlling the operation of a plurality of mechanical switches through a control box communicated to the ball housing.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein disposing the plurality of balls in the ball housing comprises distributing the plurality of balls between a plurality of chambers defined within the ball housing, each of the plurality of chambers comprising at least one surface which comprises an angle relative to a horizontal axis of the ball housing.
20. The method of claim of claim 14 wherein disposing the plurality of balls in the ball housing comprises stacking the plurality of balls in a zigzag configuration within at least one chamber defined within the ball housing.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 14, 2021
Publication Date: May 26, 2022
Inventor: Gene Wilhelmi (Westminster, CA)
Application Number: 17/550,274