Abstract:
The present invention is a game set for use in an object throwing game in which projectiles are rolled, tossed or otherwise moved towards a target object. Each projectile includes a distance measuring means disposed within the projectile that can send and receive signals from a control device. The distance measuring system including the measuring means and the control devices allow for an individual or individuals playing the game to measure in a highly accurate manner the positioning of the projectiles with regard to the target object and with regard to one another in order to determine the exact locations of the projectiles, and which projectile or projectiles are positioned closer to the target object than the remaining projectiles. All information regarding the distance between the projectiles and the target object can be received and displayed on the control device for easy administration of the game.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/685,272, filed May 27, 2005, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates generally to games including a target towards which projectiles are rolled, tossed, thrown, or otherwise moved towards a target by players of the game, and more specifically to a game set used to play a particular game in which the projectiles include means for determining relative distances between both the target and other projectiles.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Many different types of games involving the rolling, throwing or other movement of projectiles, such as balls, towards a target have been developed for amusement purposes. The winner of these games is often determined by measuring the distances between the resting position of the projectile moved towards the target and the target itself, in order to determine how close the projectile has come to the target. In prior art games of this type, distance was measured by approximating varying distances utilizing the individual game player&#39;s or official&#39;s eyes, or by more accurately measuring the distance utilizing certain measuring devices, including tape measurers or other instruments having the ability to measure length.  
         [0004]     However, in certain cases where it is difficult to visually determine the resting place of the projectile due to various circumstances resulting from game play, or where two or more projectiles have come to rest at locations approximately equidistant from the target, it is often difficult to accurately determine the actual distance of the projectile to the target.  
         [0005]     As a result, it is desirable to develop projectiles for a game set that can be used to play a game in which the projectiles are provided with internal means capable of measuring the distance between the respective projectiles and the target, as well as potentially between the multiple projectiles, when applicable.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     According to a primary aspect of the present invention, a game set is provided in which the game set includes a target, e.g., an object or line, positioned on the field of play and a number of projectiles, such as balls that are to be rolled, tossed, thrown or otherwise moved towards the target by the game participants in order to get the projectiles as close as possible to the target. Each projectile includes an internal distance measuring means capable of sending and receiving signals to a separate measuring means disposed within the target object in order to accurately determine the position or distance between the projectile and the target. The measuring means can also compare this distance with the distances of other projectiles from the target in order to specifically and accurately determine the projectile or projectiles which are closest to the target, and/or the relative position of the projectiles with respect to the target. The measuring means disposed within the projectile(s) allow for the determination of the distance from the projectile to the target with a level of accuracy that is greater than that obtainable using any prior art system.  
         [0007]     According to another aspect of the present invention, the projectile(s) includes the distance measuring means disposed within the projectile(s) in a manner in which allows the projectile to easily be utilized in the play of the game, while also preventing the measuring means from being damaged while the projectile is in use.  
         [0008]     Numerous other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated in practicing the present invention.  
         [0010]     In the drawings:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the game set including the distance measuring means disposed within the various projectiles utilized in the game of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the game set of the present invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the game set of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     With reference to the drawing figure in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure. A game set is indicated generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The game set  10  can include any number or type of target objects  12  and projectiles  14   a ,  14   b ,  16   a  and  16   b  that are used to play a particular game in which one or more targets and one or more projectiles to be moved toward the target are used. The target object  12  can take the form of any suitable target used in the particular game, including a flag, a ball, a post, a basket or a line or zone on a playing surface, among others. The projectiles  14   a - 16   b  can also take any form to be used for the particular game, such as a ball of any sort, a bag, a horseshoe, a curling stone or an arrow, among others.  
         [0016]     In a first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 , the game set  10  includes a target object  12 , a first set of projectiles  14   a - 14   b , a second set of projectiles  16   a - 16   b , such as for use in playing bocce or petanque, and a pair of hand-held devices  18  and  20 . Each of the target object  12 , first set of projectiles  14   a - 14   b , and second set of projectiles  16   a - 16   b  includes a distance measuring means  22  positioned within the respective object  12  and projectiles  14   a - 16   b.    
         [0017]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each measuring means  22  is positioned within the center of each object  12  and projectile  14   a - 16   b  to minimize any damage from being done to the measuring means  22  during the use of the object  12  or projectile  14   a - 16   b . The measuring means  22  can be positioned within the object  12  and the projectiles  14   a - 16   b  in any suitable manner, such as by molding or otherwise forming the object  12  and projectiles  14   a - 16   b  around the measuring means  22 , or by initially forming the object  12  and projectiles  14   a - 16   b  to include a channel or opening (not shown) therein that can receive and retain the measuring means  22 . Optionally, the object  12  and the projectiles  14   a - 16   b  can include a type of shock-absorbing structure or material (not shown) within the object  12  and/or projectiles  14   a - 16   b  and within which the measuring means  22  is positioned that provides additional protection to the measuring means  22  from shock and other vibrations transmitted through the object  12  or projectiles  14   a - 16   b  during gameplay.  
         [0018]     The measuring means  22  can be constructed to have any desired configuration that provides the distance measuring functions for the means  22 , but preferably includes a receiver  24  and a transmitter  26  operably connected to one another and capable of receiving signals generated from the hand-held devices  18  and  20 , as well as from other measuring means  22 , which all form a distance measuring system  200  for the game set  10 , and to transmit a return signal to the hand-held devices  18  and  20 . The measuring means  22  preferably takes the form of a computer-like chip having a size easily containable within the respective object  12  and projectiles  14   a - 16   b . Additionally, the measuring means  22  disposed within each object  12  and projectile  14   a - 16   b  includes a type of power source  23  operably connected to the receiver  24  and transmitter  26  to allow operation of the measuring means  22 . The power source  23  can take any suitable form, such as a battery disposed within the object  12  and the projectiles  14   a - 16   b  with the measuring means  22  that can also be rechargeable by removing the battery from the object  12  or projectile  14   a - 16   b  or connecting the battery to a separate power supply using a plug. Also, the power source  23  for the measuring means  22  can be one that utilizes the motion of the object  12  or the projectiles  14   a - 16   b  to create the power for the operation of the measuring means  22 .  
         [0019]     The object  12  and the projectiles  14   a - 14   b ,  16   a - 16   b  themselves are preferably generally spherical in shape for this embodiment, but can have other suitable shapes as well. In addition, the target object  12  and projectiles  14   a - 14   b ,  16   a - 16   b  are formed of any suitable and durable material, such that they can be utilized repeatedly to play a number of games utilizing the set  10 . Preferably, the target  12 , and projectiles  14   a - 14   b , and  16   a - 16   b  are formed of a lightweight and rigid material, such as a plastic material, that allows the target  12  and projectiles  14   a - 14   b ,  16   a - 16   b  to be easily utilized and transported when not in use.  
         [0020]     The devices  18  and  20  also include a receiver  24  and a transmitter  26  to allow the devices  18  and  20  to receive and transmit signals between the object  12 , the projectiles  14   a - 16   b , and each other. The devices  18  and  20  also include a control unit  28  that can preferably be utilized to process the signals received by the devices  18  and  20  to measure the distance between the object and one or more of the projectiles  14   a - 16   b  based on one or more parameters of the signals generated by the measuring means  22 , such as the time required for a signal to be sent and received between the target object  12  and a projectile  14 - 16   b.    
         [0021]     In addition to the receiver  24 , transmitter  26  and the control unit  28 , the hand-held devices  18  and  20  also include a number of switches  30  capable of switching on power to the devices  18  and  20  and operating the various features of the devices  18  and  20  including, but not limited to, sending and receiving signals from the devices  18  and  20  to the measuring means  22  disposed within the object  12  and the various projectiles  14   a - 14   b  and  16   a - 16   b , and measuring the distances between the target object  12  and the projectiles  14   a - 14   b ,  16   a - 16   b . Each device  18  and  20  also includes a display  32  that visually displays the calculated distances between the respective objects. Other optional functions that can be performed by the devices  18  and  20  include, but are not limited to, keeping track of or recording: 1) the elapsed time of the current game; 2) scores from previous games; and 3) the players participating in the previous and current games, among other features.  
         [0022]     In operation according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the game set  10  is utilized to play the game by taking the target object  12  and throwing or otherwise placing the object  12  at a location within the playing field  100 . Each player/team then takes their respective set of projectiles  14   a - 14   b ,  16   a - 16   b , and steps a specified distance away from the specified target object  12 . Each player then takes turns throwing, rolling or otherwise attempting to position the projectiles  14   a - 14   b ,  16   a - 16   b  as close to the target object  12  as possible. After each of the projectiles  14   a - 14   b  and  16   a - 16   b  have been thrown towards the target object  12 , each player/team may then operate the hand-held devices  18  and  20  to send and receive signals from the respective distance measuring means  22  within each projectile  14   a - 14   b  and  16   a - 16   b  to accurately measure the distances between the respective projectiles  14   a - 14   b  and  16   a - 16   b  and the target object  12 . As the distances are calculated electronically, the accuracy in the calculated distance is very high, and the score or points to be awarded based upon the final positions of the projectiles  14   a - 14   b  and  16   a - 16   b  can be awarded quickly. This allows the players to collect the projectiles  14   a - 14   b  and  16   a - 16   b  and quickly begin a second round of play, or conclude the game, as desired.  
         [0023]     Each device  18  and  20  may also be utilized electronically keep score based on the signals transmitted to the device  18  or  20  from the various distance measuring means  22 . Also, based on the measurements obtained by the devices  18  and  20  from the distance measuring means  22 , the devices  18  and  20  can determine any projectiles  14   a - 14   b  or  16   a - 16   b  which are out of bounds with regards to the target object  12 , thereby removing these projectiles automatically from play. Therefore, the distance measuring means  22  within each projectile  14   a - 14   b  and  16   a - 16   b , in conjunction with the hand-held devices  18  and  20  allow for variations and improvements in game play which heretofore have not been available due to the ease of measurement and accuracy of measurements obtained utilizing the game set  10  with the measuring means  22  and the devices  18  and  20 .  
         [0024]     In addition to utilizing means  22  within projectiles  14   a - 14   b  and  16   a - 16   b , the means  22  can also be utilized in other types of projectiles or balls for distance measuring purposes and other types of games. For example, in the embodiment of the game set  10  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the measuring means  22  are positioned within a target  12 , such as a flagstick  34 , and the measuring means  22  are located within projectiles  14   a - 16   b , such as golf balls  36 . Thus, in this embodiment, the devices  18  and  20  can be utilized to send and receive signals from a number of measuring means  22  disposed within the golf balls  36  to measure the distances between the golf balls  36  and the flagstick  34 .  
         [0025]     Additionally, in the embodiment of the game set  10  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the measuring means  22  is secured within a football  38 . During normal football gameplay, the measuring means  22  disposed within the football  38  can interact with one or more of the devices  18  and  20  to measure the distance between the measuring means  22  within both the football  38  and other target objects  12  positioned around and beneath a football field  102 , such as at an end line  104 , a side line  106  or a goal line  108 , in order to enable the devices  18  and  20  to determine the exact positioning of the football  38  on the field  102  in the above-described manner for situations where a player (not shown) carrying the football  38  is tackled, when the football  38  or player carrying the football  38  is knocked out of bounds, or when it is unclear due to the positions of the players on the field whether the football  38  has crossed the goal line  108 .  
         [0026]     Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.