Abstract:
A recreation range system ( 10 ) including a field ( 11 ) and a rotatable range carousel ( 13 ).

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates to facilities adapted for activities related to aspects of sport and, in particular, where elements of a particular sport may be practiced for amusement or personal improvement.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Facilities specifically adapted to the practice of either all or some of the aspects of a particular sport are known. For example bowling alleys and bowling greens provide such facilities where all aspects of the games of pin and lawn bowling may be performed. Examples of facilities providing for the practice of certain aspects of a game are mini golf ranges, putting greens and golf driving ranges.  
         [0003]     In the latter example, players are provided with a play station or position where golf balls and other equipment is provided together with amenities so as to allow a player to practice a variety of golf strokes in a convenient environment.  
         [0004]     Such facilities are not available for large ball games such as for example the game of soccer. Practice of this particular game for example can only be performed in a sufficiently open space where for a single player ball return becomes at least tedious. As well there is little variation possible, particularly for an individual wishing to improve his or her ball skills, either for amusement or for serious practice.  
         [0005]     It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
       [0006]     Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a recreation range system including a field and a rotatable range carousel.  
         [0007]     Preferably said range carousel is provided with at least one player level wherein the periphery of said player level is divided into a plurality of player lanes, said player lanes provided with ball delivery means and said field provided with ball retrieval means.  
         [0008]     Preferably the periphery of said field is provided with a plurality of target structures.  
         [0009]     Preferably said carousel is offset from the center of said field.  
         [0010]     Preferably said field slopes downwardly from said carousel to said periphery of said field.  
         [0011]     Preferably said field is constructed as a suspended surface overlying a substantially dished subsurface.  
         [0012]     The recreation range system of claim  1  wherein said carousel is provided with two player levels; an upper level and a lower level arranged one above the other around a central support column.  
         [0013]     Preferably said central support column is rotatably supported, said column and said carousel adapted to be urged in circular motion by a power source acting through a drive train.  
         [0014]     Preferably said ball delivery means and said ball retrieval means are adapted to process a range of ball sizes.  
         [0015]     Preferably said ball delivery means and said ball retrieval means are provided with a plurality of balls, each of said balls provided with a unique electronically readable ball recognition code.  
         [0016]     Preferably said ball retrieval means is adapted to return balls from the periphery of said field to said central support column.  
         [0017]     Preferably said ball retrieval means includes a plurality of ball collection troughs disposed around the periphery of said field, each of said collection troughs communicating with said central support column by underground shafts sloping downwardly from said periphery towards said central support column.  
         [0018]     Preferably said ball retrieval means includes a plurality of openings along the periphery of said field, said openings allowing balls to drop to said dished subsurface.  
         [0019]     Preferably said ball delivery means is provided with a ball collections and sorting chamber adapted to sort said ball sizes and deliver sorted balls to designated said player lanes.  
         [0020]     Preferably a player urges a ball to follow a trajectory from one of said player lanes in a generally radial direction from said range carousel towards said periphery of said field.  
         [0021]     Preferably a ball urged by said player from said player lane towards said periphery of said field is tracked electronically.  
         [0022]     Preferably said target structures are adapted to display a variety of target images.  
         [0023]     Preferably said target images are provided with electronic sensor means adapted to record the impact of a ball and the recognition code of said ball.  
         [0024]     Preferably said target images are associated with a point credit system, said credit system adapted to award credit points to a player when a ball urged by said player strikes said target image.  
         [0025]     Preferably said field may be adapted to display a number of target areas, said target areas provided with sensors to detect the impact of a ball and the recognition code of said ball.  
         [0026]     Preferably said credit points accruing to a player are electronically displayed on display means at the player lane used by said player.  
         [0027]     Preferably said credit points accrued to a player during a player session are stored in a central database storage facility as a score, said score being available for retrieval from said database for display at subsequent player sessions.  
         [0028]     Preferably said scores stored in said database storage facility are available for printout.  
         [0029]     Preferably said scores are associated with a prize conferring system.  
         [0030]     Preferably said field is provided with a plurality of ball mortars arranged radially and at various distances from the center of said range carousel, said ball mortars adapted to urge a ball into any one of a range of specified trajectories, said trajectories ending in the area of a player lane.  
         [0031]     Preferably said trajectories are adapted to present a ball to a said player on said player lane simulating a range of ball approaches to a player as experienced in a game of soccer.  
         [0032]     Preferably said ball retrieval means is adapted to provide said balls on demand to said ball mortars.  
         [0033]     Preferably said carousel is provided with amenities, said amenities including a kiosk.  
         [0034]     Preferably said upper player level is provided with a safety net extending radially outward from the periphery of said player level.  
         [0035]     In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method for operating a recreation range, said recreation range including a field and a rotatable range carousel, said range carousel provided with at least one player level wherein the periphery of said player level is divided into a plurality of player lanes, said player lanes provided with ball delivery means and said field provided with ball retrieval means; said method comprising conveying players on a arcuate path over a portion of said range.  
         [0036]     Preferably said field is of generally ovoid shape.  
         [0037]     Preferably the periphery of said field is provided with a plurality of target structures.  
         [0038]     Preferably said carousel is offset from the center of said ovoid shape.  
         [0039]     Preferably the surface of said field slopes downwardly from said carousel to said periphery of said field.  
         [0040]     Preferably said field is constructed as a suspended surface overlying a substantially dished subsurface.  
         [0041]     Preferably said carousel is provided with two player levels; an upper level and a lower level arranged one above the other around a central support column.  
         [0042]     Preferably said central support column is rotatably supported, said column and said carousel adapted to be urged in circular motion by a power source acting through a drive train.  
         [0043]     Preferably said ball delivery means and said ball retrieval means are adapted to process a range of ball sizes.  
         [0044]     Preferably said ball delivery means and said ball retrieval means are provided with a plurality of balls, each of said balls provided with a unique electronically readable ball recognition code.  
         [0045]     Preferably said ball retrieval means is adapted to return balls from the periphery of said field to said central support column.  
         [0046]     Preferably said ball retrieval means includes a plurality of ball collection troughs disposed around the periphery of said field, each of said collection troughs communicating with said central support column by underground shafts sloping downwardly from said periphery towards said central support column.  
         [0047]     Preferably said ball retrieval means includes a plurality of openings along the periphery of said field, said openings allowing balls to drop to said dished subsurface.  
         [0048]     Preferably said ball delivery means is provided with a ball collections and sorting chamber adapted to sort said ball sizes and deliver sorted balls to designated said player lanes.  
         [0049]     Preferably a player urges a ball to follow a trajectory from one of said player lanes in a generally radial direction from said range carousel towards said periphery of said field.  
         [0050]     Preferably a ball urged by said player from said player lane towards said periphery of said field is tracked electronically.  
         [0051]     Preferably said target structures are adapted to display a variety of target images.  
         [0052]     Preferably said target images are provided with electronic sensor means adapted to record the impact of a ball and the recognition code of said ball.  
         [0053]     Preferably said target images are associated with a point credit system, said credit system adapted to award credit points to a player when a ball urged by said player strikes said target image.  
         [0054]     Preferably said field may be adapted to display a number of target areas, said target areas provided with sensors to detect the impact of a ball and the recognition code of said ball.  
         [0055]     Preferably said credit points accruing to a player are electronically displayed on display means at the player lane used by said player.  
         [0056]     Preferably said credit points accrued to a player during a player session are stored in a central database storage facility as a score, said score being available for retrieval from said database for display at subsequent player sessions.  
         [0057]     Preferably said scores stored in said database storage facility are available for printout.  
         [0058]     Preferably said scores are associated with a prize conferring system.  
         [0059]     Preferably said field is provided with a plurality of ball mortars arranged radially and at various distances from the center of said range carousel, said ball mortars adapted to urge a ball into any one of a range of specified trajectories, said trajectories ending in the area of a player lane.  
         [0060]     Preferably said trajectories are adapted to present a ball to a said player on said player lane simulating a range of ball approaches to a player as experienced in a game of soccer.  
         [0061]     Preferably said ball retrieval means is adapted to provide said balls on demand to said ball mortars.  
         [0062]     Preferably said carousel is provided with amenities, said amenities including a kiosk.  
         [0063]     Preferably said ball retrieval means is adapted to provide said balls on demand to said ball mortars.  
         [0064]     Preferably said upper player level is provided with a safety net extending radially outward from the periphery of said player level. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0065]     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0066]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of recreation range according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0067]      FIG. 2  is a sectioned elevation view of the recreation range of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0068]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged portion of the section elevation view of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0069]      FIG. 4  is a sectioned elevation view of a further preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0070]     A first preferred embodiment of a recreation range  10  according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  3 .  
         [0071]     Accordingly in  FIG. 1  is shown a field  11  of ovoid shape with periphery  12  and range carousel  13  offset from the field center. Preferably range carousel  13  is located at a somewhat higher level than the periphery  12  so that the surface  14  of field  11  slopes downwardly towards the periphery  12 , the slope being sufficient to allow a ball  15  to roll towards periphery  12 .  
         [0072]     Arranged around periphery  12  of field  11  are target structures  16 . Also arranged around periphery  12  are ball collection troughs  17  provided with underground shafts  18  sloping downwardly to the center of range carousel  13  to provide ball retrieval means. Range carousel  13  is offset from the field center so as to give as wide a range of distances as possible from the carousel  13  to the target structures  16  at field periphery  12 .  
         [0073]     In an alternative preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the field  11  is constructed as a suspended surface  19  overlying a dished subsurface  20  where the subsurface  20  rises from the center of range carousel  13  to the periphery  32  of the field  11 . Peripheral openings  21  in the suspended field surface  18  allow for the entry of balls  15 , these balls then rolling down the dished subsurface to collect at the central support column  22  of range carousel  13 .  
         [0074]     In a preferred embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  range carousel  13  is constructed with two player levels, upper level  23  and lower level  24  forming circular discs around central support column  22 . The outer annular segment of each player level is divided into a plurality of player lanes  25  as may best be seen in  FIG. 1 . Upper level  23  is further provided with annular safety net  26  extending outwardly from its periphery.  
         [0075]     Range carousel  13  is rotatably supported on bearings and driven by a suitable power source and drive train (not shown) to rotate the carousel about its central axis  27 . Thus each player lane  25  is brought into alignment with every target structure  16  and any other feature of field  11  once every revolution of range carousel  13 .  
         [0076]     Each player lane  25  is provided with a ball delivery means  28  fed from a central ball distribution system  29  located in central support column  22 . In a preferred embodiment, at least three sizes of balls  15  may be selected by a player  30  so as to allow for players from young children to adults.  
         [0077]     As well as being able to select a ball from the ball delivery means  28  of the range carousel  13 , a player  30  may elect to be passed a ball from any one of a number of ball mortars  31  disposed at various distances from the range carousel  13  and generally radial to its center. The manner of the pass is further selectable by a player  30  so that the trajectory  32  and delivery of the ball  15  by the ball mortar  31  may simulate a variety of typical passes such as experienced in the game of soccer. Thus by means of the two methods of ball supply, a player may for example elect to kick a placed ball, kick a ball on the volley, “head” or “chest” a ball.  
         [0078]     Balls  15  kicked or otherwise ejected by players  30  from the range carousel  13  may hit one of the target structures  16  at the field periphery  12  or fall short onto the sloping surface  14  or  19  of the field  11 . In either case a used ball  15  will roll into a ball collection through  17  or peripheral opening  21  and subsequently into its associated underground shaft  18  or onto subsurface  20  to thence roll downwardly to the central support column  22  of the range carousel  13 .  
         [0079]     Located in the base of the central support column  22  is ball collection and sorting chamber  33 . For clarity  FIG. 3  shows only a single size ball distribution system  29  but separate distribution pathways are provided for each size of ball offered for play. After sorting in chamber  33  balls  15  are raised to the upper level  23  for further distribution to the player lanes  25  on each player level.  
         [0080]     Balls are provided sequentially for the duration of a playing session. In one preferred embodiment a playing session is limited to one revolution of the range carousel.  
         [0081]     All balls are provided with a unique electronically readable recognition code. Target structures  16  are in this embodiment provided with a variety of target images which are fitted with sensors adapted to register the impact and recognition code of a ball. Sensors are associated with particular target images so that a point crediting system may award points to a player whose ball impacts a particular target image. Points gained by a player during a playing session are accrued to accord a score to the player. The score so gained is stored in a central database facility for subsequent retrieval if desired. Thus a players may play for the highest score among a group of players or an individual player may attempt to better his previous score in subsequent playing sessions.  
         [0082]     To allow a player to select a method of play (ball from range carousel delivery means or from a ball mortar) and as a means of communicating a target hit and any points scored, each player lane is provided with a player terminal  34 . Player terminals are provided with selection input means and score display means. Optionally terminals could also function as fee collection stations to allow a player to make deposits of playing fees for as many playing sessions as he or she wishes to play. Optionally terminals may include a printing means so as to provide a player with a printed record of the game played and the points and score attained.  
         [0083]     In a further preferred embodiment the surface of field  11  may be provided with a number of demarcated areas in the vicinity of the range carousel, these areas provided with impact and coded registering sensors so as to allow players to practice heading or high kicking a ball with accuracy to land on a selected demarcated area.  
         [0084]     Clearly the basic recreation range herein described may be adapted in various ways to provide additional interest to players as well as providing additional revenue streams to the recreation range operator. Thus by way of example, certain target images or accrued scores may be associated with special prizes; target structures may be adapted to carry advertising for products and the range carousel could be provided with kiosk facilities.