Abstract:
The multidimensional interchangeable modular ball game apparatus is used for building game playing skills, such as hand-to-eye and foot-to-eye coordination. The apparatus can be used for throwing, kicking or hitting any type of sports ball and can help with practicing all types of sports, as well as with early childhood development and rehabilitation. The apparatus includes a base with a stem extending from the base. Arms of different lengths are supported by the stem and may also be placed at different heights. Different geometrically shaped hoops and targets of varying sizes and colors can be made with an open or closed net. Another embodiment includes a horizontal beam stand with hoops attached to the stand.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/531,661, filed Dec. 23, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to a ball game apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus that has a variety of hoops, features and functions.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     There are literally a limitless number of ball-based games that have been developed in the marketplace. These games utilize a wide variety of balls, shapes and goals with a plurality of features such as bells, flashing lights or movement of the goals. Many of these game apparatus are reflected in the related art.  
         [0006]     U.S. Des. Pat. No. 213,209, issued to Zielinski on Jan. 14, 1969, shows an ornamental design for a combined target and game board.  
         [0007]     U.S. patent Publication No. 2001/0009874, published on Jul. 26, 2001, describes the use of a game goal apparatus that is intended to be played within a swimming pool, and which uses a substantially planar backboard at opposite ends of the swimming pool. Each backboard is designed to be used in conjunction with a water polo ball. Each backboard includes an opening which may connect with a net mounted on the backboard to guide the ball when the ball passes through the opening to be deposited on the water directly adjacent the rear surface of the backboard.  
         [0008]     U.S. patent Publication No. 2003/0116917, published on Jun. 26, 2003, teaches the use of a target game device played with a ball or other projectile for use in places such as amusement parks, arcades or at home. An essential element of the game device is that a variety of special effects are used to add excitement as a player gets closer to winning. The game device has one or more target(s) at which a projectile, such as a ball, is tossed or rolled by one or more players of the game.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,628, issued to Warehime on Aug. 17, 1982, discloses the use of a rugged, practical, and portable turnstile goal, having two to five relatively large-sized paddle type elements of a grid construction, a simple, rugged and concealed turnstile rotary friction control system, and a simple, reliable and highly visible turnstile fractional rotation indicating system.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,725, issued to Leras et al. on Jan. 26, 1993, describes the use of a soccer shooting training target which may be easily rolled up and transported, and which can be installed over an existing soccer goal. The target has a plurality of individual targets containing flaps sized to admit passage of a soccer ball. The soccer shooting training target&#39;s upper edge is tied in place to the goal&#39;s rear crossbar using a weighted rope. The bottom corners of the soccer shooting training target are tied down using an elastic cord and stakes in order to render the target stable in the presence of wind.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,217, issued to Cota et al. on Aug. 3, 1993, teaches the use of a triple-play game that allows three games to be played indoors: basketball, tetherball and target-board. All three games utilize a pole positioned vertically between the ceiling and floor of a room. Basketball is played with a ball attached to a line having its other end attached to a wrist strap. The basketball backboard is clipped to the pole and has a ball-hoop having a narrow frontal opening.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,199, issued to Vand on Jul. 19, 1994, discloses the use of an annular-netted target that can rotate to different angles, as well as to different heights. The target will assist in the teaching and drilling of ball placement skills that are essential to a player when playing a field or court sport. The device will also assist the physical education teacher or coach who must teach several students at one time, all with different skill and interest levels.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,000, issued to Woosley on Apr. 4, 1995, describes the use of a game ball having an inflatable bladder or shell with selected portions reduced in thickness to provide transparent or translucent patterns separated by increased thickness defining opaque portions. The interior of the ball is occupied by a breakable liquid illumination device held in a removable housing of transparent or translucent material for conveying illumination from the device to the selected portions of the ball transmitting the illumination exteriorly of the ball for visula observation.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,294, issued to Nordman et al. on Jun. 25, 1996, teaches the use of a lighted stand-up target with a housing attached to the playfield and a target switch pivotally mounted to the housing. An array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are positioned on a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted within the housing. The target switch is actuated each time that it is struck by a pinball. The LEDs are lit, indicating the number of times that the impact target has been struck.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,302, issued to Lapsker et al. on Aug. 27, 1996, teaches the use of a device for allowing an athlete to practice various methods of propelling a projectile in a controlled and accurate manner by allowing him or her to place the projectile on a specific location on a target. This device uses hook and loop fastening material on the projectile and the target to allow the athlete to know where the projectile strikes the target and allows him or her to practice various ways of getting the projectile onto the target.  
         [0016]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,338, issued to Taub on Sep. 24, 1996, discloses the use of a versatile, multi-use base assembly having a stable support for post-like standards for each series of different games to be played by children. In a football game and in a soccer game, a base supports an upwardly projecting wall. For the soccer game, the wall defines a specially contoured, tension-controlled, resilient target area net for forcibly impinging a ball thereagainst, as occurs during the conduct of a game simulating soccer goal shots.  
         [0017]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,196, issued to O&#39;Neil on Nov. 18, 1997, describes the use of a portable, remote-controlled, moving target device for throwing practice, which includes a support cable for supporting and carrying a target on an adjustable target support. The adjustable target support includes a hollow upper stem portion and a hollow lower stem portion with a spring within the hollow stem portion that forces the two stem portions together and allows the user to adjust the angle or position between the target and the support cable.  
         [0018]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,415, issued to Docherty et al. on Dec. 9, 1997, teaches the use of a basketball backboard aiming device. The device includes a backboard member for attachment to a standard basketball hoop. The backboard has a front, planar surface and a linear array of indicia are disposed along the backboard, the array including a plurality of individual targets. Each of the targets is selectively viewable by a shooter disposed along a unique axis forming a pre-selected angle with respect to the plane of the backboard.  
         [0019]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,620, issued to Reinprecht on Jan. 20, 1998, discloses the use of an assembly for assisting in the instruction of court or playing-field games, e.g., tennis, the assembly having two-dimensional panels that are strategically positioned on a court. Each panel is made of a flexible, durable material that forms a plane for positioning and repositioning on the surface of a tennis court, thus permitting a tennis instructor to customize tennis lessons according to the specific needs, strengths or weaknesses of a particular student player.  
         [0020]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,727, issued to Edge et al. on Jan. 27, 1998, describes the use of an illuminated basketball goal with a first light source carried by the perimeter of the backboard and a second light source positioned within a recess formed in the perimeter of the rim. The target square, located on the front face of the backboard, is made of a fluorescent compound, which glows upon activation of the first and second light source. The net depending from the rim is also made of a reflective material.  
         [0021]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,485, issued to Oswald on Feb. 24, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,554, issued to Oswald on May 25, 1999, disclose the use of a basketball game area for recreation with multiple zones, each having at least one hoop and backboard combination, multiple shooting indicators, and obstacles which can be free standing and/or affixed to the hoop or backboard. The location of the obstacle in relation to the indicator changes the trajectory required to shoot the ball into the hoop. The placement of each indicator increases the difficulty in placing the ball through the hoop.  
         [0022]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,363, issued to Saunders et al. on Sep. 22, 1998, teaches the use of a target assembly with a variety of non-piercing type projectiles or missiles launched to strike or impinge upon the target, whereupon the latter acts effectively to terminate the flight of the missile. The assembly includes a frame defined by flexible and resilient rods disposed to support a shock-sustainable, shock-resistant tensioned web or target sheet.  
         [0023]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,691, issued to Chen on Feb. 2, 1999, describes the use of a sports game apparatus including a plurality of U-blocks, a plurality of triangle blocks, a plurality of elongated tubes, a plurality of L-bars, a plurality of angle connectors, and a plurality of coupling tubes adapted to be alternatively arranged into a framework for a net assembly for badminton or tennis, a framework for a goal for soccer or hockey, or a framework for a backstop for basketball.  
         [0024]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,048, issued to Hurell et al. on Jun. 29, 1999, describes the use of an illuminated basketball goal with a first light source by the perimeter of a backboard and a second light source positioned within a recess formed in the perimeter of the rim. The target square, located on the front face of the backboard, is made of an electroluminescent material or fluorescent compound, which glows upon activation of the first and second light source.  
         [0025]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,948, issued to Branson on Apr. 9, 2002, describes the use of a self-contained lighting apparatus releasably supported by a conventional translucent basketball backboard. The lighting apparatus includes a translucent front panel and a back panel defining an interior chamber. A reflective surface is disposed within the interior chamber and a plurality of substantially uniform distributed light sources are supported near the reflective surface.  
         [0026]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,673, issued to Maruca on Jun. 4, 2002, describes the use of a hoop-toss game simulative of basketball that has a backboard assembly with a backboard, a basketball hoop attached to the backboard whenever it is in use, and a horizontally disposed extensible frame. A central portion of the frame is fixedly attached to the backboard and two side portions of the frame have rails that are telescopically attached to the central portion.  
         [0027]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,153, issued to Stewart on Jun. 11, 2002, discloses the use of a game that includes a base and a toy figure holding a basketball-type hoop. The toy figure is resiliently supported upon a base by a spring support. A sensing lever on the figure responds to the passage of a ball through the hoop to provide a first switch condition. A motion sensor within the figure responds to impact against the figure to provide a second switch condition. A sound and control circuit is operative within the figure and responds to switch conditions to play appropriate audible messages from a stored memory.  
         [0028]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,874, issued to Beazley on Feb. 18, 2003, discloses the use of a game goal apparatus, which is intended to be played within a swimming pool, and which uses a substantially planar backboard at opposite ends of the swimming pool. Each backboard is designed to be used in conjunction with a water polo ball. Each backboard includes a through opening which may connect with a net mounted on the backboard to guide the ball when it passes through the opening to be deposited on the water directly adjacent to the rear surface of the backboard.  
         [0029]     German Patent No. 3,503,549, published on Aug. 7, 1986, shows the use of a goal with changing set targets for the purposes of sport, leisure activities, fitness training and entertainment. The actions are spontaneously transmitted in the absence of a physical component. The constantly changing set targets reproduce the multifarious aspect of a ball game in the goal area and the set targets are moved by the force of impact from the ball on rotary bodies.  
         [0030]     Great Britain Patent Application Number 2,300,362, published on Nov. 6, 1996, shows the use of a ball game practice aid that includes a ground or attachable support with target space defining frames attachable at different heights and positions of the support to extend upwards and/or sideways to the ground.  
         [0031]     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus an interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]     The present invention is an interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus used for developing game-playing skills, such as hand-to-eye and foot-to-eye coordination. The apparatus can be used as a goal or target for throwing, kicking or hitting any type of sports ball and can help with practicing all types of sports, as well as with early childhood development and rehabilitation. The apparatus includes a base with a stem or post extending from the base. Arms of different lengths are supported by the stem and may also be placed at different heights. Hoops and targets of varying sizes and colors, and which can be furnished with an open net, a closed net, or a bounce-back net can be attached to the arms and/or to the top of the stem. The arms on the apparatus may be tilted so that the hoops can be positioned in any manner suitable for the user.  
         [0033]     The ball game apparatus includes a vertical stem extension that allows numerous nets or canopies to be attached to the extension on several apparatuses to either form an enclosure or provide a setup for a volleyball or tennis game. A connector sleeve may be attached to the stem to allow for additional arms to be added to the apparatus.  
         [0034]     Another embodiment of the ball game apparatus includes a horizontal stand to which numerous hoops may be attached so that users are able to practice throwing balls at different sizes and types of hoops.  
         [0035]     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a modular ball game apparatus that can be used for many different types of ball games.  
         [0036]     It is another object of the invention to provide a modular ball game apparatus that has interchangeable hoops and targets of different shapes, sizes and colors.  
         [0037]     Still another object of the invention is to provide a modular ball game apparatus that may be played with a plurality of sports balls of different sizes and shapes.  
         [0038]     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
         [0039]     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0040]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of an interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an interchangeable modular ball game apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view seen from the top of a pin attachment assembly used to attach a hoop to an arm of the interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view as seen from the top of the sleeves used to attach a hoop to an arm of the interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of an alternative hoop attached to the interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus of the present invention with a vertical stem extension.  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the interchangeable modular ball game apparatus of the present invention with attachment brackets attached to a stem.  
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus of the present invention with a connector sleeve.  
         [0048]      FIG. 9  is an elevational front view of the interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0049]     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0050]     The present invention is an interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus. The apparatus is intended for use either as a training aid, or for use as a goal in either a conventional ball game, or in games devised for the goal configurations made possible by the apparatus. As shown in  FIG. 1  the apparatus  10  is capable of supporting multiple hoops, including, among others, a large elongated net  12  for soccer, lacrosse and similar games, small triangular hoops  14  which can serve as targets for practicing baseball pitching and the like, overhead hoops  16  for practicing basketball shooting, etc.  
         [0051]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  10  comprises a base  20  and a stem  30  extending upward from the base  20 . The base  20  is a flat plate or planar member. The stem  30  may be supported on the base  20  in any convenient manner, e.g., by a tube or saddle adapted to receive the bottom of the stem  30 , by screwing the stem  30  onto mounting holes provided in the base  20 , or by welding the stem  30  straight onto the base  20 . The base  20  may be held to the ground or surface upon which the base  20  is to rest by using anchoring holes  22  built into the base  20  and an anchoring means for anchoring the base  20  to the ground. Preferably the stem  30  is bolted to the base  20 , but in permanent installations the stem  30  may be fixed to the base  20  by welding or other joinery techniques.  
         [0052]     The stem  30  is made from tubing, which may either be round tubing or square tubing, as shown in the drawings. The stem  30  may be furnished in an assortment of selected heights, such as four, six, or eight feet. The stem  30  may support at least one hoop  16  directly, e.g., by a tubular mount  23  extending downward from the rim  18  of the hoop  16 , the tubular mount  23  having a diameter slightly greater than the stem  30  so that the mount  23  telescopes over the top end of the stem  30 . The tubular mount  23  may be secured to the stem  30  by a pin  24  or bolt inserted through aligned apertures in the mount  22  and the top end of the stem  30 , or may be permanently attached to the stem  30  by welding or the like.  
         [0053]     The stem  30  is capable of supporting a plurality of arms  32 . The arms  32  may be tubular, or made from solid material. Although the arms  32  may be permanently attached to the stem  30 , the apparatus  10  has more functionality when the arms  32  may be selectively mounted on the stem  30 , so that the number of arms  32 , the height of the arms  32 , and the radial direction in which the arms  32  extend from the stem  30  are all adjustable. This is accomplished by permanently attaching a tubular mounting sleeve  34  to one end of each arm  32 . The mounting sleeve  34  has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the stem  30  so that the mounting sleeve  34  telescopes onto the top end of the stem  30  and slides down to the desired height.  
         [0054]     The height of the arm  32  can be temporarily fixed in various ways. In the drawings, the height of the arms  32  is fixed by inserting a pin  36  or bolt through aligned apertures in the mounting sleeve  34  and the stem  30 . The stem  30  may be provided with a plurality of apertures  38  defined therein and spaced apart vertically at predetermined heights, as well as radially at predetermined angles. In the event that the stem  30  is made from square tubing, this enables an arm to extend to the front, back, left side, or right side of the stem  30 . In the event that the stem  30  is made from round tubing, the same pin  36  and mounting hole  38  arrangement may allow arms  32  to extend at 90°, 120°, or other angular spacing about the stem  30 .  
         [0055]     The arms  32  support hoops of various shapes and sizes. Referring particularly to  FIG. 2 , the arms  32  may support circular hoops  40 , triangular hoops  14 , square hoops  42 , or hoops of any desired geometric shape. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the arms  32  may support an elongated soccer style net  12 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the hoop  50  may be furnished with decorative ornaments, such as flower petals  52  attached to the rim  54 , which lend a modern art affect to the appearance of the apparatus  10 .  
         [0056]     Each hoop has a rim  18  and a net  56  attached to the rim  18 . The rim  18  can be made of round or square tubing. The net  56  has a mesh that may be made from metal, nylon cord, or any other appropriate material. The net  56  may have a closed bottom, so that balls entering the net  56  are retained therein, or an open bottom, so that balls entering the net  56  pass through the net  56 .  
         [0057]     The hoops may be attached to the arms  32  in various ways. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the hoop may have a pin  60  extending from the rim  18  which may be inserted through aligned apertures or a bore defined through the arm  32 . The pin  60  may be secured by a hitch pin  62 , cotter pin, or other fastener inserted through a transverse bore defined through the mounting pin  60 . As shown in  FIG. 2  with respect to triangular hoop  14  and circular hoop  40 , in this case the hoop is supported by a single fastener, so that if the mounting pin  60  is cylindrical, the hoop may be free to rotate about a vertical axis.  
         [0058]     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the hoop  42  may be supported on the arm  32  by a pair of spaced apart mounting sleeves  64  mounted on one leg of the rim  18 , so that the mounting sleeves  64  slide onto the arm  32 . In the event that the arm  32  and the mounting sleeves  64  are made from square tubing, the hoop  42  is precluded from rotation about the arm  32 . However, if the arm  32  is cylindrical and the mounting sleeves  64  are made from cylindrical tubes, the hoop  42  may be free to rotate about a horizontal axis. Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a single hoop may have pin  60  at one end for attachment to the arm  32  by a single fastener, and a pair of sleeves  64  at the opposite end, so that the user may select the manner in which the hoop is supported, and in the case of triangular hoops  14  and the like, the user may select the orientation of the hoop (apex oriented upward or downward).  
         [0059]     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , a vertical stem extension  70  may be slidably mounted onto the stem  30 . The height of the vertical stem extension  70  is fixed by inserting a pin  72  or bolt through aligned apertures in the stem extension  70  and the stem  30 . The stem extension  70  includes a plurality of attachment rings  74  fixed on at least one side of the stem extension  70  to which a volleyball, badminton, tennis or rebound net N may be attached. One side of the net N hooks onto the attachment rings  74  and the other side of the net N hooks onto attachment rings  74  provided on another modular ball game apparatus  10 . The stem extension  70  may be raised or lowered according to the height necessary for use with the net N.  
         [0060]     A canopy covering or a large mesh net may be held between several of the modular ball game apparatuses  10 . The covering or net is attached to the attachment rings  74  on the stem extensions  70  on each of the apparatuses  10 , therefore providing a tent-like enclosure. The enclosure keeps thrown balls within a confined space so that users do not have to go far to recover the balls.  
         [0061]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the modular ball game apparatus  10  with attachment brackets  80  affixed to the stem  30 . The attachment brackets  80  have a plurality of apertures  82  disposed radially on the brackets  80 . A middle screw is located in the center of each bracket  80 , and one of the arms  32  is threaded onto the screw. The arm  32  may be welded directly to the attachment bracket  80 . Two attachment screws  84  that are attached to the stem  30  allow the brackets  80  to be held to the stem  30 .  
         [0062]     Once the arm  32  is attached to the bracket  80 , the bracket  80  is positioned against the stem  30  such that the attachment screws  84  are aligned with two specific apertures  82 . Wingnuts  86  or other fastening means hold the attachment bracket  80  onto the stem  30 . Each set of apertures  82  sets the arm  32  at a designated angle, allowing the hoop  14  or other net to be positioned at that angle. When used with a bounce-back net, a user will be able to throw the ball and have it rebound to them depending on the angle at which the user has set the arm, and thereby, the net.  
         [0063]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the modular ball game apparatus  10  with a T-shaped connector sleeve  90 . The connector sleeve  90  fits into the top of the stem  30 . The connector sleeve  90  has a stem-engaging middle bar  92  and a pair of arm-engaging side members  94  on either side of the middle bar  92 . The stem-engaging bar  92  telescopes into the top end of the stem  30 , and each side member  94  telescopes into an open end of an arm  32 . The T-shaped connector sleeve  90  therefore allows for more arms  32  to be attached to the stem  30  so that more hoops and nets may be held. The connector sleeve  90  also allows for multiple apparatuses  10  to be joined together by connecting various stems  30  to the arms  32  connected to the T-shaped connector sleeve  90 .  
         [0064]     In use, the interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus  10  may be set up in any desired location. The base  20  may be freestanding, or it may be anchored in concrete or buried in the soil for permanent installation in parks, schools and other public facilities. The arms  32  may be permanently mounted to the stem  32 , if desired; however, preferably the arms  32  are removably installed as needed in order to take advantage of the modular nature of the apparatus  10 . The arms  32  may be furnished in a variety of lengths, e.g., an arm  32  supporting a soccer or lacrosse net  12  may require a longer supporting arm than a triangular hoop  14 .  
         [0065]     Any number of arms  32  may be added to the stem  30  at any desired height. Further, if the arm height, length, and radial orientation is acceptable, a hoop having one geometric shape may be removed from the arm  32  and replaced with a hoop having a different geometric shape. Hence, the components of the apparatus are modular and interchangeable.  
         [0066]     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a second embodiment of the modular ball game apparatus  100  is shown. The second embodiment of the apparatus  100  has a horizontal beam stand  102  onto which a plurality of hoops  104  are attached. The hoops  104  each have a rim  106  and a net  108  attached to the rim  106 . The rims  106  are affixed to the stand  102 . The net  106 , which may be a bounce-back net, is secured to each of the rims  106  so that a user may bounce a ball against the net  108  and the net  108  rebounds the ball back to the user. In addition to being a bounce-back net, the net  108  may have a mesh that retains a ball within the net  108  to be retrieved later. The rims  106  may be welded directly onto the stand  102  or may be attached to the stand  102  using mounting screws.  
         [0067]     The stand  102  includes a middle beam  110 , which is adjustable in length, that holds the rims  106  and a pair of side bars  112  that stabilize the stand  102 . The side bars  112  each have a pair of feet  114  set under the side bars  112  which steady the side bars  112  on the surface the stand  102  is placed.  
         [0068]     Although rectangular  42 , triangular  14  and circular  40  hoops are shown in the drawings, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to hoops having these shapes, but encompasses hoops of any other geometric shape, e.g., oval, hexagonal, etc. The interchangeable, modular ball game apparatus  10  and  100  and its components can be made out of metal or plastic. The apparatus can be used in an outdoor or indoor setting and is primarily used for recreational and athletic use, although it can be used for physical therapy or rehabilitation as well.  
         [0069]     The multidimensional interchangeable modular ball game apparatus can be used for throwing, kicking and hitting any type of ball, e.g., a baseball, basketball, soccer ball, football, etc., that the user desires to play with and can improve a user&#39;s hand-eye and foot-eye coordination, as well as providing the user with aerobic and cardiovascular conditioning.  
         [0070]     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.