Tetherball game

The invention is concerned with apparatus for a game of tether ball in which a bolt member is mounted on a pole and a ball is attached to a line which is attached at its other end to a nut member rotatable on the bolt member so that the point of attachment is up or down the bolt member according to the direction of travel of the ball after being struck by a bat, an element is being provided inside the bolt portion which is biased for movement in one direction which has a formation adapted releasably to receive a locking formation which is released in one or the other of the winning positions of the game by passage of the nut past such winning positions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a tether ball game. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The traditional game of tether ball has undergone substantial refinements 
in recent years leading to the well known game comprising a helix mounted 
on a pole and a ball attached to a line which is attached at its other end 
slidably with the helix so that the point of attachment moves up or down 
the helix according to the direction of travel of the ball after being 
struck by a bat. The game is generally played by two persons, each 
attempting to hit the ball in opposite directions and the winner is he who 
manages to cause the point of attachment to travel to its lowermost or 
highermost position on the helix, depending on the direction in which he 
is required to strike the ball. 
Two main designs of helix have been suggested--one being a spiral, in which 
case the point of attachment is a ring or the like slidable on the spiral; 
and the other being a threaded bolt member in which case the point of 
attachment is a nut element rotatable thereon. 
In both cases a problem can arise between players as to whether the line 
attachment has moved to an end position relative to the helix (which would 
indicate the end of a particular game) before the player defending that 
end position has managed to reverse the direction of the ball and 
therefore the movement of the line attachment relative to that end 
position. 
In the case of the spiral it has been proposed (U.K. Patent No. 1 557 479) 
to provide bi-modal indicating means which are operable to change mode 
abruptly on movement of line attachment into either of its two end 
positions, to provide a perceptible signal. In one example of that 
invention a sleeve element is provided which is slidable on a pole inside 
the spiral between a cocked position, triggering formations at either end 
of the spiral adapted to release the sleeve on contract of the line 
attachment therewith, whereby the sleeve element is released from its 
cocked position with the accompanying emission of a signal--for example 
the visual signal of its rapid movement which may be accompanied by a 
clicking noise. 
As far as the Applicant is aware, no such indicating means have been 
suggested for the nut-and-bolt type of tether ball game and it is an 
object of the present invention to provide such means. 
THE INVENTION 
According to the invention an element is provided inside the bolt portion, 
the element being biased for movement in one direction and having a 
formation adapted releasably to receive a locking formation when the 
element is in a position opposing the bias, the locking formation being in 
association with members protruding through the bolt portion at or towards 
either end thereof, these members being adapted to be contacted by the nut 
portion during its movement therepast, such contact causing release of the 
locking formation. 
In a preferred form of the invention the locking formation and the 
protruding members are integral, the locking formation taking the form of 
a projection on a strip of metal polymeric or other material which is bent 
at either end to constitute the protruding members, the angle being such 
that movement of either of the protruding members away from the nosing 
causes a first order lever action which moves the projection outwardly and 
thereby releases it from its locking position. The strip is preferably of 
spring steel or other suitable resilient material. The formation on the 
elements is preferably a slot adapted to receive the projection in 
releasable locking relationship. 
The element inside the bolt is preferably spring loaded either upwardly or 
downwardly although it will be appreciated that the bias may be provided 
by gravity. In the preferred form of the invention a compression spring is 
provided which biases the element upwardly and out of the hollow bolt 
portion to an extent governed by a stop. Re-cocking of the element takes 
place merely be depressing the element into the bolt portion until now 
inwardly biased (by virtue of it being of spring steel) projection enters 
a slot in the element to constitute the locked position.

In the drawings a nut portion 10 rides on a bolt portion 12, a ball being 
attached to the other end (not shown) of the line 14. 
In FIG. 1a projection 16 on a spring steel strip 18 engages with a slot 20 
in an element 22 which is movable inside the bolt portion 12, the element 
being spring loaded upwardly by means of compression spring 24. 
When the nut portion 10 moves, for example to its uppermost position on the 
helix of the bolt portion 12, it engages a protrusion 26 which is integral 
with the strip 18. As the protrusion is moved upwardly by the nut portion 
10, the projection 16 moves out of the slot 20 and the compression spring 
causes the element 22 to fly upwardly thereby giving both a visual and a 
sound signal which is very obvious to the players. Movement of the element 
22 upwardly is restricted by suitable stop means 28. 
It will be appreciated that a similar action is provided on the underside 
of the nut portion 10 for urging the protrusion 26 to a position in which 
the projection 16 moves out of the slot 20.