A light-up shuffleboard disc includes a lighting component, and a disc component with a cavity for receiving the lighting component. The disc component is constructed so as to allow light from the lighting component to illuminate the shuffleboard disc when the lighting component is received within the cavity of the disc component. A light-up shuffleboard set includes a light-up shuffleboard court, and a plurality of light-up shuffleboard discs.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to light-up shuffleboard equipment.

Shuffleboard is a well known game. As anyone who has ever tried will know, however, it can be challenging to play shuffleboard when it is dark.

A need exists for improvement in shuffleboard equipment. This, and other needs, are addressed by one or more aspects of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes many aspects and features. Moreover, while many aspects and features relate to, and are described in, the context of light-up shuffleboard equipment, the present invention is not limited to use only in this context, as will become apparent from the following summaries and detailed descriptions of aspects, features, and one or more embodiments of the present invention.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention relates to a light-up shuffleboard disc. The light-up shuffleboard disc includes a lighting component, and a disc component including a cavity for receiving the lighting component. The disc component is constructed so as to allow light from the lighting component to illuminate the shuffleboard disc when the lighting component is received within the cavity of the disc component.

In a feature of this aspect, the disc component is configured to retain the lighting component within the cavity.

In a feature of this aspect, the disc component is configured to retain the lighting component within the cavity via threaded engagement of walls of the cavity with an outer portion of the lighting component.

In a feature of this aspect, the cavity includes a recess proximate a bottom thereof.

In a feature of this aspect, the lighting component includes a light source, and wherein the recess of the disc component is sized and dimensioned to accommodate the light source when the lighting component is fully received within the cavity of the disc component.

In a feature of this aspect, a bottom of the cavity is partially defined by a planar surface, and wherein, when the lighting component is fully received within the cavity of the disc component, an activation button of the lighting component is depressed via contact with the planar surface, thereby activating the light source of the lighting component.

In a feature of this aspect, the lighting component comprises an incandescent light bulb.

In a feature of this aspect, the lighting component comprises a light emitting diode (LED) bulb.

In a feature of this aspect, the lighting component comprises a fluorescent bulb.

In a feature of this aspect, the shuffleboard disc is configured to be transitioned between a first state in which the lighting component is fully received within the cavity and the lighting component is activated and a second state in which the lighting component is not fully received within the cavity and the lighting component is not activated.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a light-up shuffleboard disc as disclosed.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a light-up shuffleboard disc.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of activating a light-up shuffleboard disc as disclosed.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of deactivating a light-up shuffleboard disc as disclosed.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of using a light-up shuffleboard disc.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a light-up shuffleboard court.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of using a light-up shuffleboard court.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a light-up shuffleboard set that includes a light-up shuffleboard court, and a plurality of light-up shuffleboard discs.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a light-up shuffleboard set.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of using a light-up shuffleboard set.

In addition to the aforementioned aspects and features of the present invention, it should be noted that the present invention further encompasses the various possible combinations and subcombinations of such aspects and features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art (“Ordinary Artisan”) that the present invention has broad utility and application. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure of the present invention. As should be understood, any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed aspects of the invention and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention are next described. The following description of one or more preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its implementations, or uses.

Turning now to the figures,FIG. 1illustrates an embodiment of a light-up shuffleboard disc10in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. In one or more preferred implementations, the light-up shuffleboard disc10preferably is dimensioned in accordance with standard shuffleboard discs. For example, in a preferred implementation, the light-up shuffleboard disc10the disc is 6 inches in diameter, 9/16 inch to 1 inch thick, and weighs 15 ounces when new. In preferred implementations, this weight takes into account all of the components described herein. In at least some preferred implementations, the shuffleboard disc10is thicker than 1 inch to accommodate components contained therein.

The light-up shuffleboard disc10comprises a disc component12and a lighting component20. The lighting component20is configured to illuminate the shuffleboard disc10when received within a cavity14of the disc component12. Specifically, the disc component12, and/or an outer shell portion of the lighting component20, are preferably constructed to be partially, or wholly, transparent or translucent so as to allow light from the lighting component20to be visible from an exterior of the shuffleboard disc10when the lighting component20is received within the cavity14. In one or more preferred implementations, the disc component12is at least partially constructed from a material configured to fluoresce in response to light.

Walls of the cavity14are preferably configured for threaded engagement with an outer portion of the lighting component20such that the lighting component20is capable of being removably secured within the cavity14, as illustrated viaFIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 1illustrates the shuffleboard disc10in a first state in which lighting component20is fully received within cavity14. In this state, the shuffleboard disc10can be characterized as being ready for play. From this state, the lighting component20can be removed via unscrewing of the lighting component20relative to the disc component12. Such unscrewing could be utilized to effect transition from the state illustrated inFIG. 2, to the state illustrated inFIG. 2, in which the lighting component20is only partially received within the cavity14. Further unscrewing could then be utilized to effect transition to the state illustrated inFIG. 3, in which the lighting component20has been entirely removed from the cavity14.

FIG. 4is an enlarged perspective view of a top of the lighting component20. As illustrated, the top of the lighting component20preferably includes a screw cut which could be engaged, for example, by a slotted screwdriver or a coin for screwing or unscrewing the lighting component20into or out of the cavity14of the disc component12.

FIG. 5is a side perspective view of the lighting component20ofFIG. 4after it has been oriented upside down relative to the position in which it was illustrated inFIG. 4, andFIG. 6is a perspective view of a bottom of the lighting component20ofFIG. 4. As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, the lighting component20preferably includes electronics including a light source22and a depressable button24configured for activation or deactivation of the light source22.

The light source22preferably comprises an incandescent light bulb, although in at least some alternative implementations the light source22may comprise a light emitting diode (LED) light bulb, a fluorescent bulb, or some other type of bulb. In at least some implementations, the lighting component may comprise a non-bulb light source.

Preferably, the button24is configured to activate (turn on) the light source22when depressed, but in at least some other preferred implementations the lighting component20is configured such that the light source22is activated (on) unless the button24is depressed.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the cavity14of the disc component12preferably includes a recess18defined in a planar surface16that itself partially defines a bottom of the cavity14. The recess18is configured to accommodate the light source22of the lighting component20when the lighting component20is received and retained within the cavity14, as illustrated inFIG. 8B.

It will be appreciated from the description hereinabove with respect toFIGS. 1-3that the depth of the lighting component20within the cavity14is adjustable by screwing or unscrewing the lighting component20with respect to the disc component12. The cavity14and lighting component20are sized and dimensioned such that, when the lighting component20is fully received within the cavity14, the button24of the lighting component20is depressed by the planar surface16at the bottom of the cavity14.FIG. 8Aillustrates the shuffleboard disc10in this state when the lighting component20is fully received within the cavity14, andFIG. 8Bis a fragmented partial cut-away view illustrating depression of the button24by the planar surface16at the bottom of the cavity14in this state.

By way of contrast,FIG. 7Aillustrates the shuffleboard disc10in a state in which the lighting component20is close to, but not quite, fully received within the cavity14, andFIG. 7Bis a fragmented partial cut-away view illustrating lack of depression of the button24by the planar surface16at the bottom of the cavity14in this state.

Thus, the shuffleboard disc10, in implementations in which depression of the button24is configured to effect activation of the light source22, is configured such that a user can transition the shuffleboard disc10to a lighted state by fully screwing in lighting component20into cavity14.

One or more implementations of a light-up shuffleboard disc have been described hereinabove wherein a lighting component is received and retained within a cavity via threaded engagement. In at least some alternative implementations, however, a lighting component is received and retained within a cavity in another manner, such as, for example, via a snap-fit connection. Further, in at least some implementations, a shuffleboard disc is configured to include a light source disposed therein that is not a part of an easily removable lighting component. In at least some such preferred implementations, the shuffleboard disc is configured such that a battery and/or a light source contained within the shuffleboard disc can be easily changed.

In preferred methods in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, a light-up shuffleboard disc is utilized in combination with a light-up shuffleboard court.FIG. 9illustrates an embodiment of a light-up shuffleboard court in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention.

Preferably, one or more sections of the light-up shuffleboard court are configured to light-up, for example, to facilitate play in the dark. In at least some preferred implementations, incandescent lighting technology, fluorescent lighting technology, and/or LED lighting technology are utilized to light the light-up the shuffleboard court.

In at least some preferred implementations, the shuffleboard court and one or more shuffleboard discs are configured such that lighting up of one or both will be effected based on placement of the shuffleboard disc on a certain section of the shuffleboard court.

Based on the foregoing description, it will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those specifically described herein, as well as many variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing descriptions thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to one or more preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for the purpose of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications or equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.