Portable step/curb ball game

A device to enable people to play the sports game of step/curb ball at virtually any site (location). The unit is designed to be filled with water to impart mass, density and stability so that resilient (rubber, tennis, ect.). Balls thrown (pitched) at it will be reflected onto the field of play at high velocities and long distances-creating a multitude of Baseball-like situations ranging from "strike-outs" to "grand-slam home runs". This portable set of steps will have a removable, netted backstop to prevent errantly-thrown and/or deflected balls from travelling behind the unit into foul territory. Retractable foul lines will emanate from the base unit, by means of spool mechanisms affixed to each of two (2) molded angular projections positioned at each front-side of the base unit just above ground level. When these foul lines are unwound from their spool mechanisms, they will automatically form the prescribed boundaries/dimensions of the Baseball-like playing field. The unit will also have pre-molded features such as handles to easily transport the game, port holes to conveniently enable the unit to be filled with and emptied of water, four feet composed of molded nubs to protect and further stabilize the base of the unit. Moreover, the backstop netting will have an integral pouch located in its approximate center to create additional game situations.

BACKGROUND--FIELD OF INVENTION 
This invention relates to sports, specifically to the game of 
Baseball--without the use of bats, gloves, hardballs, bases, Baseball 
fields, etc. necessitated by the full and complete game of Baseball. 
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
Not Applicable. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of our invention are 
1. "PORTABLE STEP/CURB BALL" is being suggested because it would fulfill 
the need for a portable, easy-to-set up-and-use product that would provide 
a convenient, safe, inoculous and unobtrusive environment in which to play 
this unique and exciting game; 
2. To provide "clean", competitive fun and entertainment for children, 
teenagers and adults; 
3. To provide a "Stadium"that could be set up virtually anywhere and used 
to play step or curb ball (this would be appealing because players could 
set the game up in various physical areas and play whenever they desire 
to); 
4. To provide enjoyable, aerobic exercise-indoors or outdoors-without 
monotony or drudgery; 
5. To provide an alternative game to be utilized in public, private, 
educational and recreational facilities; 
6. To provide a setting and means by which fathers, sons, and daughters can 
spend quality time together; 
7. To allow middle-aged and senior persons the opportunity to "be a kid 
again"; 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES DESCRIPTION 
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a 
consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.

SPECIFICATION 
"PORTABLE STEP/CURB BALL GAME 
Base Unit 
(1) The base of our unit is composed of a rigid, light durable material, 
e.g., acrylic/PVC, etc., molded into the configuration of a traditional 
set of stair-steps 
This molded set-of-steps must be manufactured such that it is impermeable 
to the passage of water-which said base unit will be filled with, in order 
to impart mass, density and resistance to movement. For portability 
purposes, said unit should be filled (with water) immediately prior to 
each "game", and emptied thereafter. 
This base will be of a predetermined width, depth and height, so that it is 
easily and safely transported to and from each desired playing location 
(field). 
The height of each stair "riser" shall be equal to the depth of each stair 
"tread". The top of said base unit (which is the uppermost "tread") shall 
be approximately twice the depth of the regular treads below it. 
To add the dimension of strictly "CURB-BALL", our embodiment will 
incorporate a "partial step" midway between the lower step [stair] tread 
and ground level, whose dimensions of "tread" and "riser" shall be 1/2 
those of the regular stair steps. Further, to simulate the traditionally 
"rounded"/curved/non-sharp edge of a typical concrete curb, the 
longitudinal edge of this "partial step" (curb) shall be rounded. This 
added dimension of our embodiment will enable "Curb-Ball" to be played 
which will greatly aid those players who may be less skilled at striking 
the thrown ball against the sharp, pointed, 90 degree edge of the regular 
stair steps. 
This added dimension of the CURB will also increase the total, interior 
volume of our unit-with the resultant increase in the total mass/density 
of the unit when filled with water. 
a. The underside of said base unit shall have molded into it (at each of 
its four [4] corners) nubs/feet for the purpose of both protecting the 
underside from scuffing/wear-and-tear, and further anchoring said base 
unit to the playing surface (see FIG. 1.a.). 
b. The uppermost "tread" (top) shall have-at its two (2) rear corners-port 
holes for the insertion of the framing ends of the invention's "back-stop" 
(see FIG. 1.b.). 
c. At the rear center of the uppermost "tread" (base unit's top) shall be a 
port hole for the purpose of introducing water to the base unit's interior 
cavity, together with a corresponding removable plug/cap. The [filler] 
hole shall be of sufficient diameter to enable the unit to be filled with 
water by means of a garden hose-if convenient (see FIG. 1.c.). 
d. The base unit's rear (back) shall have at its lower left or right corner 
a port hole (outlet) for the purpose of draining filled unit-together with 
a corresponding plug to contain the water within the unit (see FIG. 1.d.). 
(2) The following, additional embodiments of our overall invention shall 
protrude from and/or be encased within the above-described base unit (as 
viewed from the bottom upward) 
a. FOUL LINES; a retractable [BASEBALL-like] foul line on each side of the 
base unit's bottom (base) step. A spring-like coiled mechanism or winding 
spool shall be employed to automatically and rapidly re-wind the extended 
foul lines at the conclusion of each game. The foul lines themselves shall 
be of a durable, water-resistant, brightly-colored material selected from 
the group consisting of string, construction marking tape, etc. The lenght 
of each of the two (2) foul lines [right and left] shall be identical to 
the hypotenuse of an imaginary right triangle whose longest line segment 
shall be the actual lenght (distance) of an experimentally-determined 
"average" Home Run to straightaway Center Field, (or alternatively, the 
imaginary line which runs from the center of "home plate" [the base unit] 
to the center of the existing playing field's "Home Run barrier" [fence, 
wall, etc.]. These foul lines (string, construction-marking tape, etc.) 
shall be anchored at its outfield termini by means of a small, compact, 
dense weight permanently attached thereto. Furthermore, each said foul 
line will be able to be pulled out from its spool at each side of the 
bottom step-such that when it is fully extented/withdrawn, the point at 
which it [foul line] touches the "Home-Run Barrier" shall be the 
resultant, properly-positioned, left-and right-field foul (poles), 
respectively. The two (2) outfield termini of these foul lines shall be 
fixed in said positions by means of a bean-bag/sand-bag type of weight 
affixed thereto (see FIG. 2.a.). 
b. ANGULAR FOUL LINES'GUIDES; integrally-molded "angles" positioned at each 
side of the base unit-just above ground level-at the fronts (of the bottom 
sides) such that when said foul lines are unwound from their spool 
mechanisms, they "automatically" emanate at the prescribed angle with 
respect to the longitudinal [imaginary] axis of the base unit forming the 
optimum boundaries of the playing field. As mentioned above in 
"integrally, these embodiments are not separate entities attached to the 
sides of the base unit, but rather are formed as part of the base unit 
during the molding/manufacturing process (see FIG. 3.). 
c. FOUL LINES'SPOOL MECHANISMS'HOLDERS; stud-like spindles which are molded 
into and protrude from the "ANGULAR FOUL LINES GUIDES" described above. 
This embodiment will serve to hold or contain the said spool mechanisms in 
such a way that said foul lines can be wound and unwound freely for game 
playing (see FIG. 4.). 
d. FOUL LINES'SPOOL MECHANISMS; plastic-like spools around which are wound 
the said foul lines by means of winding with a rotating handle (similar to 
that of a standard fly-fishing reel) (see FIG. 5.). 
e. CARRYING HANDLES; molded indentations near the top of each side of the 
base unit, to facilitate the transport of the game/invention from site to 
site, i.e., "stadium" to "stadium". (see FIG. 6.) 
(3) BACKSTOP ASSEMBLY 
a. BACKSTOP FRAME; a lightweight, smooth, structurally-rigid material 
(e.g., PVC piping) fashioned into the shape of an elongated, inverted, 
Home Plate. (See FIG. 7.a.) The connections among the several parts of 
this depicted frame will be made by means of standard plumbing-like 
connectors, such as PVC elbow fittings (one [1] 90 degrees and two [2] of 
45 degrees) (see FIG. 7.a.1.) 
This frame will be attached to the rear of the top "stair tread" of the 
base unit by means of inserting its frame ends/legs into the two (2) port 
holes described in section "1.b." above. (See FIG. 7.a.2.) 
b. BACKSTOP NETTING; this element is composed of a combination of braided, 
interwoven, cross-diagonal netting of a string-like material, e.g., nylon. 
This netting assembly is attached to said backstop framework along its 
perimeter by mans of such fastening devices as braided loops, velcro 
strapping, etc. Incorporated into this netting assembly is an integral 
pouch located in the central portion of said netting and will be of a 
predetermined diameter and depth (See FIG. 7b) 
Operational Description 
Our heretofore-described (in the Static Description/Specification) 
invention enables one to play a Baseball-like game without necessitating 
the use of baseball bats, hardballs, gloves, large recreational playing 
fields, and other Baseball paraphernalia. 
It operates in the following way: one throws a resilient ball 
(tennis/pinky/sponge-etc.) against the front portion (step-facing) of the 
BASE UNIT [see FIG. 1 of Specifications and Drawings]. The thrown ball 
then, upon striking the "steps" or "curb" becomes "in play", resulting in 
a potential multitude of Baseball-like "situations"-ranging from a 
"strike-out" to a "grand-slam home run" (all of these possible 
"situations" will be enumerated and defined in our separate, copyrighted 
Rules and Regulations). The primary objective of the game is to 
consistently throw/pitch the ball in such a way that it "reflects" from 
the steps/curb [of the Base Unit] into the "field-of-play", to generate 
"hits", and consequent "runs" (all this is the Offensive strategy 
objective). Conversely, the pitched balls could be deflected from the 
steps into "foul territory" or into the backstop netting, to result in 
foul balls/strikes/strike-outs/foul-outs or "Automatic Outs", respectively 
(see FIG. 7). 
The above Field-of-Play shall be delineated on its left and right sides by 
means of the extented (withdrawn) Foul Lines (see FIG. 2) which will 
unwind at the predescribed angles (approximately 30 degrees) with respect 
to the anchored (weighted) Base Unit. Furthermore, the most distant [from 
the Base Unit] boundary of the Field-of-Play will be what we name/call the 
"Home-Run Barrier". This [Home-Run-Barrier] shall be ANY existing, 
stationary fence, brick-or-block wall, hedge, tennis court net, etc.,etc. 
Having the capability to position this Base Unit at a predescribed 
distance from said ubiquitous Home-Run-Barriers means that "stadiums" for 
playing this game are virtually unlimited in number and location. 
The players fill the base unit with water, and then cap it (see FIG. 1.c.). 
This imparts mass/weight to the Base Unit- much greater then its own 
manufactured weight-so that the pitched ball reflects/deflects from the 
struck steps with much greater velocity and distance. 
Viewed from an aerial perspective, the configuration of our STEP/CURB BALL 
field-of-play (both "fair" and "foul") is that of a standard Baseball 
diamond's playing field. 
The portability of our invention enables one to safely and easily set-up 
and play a rendition of the traditional game of Baseball at virtually any 
location that one desires. 
Our separate, copyrighted Rules and Regulations will define, describe and 
"rule on" every possible play-situation which results from a pitched ball 
striking the steps [Base Unit]. 
The game is to be played, ideally, using one-to-three offensive players 
(the "batters"), and one-to-three defensive players (the "fielders"). 
The overall, created (set-up), physical demensions of the (each) playing 
field can be totally varied to accommodate any and all types of players 
ranging from young children to the strongest of adults. 
Alternative Embodiments 
(1) A further embodiment of our invention is a means for an individual to 
practice hitting and fielding-solo-by use of the following element: an 
integrally-molded eyelet located in the front-center of the bottom "riser" 
(see FIG. 8.). A bungee-type cord is attached to the Base Unit's eyelet at 
one end, and to a "practice" ball at the other end. This arrangement 
enables on to become proficient in the arts of hitting and fielding 
simultaneously. 
(2) Clip-On Score Card: a standard scoring card similar to that used in 
traditional Baseball. This score-card holder will have affixed to it two 
(2) clips for easy and quick attachment to and removal from the Backstop 
frame (see FIG. 9.). 
(3) A custom-made Step/Curb-Ball coin, which will be tossed/flipped at the 
beginning of each game, to determine which team shall have "home-field 
advantage". 
(4) A catching glove (similar to a Baseball-batting glove) with a 
hook-Velcro palm-to assist players who are relatively unskilled at the art 
of fielding. 
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE OF INVENTION 
Thus the reader will see that our invention of the "Portable Step/Curb Ball 
Game" provides a totally-portable, yet stable, sports-game device that can 
be used by people of almost any age to play the aerobic, fun-filled, 
nostalgic game of Step/Curb Ball, virtually anywhere. Although completely 
portable, when "set-up" for game play, a stadium-like setting is created. 
Although our above, detailed descriptions-both static and 
operational-contain much very specific data, they should not be 
interpreted as parameters or limitations on the SCOPE of our invention, 
but rather as the exemplification of the preferred embodiment thereof. A 
number of other variations of this basic invention are possible. For 
example, it can be adapted to play in swimming pools, ocean, etc. Also, it 
can be used to play Tee-ball. Also, it can be used as a pitching target to 
hone throwing accuracy. Consequently, the actual scope of our invention 
should be determined not by the embodiment described and illustrated, but 
rather by the accompanying claims and their legal equivalents.