A POSITION OR SCORE INDICATOR FOR A GAME

A position or score indicator for a game such as swingball comprises a casing, moving score indicators 8,9 on opposite external sides of the casing, an internal gear drive system, and an external arm to which equipment for playing a game is attached and which when drives the internal gear drive system to move the score indicators to indicate player scores.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention comprises a position or score indicator for a game such as swingball.

BACKGROUND

Swingball is a field game typically played casually, in which two players use bats to hit a ball (typically like a tennis ball) tethered by a cord at about shoulder height to an upright pole between them. In particular, the cord may be tethered to a ring which moves on a vertical spiral element. If each player hits the ball the same number of times during a period of play i.e. if after one player has hit the ball in one direction around the pole and spiral for example clockwise, then the other player returns the ball in the opposite direction counter-clockwise and so on, neither player will achieve an advantage over the other. However if one player hits the ball more often than the other, typically because the other player attempts to hit but misses, so that the ball rotates around the pole in one direction more times than in the other direction, the ring will ascend or descend the spiral. When during any period of play, the ring is closer to the top than the bottom of the spiral or vice versa, this indicates that one player is ahead of the other in score or position in the game. When the ring to which the ball is tethered reaches the top or bottom of the spiral and can go no further, one player has won the game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In broad terms in one aspect the invention comprises a position or score indicator for a game, comprising:a casingscore indicators visible at least one from each of opposite sides of the casinga drive system including:opposed flag gears within the casing, one associated with each of the score indicators,a drive gear which engages the opposed flag gears to counter-rotate the opposed gears to move the score indicators, anda part external to or engageable from an exterior of the casing, associated with the drive gear, to which a part of equipment for playing a game is attachable and which when rotated rotates the drive gear.

Typically the part external to the casing comprises an arm external to the casing which extends at a non-zero angle to an axis of rotation of the drive gear. Typically the part external to or engageable from an exterior of the casing is at a topside of the casing of the indicator and the casing comprises on an underside

In at least some embodiments the score indicators comprise flags which counter-rotate through similar limited arcs on opposite sides of the casing. In some embodiments the drive system is arranged to move the score indicators in steps. In other embodiments however the drive system may be arranged to move the score indicators with a non-stepped movement. Preferably the drive system is arranged to internally slip when the score indicators are at end points of movement of the score indicators.

In at least some embodiments the drive gear is comprises a drive gear axis of rotation which extends through a top and underside of the casing and the opposed flag gears are arranged to counter-rotate about a common axis transverse to the drive gear axis of rotation, and the opposed flag gears comprise facing arcs or rings of gear teeth engaged by the drive gear.

In broad terms in another aspect the invention comprises a position or score indicator for a game, comprising:a casingscore indicators visible at least one from each of opposite sides of the casinga part external to the casing which is rotated during play by a ball and tether, anda mechanism within the casing associated with the score indicators, to move the score indicators in opposite directions to indicate relative positions of the players during a game.

In broad terms in a further aspect the invention comprises a set of games equipment comprising a position or score indicator according to any one of claims1to7, mounted to the top of a pole, bats, and a ball and tether for attaching the ball to the position or score indicator.

In this specification the term “comprising” means “consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting a statement in this specification and claims that includes “comprising”, features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprises” are to be interpreted similarly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows two persons playing tetherball with equipment including a position or score indicator1of the invention (‘score indicator’). The score indicator1is mounted at the top of pole2which is typically pushed into the ground where the game is to be played. Ball3is tethered via cord4to rotating arm5of the score indicator1.

During play as the players hit the ball back and for the between them, the arm5rotates clockwise and counter-clockwise around the pole and score indicator1. Flags8and9are visible one on each of opposite sides of the casing as shown, and during play move through arc F (seeFIGS. 2 and 4). The flags8and9counter rotate, so that the flag8shown inFIG. 4will move to the left or right as a player on that side of the score indicator does better or worse in the game than the other player, while the flag9on the other side of the score indicator will move in the opposite direction ie to the right or left.

Vice versa, if the opposite player begins to do better, the direction of movement of the flags8and9will reverse. When neither player has an advantage over the other, the flags8and9will both be in the top position shown in all of the figures ie both flags will be in the same position. Conversely when one player has ‘won’, the flags will have moved through an arc to be as far apart from each other as possible. Thus during play the flags will move to a similar extent through similar arcs but in opposite directions, back and forth to indicate the relative position of the players to one another at any time, or ‘score’ in the tetherball game. Preferably the flags are contrasting colours eg one flag may be red and the other blue for example.

In the embodiment shown in the figures the drive system is arranged to move the flags8and9in steps i.e. with a stepped movement. For example each complete circuit of the ball around the pole/score indicator in favour of one player i.e. which is not returned by the other player, may cause one flag to move one step in one direction and the other flag one step in the opposite direction, to increment the indicated score by one in favour of one player and decrement the score by one against the other player. A score scale e.g. numbers or other indicia or a changing colour bar, may be provided behind the flags on the casing.

Flag gears18and19are mounted within the casing to counter rotate about a common transverse axis as shown and as indicated by arrows M. Each flag gear18and19comprises a ring (or alternatively a lesser arc may be sufficient) of gear teeth18aand19aas shown. A gear20which rotates with the arm5, as indicated by arrow D, about a vertical axis, but in steps as will be described, engages the flag gears18and19and causes them to counter rotate in steps, which in turn drives the movement of the flags8and9in steps at the exterior of the casing1on either side. The axis of rotation of the gear20extends through a top and underside of the casing between the flag gears18and19. The flags8and9comprise pins8aand9awhich extend through arc shaped apertures in the upper part of the casing on either side, and insert into apertures10aand11ain flag wheels10and11on either side. The flag wheels10and11are in turn carried by the flag gears18and19at18cand19cvia a splined or friction clutch or similar other slipper connection, so that when the flags8and9reach the end points of their movement in the arc shaped apertures in the upper part of the casing on either side and cannot move further (away from their centre position), should the winning player continue to hit the ball in the same direction, then the clutch or similar connection between the flag gears18and19and flag wheels10and11will slip, enabling the flag gears to continue to rotate with further rotation of the external arm5but without causing further movement of the flag wheels10and11(and flags8and9). The internal mechanism does not ‘lock up’.

As stated, in the embodiment shown in the figures the drive system is arranged to move the flags8and9in steps. Referring toFIG. 6and now alsoFIGS. 8 and 8A, end5aof arm5fits onto the upper end of shaft13aof drive gear13, which rotates within gear carrier14, and comprises a limited number of teeth namely two teeth13bas shown, which when they engage idler gear15once per complete rotation of drive gear13, in turn rotate idler gear15one step which rotates pinion gear20one step and flag gears18and19and flag wheels10and11and flags8and9one step. Rotation of the arm5in the opposite direction cause the parts of the internal drive system to rotate in the opposite direction also, to move the flags oppositely.

Alternatively in other embodiments the drive system may be arranged to move the score indicators with a non-stepped movement. For example a drive gear rotated by the arm5may directly engage and cause counter rotation of the flag gears18and19, or similar.

In the embodiment shown the score indicator comprises a hollow casing6, split at6ainto upper and lower parts6band6c, held together by screws7(seeFIGS. 5 and 6). In the embodiment shown the casing is taller and wider than it is deep ie has the form of a short cylinder as shown. In alternative embodiments the casing may be in other forms such as for example lozenge shaped or square shaped.

The arm5at end5apasses through an aperture22in the casing6and is splined to the drive gear20. In the embodiment shown the arm extends horizontally ie at a right angle to the axis of rotation of the main gear but alternatively the arm or equivalent may extend at some other non-zero angle to the axis of rotation of the drive gear.

On its underside the casing has an integral fitting enabling the score indicator to be securely mounted to the top of a pole. Typically the score indicator will be sold in a set also including bats and a ball and tether for attaching the ball to the position or score indicator.

The foregoing describes the invention including an embodiment thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof as defined in the accompanying claims.