FOOTBALL-TYPE GAME AND ARTICLE OF CLOTHING FOR USE IN A GAME

Abstract: An article of clothing for wearing in a game where a tackle or tag of an opposing player is required to be indicated, the article of clothing including a patch (26) on the clothing normally covered by a flap (28), detachably secured over the patch (26) but removable to expose the patch (26) so as to indicate a tackle or tag. The article of clothing is particularly suited for playing a game based on the game of rugby involving a playing arena having a scoring region at one end only. The scoring region also includes a conversion opening through which a ball may be passed from designated conversion areas to register a conversion.

Description: FOOTBALL-TYPE GAME AND ARTICLE OF CLOTHING FOR USE IN A GAME Technical Field THIS INVENTION relates to a game, particularly a football-type game and an article of clothing for use in a game. Background Art The game of rugby league is played on a large arena with designated scoring areas at each end of the arena. An integral part of the game of rugby league is tackling wherein a player is grasped and/or pulled down to prevent him from moving and/or passing the ball. Tackling is also involved in the game of rugby union and gridiron. In a modified form of the game of rugby league, tackling is eliminated and the touch or tag of an opposing player is deemed to be equivalent to a tackle so that a player on being touched or tagged must stop and play the ball. This latter form of game known as touch football can be played indoors or outdoors, however, in each case it is often difficult to ascertain whether a person has been touched or tagged by an opposing player. Additionally the game of touch football includes two scoring regions at opposite ends of the field as in the standard game of rugby league so that usually a substantial playing area is required so that the game can be played effectively. Disclosure of the Invention The present invention aims to provide an improved game which has its origin in rugby but which minimizes the disadvantages of playing rugby league and other similar games such as touch football or other physical contact sports. The present invention also aims to provide apparatus for playing the aforesaid game, including a field layout for use in playing the game primarily indoors but also possibly outdoors. The present invention further aims to provide an article of clothing for use in the aforesaid game which includes means which indicates contact or tagging by an opposing player so as to represent a tackle by the opposing player. It should be appreciated, however, that the article of clothing may be applied to any other game, be it indoor or outdoor, where contact by an opposing player is required to be indicated. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. In a first aspect the present invention provides an article of clothing for use in playing a game, such as a rugby-type game, said article of clothing having normally dormant means for indicating contact or a tackle by an opposing player, said indicating means being adapted to be activated by a said opposing player so as to indicate a tag or contact. The indicating means in a preferred form comprises a normally unexposed region on said article of clothing, said region when exposed indicating tackling or contact by an opposing player. The region is normally substantially hidden or shielded by a covering of any suitable form which may be detached by the opposing player to expose the region. Preferably the region is of a highly visible nature such as being of a particular colour for example a fluorescent colour whereby when the covering is detached the region is clearly visible. The indicating region may be defined by a material patch attached to the clothing article, the patch being for example a fabric or plastics material. In a preferred form, the covering is in the form of a flap which in the "non tagged" position is secured over the region but may be freely detached therefrom by an opposing player and resecured, after tagging, to hide the region. Preferably the flap is releasably secured in position by means of a hook and loop material, such as that known under the trade mark VELCRO. In a particularly preferred form the flap is in the form of an envelope or pocket which contains a padding material such as a foam plastics material or pad which may be readily grasped and detached to expose the indicating region. Preferably the flap is h ngedly supported so that when detached it falls under the influence of gravity so as to expose the tackle indicating region. So . that a tag by an opposing player and detachment of the flap is more clearly visible, the rear side of the flap may also be coloured the same as the coloured tag indicating region. In an alternative configuration, the tag indicating region may simply comprise the rear side of the flap which when detached becomes exposed to view, the rear side being suitable coloured so as to be clearly visible. An article of clothing worn in the above game or other games may comprise one or more such regions and associated flaps. Such regions may, in the case of a jersey, be located on the front and rear of the ersey and/or on the sleeves. In the case of shorts or trousers the flaps and regions may be located on opposite legs. Of course the article of clothing may have only one such region if desired or any number of such regions. The article of clothing may also take many different forms such as a jersey or shorts as described above, a vest worn over normal clothing, or a short sleeve shirt. Such articles of clothing may be used in any game where an indication of contact or tag is required such as in the games of rugby league or rugby union where tackling is required to be simulated, or tackling indicated. The article of clothing described above is particularly suited to use in playing an indoor and/or outdoor game such as a rugby type game played on an arena defining a field layout including a rectangular playing area and a scoring region only at one end of said playing area having a boundary extending transversely of said playing area beyond which a score in the game may be recorded. The field layout may advantageously include a centrally disposed conversion area arranged in or adjacent the scoring region, the conversion area defining an opening through which a ball may be projected or passed to record a "conversion". Preferably the field layout is marked with conversion boxes or locations on opposite sides of the playing area and spaced from the scoring region and from which balls must be projected through said conversion area. Projection of balls through the conversion area is advantageous to an attacking team in either determining continued possession or scoring points. The conversion area may be defined by a pair of upstanding posts and one or more transverse cross bars which form a rectangular opening through which balls must be passed to register a "conversion". The opening if desired may have associated with it a netting so that balls may be captured upon passage through the conversion opening. Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- Fig. 1 illustrates in plan view a typical playing arena for use in the game of the present invention; Fig. 1A is an end view showing the conversion posts used in the arena in the area designated "A" in Fig. 1; Fig. 2 illustrates a player wearing an article of clothing for use in the game of the invention; Fig. 3 illustrates a tag indicating section as incorporated in the article of clothing; Fig. 4 illustrates the section of Fig. 3 in an attitude indicating a tag or contact by an opposing player; Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate opposite sides of a jersey for use in the game of the invention provided with tag indicating sections; and Fig. 7 illustrates a pair of shorts for use in the game of the invention and showing further tag indicating sections. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1 there is illustrated a playing arena comprising a field layout 10 for a game according to the present invention including a rectangular playing area 11 which for example may be defined on the floor of a building and typically may have the dimensions of 25 metres by 15 metres. Located at one end of the playing area 11 is a scoring region 12 defined rearwardly of a try line 13 which extends transversely the width of the playing area 11 and which functions in the manner of a try line in a normal game of rugby such that if a ball is placed beyond the try line 13 and into the region 12 a score is made. The scoring region 12 further includes a conversion area 14 which defines an opening 15 (see Fig. 1A) through which a ball may be passed to thereby designate a conversion. Respective conversion "boxes" 16 are disposed on opposite sides of the playing area 11 and outwardly of the scoring region 12, in the embodiment illustrated approximately seven and a half metres from the end of the area 11. The conversion "boxes" 16 are regions marked on the playing area 11 from which balls must be thrown for passage through the conversion opening 15 for a "conversion" to be registered. Typically the conversion area 14 comprises an opening 15, suitably a one metre by one metre square opening defined by upstanding posts 17 and spaced cross beams 18. Alternatively, the conversion opening 15 may be defined by an opening in a solid member such as a planar sheet of material. A netting 15' may be associated with the conversion opening 15 to capture balls projected therethrough. The playing area 11 further includes a start "box" 19 marked in the playing area 11 from which the game is started or restarted in the event of a score. The start box 19 is aligned with a transversely extending possession start line 20 behind which the attacking side must be located at the start or restart of the game. A corresponding defender's start line 21 arranged in this embodiment three metres from the possession start line 20 defines the line behind which the defending players must be located at the start of the game. Players in the game of the invention play the game substantially in accordance with the rules of rugby league except that no physical tackling is allowed. To indicate a tackling or tag by an opposing player each player 22 as shown in Fig. 2 wears a jersey 23 and/or shorts 24 provided with a plurality of tackle or tag indicating sections 25 which may be activated by an opposing player to indicate a tackle or tag. Each section 25 as more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a patch of material 26 in this instance of square configuration which is attached to the jersey 23 and/or shorts 24 in any suitable manner such as by sewing about its periphery as at 27 or by adhesives. The material patch 26 is of a clearly visible colour such as of a fluorescent colour which when exposed indicates a tackle or tag. The material patch 26 is normally covered by a flap 28 which is held detachably in position over the material patch 26 by means of hook and loop fasteners 29 and 30 arranged in opposed relationship on the material patch 26 and flap 28. The flap 28 may comprise an extension of the material 26 so as to in effect be hinged to the patch 26 along a line 31 on the lower side of the material patch 26. The hook and loop material 29 and 30 is shown in the drawings to be small patches arranged centrally on the patch 26 and flap 28. Alternatively or additionally further hook and loop material strips may be placed on opposite sides of the patch 26 and flap 28 in opposing relationship or in any other configuration. In a particularly preferred form the flap 28 is defined by a rectangular envelope which surrounds a correspondingly shaped pad 32 of material such as foam plastics material shown in the cut-out region in Fig. 3. This arrangement will more effectively enable a person to grasp and detach the flap 28 from its Fig. 3 position so as to allow it to fall to its Fig. 4 position thereby exposing the coloured patch 26 to indicate a tackle or tag. The rear face 33 of the flap 28 may also be coloured the same as the patch 26 so as to be exposed in the detached position of Fig. 4 and more clearly indicate a tackle or tag. Alternatively, the rear face 33 alone may comprise the tackle or tag indicating section. The tackle or tag indicating sections 25 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be located on the front of the jersey 23, or along the sleeves and/or on the back of the jersey 23. Additionally in the case of shorts as shown in Fig. 7 the scoring regions 25 may be located on opposite legs or hip regions. In playing the game of the invention, players from each side which preferably comprise six players must stand behind their respective possession and defenders lines 20 and 21 with the commencing side in possession decided by the toss of a coin. A player within the start box 19 taps the ball which comprises a normal football and passes it to a player on his side. The game then proceeds in the manner of touch footbal except that a defending player to tackle or tag, an opposing player must expose a tackle or tag indicating patch 26 by grasping and detaching a flap 28. When this occurs the tackled player is required to play the ball to a team mate from the tackle position and it is the tackled players responsibility to resecure the flap 28 in position over the patch 26. If not resecured, penalties may be awarded by a referee such as loss or possession. Additionally, a person with the tackle section 25 exposed cannot validly score. The attacking side proceeds towards the try line 13 through a process of six "tackles" or tags. A person acting as the dummy half is not permitted to score from that position but must first past the ball to another player. If a try is not scored within those six tackles, the ball is then given to the defending team which " becomes the attacking team. If a try is scored the scoring side will attempt a conversion from one of the conversion boxes 16 by attempting to pass the ball through the conversion opening 15. If a conversion is successful the game restarts, with the scoring side in possession, from the start box 19. This, however, is repeated no more than three times before possession is handed over to the defending side so that the sides adopt opposite roles. Similarly if a conversion is unsuccessful the ball is handed over to the defending side. Possession is lost if the attacking side forward passes, knocks-on or if the ball is intercepted by the defending side and in such a case the defending side becomes the attacking side at the position where possession is lost, the sides therefore changing positions within a prescribed period suitably 10 seconds on the playing area 11. The game is broken into three sets, comprising first and second sets of fifteen minutes each in which case tries are worth two points and a third set of ten minutes wherein tries are worth three points. Conversions in the first and seconds sets are worth no points but merely serve to retain possession. In the third set conversions are worth one point and may be attempted from anywhere on the field. As stated above, whilst the articled of clothing of the invention is particularly suited to use in the above described game, it may be used in any other game where, simulated tackling or tagging is involved. Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An article of clothing for use in playing a game such as a rugby-type or other game, said article of clothing having normally dormant means for indicating contact, or tagging by an opposing player, said indicating means being adapted to be actuated by a said opposing player so as to indicate a tag or contact. 2. An article of clothing according to Claim 1 wherein said indicating means comprises a normally unexposed region on said article of clothing, said region when exposed being indicative of a tag or contact by an opposing player. 3. An article of clothing according to Claim 2 and including detachable covering means normally shielding said region from view, said covering means being detachable to expose said region. 4. An article of clothing according to Claim 3 wherein said region is of a highly visible colour such that when said covering means is detached, said region is clearly visible. 5. An article of clothing according to Claim 3 wherein said covering means is in the form of a flap detachably secured over said region. 6. An article of clothing according to Claim 5 wherein said flap is releasably secured in position by means of hook and loop material. 7. An article of clothing according to Claim 5 wherein said flap includes a padding material to facilitate gripping thereof. 8. An article of clothing according to Claim 7 wherein said flap is in the form of a envelope or pocket which contains said padding material. 9. An article of clothing according to Claim 8 wherein said padding material comprises a foam plastics material. 10. An article of clothing according to Claim 5 wherein said flap is hingedly supported so that when detached it falls under the influence of gravity so as to expose said region. 11. An article of clothing according to Claim 5 wherein the rear side of said flap comprises the or an additional said region. 12. An article according to Claim 2 wherein said region is defined by a fabric or plastics material attached to said article. 13. An article of clothing according to Claims 1 in the form of a jersey or vest and including one or more said indicating means, said indicating means being located on the front and/or rear of the jersey and/or on a sleeve. 14. An article of clothing according to Claim 1 in the form of shorts or trousers and including one of more said indicating means, said indicating means being located on a leg or legs of said shorts or trousers. 15. An article of clothing according to Cl»aim 1 and including a flap at least partially detachable from said article of clothing and wherein the rear side of said flap comprises said indicating region. 16. Apparatus for playing an indoor and/or outdoor game such as a rugby-type game, said apparatus comprising a playing arena defining a field layout including a rectangular playing area and a scoring region only at one end of said area having a boundary extending transversely of said playing area beyond which a score in the game may be recorded and wherein an article of clothing according to Claim 1 is worn by players in the said game. 17. Apparatus according to Claim 16 and including a centrally arranged conversion area arranged in or adjacent said scoring region, said conversion area defining an opening through which a ball may be projected or passed. 18. Apparatus according to Claim 17 and including in said playing area conversion locations on opposite sides of said playing area and spaced from said scoring region and from which balls may be projected or passed through said conversion area. 19. Apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein said conversion area is defined by upstanding posts and one or more cross beams which form said opening through which balls may be passed.

Inventors: SMYTH MARK, STEMP PAUL STEVEN, SMYTH, MARK, STEMP, PAUL, STEVEN
Applicants: SMYTH MARK, STEMP PAUL STEVEN, SMYTH, MARK, STEMP, PAUL, STEVEN
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A41D1
IPC codes: A41D1, A41D13, A63B67, A63B71