Abstract:
A method and apparatus for playing a court game for at least a first player and a second player is described. The court game may have at least a reinforced ball, at least two paddles, and at least one barrier. A centerline divides the playing court. The barrier is configured to allow the ball to pass below the barrier but prevent the ball from passing above the barrier. Using the paddles, players hit the ball back and forth under the barrier. If a player fails to hit or otherwise contact the ball, and the ball hits a wall behind the player, the opposing player scores.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 62/204,778 filed on Aug. 13, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0002]    The field of the embodiments of the present invention relate to games capable of being played on a court or field surface. In particular, the game involves using paddles and a ball on a defined playing surface in which the ball is hit back and forth underneath a centrally located barrier. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0003]    Games come in many variations and require different amounts of strategy and participation depending on the type of game to be played. One game type that has seen a long lived popularity is ball-based games. In such games a ball is utilized as the central implement of the game, with the overarching goal to use the ball, whether thrown, kicked, hurled, hit, or the like, to score points or prevent another team from using the ball to score points. 
         [0004]    Some games utilize elements from other games such a games that combine nets and balls or games that combine balls with other implements such as a billiards table. Even with the rise and long-lived popularity of such games, there are always individuals looking for a new game or contest to sport their athletic prowess and other endeavors. Further, such games are made popular by their easily portable nature and low cost of participation. The present invention and its embodiments meets and exceeds these objectives. 
       Review of Related Technology: 
       [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,061 pertains to a court game set including an outer court and an inner court located centrally within the outer court and bisected medially by a net which spans overarm throwing height extending between standing and jumping players. The game rules require that a point is scored if a projectile, launched over the net, hits the ground on the other side of the net anywhere within the outer court, having avoided capture by an opponent or, of launched under the portion of the net aligned over the inner court, hits the ground of only the inner court. The projectile is a deformable mass located at a blind end of a flexible tube that can be swung for manual launching at great speed but which will deform on contact, absorbing impact. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,899 pertains to a game played with a net placed vertically dividing the playing area into at least two sides. The net has a completely surrounded opening, comprising the playing zone, allowing an object and or projectile to be volleyed through the opening in the net, back and forth between the players on opposite sides of the net. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,392 pertains to a court game apparatus, game method and playing court. The apparatus comprises a small resilient ball, at least two paddles having a solid, substantially rigid striking surface, and a playing court. The playing court comprises a rectangular main court having opposite sides and opposite ends defining side and end boundaries, respectively, and foul detector means extending from one side of the playing court to the other midway between the end boundaries and dividing the main court into two opposing playing zones of equal size. Each of the playing zones is of a size sufficient to accommodate at least one player equipped with one of the paddles. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the foul detector means is a rectangular foul zone. Preferred dimensions for a singles court of the present invention are about fifteen feet wide by about thirty feet long with a foul zone about four feet wide. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,006,497 pertains to a game of a type in which balls are actuated by the players to cause them to leave or enter an enclosure, and refers particularly to a structure in which barriers forming the walls provide polygonal courts, the barriers or walls being flexible or resilient. 
         [0009]    Various devices are known in the art. However, their structure and means of operation are substantially different from the present disclosure. The other inventions fail to solve all the problems taught by the present disclosure. At least one embodiment of this invention is presented in the drawings below and will be described in more detail herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    Generally the present invention and its embodiments provide for a method of game play and playing court set up. Preferably, there is a defined area that comprises the playing court. The playing court is preferably structured such that the two long sides are bordered by barrier members or foam padding, and the two short sides are bordered by a wall in a proximity thereto. A barrier, or net, is positioned about halfway between the first baseline and the second baseline thereby effectively splitting the playing court into two equal sections. A foul line may be positioned underneath the barrier or multiple foul lines may be used to reduce the size of the sections of the playing court thereby increasing the difficulty of the game itself. 
         [0011]    In play, a first player serves the ball by hitting the ball underneath the net to a second player. The second player attempts to return the ball to the first player by again hitting the ball underneath the net. This back and forth hitting of the ball continues until a player fails to hit the ball and the ball contacts the wall positioned behind the player. The opposing player may then receive a point. Various other rules, strategies, and rules variations will be described herein. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment of the present invention there is a method for playing a court game for at least a first player and a second player, the court game having a reinforced ball, at least two paddles, a barrier, and a playing court, the playing court comprising a substantially rectangular playing surface bordered along at least two first sides by at least two first and second barrier members, along at least two second sides by a first baseline and a second baseline, and having a center line defining a first section for the first player and a second section for the second player of the playing court, wherein the barrier is positioned over the center line leaving a void between a bottom edge of the barrier and the playing surface, the method comprising the steps of: a first player residing in the first section of the playing court, the first section being defined by the centerline, at least two first barrier members, and the first baseline; a second player residing in the second section of the playing court, the second section being defined by the centerline, at least two second barrier members, and the second baseline; the first player serving the ball to the second player, wherein serving the ball occurs when the ball is hit by one of the at least two paddles causing it to travel underneath the barrier from a first section to a second section of the playing court; the second player hitting the ball to the first player, wherein the ball must travel from the second section of the playing court to the first section of the playing court and travel underneath the barrier; wherein the ball may be hit no more than two times within either the first section or the second section; and wherein if either the first player or the second player fails to contact the ball upon receiving the ball in the first or the second section and the ball contacts a back wall located downstream from the first baseline or the second baseline, then the opposing player scores a point. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the present invention there is a method for playing a court game for at least a first team and a second team with each team having at least two players, the court game having a reinforced ball, at least four paddles, a barrier, and a playing court, the playing court comprising a substantially rectangular playing surface bordered along at least two first sides by barrier members, along at least two second sides by boundary lines, and having at least one center line defining a first section and a second section of the playing court, wherein the barrier is configured to leave a void between a bottom edge of the barrier and the playing surface, the method comprising the steps of: the first team residing in the first section of the playing court, the first section being defined by the at least one centerline, at least two first barrier members, and the first baseline; the second team residing in the second section of the playing court, the second section being defined by the at least one centerline, at least two second barrier members, and the second baseline; the first team serving the ball to the second team, wherein serving the ball occurs when the ball is hit by one of the at least two paddles causing it to travel underneath the barrier from a first section to a second section of the playing court; the second team hitting the ball to the first team, wherein the ball must travel from the second section of the playing court to the first section of the playing court and travel underneath the barrier; wherein the ball may be hit no more than two times within either the first section or the second section; and wherein if either the first team or the second team fails to contact the ball upon receiving the ball in the first or the second section and the ball contacts a back wall located downstream from the first baseline or the second baseline, then the opposing team scores a point. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment of the present invention there is a kit for playing a court game on a playing surface, the kit having a ball, the ball having a polymer layer and a reinforced layer; at least two paddles, each of the at least two paddles having a handle area and a racquet area with the racquet area consisting of three distinct layers of material; a barrier, the barrier having a first support, a second support, and a bottom edge to be situated less than about 39 inches above the playing surface. 
         [0015]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention there is a playing court for a game involving the serving and returning of a resilient ball, the playing court having a generally flat and rectangular playing surface having a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end; at least one foul line located in a central area of the playing surface; a first barrier member located along a length of the first side and a second barrier member located along a length of the second side; a barrier located in a central area of the playing surface, wherein the barrier is configured to allow an object to pass underneath the barrier and between a bottom edge of the barrier and the playing surface, and wherein the barrier prevents the object from passing over the barrier; a first wall and a second wall, the first wall and the second wall being located in a proximity to the first end and the second end respectively. 
         [0016]    In general, the present invention succeeds in conferring the following, and others not mentioned, benefits and objectives. 
         [0017]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a game that can be played by individuals of all abilities and ages. 
         [0018]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a game that can be played indoors or outdoors. 
         [0019]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a game that is fast paced and entertaining. 
         [0020]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a game that can be played in teams or a one-on-one format. 
         [0021]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a game that can be set up and taken down quickly. 
         [0022]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a game that promotes a healthy lifestyle. 
         [0023]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a game that can be played on a variety of playing courts and playing surfaces. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a playing court set up in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the boundary lines defining a playing surface of one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2B  is a top view of the boundary lines defining a playing surface of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2C  is a top view of the boundary lines defining a playing surface of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2D  is a top view of the boundary lines defining a playing surface of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view of a ball used in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of a paddle used in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals. 
         [0032]    Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is an embodiment of a playing court  100  in accordance with the present invention. The playing court  100  generally comprises a number of boundaries as well as other structural components such as at least two barrier members  115  and a barrier  105 . A first wall or first back wall or first scoring wall  120  and a second wall or second back wall or second scoring wall  125  are positioned in a proximity to each of the two ends of the playing court  100 . The terms wall, back wall, and scoring wall may be used herein interchangeably. 
         [0034]    In a preferred embodiment, the playing court  100  is generally rectangular in shape and may be about 10 feet by about 30 feet to about 50 feet by about 150 feet and more preferably about 20 feet by about 60 feet (width by length). The ratio of the playing court  100  need not be 3:1 dimensionally and other size, shape, and other court variations may be implemented. Some such variations are shown in  FIGS. 2A-2D . The playing court  100  has a playing surface  109  which may be any number of types and variety of playing surface that allow for a ball to travel there along. Such surfaces may include both natural and artificial/synthetic surfaces such as grass, dirt, wood, clay, rubber, vinyl, nylon, polyethylene, urethane, and the like or a combination thereof. 
         [0035]    The playing court  100  is generally defined by the barrier members  115 , first baseline  111 , second baseline  113 , and a central line or foul line  110 . A barrier  105  is positioned at about a midpoint of the playing court  100  thereby splitting the playing court  100  into a first section  101  and a second section  102 , with each section having substantially similar proportions. 
         [0036]    The barrier members  115  are configured to be arranged along the long sides of the rectangular playing court. One barrier member  115  may be positioned along each side or multiple barrier members  115  may be positioned along each side. If multiple barrier members  115  are to be used, the barrier members  115  may be coupled to one another or simply abut one another. The barrier members  115  are preferably padded members having a shape configured to retain the ball (see  FIG. 3 ) on the playing surface  109  and within the confines of the playing court  100 . The barrier members  115  may be weighted to assist in securing the borders of the court as well as to deflect the ball during the course of play. The barrier members  115  may also be, for example, triangular in shape, such as a right triangle, to provide support to the barrier members  115 . Preferably, the barrier members  115  are about 3 inches to about 24 inches and more preferably about 7 inches to about 14 inches in height along a vertical face of the barrier member  115  that faces the playing court  100 . 
         [0037]    The barrier  105  preferably is configured to provide an opening or aperture that extends from about the playing surface  109  to a height of about 39 inches. Above the height of about 39 inches, the barrier has a substantially solid surface, such as a wood plank(s), Plexiglas® acrylic sheeting, netting, or the like that prevents the ball from passing into the opposing section of the playing court  100 . In some embodiments, the opening may be more or less than 39 inches. In other embodiments, the height of the barrier  105  may be vertically adjustable to increase or decrease the overall difficulty. 
         [0038]    The barrier  105 , as noted, may take the form of a net, however, the barrier  105  may simply provide for a line of sight to the opposing section of the playing court  100 . In more difficult versions of the game, the barrier  105  provides no such line of sight and the players must react much quicker to the ball as is enters their section of the playing court  100 . The barrier  105  further aids in preventing a ball from traveling over the barrier  105 , as well as provides an additional visual cue to the players as to where their section boundary lies. 
         [0039]    The first baseline  111  and the second baseline  113  further define the first section  101  and the second section  103  in conjunction with the central line or foul line  110  and barrier members  115 . The first scoring wall  120  and second scoring wall  125  are located in a proximity to the respective baselines. The first scoring wall  120  and the second scoring wall  125  may be located about 36 inches to about 72 inches downstream or behind the respective associated baseline. Such a distance may be selected to provide adequate spacing for the players to effectively service the ball to the opposing team as described below. The scoring walls may, indeed, be walls but in other embodiments may comprise netting, gates, and the like capable of signifying and/or retaining a ball in a scoring position. 
         [0040]    In  FIGS. 2A-2D , there are varying embodiments of playing court configurations. The game play is not limited to such variations and these variations are intended to be illustrative only. 
         [0041]    Here, the barrier  105 , foul line  110 , first section  101 , and second section  102  of the playing court  100  is shown.  FIG. 2A  illustrates the layout generally described above in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0042]    Such a configuration may be used for singles play (i.e. one player per section) or for team play (i.e. multiple players per section).  FIG. 2C  illustrates a potential “doubles” layout where at least one player is confined to each of the first section  101 , second section  102 , third section  103 , and fourth section  104 . The barrier  105  and the foul line  110  are located in generally the same position as shown in  FIG. 2A . In some instances, players in the  FIG. 2C  configuration may rotate between sections within the respective sides of the playing court  100 . 
         [0043]      FIGS. 2B and 2D  have similar sectional layouts (2 sections v. 4 sections) as  FIGS. 2A and 2C  respectively. However, in  FIGS. 2B and 2D  the foul line  105  has been moved further into the player&#39;s sections. This creates a larger “foul zone” as well as increasing the difficulty of the game by giving the players less mobility. The foul line  110  and its implications in the course of play are further described herein below. 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a ball  200  and paddle  300  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 3 , the ball  200  is shown from a partial sectional view demonstrating the layers comprising the ball  200 . The ball  200  is preferably a resilient ball comprised of multiple layers of material to increase the weight of the ball as well as cause the desired reaction when contacted by a player using a paddle. The ball  200  should have at least an outer layer or reinforced layer  210  and an inner layer or polymer layer  220 . The inner layer  220  preferably comprises primarily a polymer composition. Suitable materials may include but are not limited to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and polycarbonate (PC), and the like, or some combination thereof. In some instances, rubbers, metals, composites and the like may wholly comprise or be integrated into the inner layer  220 . 
         [0046]    The outer layer or resilient layer  210  preferably comprises a tape layer comprising a polymer tape, friction tape, electrical tape, filament tape, or the like or a combination thereof. The outer layer  210  may have one or more than one layers of tape which may be the same or different as the other layers contained thereon. In some embodiments, there are more than five layers of tape. Preferably, the inner layer  220  and the outer layer  210  surround a hollow core, although in instances, the core may have varying diameters and may further be comprised of a solid such as cork or a lightweight polymer. 
         [0047]    The ball  200  preferably has a diameter of about 2.0 to 4.0 inches and more preferably about 2.81 to about 2.93 inches. The weight of the ball should be about 20 grams to about 40 grams and is more preferably about 22 grams to about 30 grams. Such specifications, combined with the appropriate taping, polymer/composite composition provide the requisite bounce, hardness, speed, and roll and other ball characteristics desirable for the game play described herein. 
         [0048]    The paddle  300 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , has a striking area  310 , handle or shaft  320 , and at least an outer layer  330 , middle layer  340 , and an inner layer  350 . The outer layer  330 , middle layer  340 , and inner layer  350  generally comprise the striking area  310  and the shaft  320  may have the same or differing layers and the same or a differing composition. 
         [0049]    In at least one embodiment, the layers comprising the striking area  310  may be comprised of graphite, wood, or a composite material. Multiple layers may be comprised of the same or different material. For example, the inner layer  350  and the middle layer  340  may be comprised of a composite and the outer layer  320  may be wood. Such variation can provide variable factors such as weight, hardness, and deflection/resiliency that are desirable for competing and playing the game described herein. 
         [0050]    The handle or shaft  320  provides a region for a player to grip the paddle  400 . The shaft  320  may vary in length and may be configured to allow a person to remaining standing or substantially upright, similar in stance to a hockey player, when attempting to make contact with the ball. The shaft  320  may be coated with a friction tape to supplement the player&#39;s grip and make the shaft  320  more comfortable to handle. 
         [0051]    In playing the game using the playing court configuration and equipment and variations thereof described in  FIGS. 1-4 , a first player or first team must serve the ball to the opposing team. The team or player to first serve may be determined by a coin flip or other acceptable means. Service of the ball is accomplished by the first player or a player on a first team standing behind their respective baseline and hitting the ball with the paddle causing the ball to travel underneath the barrier without contact the barrier or the barrier members. If the player steps over the baseline during the service process or the ball hits the barrier or barrier member, they will get another attempt at completing a service to the opposing team. Upon a second service error, the player or team loses the serve and the opposing team may now serve the ball. In some instances, when such a double error or fault is committed by one team or player the error will result in a point being awarded to the opponent. 
         [0052]    Once the ball has traveled underneath the barrier, the opposing team may attempt to hit the ball, using the paddle only, thereby causing the ball to travel underneath the barrier and back to the opposing team or player&#39;s section of the playing court. The first team or player then attempts to accomplish the same. During this back and forth hitting of the ball, neither player(s) nor team may contact the barrier or cross the foul line positioned on the playing court. Such action would result in the opposing team or player being awarded a point and in some instances a service attempt to the opposing team. Further, during this “volley” phase of the game, the players or teams may use the barrier members to “ricochet” or “bounce” the ball around the playing court making hitting the ball more challenging for the opponent. 
         [0053]    Once the ball has entered one team or player&#39;s section of the playing court, the ball may be hit up to two times before needing to cross the foul line lest awarding the opposing team or player a point and/or service of the ball. In a single player game, a single player may hit the ball twice before causing the ball to pass this foul line. In a multiple player or team game, the same player may not hit the ball twice in a row, however, different players may hit the ball two times before the ball is hit across the foul line to the opposing team. 
         [0054]    If during play the ball contacts the barrier and remains in the hitting player or team&#39;s section, the ball may be deemed to be in play. However, the player who hit the ball causing it to contact the barrier may not be the first person to contact the ball thereafter. 
         [0055]    Overall, the goal of the game is to, within the rule constraints listed above and others not formally listed herein, cause the ball to pass the baseline of the opposing player or team and contact a scoring wall. Upon the ball contacting the scoring wall, the team causing the ball to contact the scoring wall receives a point. The scoring wall may be an actual wall but may also be a net, slot, or other area capable of making contact and/or retaining the ball. Generally, the first team to score eleven points is deemed to be the winner, however, any number of scoring variations may occur. 
         [0056]    Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.