Abstract:
A convertible game system configured to be used by a player at home who wishes to practice skills from multiple sports on an apparatus that does not require extensive space requirements. The game system has a frame, with a hopper section and a mounting section, a ball return, and a rotational component. The rotational component is mounted to the frame at the mounting section by a locking bearing system. For use, a player unlocks the locking bearing system, rotates the rotational component to display the desired game face, then re-locks the locking bearing system before beginning game play. The rotational component can have as few as 3 faces, and as many as 8 faces.

Description:
[0001]    Application Ser. No. 14/550,296 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention deals with an apparatus for amateur athletes who have limited space at home, but wish to practice multiple sports. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    People enjoy playing sports, but most amateur athletes lack the personal resources to construct full game playing fields, especially for different games, such as basketball or football. Constructing an entire football field or basketball court is simply impractical, and thus the market has arisen for personal sport systems. However, personal sport systems, such as a portable basketball hoop or football toss system, can be large and take up a significant amount of space, meaning an athlete may have to choose only one sport to practice at home, even though they wish to practice skills from other sports. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a convertible game system that allows a user to practice skills for multiple sports using the same equipment, which can be easily converted between sports while only using the required space for a single personal sports system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an aspect of the present device to provide a convertible game system that can allow a user to practice skills for multiple sports using the same equipment, which can be easily converted between sports while only using the required space for a single personal sports system. 
         [0006]    These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Further features and advantages of the present device, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present device, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a convertible game system, according to an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a folded convertible game system, according to an embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of a convertible game system in the process of folding, according to an embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a convertible game system, according to an alternate embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a convertible game system, according to an embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a basketball face, according to an embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a back view of a football face, according to an embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a softball face, according to an embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a baseball face, according to an embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a rectangular rotational component, according to an embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of a rectangular rotational component, according to an alternate embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a rectangular rotational component, according to an alternate embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a close up view of a locking bearing system, according to an embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a top-down cut away view of a locking bearing system, according to an embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a triangular rotational component, according to an embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a side view of a pentagonal rotational component, according to an embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a side view of a hexagonal rotational component, according to an embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a side view of a heptagonal rotational component, according to an embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a side view of an octagonal rotational component, according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. 
         [0028]    The present device can be a convertible game system that allows an athlete to select from a multitude of games, while keeping a small space footprint. The system can include a frame made from hollow or solid piping, which can be assembled before use or be bought pre-assembled. The frame can be varying in height, but should approximate a sufficient vertical length to simulate a basketball hoop system. The frame can be supported by one or more trusses that allow the frame to withstand the stress of a ball bouncing against one of the playing surfaces without tipping over and injuring spectators. 
         [0029]    The frame can mount a rotational component, having two or more faces, which can be the main attachment point for the game surfaces. The game surfaces can include a basketball surface having one or more netted baskets, a football surface with one or more holes of sufficient diameter to admit a football, a baseball surface with one or more holes of sufficient diameter to admit a baseball, or a softball surface with one or more holes of sufficient diameter to admit a softball. Embodiments of the rotational component include a triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, and octagonal rotational component. Game surfaces can alternate with open surfaces to allow space for a ball to pass through and return to the player. 
         [0030]    The rotational component can be mounted to support arms that are mounted to the frame, or can be mounted to the frame directly. The rotational component can be mounted with a locking bearing system. The locking bearing system allows the rotational component to rotate through a full 360 degrees of motion. A pin lock can be inserted into pre-drilled holes located on the locking bearing system, which removes the rotational system&#39;s ability to rotate, and allows the player to begin using the convertible game system. To switch game faces, the user can remove the pin lock, rotate the rotational component to display the desired face, then reinsert the lock pin to again arrest the movement of the rotational component. 
         [0031]    The frame can have a ball return attached between selected points of the frame, such that a ball thrown or shot towards a game surface can travel back along the ball return surface towards a hopper portion of the frame, where the ball can rest before being reused. The ball return can be made as a solid sheet of material, or can be a net. The ball hopper can be a dedicated portion of the frame that, when connected with the ball return material, can arrest the ball&#39;s motion such that it can be reused by the player. 
         [0032]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a convertible game system  100 , according to an embodiment. The system can include a frame  101 , which can be made from hollowed or solid tubes. The frame can be created using separate segments of pipe, such that a player could assemble the system  101  after purchase. The frame  101  can be supported by several trusses  102  which can provide support to the frame  101  to prevent bending during use. The frame  101  can have a hopper section  103  that can be designed to be a continuous bar to a ball (not shown) returning from use, when combined with a ball return  104 . 
         [0034]    The ball return  104  can attach to select portions of the frame  101  to form an incline, such that a ball (not shown), dropping from the rotational component  106 , would roll backward until arrested by the hopper section  103  of the frame  101 . The ball return  104  can be made from a net material, a plastic material, canvas, a lightweight fabric, or other material. The ball return  104  material can be transparent or opaque. The ball return  104  can attached to the frame  101  using snaps, ties, staples, or other attachment mechanism. 
         [0035]    The rotational component  106  can be mounted to support arms  107  that are mounted to the frame  101  at a mounting section  108 . The rotational component  106  can be mounted with a locking bearing system  109 . The locking bearing system  109  allows the rotational component  106  to rotate through a full  360  degrees of motion about the pin&#39;s  110  axis. A pin  110  can be inserted into pre-drilled holes  111  located on the locking bearing system  109 , which prevents the rotational system&#39;s  106  ability to rotate, and allows the player to begin using the convertible game system  100 . To switch between game faces, the user can remove the pin  110 , rotate the rotational component  106  to display the desired face, then reinsert the pin  110  to again arrest the movement of the rotational component  106 . 
         [0036]    In an embodiment, a folding joint  150  can have a pivot point  151  wherein the folding section  152  can hinge against the non-folding section  153 . A push-lock system can have a nubbed tab  154  with a spring back (not shown), which can pop into one of two notches or holes  155 , depending on whether or not the game system is folded or unfolded. 
         [0037]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a folded convertible game system, according to an embodiment. The game system  100  can be folded in half for ease of transport and to save space when the game system is stored  100 . The folding can be accomplished by a folding joint  150  placed onto a lower portion of the frame  101 , such that the game system  100  effectively folds in half when the folding joint is utilized. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of a convertible game system in the process of folding, according to an embodiment. The frame  101  can comprise two sections: a folding section  152  and a non-folding section  153 . To fold, the user can disengage the push-lock (not shown) on the folding joint  150  to enable motion, and raise the folding section  152  towards the non-folding section  153 . When the folding section  152  is in its folded position, the push-lock (not shown) can engage, locking the folded section  152  into position. To unfold, the user can disengage the push-lock (not shown) on the folding joint  152  to enable motion, and lower the folding section  152  away from the non-folding section  153 . When the folding section  152  is in its unfolded position, the push-lock (not shown) can engage, locking the folded section  152  into position. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a convertible game system  100 , according to an alternate embodiment. In the alternate embodiment, the frame  101 , rotational component  106 , hopper section  103 , and ball return  104  can be the same as the previous embodiment. However, the rotational component  106  can be mounted to a diagonal mounting bar  200  along the frame  101  at the mounting section  108 , and does not require support arms (not shown). This can change the center of gravity of the convertible game system  100 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a convertible game system  100 , according to an embodiment. The convertible game system  100  can have first and second side materials  300  that can be used to limit the side to side motion of a ball (not shown) if the ball (not shown) is shot inaccurately. The side materials  300  can be a solid sheet of lightweight material, netting, canvas, or other suitable material. The side material  300  can be attached to the frame  101  using snaps, ties, staples, or other attachment mechanism. The side material  300  can also be attached to the ball return  104  such that there can be no gap for a ball (not shown) to slip through. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a basketball face, according to an embodiment. The basketball face  403  can be a backboard  410  upon which one or more basketball hoops  411  can mounted. The backboard  410  can be constructed from wood, particle board, plastic, fiberglass, or other similar materials. The basketball hoops  411  can be constructed from metal, plastic, or other similar materials. The backboard  410  can be detailed with basketball markings. The basketball face  403  can be attached to the frame faces  401  using screws, ties, staples, glue, or other attachment mechanisms. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a back view of a football face, according to an embodiment. The football face  402  can be a football board  420  with one or more football holes  421  that can have at least sufficient diameter to admit a regulation football (not shown). The football holes  421  can have a larger diameter to accommodate a less-skilled player (not shown). The football board  420  can be detailed with football-related markings (not shown). The football face  420  can be attached to the frame faces  401  using screws, ties, stapes, glue, or other attachment mechanisms. 
         [0043]    Each football hole  421  can be ringed with a ball detector apparatus  450  that can detect the passage of a football (not shown) through the football hole  421 . The ball detector apparatus can be similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,535,183, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The ball detector apparatus  450  can be electronic, and each can be connected to a central ball detector computer  451  by a wire  452 . The central ball detector computer can have an alarm (not shown) that can be activated whenever a ball detector apparatus  450  detects a football (not shown) passing through a football hole  421 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a softball face, according to an embodiment. The softball face  810  can be a softball board  811  with one or more softball holes  812  that can have at least sufficient diameter to admit a regulation softball (not shown). The softball holes  812  can have a larger diameter to accommodate a less-skilled player (not shown). The softball board  811  can be detailed with softball-related markings  813 . The softball face  810  can be attached to the frame faces  801  using screws, ties, stapes, glue, or other attachment mechanisms. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a baseball face, according to an embodiment. The baseball face  1010  can be a baseball board  1011  with one or more baseball holes  1012  that can have at least sufficient diameter to admit a regulation baseball (not shown). The baseball holes  1012  can have a larger diameter to accommodate a less-skilled player (not shown). The baseball board  1011  can be detailed with baseball-related markings  1013 . The baseball face  1010  can be attached to the frame faces  1001  using screws, ties, stapes, glue, or other attachment mechanisms. The baseball face can also be used with beanbags or other similar throwable objects. 
         [0046]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a rectangular rotational component  400 , according to an embodiment. The rectangular rotational component  400  can be a rectangular prism having two frame faces  401 , a football face  402 , a basketball face  403 , and two open faces  404 . The frame faces can each display four structural supports  405  that can extend radially towards the center of the frame face  401 , where the center point can be the locking bearing system  109 , which can mount onto support arms  107  that can be attached to the frame  101  at the mounting section  108 . The open faces  404  can be of sufficient dimensions to allow a regulation basketball (not shown) to pass through the open faces  404  and enter the ball return (not shown). All faces can be combined with one or more other faces in any variation or combination. 
         [0047]      FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of a rectangular rotational component  400 , according to an alternate embodiment. The alternate embodiment can provide additional stability by altering the center of gravity of the entire system by altering the mounting geometry of the rectangular rotational component  400  on the frame  101 , and by more securely mounting the locking mechanism  109  to both the frame  101  and the rectangular rotational component  400 . In the alternate embodiment, the locking bearing system  109  on the frame faces  401  can be mounted onto a square plate  160 , the square plate  160  being bolted to a rectangular support structure  161  attaching directly to the frame  101 . Four bolts  162  can secure the square plate  160  with the locking mechanism  109  to the rectangular support structure  161 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a rectangular rotational component  400 , according to an alternate embodiment. The alternate embodiment can provide additional stability by altering the center of gravity of the entire system by altering the mounting geometry of the rectangular rotational component  400  on the frame  101 . In the alternate embodiment, the locking bearing system  109  on the frame faces  401  can be mounted to a diagonal mounting bar  200  located on the frame  101  at the mounting section  108 , and does not require support arms (not shown). 
         [0049]      FIG. 10  is a close up view of a locking bearing system  109 , according to an embodiment. The locking bearing system  109  can have a rotational disk  600 , a frame disk  601 , and a pin  110 . For a rectangular rotational component (not shown), both the rotational disk  600  and the frame disk  601  can each have four holes  602 . For the triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, and octagonal rotational components (not shown), the rotational disk  600  and frame disk  601  can each have three, five, six, seven, and eight holes, respectively (not shown). In all embodiments, the holes  602  can be of sufficient diameter to admit the pin  110 . 
         [0050]    During use, the pin  110  can be inserted through a hole  602  through the frame  101 , as well as through the frame disk  601  and the rotational disk  600 , arresting any movement of the rotational component  106 . When a player (not shown) wishes to rotate the rotational component  106 , the user (not shown) can pull the pin  110  away from the frame  101 , which can remove the pin  110  from the rotational disk  600  and the frame disk  601 , allowing the rotational component  106  to rotate. Once the player (not shown) has positioned the rotational component  106  in a desired position and aligned the rotational disk holes and frame disk holes  602 , the user (not shown) can reinsert the pin  110  back through the frame hole  603 , passing through the hole  602  in the frame disk  601  and rotational disk  600 , once again preventing any motion of the rotational component  106 . The pin  110  can be made from plastic or metal. 
         [0051]      FIG. 11  is a top-down cut away view of a locking bearing system  109 , according to an embodiment. The pin  110  can be inserted entirely through the frame  101  at the support arm  200 , before entering the locking bearing mechanism  109 . There can be sufficient space between the frame  101  and the game faces  400  of the system  100  such that the rotational component can freely and fully rotate. The locking bearing systems  109  are symmetrical and identical. 
         [0052]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a triangular rotational component  700 , according to an embodiment. The triangular rotational component  700  can be a triangular prism having two frame faces  701 , a football face  402 , a basketball face  403 , and an open face  404 . The frame faces  701  can display three structural supports  705  that can extend radially towards the center of the frame face  701 , where the center point can be the locking bearing system  109 . The open face  404  can be of sufficient dimensions to allow a regulation basketball (not shown) to pass through and enter the ball return (not shown). 
         [0053]      FIG. 13  is a side view of a pentagonal rotational component  800 , according to an embodiment. The pentagonal rotational component  800  can be a pentagonal prism having two frame faces  801 , a football face  402 , a basketball face  403 , a softball face  810 , and two open faces  404 . The frame faces  801  can display five structural supports  805  that can extend radially towards the center of the frame face  801 , where the center point can be the locking bearing system  109 . The open faces  404  can be of sufficient dimensions to allow a regulation basketball (not shown) to pass through and enter the ball return (not shown). 
         [0054]      FIG. 14  is a side view of a hexagonal rotational component  900 , according to an embodiment. The hexagonal rotational component  900  can be a hexagonal prism having two frame faces  901 , a football face  402 , a basketball face  403 , a softball face  810 , and three open faces  404 . The frame faces  901  can display six structural supports  905  that can extend radially towards the center of the frame face  901 , where the center point can be the locking bearing system  109 . The open faces  404  can be of sufficient dimensions to allow a regulation basketball (not shown) to pass through them and enter the ball return (not shown). 
         [0055]      FIG. 15  is a side view of a heptagonal rotational component  1000 , according to an embodiment. The heptagonal rotational component  1000  can be a heptagonal prism having two frame faces  1001 , a football face  402 , a basketball face  403 , a softball face  810 , a baseball face  1010 , and three open faces  404 . The frame faces  1001  can display seven structural supports  1005  that can extend radially towards the center of the frame face  1001 , where the center point can be the locking bearing system  109 . The open faces  404  can be of sufficient dimensions to allow a regulation basketball (not shown) to pass through and enter the ball return  104 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 16  is a side view of an octagonal rotational component  1100 , according to an embodiment. The octagonal rotational component  1100  can be an octagonal prism having two frame faces  1101 , a football face  402 , a basketball face  403 , a softball face  810 , a baseball face  1010 , and four open faces  404 . The frame faces  1101  can display eight structural supports  1105  that can extend radially towards the center of the frame face  1101 , where the center point can be the locking bearing system  109 . The open faces  404  can be of sufficient dimensions to allow a regulation basketball (not shown) to pass through and enter the ball return  104 . 
         [0057]    The many features and advantages of the inventive concept are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the concept that fall within its true spirit and scope. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the inventive concept to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the inventive concept.