Patent Publication Number: US-6669583-B1

Title: Paddle ball game

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a game and method of playing the same, and more particularly to a game that would be played at a beach, or on a lawn, or in a yard using special marked off areas and a ball and paddles, in accordance with specific rules of play and scoring. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Various prior art games are well known, but they tend to be relatively complicated and require knowledge and/or skills beyond that of a normal player. 
     Handball, racquetball and tennis are examples of such games, played on a marked court and requiring a player to make decisions as to whether and where a ball should be played or returned. Each of these known games has specific rules for playing the game. 
     Applicant is also aware of a number of games protected by U.S. Patents, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,163,456, 4,248,428, 4,270,757, 4,355,813, 4,523,762, 4,834,392, 4,880,243, 4,979,754 and 5,002,284. These patents disclose apparatus, games or methods for players to play various games on surfaces and/or marked-off areas. However, the known apparatus, games and methods are markedly different than the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a new game playable by two or four players on a sand or grass surface. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a new game playable with paddles and a special ball, wherein the players must stay in marked-off squares spaced 12 feet apart on a sand or grass surface. And, it is a further particular object of the present invention to play a game in which players utilizing hitting devices hit a projectile back and forth between eight foot squares, spaced twelve feet apart, marked-off on a sand or grass surface, until a winner is determined by the player or players making the fewest mistakes during a single game or a set of games. 
     The game of the present invention is played by marking off or staking out two or four areas utilizing special circles and ribbons. The marked-off or staked out areas are rectangles placed approximately twelve (12) feet apart, preferably eight foot square and parallel to each other. The special circles forming the corners of each square are held down by being wedged in sand when playing on a beach or other sandy surface, or by a golf tee or other securing element when playing on grass. Other surfaces may, of course, be played on, but best results are obtained when playing on sand or grass. 
     A special ball or projectile is used of the type that may be hit by a paddle, racquet or other type hitting device, and which projectile does not bounce when it hits sand or a grass surface. 
     If two players are to play the game, 2 squares are marked-off, while if 4 players are to play 2 sets of adjoining eight foot squares are formed 12 feet apart. 
     The object of the game of the present invention is to hit the ball into an opposite square (if 2 players) or a directly opposite or diagonally opposite square (if 4 players) and for the opposite or diagonally opposite player to return the ball into the square from which the ball was hit, or a diagonally opposite square. The challenge is how many times the players can hit the ball back and forth without making a mistake. To aid in playing the game, no fast ball serving is permitted, so as to allow the ball to get into play. 
     The game starts by a volley to serve, when any one of the players serves the ball to another player in an opposite or diagonally opposite square. Then after the ball is hit at least 3 times in a row, the first player to make a mistake allows the opposite, or one of the opposite, players to serve. The serve may be done over or under hand but cannot be fast. 
     After the serve and during play, with 2 players and 2 squares, the players hit the ball back and forth into the opposite square. If the non-serving player does not return the ball the server is awarded a point. Or, if the non-server hits the ball into the opposite square and it is not returned by the server, then the non-server gets to serve. Play continues until a player reaches 21 points, provided that a win must be by two points, for example 21 to 19. The winning player can also be determined by a set. That is, the first player to win three games wins the set. When playing by the set, the players change sides after each game in the set. 
     When four players are playing, in sets of two squares beside each other which form one large rectangle (8′×16′), spaced 12 feet apart, each pair of players stays in her or his own rectangle and can only return a ball which enters such rectangle. All other game rules apply, except that two game sets are required to be played by the four players. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematic view showing the elements of the game of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a corner circle and ribbon of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective, schematic view showing the elements of the game of the present invention being played by 4 persons. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide for an improved game and method of playing. Although the present invention may be utilized on any surface  22 , it is described as used on the preferred surfaces of sand and grass. 
     There are but four (4) components or pieces of equipment that are needed to play the game of the present invention. These components comprise: 1. at least two paddles, racquets or other hitting device  10 , 2. at least one (1) resilient projectile or ball  12 , 3. at least eight (8) circles or corner markers  14 , and 4. a number of ribbons or strings  16  of a predetermined length. Additionally, a number of golf tees or some other type of securing elements  18  for securing the corner markers should be used when playing the game of the present invention on grass. 
     As shown in FIG. 1 using the corner markers  14  and ribbons or strings  16 , two playing squares  20 ,  21 , preferably eight feet on a side, are formed by tying ribbon  16  to 4 circles or corner markers  14  and placing the 4 circles on the surface  22 , to mark the four corners of each playing square. The playing squares  20 ,  21  are placed approximately twelve (12) feet apart and parallel to each other with no net barrier therebetween. That is, a space is provided in lieu of a net barrier. The corner markers  14  may be of any desired size or shape, and may have indicia or logos printed therein. If used on sand, the corner markers  14  are preferably partially buried or wedged in place. Or, if the corner markers  14  are placed on grass, they are preferably held in place by one or more golf tees or other securing elements  18 , inserted through at least one aperture  24 , formed in the corner marker  14 . Second and third apertures  26 ,  28  formed in the corner markers  14  are used to insert and secure, as by tying, one end of a ribbon or string  16  (see FIG. 2) preferbly of a size and color so that it may be clearly seen on a playing surface. 
     The object of the game is for a person  30 ,  32  to hit the ball or projectile  12  with a paddle, racquet or other hitting device from one square, such as  20 , to the opposite square, such as  21 , and for the person in the opposite square  21  to return the ball to square  20 . Each player  30 ,  32  tries to hit the ball back to the other square without making a mistake, such as missing the ball or missing the square. 
     Rules of Play and How to Keep Score 
     The game may be played by two players in two different ways—by the game or by the set. If by the game, the first player to reach  21 , provided the player has two points more than her/his opponent, will win. Therefore, scoring can exceed  21  in some games where there is only one point difference,  21  to  20  when the first player reaches  21 . The game then continues until one of the players has a two point advantage. 
     If played by the set, the first player to win three games wins the set. During the set, the players change sides or game squares after each game. 
     To determine who serves, the players volley for serve. Either of the players hits the ball to the other and after the ball has been hit back and forth at least three times in a row, the first player to make a mistake, for example, hit the ball short or to the side of the opposite square, allows the other or opposite player to serve. 
     The ball may be served over, side or under hand, provided it is not served too fast. The idea is to get the ball into play. 
     During play, points may only be scored by the serving player when the serving player hits the ball into or through the front and rear boundary of the opposite square without the opposite player returning the ball. If the opposite, non-serving player makes such a shot that is not returned, then they are awarded the serve. The serving player is awarded one point for such a shot, provided the ball passing through the rear boundary is not out-of-reach of the opposite player. “Out-of-reach” is defined as: if the player receiving the ball were to stand with her/his arm fully extended overhead with their paddle  10  in hand, the ball must not go higher than the paddle. Furthermore, during play, players cannot hit the ball more than once in a row when serving or returning the ball. If the server hits the ball more than once, the server loses the serve. While if the non-serving player hits the ball more than once, the server scores one point. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates how the game of the present invention is played with four (4) players. The playing area is formed by making four areas  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , consisting of two adjacent playing squares on each side, with each side being separated by twelve feet. Each of the playing squares  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  are eight feet square and formed by placing side boundaries  42 ,  44  of two adjacent squares, formed by corner markers  14  and ribbon  16 , on top of one another. Then two of the players  30 ,  32 ,  46 ,  48  form teams and stay in their own square  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  during play. For illustrative purposes only, the players  30 ,  32 ,  46 ,  48  are shown in various positions of play. Except that the players form teams of 2, that each player may hit the ball  10  to the opposite or a diagonally opposed square, and that two game sets are required to determine a winner, all other rules of the game, as described above, apply. 
     In summary, only the server, or the serving team if four players, may score a point. If the non-serving player or team hits the ball into or through the opposite or diagonal square, as long as not out-of-reach overhead, the opposite player or team is awarded the serve. 
     Play continues until a player or team wins a game or game set(s), as explained above. 
     After play is finished, the ribbon  16  is preferably removed from the corner markers  14  and the elements of the game packed and stored for future use. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments may be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than is specifically described herein.