Patent Publication Number: US-6709353-B1

Title: Racquet sport game and shuttlecock for use therewith

Description:
This application claims the benefit of pending provisional application No. 60/363,897, filed on Mar. 12, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to games and, more particularly, to an improved sports game and shuttlecock for use with the game. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous types of games using balls or shuttlecocks hit by a racquet are known. If a shuttlecock is used, it is usually made with a cork or rubber nosecone and a tail of feathers or plastic. The known games are played by a number of persons who hit a ball or shuttlecock over a net on a lawn, in a backyard, on a court or other similar areas. In such known games, however, the playing area is usually arranged around a net and the item being struck normally has a predetermined course because of its size, shape and aerodynamic characteristics. 
     Applicant is unaware of any game that uses a “flyzone ” where the players cannot enter, and which uses a shuttlecock having flexible fins and a piston incorporated therein. 
     Therefore, there remains the need in the art for a new game utilizing racquets to hit a shuttlecock through a “flyzone”, and which provides the user with extended periods of enjoyment. Furthermore, the shuttlecock of the present invention holds up during play when hit with a racquet, and includes a base having a piston therein, as well as flexible, shaped tail portions to vary the flight of the shuttlecock during play, depending on how struck, the movement of the piston in the base, and the prevailing weather conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and novel sports game using a novel shuttlecock. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an improved sports game played in a defined “flyzone”. It is a further particular object of the present invention to provide a new game playable with racquets and a special shuttlecock wherein the players must stay out of a marked-off playing area or “flyzone” on a surface. It is still a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved shuttlecock having an aerodynamically shaped, flexible tail thereon. It is yet a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved shuttlecock having a base formed therewith, which base includes a piston member to aid in control of movement of the shuttlecock, after the shuttlecock is struck by a racquet. It is still a further particular object of the present invention to provide an improved shuttlecock having a base and tail thereon, which tail is formed from a plurality of identically shaped elements to enable the shuttlecock to be used with different racquets and in different weather conditions to provide better control of the shuttlecock. And, it is a further particular object of the present invention to play a game in which players utilizing racquets hit an improved shuttlecock back and forth through a defined “flyzone ” marked-off on a surface, until a winner is determined by the player or players having the highest score during a single game or a set of games. 
     The game of the present invention is played by marking-off or staking-out a “flyzone” area utilizing telescoping corner poles. The marked-off or staked-out area is preferably rectangular, approximately forty (40) feet by twenty (20) feet to form two (2) end boundaries or field goals through which the shuttlecock must be hit. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shuttlecock having a base secured to a tail. The base is preferably hollow and includes means to hold a piston therein. The tail is comprised of a plurality of specifically shaped flexible elements secured to the base so as to form a shuttlecock having unique movements when struck by a racquet. 
     The object of the game of the present invention is to hit the shuttlecock through end boundaries or field goals formed by the corner poles without entering the “flyzone” formed by the poles and for the opposite player or players to return the shuttlecock through at least the field goal from which the shuttlecock was hit. The challenge is how many times the players can hit the shuttlecock back and forth without making a mistake. To aid in playing the game, only underhand or slow serving is permitted, so as to allow the shuttlecock to get into play. 
     The game starts by a serve, when any one of the players serves the shuttlecock through the field goals to another player behind the opposite field goal. After the serve and during play, 2 or more players hit the shuttlecock back and forth through the opposed field goals during a rally. The amount of time the shuttlecock is hit back and forth during the rally is timed, and if one of the players does not return the shuttlecock to the other, the other player is awarded a number of points, dependent on the time the shuttlecock has been hit back and forth during the rally. Play continues until a player reaches a predetermined number of points to win the game. The players then play a predetermined number of games, and the winning player will be determined by the winner of the majority of games in a match or a set, or when a predetermined number of points is reached. For example, the first player to win three games wins the match or set, or the first player to reach say one thousand points wins. The players alternate serving each game. 
    
    
     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 connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a playing field of the game of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the playing field of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an improved shuttlecock of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the shuttlecock of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the shuttlecock of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a further perspective view of the improved shuttlecock of the present invention, looking from the top; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view of the elements of the improved shuttlecock of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a further partial exploded view of the elements of the improved shuttlecock of the present invention. 
    
    
     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 and an improved shuttlecock for use therewith. The present invention may be played on any surface. However, it is described as played on the preferred surfaces of turf, sand or 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 (2) racquets, 2. at least one (1) shuttlecock  10 , 3. at least four (4) corner markers, poles or pylons  12 , and 4. a Torque Timer watch to score the game. Tubular sleeves or anchor tubes may also be used with the corner pylons  12 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, using the pylons  12 , a playing field  14 , approximately 40 feet by 20 feet is formed by inserting the  4  corner markers or posts  12  at each corner of a rectangle on a relatively flat area. The playing field  14  is generally referred to as the “flyzone”. The corner markers or posts  12  are preferably telescoping, and may be held by anchor tubes or sleeves inserted into grass, soft dirt, sand or turf at the four corners of the rectangular flyzone  14 . 
     The object of the game is for a first person to hit the shuttlecock  10  with a racquet from one end or side of the flyzone  14  through an end boundary or field goal  16  formed by the two poles  12 , through an opposite end boundary or field goal  18 , and for a second person outside the opposite field goal  18  to return the shuttlecock through the field goal  16 . Each player tries to hit the shuttlecock  10  in a rally or volley back through the other field goal without making a mistake, such as missing the shuttlecock or missing the other field goal. 
     RULES OF PLAY AND HOW TO KEEP SCORE 
     The game may be played by two or more players in two different ways by the game or by the set. If by the game, the first player to reach a century, for example, the number of seconds of elapsed time the shuttlecock has been hit back and forth. 
     If played by the set, the first player to reach a millennium, for example, 1000 points and/or win three games, wins the set. During the set, the players alternate serving after each game. 
     To determine who serves, the players may use any method to select how to serve, such as a volley for serve. Either of the players hits the shuttlecock to the other and after the shuttlecock has been hit back and forth a minimum number of times, say three times in a row, the first player to make a mistake, for example, hits the shuttlecock short of or to the side of the opposite field goal, allows the other or opposite player to serve. 
     The shuttlecock must be served underhand and over service marks on the flyzone poles. The idea is to get the shuttlecock into play and to have rallies or volleys that last many seconds. 
     During play, points are scored by timing the amount of time, in seconds, by means of the Torque Timer. That is, scoring is with the Torque Timer watch, which is preferably a wristwatch that has several unique features. There is a rally timer stopwatch used to time each rally which becomes a score with one second equaling one point. There are 3 player tally windows with corresponding buttons on the timepiece that are used to add the scores as each player accumulates points. 
     Once the rally timer has been stopped (at the end of the rally), the numeric value is then tacked or given to player who has won the rally by pressing the button that corresponds to its window. This timepiece will keep adding the appropriate points to the player that wins each rally. 
     The Torque Timer will also include a watch that will have the time and an overall elapsed time for the game. Once a new game has started, a match timer window will be activated. 
     For example, the point count (say 15 seconds, etc.) from a rally is given to the player that last hits the shuttlecock through the front  16  and rear  18  boundary or field goals of the flyzone  14  without the opposite player returning the shuttlecock. 
     If either player makes a shot from a side, such as  20  or  22 , through the opposite boundary or field goal, without the shuttlecock  10  passing through the closest boundary or field goal, after an initial serve, the shot will count. If either player steps into the flyzone  14  or hits a corner pole  12  with their racquet, they default and points are awarded to the other player. Furthermore, during play, players cannot hit the shuttlecock more than once in a row when serving or returning the shuttlecock. If either player hits the ball more than once, the other player is awarded the points (at least one) accumulated during a rally or volley. 
     Play continues until a player or team wins a game or game set(s), as explained above. 
     After play is finished, the corner poles or pylons and any anchor tubes are preferably removed from the playing surface and the elements of the game packed and stored for future use. 
     The shuttlecock  10  of the present invention may be of any desired size, with the elements made from any desired material. For example, a fluted base or nosecone  24  may be made from a resilient plastic or hardened rubber, and a tail  26 , having a plurality of identical or similar elements or portions  28  made from a resilient plastic, or other similar flexible material. Additionally, fastening elements  30  securing the tail portions  28  to the base  24  may be made from metal or plastic. 
     The base  24  and tail  26  are preferably assembled, formed or manufactured, as described below. The base  24  includes a fluted exterior and an internal shell or core housing  32  supporting a piston  34 , a biasing spring  36  and a washer  38  in a central chamber or opening formed in the core housing. The central chamber or opening may include centering ribs (not shown) for the piston, spring and washer. The elements or portions of tail  26  are secured to the base  12  by any desired means, such as a plurality of pins  30 , inserted through openings  40  formed on lower portions  42  of each tail portion  28  (see FIG. 7 ). The tail portions  28  are preferably very flexible with straight inner portions and curved outer ends or portions, and spaced around the inner surface of nose  24  or the outer surface of core housing  32 . After being secured to or in the nose  24 , the flexible elements  28  are free to flex during flight after being hit by a racquet. Each of the elements  28  includes a plurality of openings  44  formed on the outer portion thereof. 
     The core housing  32  is inserted and held in the opening in base  24  to form the completed shuttlecock  10 , shown in FIGS. 2-5. Each of the tail portions  28  includes at least two and preferably more openings or apertures  44  formed at the outer ends thereof. These apertures are sized and dimensioned so as to provide control of the shuttlecock  10  during flight after it is hit by a racquet, or the like. Each tail portion  28  is cut, formed or stamped to provide its shape and size, as well as the plurality of apertures  44 . 
     The core housing  32  holds the piston  34  therein, against the spring  38 . The piston  34  is held in the core housing  32  in any desired manner, such as by a retaining means, to allow movement thereof, against the bias of the spring, when struck by a racquet. 
     As shown in the drawings, the assembled base  24  and tail  26  are ideally sized and shaped to control the flight of the shuttlecock when struck by a racquet. 
     The apertures  44  in the tail portions  28  may vary in size and may include dividing segments therebetween or therein. By varying the size of the apertures and the dividing or separating segments, the movement of the shuttlecock in different weather conditions (calm, light winds, heavier winds) is varied. Or, if desired, different size bases  24  and tail portions  28  may be utilized depending on the skill of the players when hitting the shuttlecock back and forth through the flyzone  14 . 
     It, therefore, can be seen that the present invention provides an improved and novel game and shuttlecock for use therewith, which allows two or more players to hit the shuttlecock, which has uncontrolled flight characteristics, with a racquet through a marked-off area or space, and scoring the game, as described. The tail portions may be changed if a base made from a different material or size is used, or if different weather conditions prevail. 
     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.