Patent Publication Number: US-2011065533-A1

Title: Tethered ball game prepared for being connected to a water supply

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a tethered ball game connected to at a water supply. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The tethered ball game is known as a ball attached to a first end of a tether and where the other end of the tether is anchored to the top of a vertical pole. 
     From U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,284 it is known further to integrate one or more water sprays in said pole wherein the spray impinges upon the tethered ball causing erratic movements of the ball. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates to a tethered ball game system comprising
         a vertical pole secured in its one end such as to the ground,   a ball,   a tether which in the one end is connected to connecting means of said system, and in the other end is connected to said ball, and   a water unit with connecting means for connecting the water unit to a pressurized water supply, said water unit is suitable for spraying water,
 
wherein the tethered ball game system comprises direction control means prepared for directing said sprayed water in one or more directions, said directions is being controlled in dependency of the movement of the ball.
       

     By the term “movement of the ball” is meant the substantially rotating path of the ball around the vertical pole when the game is going on and the ball has been hit by one of the players, such as clockwise or counter clockwise around the pole e.g. as seen from directly above the pole. 
     By providing the tethered ball game with a water unit that can direct sprayed water in dependency of the movement of the ball, it is possible to achieve the effect that water is sprayed towards one or more of the players in dependency of the movement of the ball around the pole. 
     Hereby it is achieved that e.g. water is sprayed in the direction of the player who, according to the rules of the game, shall try to alter the directional movement of the ball which thereby acts as a form of “punishment”. 
     It is further ensured that when a player has been able to change the directional movement of the ball around the pole, the direction of the water spray is altered to a direction towards his opponent player until this player is capable of changing the direction of the ball. 
     In one aspect of the invention, said water unit comprises a nozzle prepared for directing the water into at least one water jet. Hereby it is ensured that a sufficiently intense jet of water is generated for the direction control means in order to be sprayed in a desired direction. 
     In another aspect of the invention, said water unit further comprises means for regulating properties of the water jet, such as the strength, direction, form provided e.g. by a water tap, a nozzle, a vaporizer and/or a diffuser. Hereby it is ensured that the jet of water can be controlled/regulated so that it is adapted to the actual environment of the game e.g. the distance of the spray, the strength of the spray etc. Furthermore the form of the jet such as thin jet, a jet with wide horizontal spread, a jet with wide vertical spread etc. can be controlled. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, said water unit is connected to a water supply by means of a quick coupling such as a standard ½″ coupling to a garden hose. Hereby a fast connection to a water supply is ensured which in various embodiments of the invention may alter in e.g. form and size of said quick coupling. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, said direction control means is placed directly above the water unit and comprises one or more guide means prepared for guiding said sprayed water in alternating directions. Hereby it is ensured that the water spray is directed in one or more desired directions as a part of the tethered ball game. 
     In another aspect of the invention, said one or more guide means is designed by curved tubes. Hereby it is ensured that the water is sprayed in desired directions with simple means. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, said system comprises at least one swiveling component prepared for following the direction of the movement of the ball. Hereby it is ensured that the direction of the movement of the ball such as in relation to the vertical pole is detected. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, said swiveling component is prepared for controlling the position of direction control means. Hereby it is ensured that the direction control means is correctly controlled so as to direct the water spray in desired directions in dependency of the game. 
     The invention also relates to a tethered ball game unit comprising a water unit and direction control means wherein said unit is prepared for being releasable attached to a vertical tethered ball pole. Hereby it is ensured that said unit can be subsequently installed on an existing conventional tethered ball game without the additional water play and can achieve the advantageous features of the tethered ball game system. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the tethered ball game unit further comprises a swiveling component. Hereby it is ensured that the direction of the movement of the ball such as in relation to the vertical pole is detected. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates schematically one embodiment of the invention in an inclined perspective, 
         FIG. 2  illustrates schematically one embodiment of the invention in a further inclined perspective, 
         FIG. 3  illustrates schematically a frontal representation of one embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 4  illustrates schematically one side view of the one embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 5  illustrates schematically one embodiment of the invention as seen from behind, 
         FIG. 6  illustrates schematically a second embodiment of the invention as seen from a first view, 
         FIG. 7  illustrates schematically a detailed view of part of the second embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 8  illustrates schematically a second embodiment of the invention as seen from a second view, and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates schematically a second embodiment of the invention in a further inclined perspective. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates schematically one embodiment of the invention in an inclined perspective. 
     The present invention relates to a tethered ball game system which adds a further dimension to the known conventional tether ball game by spraying water on the players of the game in dependency of the movement of the ball. 
     For various embodiments of the invention, water is directed and sprayed on the player who have not hit the ball last. 
     In general the invented tethered ball game system comprises three main components:
         a swiveling component ( 1 )   direction control means, and   a water unit       

     The function of the swiveling component ( 1 ) is to follow the movement of the ball i.e. the rotational direction of the ball around the vertical pole of the game. 
     The function of said direction control means is to direct a water spray in one or more desired directions such as towards one of the players, in dependency of the movement of the ball. The direction control means may for various embodiments interact with the swiveling component such as when the swiveling component changes direction due to a change in the movement of the ball, then the swiveling component actuates the direction control means to change direction of the water spray. 
     The function of the water unit is to provide connection to a water supply system such as a gardening hose and to provide the water spray. 
     The said components may exist separated, partly or fully integrated with each other and/or with other components of the tethered ball game such as a vertical pole. 
     The embodiment schematically illustrated in  FIG. 1 , comprises at least one swiveling component  1  that follows the direction of the tethered ball game. Here the swiveling component  1  is constructed by a cup/tube  2  that is placed over the top of the vertical pole  3  of the tether ball game, an endplate  7  and an actuator  8  prepared for interacting with direction control means hereby affecting the direction control means to direct the water spray to e.g. one out of two positions dependent of the movement of the ball. 
     For this embodiment a milling  4  (not illustrated) provides that a connection means  5  which connects the top of the vertical pole with the tether of the game  6  connected to the ball of the game in its other end, is not hindered in movement e.g. by rotation of the connection means  5  in the horizontal plane around the pole  3  as a consequence of the outcome of the game. Furthermore the said milling  4  provides that the swiveling component  1  follows the direction of the game. 
     The endplate  7  releasable attached on said cup/tube  2  ensures that said cup/tube  2  remains placed over the top of the pole and does not travel along the pole  3  to the other end of the pole  3 . 
     The water unit which, for this embodiment comprises a nozzle  10  and a quick coupling  12 , is prepared to provide connection to a water supply system such as a gardening hose and to provide water spray out of the nozzle  10 . 
     The connection to the water supply may for various embodiments of the invention be done by a “Quick-coupling”  12  such as a standard ½″ hose connection or the like. 
     Direction control means are for this embodiment, arranged directly above the nozzle  10  and comprise carrying means  9  and guide means  11 . The guide means  11  receives a water jet from the nozzle and are capable of guiding said jet so that it alters direction. The guide means  11  are for this embodiment attached on carrying means  9  which in turn is prepared to be able to change position so that water from the nozzle, guided by guide means  11 , can be altered e.g. between two positions. 
     The carrying means  9  comprises in this embodiment of the invention, control means  11  formed as curved tubes. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of the invention in a further inclined perspective. 
     Clarified on this figure is the milling  4  through which the connection means  5  protrude. By rotation of the connection means  5  in the horizontal plane around the pole  3 , the connection means  5  will push the cup/tube  2  which in turn will follow the connection means  5  in its circulation. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of the tether ball game, the game is constructed so as the connection means  5  can rotate around the pole  3  in a threaded trace. 
     In another embodiment of the tether ball game, the tether  6  (not illustrated) is attached directly on top of the pole  3 . The swiveling component  1  will however still have and perform the same function as described above as the tether  6  will be located in the milling  4  and now will push directly to the cup/tube  2  and thus will follow the tether  6  in its rotational movement. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a frontal representation of one embodiment of the invention. 
     The said actuator  8  is attached on the swiveling component  1  and thus follows the rotation of the component  1  around the pole  3  as indicated by arrows on the figure. 
     The function of the actuator  8  is to push a pintle  13  (not illustrated on this figure—see e.g.  FIG. 4 ) affecting the carrying means  9  to alter its position to take one of at least two positions determined by the direction of rotation of the game. 
     The direction control means  9 ,  11  comprises for this embodiment curved tubes  11   a,    11   b  and is designed so that the jet of water sprayed out of the nozzle  10  will pass either through  11   a  or  11   b  which in turn, due to the different curvatures of the means  11   a,    11   b,  results in that the jet is directed in alternating directions dependent on the position of the carrying means  9 . 
     As an example for the present embodiment, as an initial position the carrying means  9  is positioned as on  FIG. 3  i.e. the guide means  11   a,  is placed directly above the nozzle  10  and directs the water jet from the nozzle  10  to a first direction. 
     When the swiveling component  1  rotates, dependent of the direction of rotation, the actuator  8  may push to the pintle  13  (illustrated on  FIG. 4 ) so that the carrying means  9  may alter position i.e. rotate around the centre of the means. By this change in position, the guide means  11   b  is being placed directly above the nozzle  10  and directs the water jet from the nozzle  10  to a second direction. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates one side view of the one embodiment of the invention. 
     Clarified by this figure is how the actuator  8  can interact and push to the pintle  13  on the carrying means  9  whereby the position of the carrying means  9  is altered. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of the invention as seen from behind. 
     Clarified on this figure are end-stops  14  on the carrying means  9 . By rotating the carrying means  9  around its centre, the end-stops  14  will impact against a fixated item (not illustrated) at predefined positions. This way it is ensured that the control means  11   a,    11   b  are placed correctly directly above the nozzle  10 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates schematically a second embodiment of the invention as seen from a first view. 
     Specific for this embodiment is the construction of direction control means  9 ,  11  and actuator  8 . 
     The direction control means comprises for this embodiment of carrying means  9  and vanes  15 . 
     As for the previous described embodiment an actuator  8  has the function to affect the direction control means to alter its position in dependency of the rotation of the game. 
     When the swiveling component  1  comprising the actuator  8  is rotated, the actuator  8  is pushing to the pintle  13  on the inner side of the carrying means  9 . In this way the carrying means is pushed to follow the rotation of the swiveling component  1  until the carrying means reaches a predefined end-stop  14 . At the end-stop  14  one of the vanes  15  are correctly placed directly above the nozzle  10  and the water jet of the nozzle are directed to a desired direction. 
     As the swiveling component  1  may continue to rotate more than one turn in the same rotational direction, the actuator  8  may impact the pintle  13  more than once. But as the carrying means  9  is already at its end-stop  14  it can not be re-positioned further in this direction. Therefore the actuator  8  and swiveling means  1  is constructed so that it easily slides up and over the pintle  13  and thereby does not halt the rotational movement of the swiveling component  1  does not interrupt the game. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates schematically a detailed view of part of the second embodiment of the invention. 
     Clarified on this figure is how the rotation of carrying means  9  is halted by end-stop  14  in one rotational direction. A similar construction is made for halting the carrying means  9  in the other rotational direction. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates schematically a second embodiment of the invention as seen from a second view. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates schematically a second embodiment of the invention in a further inclined perspective. 
     Especially clarified on this figure is how one of the vanes  15  is positioned above the nozzle  10  when the carrying means  9  is positioned at one end stop. 
     During the game when the game system is connected to a water supply, a water jet is leaving the nozzle  10  and hits the vane  15  whereby it is guided in a desired direction e.g. towards one of the players.