Patent Publication Number: US-6220599-B1

Title: Dive stick used in aquatic games

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for playing aquatic games. More particularly, it refers to a polymeric flexible dive stick for use in pool games. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Pool toys are generally well known as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,675,522; 3,183,002; 4,515,572; 5,722,871; and 5,928,053. In addition, heavier than water objects have commonly been thrown into pools and various games revolving around the retrieval of such objects from the bottom of the pool are well known. Some of these heavy objects can cause injury to players. A dive stick is needed that is player friendly, has the ability to sink and can either lie flat or stand upright in the bottom of a pool. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     I have invented a dive stick that is made from a one-piece flexible molded polymer such as polyvinyl chloride. The dive stick has a top enclosure that can be empty to allow the dive stick to stand upright in the bottom of a pool or be filled with water to permit the dive stick to rapidly sink and lie flat on a pool bottom. Elongated fins and a bottom pair of parallel shelves promote sinking. One or more dive sticks are thrown into a pool to play various pool games. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dive stick with the cap closed; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dive stick with the cap open; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dive stick with the hinge located between a side wall and front wall; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the dive stick; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the second player diving into a pool to retrieve a dick stick; 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the Beat The Clock game; 
     FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the Individual Races Dive-N-Catch game; 
     FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the Dive Game; and 
     FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the Dive-N-Score game. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
     The dive stick  10  shown in FIG. 1 has four elongated integral wings  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  joined at right angles to each other at a common edge. The top of the four elongated wings is integrally molded to a base  30  of an enclosure  40 . The enclosure  40  additionally has a top wall  20  and four side walls  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28 . One wall  28  has an opening  32  closed by a plug  34  molded with a flexible hinge  36  to top wall  20 . 
     The enclosure  40  has a hollow interior  38  that remains empty so the dive stick  10  will stand upright in the bottom of a pool or is filled with water so the dive stick  10  will lie flat at the bottom of the pool. 
     A first shelf  42  is molded to a bottom of the four elongated wings. A second shelf  44  is spaced apart and parallel to shelf  42 . 
     The dive stick  10  is made from polyvinyl chloride and is usually molded as a single flexible unit about eighteen centimeters in length. The enclosure  40  has a diameter of about two centimeters. Other suitable flexible polymers can be substituted for the polyvinyl chloride polymer. 
     Many pool games can be played with dive stick  10 . The following games I-IV are preferred games. 
     Game I 
     Beat the Clock 
     Player one tosses several flexible dive sticks  10  to the bottom of a pool  46  from one end. The enclosure  40  of each dive stick  10  in this game is filled with water. Player two  48  dives to the bottom of the pool and retrieves the dive sticks and returns to the opposite end of the pool. The time it takes player two to dive into the pool, retrieve all the dive sticks and return to his/her end of the pool is recorded. Player two then throws the dive sticks into the pool and player one is timed for diving into the pool, retrieving the dive sticks and returning them to his/her side of the pool. The fastest time is the winner. 
     Game II 
     Dive-N-Catch 
     Players one and two drop a dive stick at his/her end of a pool. The dive stick enclosure contains air. Each player simultaneously dives into the pool, retrieves the dive stick on the opposite side and returns to his/her side of the pool. The fastest time is the winner. Multiple dive sticks can be employed to lengthen the contest. 
     Game III 
     Dive Game 
     Player one tosses a dive stick with its enclosure filled with water into the pool. Player two attempts to catch the dive stick before it hits the bottom of the pool. Multiple dive sticks can be thrown. The player who catches the most sticks before they hit the pool bottom is the winner. 
     Game IV 
     Dive-N-Score 
     Players position themselves at opposite ends of a pool. A scorer throws multiple dive sticks containing water in the enclosure into the pool, usually about six, and each player attempts to retrieve as many as possible. The player who retrieves the most is the winner. 
     As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of a preferred embodiment which fulfills each and every concept of the invention and provides a new and useful dive stick for use in aquatic games. 
     Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations in the teachings of the present invention can be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof