Abstract:
A ball game with skipping implement and targets comprised of a skipping implement ( 22 ) having a highly efficient rebounding and skipping surface ( 56 ) where by a player ( 16 ) can throw a ball ( 14 ) onto the skipping implement ( 22 ) redirecting the ball ( 14 ) in a multitude of directions including targeting a basket ( 10 ) for recreation and game play.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to ball games, in particular to ball games allowing the player to uniformly rebound a ball in a consistent manor. 
     Many ball games are in existence, which use a basket as a target. Basketball and some arcade games are representative of these types of games. Some games are played by a player throwing the ball through the air, to target the basket. Other games are played by rebounding or skipping the ball, on a surface, prior to targeting the basket. Rebounding a ball on a surface can be a joyful activity in and of itself. Surfaces vary in their ability to rebound or skip a ball. Grass, dirt, concrete, tile, water, carpet, wood and other surfaces all have different properties. These materials all have impact on a rebounded or skipped ball, thereby affecting just how much fun a rebounding or skipping activity can be. 
     In physics the “trampoline effect” is referred to when the pronounced elasticity of the surface affects the object impacting the surface. Trampolines get their elasticity from the springs or cords which attach the fabric to the frame. None of the surfaces mentioned above have high rebounding and skipping properties. Their properties are actually quite low and a great deal of force is required to rebound or skip a ball, if it is possible to rebound or skip a ball at all, on these surfaces. Even trampolines are not as efficient in their rebounding effects, as one may seem to believe. 
     Accordingly there is a need for a skipping implement which overcomes the limitations of the surfaces noted above and allows a player to uniformly rebound a ball in a consistent manor thereby accommodating the playing of ball games outdoors and indoors. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A skipping implement for a game is provided, the implement comprising a flanged cylinder having a diameter, an opening at a top of the cylinder, an opening at a bottom of the cylinder opposite the top, and a concave side; a fabric having a diameter and a pocket extending circumferentially around a perimeter of the fabric; and a cable located within the pocket of the fabric. The fabric located over the flanged cylinder so as to cover the top of the cylinder and extend over the concave side of the cylinder, the fabric secured in tension over the cylinder by cinching the cable within the pocket of the fabric. 
     In one embodiment the implement further comprises a band clamp located circumferentially around the concave side of the flanged cylinder, the fabric is secured further in tension over the cylinder by cinching the band clamp within the concave side of the flanged cylinder. 
     In one embodiment the implement further comprises a base having an upper surface, the flanged cylinder secured to the base with the bottom of the flanged cylinder against the upper surface of the base. A plurality of clamps may secure a flange of the flanged cylinder to the base. 
     In one embodiment the implement the fabric comprises an about 2 mm by 2 mm weave pattern. 
     In one embodiment the implement the flanged cylinder has a diameter of about 16 inches. 
     In one embodiment the implement the fabric has an overall diameter of about 21 inches. 
     In one embodiment the implement the game further comprises at least one basket and at least one ball. 
     In one embodiment the basket comprises a plurality of hoops located adjacent to each other to form a  FIG. 8 . 
     In one embodiment a first of the plurality of hoops has a first diameter larger than a diameter of another hoop of the plurality of hoops. 
     In one embodiment a diameter of one of the hoops is about 12 inches and a diameter of another hoop of the plurality of hoops is about 16 inches. 
     In one embodiment a skipping implement for a game is provided, the implement comprising: a flanged cylinder having a diameter of about 16 inches, an opening at a top of the cylinder, an opening at a bottom of the cylinder opposite the top, and a concave side; a fabric having an overall diameter of about 21 inches and a pocket extending circumferentially around a perimeter of the fabric; a cable located within the pocket of the fabric; a band clamp located circumferentially around the concave side of the flanged cylinder; and a base having an upper surface. The fabric is located over the flanged cylinder so as to cover the top of the cylinder and extend over the concave side of the cylinder, the fabric secured in tension over the cylinder by cinching the cable within the pocket of the fabric, the fabric secure further in tension over the cylinder by cinching the band clamp within the concave side of the flanged cylinder, the flanged cylinder secured to the base with the bottom of the flanged cylinder against the upper surface of the base with a plurality of clamps, the fabric comprising an about 2 mm by 2 mm weave pattern. 
     Additional aspects of the present invention will be apparent in view of the description which follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ball game with a skipping implement and targets according to at least one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the skipping implement according to at least one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the skipping implement according to at least one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a section view from  FIG. 2  according to at least one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ball game with a skipping implement and targets according to at least one embodiment. A player  16  standing on a goal spot  50  throws a ball  14  on to the fabric  32  surface  56  of a skipping implement  12 . The ball  14  is rebounded toward a basket  10 . The problem of little or irregular rebound and skip is overcome by the use of the skipping implement  12  as describe herein which allows the player  16  to target basket  10  consistently and/or from greater distances. 
     Basket  10  is comprised of a base  26  in a crossed configuration, in the preferred embodiment. The base  26  could also be of any other shape, such as square or round. A hook  52  is located in the center of the base or at any other location and serves as a connection point for cord  44 . One or more upright members  24 , four in the preferred embodiment, elevate from base  26 . Each upright member  24  has a clamp  22  at its top end. The purpose of the clamps  22  is to secure one or more hoops  18 , two in the preferred embodiment, by friction. Hoops  18  are held together by stabilizer bar  54 . The stabilizer bar  54  is comprised of one or more pieces, two in the preferred embodiment, and is secured to the hoops  18  by fasteners or other means. Nets  20  are strung from hoops  18 . While the nets may or may not be present they serve contain ball  14  thrown into the nets while in play. In the preferred embodiment the top of the hoops  18  are 20 inches from the bottom of the base  26 . The hoops  18  may also be set at other dimensions. The hoops  18 , while they could be of any size, are 12 inches and 16 inches respectively in diameter, in the preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the skipping implement  12 . Skipping implement  12  includes a skipping implement base  28  which in the preferred embodiment is about 18 inches in diameter and made from a medium density fiberboard (MDF). Other dimensions and other heavier weight materials can also be used. Flange clamps  38  are secured to skipping implement base  28  by fasteners  40  and serve the purpose of holding flanged cylinder  30  in its place. An eye screw  42  or other fastening device is used to secure the measuring cord  44  to the skipping implement base  28 . 
     The skipping implement  12  is assembled according to one embodiment in the following manor. Fabric  32  is cut to an approximate 21 inch diameter circle from a vinyl coated fabric  32  with approximately a 0.125 inch by 0.125 inch or an about 2 mm by 2 mm weave pattern. The circumference of this fabric  32  circle is then doubled back upon itself to form a pocket. Stitching  48  is sewn to close the pocket and contains an approximate 0.125 inch diameter steel or other material cable  34 . The fabric  32  assembly is then placed over the flanged cylinder  30 . The cable  34  is then drawn tight and secured upon itself with cable clamp  36 . Then, band clamp  46  is fixed about the outer, concave side of flanged cylinder  30  and drawn tight. The whole assembly is then secured to the skipping implement base  28  in the manor described in the preceding paragraph. Thus, this assembly process forms a resilient surface  56  with the tension in the cable and the band clamp. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the skipping implement  12 . Further disclosed, in this view, is the assembled relationship of component parts of the skipping implement  12 . 
       FIG. 4  is a section view from  FIG. 2 . Further disclosed, in this view, is the assembled relationship of component parts of the skipping implement  12 , inclusive of the method of wrapping the fabric  32  about the flanged cylinder  30 . As can be seen in this view, the cable  36  and the band clamp  46  hold the fabric  32  in the desired tension. 
     The surface  56  of skipping implement  12  resolves the problem other surfaces have in their ability to rebound or skip a ball  14 . A golf ball  14  dropped vertically from a height of 48 inches will rebound 43 inches vertically. This is an immediate return to a height of about 86% from which the golf ball  14  was dropped. This is a highly efficient rebounding and skipping effect unachieved by other material surfaces. 
     The ball game with skipping implement and targets may be played as an outdoor yard game, which can readily be played indoors as well. The game can be played by someone of any age who can throw a ball  14 . 
     The object of the game is to score points by skipping a hardball  14 , (a golf ball  14  in the preferred embodiment) off of the fabric  32  surface  56  of the round, skipping implement  12 , into one of two different diameter target baskets  10  suspended on upright members  24  located at a fixed distance from the skipping implement  12 . 
     Instructions for playing the game are as follows. Locate the game on as flat a surface as possible. Set up the two circular baskets  10 , with the smaller basket  10  located farthest away from the player  16 . Un-wrap the cord  44  from around the skipping implement  12  and fasten the unwrapped end to the hook  52  in the center of the basket base  26 . Locate the skipping implement  12  the length of the cord  44  away from, and in a straight line from the two baskets  10 . The distance will be about 16 feet. Next, determine a distance for the goal spot  50  (where players will play from), directly in line with the skipping implement  12  and the baskets  10 . The goal spot  50  is to be about 6 feet from the center of the skipping implement  12 . The goal spot  50  can be adjusted closer or farther away to accommodate different players  16  abilities. If playing a tournament, a goal distance of 6 feet must be used by all players  16 . 
     Game rules for two or three players  16  are as follows. Each player  16  plays individually against the other players  16 . Each player  16  selects four color matched balls  14 . Players  16  are to determine a final score they want to play to. (Example: 25 points). The larger diameter basket  10  will count one point. The smaller diameter basket  10  will count two points. After determining who will start, that player  16  takes a position on the goal spot  50 , but not off the goal spot  50 , and proceed to skip each ball  14  off the skipping implement  12  into one of the two target baskets  10 . Subsequent players  16  then take their turn, thus completing the round. After completing the round, tally up the score, and recover the balls  14 . Proceed to the next round of play. The players  16  are to resume the same order of play that was started with. In the event of player  16  reaches a predetermined score, and still has balls  14  remaining, the player  16  may use up the remaining balls  14 , and go over the predetermined score. This will be the final round. Subsequent players  16  will do the same. The highest score wins. If there is a tie score, then a playoff round may be played to determine the winner. 
     Game rules for four players are as follows. Players  16  determine if they want to play individually or as a team. Two players  16  team up, and play against the other two players  16 , using the total score of a team to win the game. If playing individually, the two or three player  16  rules apply. Players  16  choose four color matched balls  14 . 
     If team play is chosen, the following rules apply. Players  16  choose four color matched balls  14 . Players  16  predetermine a total score to play to. (Example: 25 or 50 points). Play begins with a player  16  from team A starting the round. Then, a player  16  from team B plays a turn. Then, back to the second player  16  on team A. Then, to the second player  16  on team B. That completes the first round. The score is tallied, and balls  14  are recovered for the next round of play with the same lineup as in round one. Play is continued until the predetermined score is reached. If after reaching the predetermined score, a player  16  still has balls remaining, they can be played beyond the predetermined score. This will be the final round. Subsequent players  16  do the same. The highest team score wins. 
     If in the final round both teams are tied, one player  16  from each team will play off a final round for the tiebreaker. In the event the score is still tied, the other two team members will play off to break the tie. If still tied, rotate players  16  again for another tie break round. 
     While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, from a reading of the disclosure, that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention. 
     REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
                 10 
                 basket 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 12 
                 skipping implement 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 14 
                 ball 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 16 
                 player 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 18 
                 hoop 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 20 
                 net 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 22 
                 clamp 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 24 
                 upright member 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 26 
                 basket base 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 28 
                 skipping implement base 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 30 
                 flanged cylinder 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 32 
                 fabric 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 34 
                 cable 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 36 
                 cable clamp 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 38 
                 fllange clamp 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 40 
                 fastener 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 42 
                 eye screw 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 44 
                 cord 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 46 
                 band clamp 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 48 
                 stitching 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 50 
                 goal spot 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 52 
                 hook 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 54 
                 stabilizer bar 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 56 
                 surface