Abstract:
A bat and ball game apparatus comprises:  
     bat 1 to which a ball 2 is operatively coupled via an elastic tethering line 3; and  
     means 5 for adjusting the tethering line to a required play length. The means 5 is mounted to the bat and can be manipulated to provide the required play length of the tethering line, which is then effective in repetitive striking of the ball with the bat.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a bat and ball game apparatus, such as that referred to as a paddle bat.  
         BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A relatively old and popular game using a bat and ball connected by an elastic cord has been available for some years. The ball is hit repeatedly with the bat as the elastic cord returns the ball to the bat. The frustration of this game is not only its skill factor which the user must master, but also the fact that the elastic cord keeps breaking and frequently needs replacement or adjustment.  
           [0003]    Earlier versions of the bat and ball included a wooden bat with a cord attached to the bat by a staple. Breakage of the cord required its shortening or replacement. Another version of the bat and ball game included a small hole through the bat allowing additional cord to be wound around the handle. This allowed adjustment of the tethering line for either cord replacement or a variation of the cord length for different age and expertise levels. However, this and other versions of the bat and ball still frustrated the user with frequent broken elastic cord, and string length adjustment which are relatively clumsy and require a high degree of dexterity.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a bat and ball game apparatus comprising:  
           [0005]    a bat to which a ball is operatively coupled via an elastic tethering line; and  
           [0006]    means for adjusting the tethering line to a required play length, said means being mounted to the bat whereby said means can be manipulated to provide the required play length of the tethering line which is then effective in repetitive striking of the ball with the bat.  
           [0007]    Preferably said means for adjusting the tethering line includes a spool assembly about which a retained portion of the elastic tethering line is wound. More preferably the spool assembly is mounted substantially internally of the bat.  
           [0008]    Typically said means for adjusting the tethering line includes a plug having an aperture through which the elastic tethering line passes, the plug being configured to removably insert within an opening provided in a striking face of the bat. More typically the plug is constructed of a resiliently flexible material wherein wear of the tethering line about the aperture is substantially minimised.  
           [0009]    Preferably the plug when inserted in the hole is configured to engage the elastic tethering line whereby the plug serves, during repetitive striking of the ball, to maintain the required length of the tethering line. More preferably the plug is designed to jam the tethering line against the bat wherein the tethering line is maintained at the required length.  
           [0010]    According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a plug for removably fitting to a bat of a bat and ball game apparatus, said plug comprising an aperture being adapted to receive an elastic tethering line which operatively couples a ball to the bat, the plug being adapted to engage the tethering line whereby in play the plug serves, during repetitive striking of the ball, to maintain a required length of the tethering line.  
           [0011]    Typically the plug is constructed of a resiliently flexible material wherein wear of the tethering line about the aperture is substantially minimised. More typically the plug is configured to removably insert in a hole provided in a face of the bat.  
           [0012]    Preferably the plug when inserted in the hole is configured to engage the elastic tethering line whereby the plug serves, during repetitive striking of the ball, to maintain the required length of the tethering line. More preferably the plug is designed to jam the tethering line against the bat wherein the tethering line is maintained at the required length.  
           [0013]    Generally the tethering line is of a sufficient length wherein breakage of the line can be remedied by manipulation of the means for adjusting the tethering line which can be extended to the required length for play. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present invention a preferred embodiment of the bat and ball game apparatus will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a bat and ball game apparatus;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is an upper elevational view of the bat and ball game apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the bat and ball game apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view in section of the bat and ball game apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the bat and ball game apparatus of the preceding Figures;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view in section of the bat and ball game apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a further front and side elevational view in section of the bat and ball game apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the elastic tethering line in conjunction with the spool assembly and plug. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]    As shown in FIG. 1 there is one embodiment of a bat and ball apparatus wherein a bat  1  is attached to a ball  2  via an elastic tethering line in the form of an elastic cord  3 . The sponge ball  2  encloses on the cord  3  which is threaded through the ball  2 . The elastic cord  3  passes through an aperture formed in a plug  4  and internally is wound around a spool  5  which protrudes at the top of the bat  1 . The spool  5  can be removed from within the bat  1  by releasing a plastic clip pin  6 . In FIGS. 1 and 2 the spool  5  can be seen from the top and can be manipulated or rotated by a thumb or finger to lengthen or shorten the elastic cord  3  when the stop plug  4  is removed from a hole in the bat  1 . The spool  5  rotates around an axle clip pin  6  until a desired play length depending on the expertise level is achieved. When the required play length of the elastic cord  3  is determined, the stop plug  4  is put back into the hole.  
         [0023]    The stop plug  4  provides enough pressure underneath on the elastic cord  3  against the bottom of the hole thus preventing any movement. Minimal friction is also achieved at the top of plug  4  where the elastic cord  3  protrudes from the preferred centre. The stop plug  4  can be easily removed from the bat  1  by levering a finger under the stop plug  4  at the under cut  7 . The elastic cord  3  is jammed by the base of the plug  4  against the plastic bat  1  at the bottom of the hole where the plug  4  fits. The frictional point of the elastic cord  3  is at the top of the rubber plug  4  as the cord  3  is inserted through the plug  4  with the repair hook  8 . The rubber plug  4  encloses on the elastic cord  3  in the same way as the cord  3  is attached to the rubber ball  2 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a rear view of the bat and ball game of FIG. 1 showing the axle clip pin  6  which can be removed.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing how the pin  6  locks into bat  1  so that the removable spool  5  can be replaced when the elastic cord  3  is exhausted.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the side of the bat  1  indicating how the pin  6  and the spool  5  position into the bat  1 . In this example the two halves of the bat  1  are sonic welded together to form the whole bat  1 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is the bottom half of the bat  1  showing how the spool  5  is positioned off centre of the hole plug  4  to allow free flowing of the elastic cord  3  out to the ball  2 . A repair hook  8  is positioned inside the bat  1  and can be removed for simple repairs to thread the elastic cord  3  through the stop plug  4  or ball  2 .  
         [0028]    In FIG. 7 a full scale drawing similar to FIG. 6 shows the ball  2  and elastic cord  3  as it enters the plug hole  4  and feeds onto the spool  5 . The stop plug  4  when positioned prevents further elastic cord  3  from coming off the spool  5  and reduces friction at the centre of plug  4  and thus prevents premature breakage. The spool  5  can hold any amount of additional cord  3  to the diameter of the spool  5 . This additional cord  3  can be released as and when it may break from time to time. In this embodiment the stop plug  4  together with the spool  5  constitute means for adjusting the tethering line or elastic cord  3 .  
         [0029]    It should now be appreciated that this embodiment of the bat and ball game provides an adjustable elastic cord spool feeder system inside the bat  1  that provides improved performance and continuity of play. More specifically the bat and ball game provides an adjustable elastic cord spool feeder system inside the bat  1  wherein the cord  3  is released from the spool  5  when a stop plug  4  is removed from the centre of the bat  1  and replaced after the required play length has been extracted. The spool  5  is positioned off centre of the bat  1  to allow free running of the cord  3  to the centre plug  4 . The preferred stop plug  4  of this example is made of a resiliently flexible sponge rubber type material that preferably has the elastic cord  3  threaded through the centre of it for maximum protection from friction. Similarly the elastic cord  3  could be positioned to one side of the plug  4  for protection. When the plug  4  is within the hole of the bat  1  it prevents further release of the cord  3  from the spool. This is achieved as the elastic cord  3  is jammed by the base of the plug  4  against the plastic bat  1  at the bottom of the hole. The frictional point of the elastic cord  3  however is at the top of the rubber plug  4 . In use the ball  2  either hits the hat  1  or the rubber plug  4 , which prevents premature breaking of the elastic cord  3  at the frictional point because of the resilience or soft nature of the ball  2  elastic cord  3  and stop plug  4 .  
         [0030]    Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in some derail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the bat and ball game has at least the following advantages:  
         [0031]    1. the bat and ball game assembly provides a relatively effective means of adjusting the required length of the elastic tethered line between the bat and ball;  
         [0032]    2.the bat and ball game assembly is relatively effective in minimising the likelihood of breakage of the elastic tethering line; and  
         [0033]    3. the bat and ball game assembly is relatively easy and effective during play.  
         [0034]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For example, the bat and ball game assembly may include the plug only as the means for adjusting the tethering line to its required play length. The plug may be constructed of a range of materials which minimise wear of the tethering line about the aperture of the plug.  
         [0035]    All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.