Patent ID: 7182704

Claim:
A ball game system, comprising: a planar playing surface including a surface adjacent one or more deformable elastic surfaces; a hoop dimensioned to receive a ball and disposed at an elevated position proximate an end of the playing surface; means for adjusting or limiting the elasticity of rebounds provided by the one or more deformable elastic surfaces; means for receiving a payment and providing a signal indicative of a payment being made; means operably connected to the elasticity adjusting or limiting means for controlling the elasticity adjusting or limiting means in response to the signal from the payment receiving means so as to restrict or enable player use of the one or more deformable elastic surfaces; the one or more of deformable elastic surfaces comprise trampolines, each including a flexible fabric to which is connected about a perimeter of the flexible fabric a plurality of biasing members providing elastic forces resisting deformation of the flexible fabric; and the elasticity adjusting or limiting means comprises an inflexible member which is operably connected to the plurality of biasing members to constrain the motion and/or extension of the plurality of biasing members; and at least one movable piston connected to the inflexible member to move the inflexible member to a position so as to oppose the resistive forces provided by the plurality of biasing members, the at least one movable piston being controlled by the control means.