Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/012,144, filed Dec. 7, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to a recreational game and in particular to a portable rebound ball game. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Stepball or stoopball (the terms are used synonymously herein) is a game involving one or more players in which a ball is thrown at an outdoor flight of steps or stairway to strike one of the steps and rebound back toward the players. The object of the game is for a player to catch a ball thrown at the stairway after it has rebounded off one of the steps. 
         [0004]    Because a suitable stoop or outdoor stairway may be unavailable or inaccessible for a variety of reasons, several portable stepball apparatus have been proposed by which players may conceivably play stepball in such places as a street, a parking lot, a playground, a park or campground, a back yard, a school yard, a driveway, on the beach or virtually any other outdoor location. Examples of such apparatus are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,133,531; 5,407,210; 5,531,449; 5,967,519 and 6,585,610. 
         [0005]    Of these, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,531,449 and 6,585,610 disclose devices comprising front and rear panels joined at an upper edge to form an assembly which, in operation, assumes the shape of an inverted “V”. The sloped front panel of these devices functions as the game playing surface. 
         [0006]    Classic stepball is played against an actual stoop or outdoor stairway consisting of steps having horizontal foot-supporting tread portions and vertical riser portions. In contrast, the sloped front panels U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,531,449 and 6,585,610 merely have slightly raised ridges or protrusions provided along sloping “riser” portions of the sloped front panel. The ridges or protrusions are neither structurally nor functionally equivalent in size, shape, depth, orientation or surface area to a tread portion of a step of a conventional stairway. And, the slope of the “riser” portions of the front panel distorts the rebound that would be realized by a conventional vertical step riser. As such, the apparatus taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,531,449 and 6,585,610 are in many ways incapable of simulating the rebound characteristics of stepball played on a conventional stairway. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,133,531; 5,407,210 and 5,967,519 disclose portable stepball apparatus having essentially vertical riser portions and essentially horizontal tread portions. While the apparatus disclosed in these patents more closely simulate the experience of “classic” stepball, they still cannot produce an optimal stepball experience. 
         [0008]    In particular, none of these disclosures teach the use of “nosing” on the forward or player-facing edges of the treads which protrude over (i.e., overhang) the risers beneath. The significance of nosing is that, in combination with treads of substantial depth (unlike the mere ridges or protrusions described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,531,449 and 6,585,610), a ball which strikes the nosing—in contrast with a simple “noseless” riser/tread edge—will undergo more complicated and unpredictable bounces, caroms or rebounds, thereby enhancing the experience and challenge of a stepball game. That is, tread nosing produces an element of rebound unpredictability which is unattainable by the aforementioned patents. 
         [0009]    An advantage exists, therefore, for a portable stepball game apparatus including a stairway at least one step having an essentially vertical riser portion and an essentially horizontal tread portion and further including nosing on the forward or player-facing edges of the tread portion(s) which protrudes over the riser portions therebeneath, whereby the apparatus enables players to enjoy a more challenging experience than heretofore offered by portable stepball/stoopball devices heretofore known in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides a portable stepball/stoopball game apparatus including a lightweight, simulated stairway that is collapsible into a portable carrying case or frame which may be easily transported to and erected in virtually any play environment. The stairway comprises at least one step including an essentially vertical riser portion and an essentially horizontal tread portion wherein the tread portion includes nosing on its player-facing edge which protrudes over the riser portion therebeneath. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the frame includes a handle for transporting the apparatus. Optionally, the frame or the stairway may include wheels, rollers, casters, skids and/or other means for facilitating pulled transport of the apparatus. The frame further desirably includes a compartment for storing at least one ball suitable for use in playing stepball. 
         [0012]    Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of the presently preferred embodiments and presently preferred methods of practicing the invention proceeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating how a game of stepball/stoopball may be played using a stepball apparatus according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of a stepball apparatus according to the present invention in an operative play position and an inoperative storage/transport position; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a stepball apparatus according to the present invention in an operative play position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring to the drawings wherein like or similar references indicate like or similar elements throughout the several views, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a schematic depiction of a typical play in a stepball game employing a portable stepball game apparatus according to the invention. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a portable stepball game apparatus, identified generally by reference numeral  10 , is shown in side view along with (at least) first and second players  12  and  14 . Player  12  plays the role of a pitcher and at least one player  14  plays the role of a fielder. To initiate play, the pitcher  12  tosses a resilient ball  16  toward apparatus  10 . The ball rebounds off of any number of surfaces of apparatus  10  that may result in an “out” or a “hit” as generally described below. 
         [0019]    As generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,449, typical, although non-limitative, rules of a game played with the apparatus  10 , which have a number of similarities with baseball are as follows:
   1. Any number of players can play the game;   2. The ball  16  is thrown at a striking face of apparatus  10 ;   3. The rebounding ball  16  must stay in bounds;   4. If ball  16  bounces outside of unillustrated foul lines it is an automatic out;   5. All other outs are made by the opposing player(s)  14  catching the ball  16  on the fly;   6. Each player or team gets three outs;   7. Games can be played using a team or having each player keep their own individual scores;   8. The highest score wins; and   9. The usual length of a game is nine innings.   
 
         [0029]    It will be understood, however, that players may invent any number of rebound games and rules therefor using apparatus  10  to satisfy their needs, desires and imagination. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  (in solid line) and  FIG. 3  illustrate a stepball apparatus  10  according to the present invention in an upright, operative position. Apparatus  10  comprises a stairway  18  preferably pivotally connected generally proximate a first end thereof at pivot  20  to carrying frame  22 . While a pivoted connection between stairway  18  and frame  22  is preferred, it is not required. For example, stairway  18  and frame  22  may be connected to one another by one or more slots and tabs or other means for enabling placement of the stairway into its operative and inoperative positions as described herein. 
         [0031]    Frame  22  preferably has opposed side members  24  and opposed end members  26  affixed substantially transverse to the side members. Frame  22  further includes first support means  28  ( FIG. 2 ) for supporting stairway  18  in a closed, inoperative position. First support means  28  may be a panel. However, to conserve construction materials and carrying weight, first support means  28  may comprise a pair of opposed flanges provided on inner faces of side members  24 . Frame  22  and stairway  18  may be fabricated from any suitable rugged material such as wood, plastic, metal, or any combination thereof, that is/are of sufficient strength to sustain the structural integrity of the frame and stairway in both operative and inoperative positions of the stairway. Although not illustrated, frame  22  may also include a cover situated generally opposite first support means  28  for inhibiting ingress of moisture and debris when the stairway  18  is a collapsed, inoperative position. 
         [0032]    Frame  22  desirably includes a carrying handle  30  for easy transport of the apparatus and a compartment  32  for carrying at least one resilient playing ball  34 . As most clearly shown in  FIG. 2 , compartment  32  desirably includes a floor  36  and a wall  38 , which in combination with an end member  26 , form a receptacle for holding ball(s)  34 . Frame  22  is preferably selectively opened and closed by a cover  40  which may be pivoted, snapped, latched, friction-fit, or otherwise connected or connectable to frame  22 . 
         [0033]    Apparatus  10  also includes second support means  42  for releasably sustaining stairway  18  in an upright, operative position, as described below. Second support means  42  may comprise one or more removable single or multiple piece braces or struts which may be stored in compartment  32  or other suitable location exteriorly or interiorly of frame  22 . In the alternative, as illustrated, second support means  42  may comprise at least one, preferably two or more, hinged two-link collapsible struts or braces (only one of which is shown in the figures) pivotally supported at their opposite ends to the stairway  18  and frame  22 . Second support means  42  is preferably disposed at an angle α ( FIG. 2 ) to provide sufficient support to stairway  18  when the stairway is in an upright, operative (play) position. Generally, angle α may range from about 20° to about 90. In operation, angle α is such that stairway  18  is preferably positioned whereby the tread and riser portions of the stairway are respectively disposed essentially parallel and perpendicular to frame  22  and local terrain (which may or may not be perfectly horizontal) when the stairway is in operative, play position. 
         [0034]    For both compactness of the apparatus and protection of the stairway in transport and storage, it is preferred that in a collapsed, inoperative position (as shown in dashed line in  FIG. 2 ), stairway  18  have a depth “D”, including stringer(s) and tread(s) (discussed below), whereby the stairway is disposed substantially at or below the height of frame  22  as established by at least one of either the side members  24  and opposed end members  26 . Apparatus  10  may also include wheels, rollers, casters, skids and/or other means  44  for facilitating pushed or pulled transport of the apparatus over a ground surface ranging from hard pavement to soft sand. 
         [0035]    Stairway  18  includes at least one “step” comprising a riser portion  46  and a tread portion  48 . The riser and tread portions of stairway  18  are supported by one or more stringers  50 . Significantly, and unlike currently known stepball/stoopball game apparatus, the present invention includes protruding edges or “nosing”  50  provided on tread portion(s)  48  on the player-facing side of stairway  18  that overhang the riser portion(s)  46  therebeneath. Nosing  50  produces complicated unpredictable bounces, caroms or rebounds, thereby enhancing the experience and challenge of a stepball game. That is, tread nosing  50  produces an element of rebound unpredictability which is unattainable by portable stepball/stoopball apparatus heretofore known in the art. An example of a rebound influenced by the presence of nosing  50  is depicted in  FIG. 1 . As seen in that figure, a ball  16  is thrown by player  12  (the pitcher) whereupon it first strikes a tread portion  48  of a lowermost one of several steps of stairway  18 . The ball then bounces from the lowermost tread portion and strikes a junction of the upper region of the corresponding riser portion  46  and nosing of the tread portion  48  of the next higher step. The existence of nosing  50  in this instance changes the trajectory of the ball which is ultimately rebounded back to player  14  (the fielder). Were nosing  50  not present, the rebound to fielder under similar toss conditions would quickly become predictable to the fielder, thereby deleteriously affecting the challenge of the game. It will be understood that the trajectory of the ball  16  shown in  FIG. 1  from the pitcher to the fielder  14  is only one of an essentially limitless number of trajectories that the ball may traverse in space because of the presence of a stairway  18  having step(s) including tread portions of substantial depth and forwardly projecting nosing  50 . 
         [0036]    Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed herein.

Technology Category: 1