Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is related to, claims the earliest available effective filing date(s) from (e.g., claims earliest available priority dates for other than provisional patent applications; claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patent applications), and incorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of the following listed application(s) (the “Related Applications”) to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith; the present application also claims the earliest available effective filing date(s) from, and also incorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Related Application(s) to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith.
       1. U.S. provisional patent application 61/180,867, entitled “MINIATURE KICK BAG GAME AND APPARATUS KIT”, naming Kerry J. Semple and Christopher M. Poirier as inventors, filed 24 May 2009.       
 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    1. Field of Use 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to Game Devices and more particularly pertains to a new Kick Bag Game and Apparatus Kit for playing a foot bag game between opposing teams divided into two zones by a mesially positioned portable reticulated net, wherein the players must kick the foot bag back and forth over the net to score points. 
         [0005]    2. Description of Prior Art (Background) 
         [0006]    The use of kick bag game devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, game devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
         [0007]    Known prior art Game Devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,228; U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,043; U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,277; U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,990; U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,834; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 313,639; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,980. 
         [0008]    While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new miniature kick gag game and apparatus kit designed for young children and older adults. For example, an objective of U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,980 to Trotman is to provide a game that incorporates soccer, volley ball, and tennis. It will be appreciated that volley ball net heights are over seven feet. Even tennis nets are upwards of four feet. These net-heights make it almost impossible for young children and older adults to participate in Trotman&#39;s game. 
         [0009]    In addition the prior art does not disclose a straightforward method for supporting the net and marking the court boundary. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,980 to Trotman discloses cumbersome net support poles with bases that need to be inflated. It will be appreciated that inflatable bases are very susceptible to leakage and damage. Alternatives in the prior art do not easily accommodate portable boundary markers such as line or rope. Nor does the prior art disclose or suggest a game kit with built in markers for marking the court boundaries. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The foregoing and other problems are overcome, and other advantages are realized, in accordance with the presently preferred embodiments of these teachings. 
         [0011]    As will be described below, the inventive device includes a built in court boundary marker for marking the court, a portable reticulated net, two feet in height and positioned across the center of the court supported vertically at the ends by a first and second support poles, and supported in the center by a third support pole. 
         [0012]    In these respects, and others described herein, the Miniature Kick Bag Game and Apparatus Kit according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of playing a foot bag game between opposing teams divided into two zones by a mesially positioned, portable reticulated net two feet in height, wherein the players must kick the foot bag back and forth over the net to score points. 
         [0013]    In accordance with one embodiment of the invention a miniature kick bag game and apparatus kit is provided. The miniature kick bag game and apparatus kit includes at least one portable reticulated net formed in an elongated rectangular shape positioned at the elongated center aligned vertically thereby dividing the playing court into two team zones. Also included is at least one net support; a first support structure for engaging one end of the at least one net support; a second support structure for engaging another end of the at least one net support; and a third support structure for supporting the center of the reticulated net, wherein the first support structure, the second support structure and the third support structure are substantially two feet in height when positioned vertically. 
         [0014]    The invention is also directed towards miniature kick bag game and apparatus kit having portable reticulated net formed in an elongated rectangular shape positioned at the elongated center aligned vertically thereby dividing a playing court into two team zones. A net support for supporting the portable reticulated net wherein includes a fixed length net support for measuring the side length and width of one side of the playing court The invention also includes a support structure for engaging one end of the at least one net support and includes a linear directional support device for ensuring one side of the playing court boundary is perpendicular to the portable reticulated net. A second linear directional support device ensures a second side of the playing court boundary indicator is perpendicular to the portable reticulated net and parallel to the first side of the playing court boundary indicator. The invention also provides a third support structure for supporting the center of the net support. The first support structure, the second support structure and the third support structure are substantially two feet in height when positioned vertically. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of a new Miniature Kick Bag Game and Apparatus Kit according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one of the portable reticulated nets supported by the first support structure in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the portable reticulated nets supported by the third support structure in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a staked line boundary marker in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is upper perspective view of a new Miniature Kick Bag Game and Apparatus Kit displaying the built in boundary measuring feature of the invention in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new Miniature Kick Bag Game and Apparatus Kit embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  100  will be described. 
         [0022]    More specifically, it will be noted that the Miniature Kick Bag Game and Apparatus Kit  100  comprises a court boundary marker  10  displaying a rectangular playing court, portable reticulated nets  16  and  18  formed in an elongated rectangular shape positioned at the center of the rectangular court and aligned vertically thereby dividing the playing court into two team zones, and a foot bag  12  which is kicked by a player  14  with his side of foot  14  over the portable reticulated nets  16  and  18 . 
         [0023]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , it can be shown that a first support pole  26  engages one end of one of the portable reticulated net supports  20  via an elbow  22 . The opposing end of the first support pole  26  engages a T-support  24 . T-support  24  is adapted to provide linear directional support and guidance to boundary marker  10 . Also shown in  FIG. 2 , is portable reticulated net  16  suitable attached to net support  20 . It will be appreciated that portable reticulated net  16  may be any suitable material suitable for advertisement marking as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    Also shown in  FIG. 1 , is second support pole  26 A engaging one end of one of the portable reticulated net supports  30  via an elbow  22 A. The opposing end of the first support pole  26 A engages a second T-support  24 A. Second T-support  24 A is adapted to provide linear directional support and guidance to boundary marker  10 . Also shown in  FIG. 1 , is portable reticulated net  18  suitable attached to net support  30 . It will be appreciated that portable reticulated net  18  may be any suitable netting material. 
         [0025]    It will be understood that in alternate embodiments net  16 , or net  18 , may be of sufficient length to reach from the first support pole  26  to the second support pole  26 A. 
         [0026]    Referring also to  FIG. 3  there is shown is a perspective view of the portable reticulated nets supported by the third support structure. The third support pole  34  engages one end of net support  30  via third T-support  32 . The other third T-support  32  connects net support  20  to the third support pole  34 . The third support pole is also connected to a fourth T-support  36  to provide lateral stability. 
         [0027]    It will be understood and appreciated that the assembled height of net support  20  and net support  30  when assembled with the first support pole  26 , the second support pole  26 A and the third support pole  34  is approximately 2 feet high. 
         [0028]    Referring also to  FIG. 4  there is shown a perspective view of a staked line boundary marker in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . Boundary marker  10  may be any suitable marker such as rope or line. Boundary marker  10  may be a predetermined length to form a desired perimeter or measured according to the inventive features described herein.  FIG. 4  also shows stakes  10 A for staking boundary marker  10  and thereby defining a corner of the playing area. Stakes  10 A may be any suitable stake such as, but not limited to, plastic camping type stakes. 
         [0029]    Referring also to  FIG. 5 , there is shown an upper perspective view of the new Miniature Kick Bag Game and Apparatus Kit displaying the built in boundary measuring feature of the invention. Net support  20  and net support  30  are predetermined lengths and correspond to the desired dimensions of the court boundaries as shown in  FIG. 5 . It will be appreciated that this feature is useful when marking the boundaries on a hard surface that does not permit the boundary marker  10  to be staked with stakes  10 A. It will be understood that any suitable combination of net support  20  and net support  30  may be used to measure and mark the desired dimensions of the court boundaries. For example the combined length of net support  20  and net support  30  could be, in one embodiment, ten feet. The corresponding court size measured by the combined lengths is on one side of the net a ten by ten foot area. The other side of the net is also a ten by ten foot area. 
         [0030]    Basic Rules of the Game—To start the game you must volley for serve. It does not matter who starts the volley, which can be decided by a coin toss or the winner of the last game. During the volley the hackey sack must be kicked over the net three consecutive times. After the third consecutive times the first team who lets the hackey sack touch the ground loses the volley and looses the first serve, at the volley winner&#39;s discretion. 
         [0031]    The hackey sack is served, i.e., kicked over the net support  20  or net support  30  from outside boundary marker  10 . If the hackey sack is kicked out of bounds the serving side loses the serve to the opposing team or player. If the hackey sack is kicked within bounds the opposing team or player may return the serve, without letting the hackey sack touch the ground, with any part of the body except for using their hands. Each side has up to three hits or kicks to return the hackey sack. In the case of team play, one person may use all three kicks or hits, or the hits or kicks, up to three, may be allocated amongst the team. 
         [0032]    Points are awarded to the serving player or team when the opposing team lets the hackey sack touch the ground or fails to return the hackey sack within three kicks or hits, or kicks the hackey sack out-of-bounds. A game is won when a team reaches a score of twenty-one points first and is also at least two points over the opposing player or team score; or, alternatively if a player or team reaches fifteen points before the opposing team or player scores any point. 
         [0033]    It will be appreciated that the game rules described herein may be suitably modified according to players abilities or preferences. 
         [0034]    It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Thus, various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 1