Equipment system for use in a ball throwing game

Abstract

An system of equipment for use in playing games in which pairs of balls that are tethered together are thrown from a distance at horizontal crossbars with the objective of looping sets of balls around the crossbars. The system includes a support stand having several detachable components including the horizontal crossbars that act as the targets in the game, vertical columns that support the crossbars, and a base including support members having support legs for supporting the vertical columns and crossbars. Each vertical column comprises a pair of matching rectangular indent bars joined together with a rectangular shaped in-line connector. The crossbars are constructed of D-shaped tubing and the indent bars have reinforcing ribs that provide added strength and stability to the assembly. The tethered balls are comprised of a soft vinyl material and each pair is connected by a short rope the ends of which are glued into place inside of the balls.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 707,828 filed on Aug. 12, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to games of skill in which objects are thrown or tossed at targets and more particularly to the construction of the equipment including the targets and balls for use in such games. [0003] The lawn or yard game often referred to as “LadderBall”, but also known as “Bolo Ball”, “Ladder Golf”, “Hilly Billy Horseshoes” or “Polish Golf” and by other names, involves tossing pairs of tethered balls at a set of horizontal rungs on a support stand. The balls are usually tethered by a short piece of rope or cord that is 8-12 inches in length. The rungs that are used as the target are usually about 24 inches across and are positioned at vertical heights of approximately 36 inches, 24 inches and 12 inches above the ground. The rungs are supported by vertical columns ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] The present invention comprises an equipment system for use in playing games of LadderBall including a design for a support stand having horizontal crossbars for use as targets and a construction for pairs of tethered balls to be thrown at the crossbar targets with the objective of entangling the balls on the crossbars. The support stand comprises several detachable components including three horizontal crossbars that act as targets, two vertical support columns, two horizontal floor supports and a fourth ground-level crossbar that helps connect the vertical columns and floor supports. Each vertical column comprises two reinforced rectangular indent bars joined together with a hollow rectangular shaped in-line connector. Each floor support comprises two support legs connected at a three way T-joint that also connects the floor support to one of the columns. The crossbars used as targets in the game extend between the vertical columns at different spaced apart levels. Each of the components is constructed of High Density Polystyrene. The fourth crossbar that extends between the columns and floor supports at ground level serves to reinforce the assembly. The design of each component is unique in combining light construction with sturdiness, durability and functionality. In particular, the crossbars are constructed of D-shaped tubing and the indent bars have reinforcements or cross ribs and X-shaped reinforcing ribs that provide added strength and stability to the assembly when in use. The design of the support stand with these crossbars, indent bars and floor supports creates a rugged game stand. The tethered balls are connected by a short rope or cord about twelve inches in length. Each end of the cord is inserted into a small cavity in the ball along with a plug. The end of the rope and plug are glued in place with adhesive. The ball is sized to be about as large as a standard tennis ball and is composed of soft vinyl material with a dimpled surface.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an equipment system that enables a LadderBall type game to be simply and easily assembled and disassembled into a compact and easily stored form.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide an equipment system for a LadderBall type game that provides lightweight and compact components that are easily transported and stored and yet at the same time are rugged and sturdy in operation.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide an equipment system for a LadderBall type game or similar game in which the components are as safe as possible for use by adults and children.

Problems solved by technology

Further, the tethered balls must be strongly connected and rugged yet large enough, light enough and soft enough to not be a safety hazard in case any of the participants are accidentally struck by one of the balls.

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