Games and game devices
The game device uses elastic bands and targets to improve hand-eye coordination and competitive play by enabling precise target hitting and scoring, addressing the need for engaging multiplayer experiences.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024575410
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-06-21
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-21
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing games lack interactive and engaging mechanisms for players to improve hand-eye coordination and competitive play, particularly in multiplayer formats.
A game device utilizing an elastic band or string to propel a striker to hit targets, incorporating features like angled wings and elastic bands for movement, electronic scoring, and a vertical target area with suspended targets, enhancing player interaction and competition.
Enhances hand-eye coordination and competitive play by allowing players to accurately hit and remove targets, providing a fun and challenging experience through varied game mechanics.
Smart Images
Figure 2025520684000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 353,916, filed on June 21, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a game in which one or more players attempt to hit a target with a projectile attached to a flexible holder such as an elastic band or string, and to a game system and apparatus for such a game.
Summary of the Invention
[0003] The above and other features of the present invention, including various novel details of component configurations and combinations, and other advantages, will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It is understood that the exemplary methods and apparatuses for embodying the present invention are shown for purposes of illustration and are not intended to limit the present invention. The principles and features of the present invention can be employed in a variety of numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0004] The drawings are not necessarily to scale and instead emphasis has been placed on illustrating the principles of the present invention.
[0005]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
[0006] All descriptions of the drawings are for the purpose of explaining a selected version of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0007] The game device and the game played thereon can be used, for example, to improve the coordination of the hands and eyes of one or more players.
[0008] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment as a one - player or two - player game device for an exemplary game in which a striker or projectile 6 attached to an elastic band or cord 5 is used to hit one of the targets 8 disposed on a target board 2 which can be vertical.
[0009] In the two - player embodiment, the players are located on opposite sides of the board 2, the board 2 is between the players, and each player uses his own striker 6 on each side of the board 2 to hit one or more of the targets 8.
[0010] The board 2, which can be about 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) thick, can be attached to a base 1 that is non - slippery with respect to the surface on which the board is placed, such as the surface of a table.
[0011] In the illustrated example, the board 2 is relatively thin, has a length approximately the same as the width of the base 1, and is centrally disposed and attached to the base 1 which can be 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) thick, so that two similar play areas are created for two players.
[0012] Two pairs of wings 3a - 3d, which can be 0.25 inches (6.35 mm) thick, are angled away from the board 2 in two opposite directions.
[0013] A top - down view of the exemplary embodiment appears to show the ">" symbol (representing one pair of wings 3a - 3d) attached to the long dash (representing the board 2) and the "<" symbol (representing the other pair of wings 3a - 3d) attached.
[0014] The wings 3a - 3d are approximately the same height as the width of the board 2 and the length is about half of the width of the base 1.
[0015] At each outer edge of the wings 3a - 3d, there are elongated vertical wing holes 4a - d that extend over most of the height of each wing. In each play area on each side of the board 2, an elastic band or cord 5 is passed through a striker 6. Each band is attached to the wing holes 4a - d of the wings using a retainer 7 to hold the band 5.
[0016] The band 5 is attached to the wing holes 4a - d such that the striker 6 in each play area is horizontally positioned in front of the board 2. The striker 6 is attached to the band 5 such that the striker 6 can move freely left and right along the tensioned band 5.
[0017] By pulling the striker 6, a kind of slingshot effect is generated where the striker 6 is released to hit one or more targets 8 on the board 2. The elongated vertical wing holes 4a - d function as a track for the band and allow up - and - down movement.
[0018] The striker 6 is attached so that it can be easily moved left, right, up, and down during play to hit the entire board c.
[0019] Board 2 has six holes arranged in a circular pattern, and a seventh hole is in the center of the surrounding six holes in a daisy pattern. This embodiment can be used for a two-player game. The holes penetrate the entire thickness of board 2. Seven foam balls are placed in these holes, and the objective of the game is for each player to simultaneously hit part or all of the foam balls with the player's striker and try to remove them. The striker is a similar foam ball through which a sleeve or conduit passes so that the striker can easily slide back and forth on an elastic band that is stretched.
[0020] Another embodiment is a game device for a two-player game with electronic targets on both sides of board 2. When the striker of each player hits the target, a score is displayed on an electronic score display.
[0021] Figures 2 to 8 show other possible embodiments of the present invention.
[0022] Furthermore, a game for two or more players with a net separating the players is disclosed. The net is something like a volleyball net or mesh, and it incorporates nylon / plastic or rigid foam sleeves or pocket conduits for housing targets that are foam balls or rubber pads. The targets are foldable and pop out elastically upon collision with the striker. One or more targets are suspended in the sleeves or pocket conduits incorporated in the net, which includes nylon strap material sewn to the entire net to make the surface of the net harder, and on the designated opposite side of the net, the player can use the striker to hit and remove the target from the placed position.
[0023] The game includes a vertical target area known as the net. The vertical target area net is evenly arranged among the players. The net is vertically suspended by two or more poles above the ground or underground that separate the players, thus creating two play areas for the players. Target objects or foam balls or rubber pads are placed within plastic nylon sleeve conduits fixed to the net and can be removed from their placed positions only when struck or hit by a striker assisted by a player. The targets may or may not be fixed to the net or the nylon plastic sleeve / conduit.
[0024] Another embodiment is a two-player game where the vertical target area net has nine foam balls with a diameter of approximately 6 - 8 inches (152.4 - 203.2 mm) placed within the sleeve / conduit holes of nylon plastic or rigid foam. The foam balls may or may not be fixed to the net or the sleeve and are placed within the sleeve holes so as to remain in a precisely fixed position until struck / hit by the player's striker. Nine foam balls are housed in these sleeve / conduit holes, and the objective of the game is for each player to simultaneously strike or hit a part or all of the balls with the player's striker and try to remove them.
[0025] The sticker is a similar foam ball with a nylon / plastic sleeve / conduit passing through the center of the striker, located approximately 5 feet in front of the support pole of the net, and suspended and attached on an extended elastic band placed between two poles arranged 3 feet outside, allowing the striker to slide back and forth easily.
[0026] At an angle of 35 degrees from the net support poles, elastic bands are attached to two poles by loops having smooth inner circumferential surfaces that are slippery at their two ends. By these loops, the elastic bands can slide smoothly up and down the cylindrical support poles, and players can more accurately hit the target ball by aiming the striker ball at various heights, creating a better angle to remove it, further assisting the player's ability.
[0027] The player grabs the striker ball together with the suspended elastic band, pulls the striker backward like the action of a slingshot, applies sufficient tension to the elastic band, and at the same time, while angling and aiming the striker ball, fires the striker ball forward as a bullet to hit one of the target balls and remove it from its fixed position within the net. The player who removes the most balls first wins the game.
[0028] Although the present invention has been described in connection with its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that many other possible modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter. Although the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as included in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A board with a target, A first striker movably disposed on a first elastic band located at a position away from the board, Comprising, Each end of the first band is at a certain distance from the board respectively, After the first band is stretched and released from the board by the user, the first striker from at least one position on the first band can be hit against one of the targets from at least one stretched configuration of the first band. A game device.
2. The board is vertically disposed on a base. The game device according to claim 1.
3. At least one end of the first band is movable parallel to the board. The game device according to claim 1.
4. The first band is movably attached to the board. The game device according to claim 1.
5. Further comprising a second striker movably disposed on a second elastic band located at a position away from the board, The second striker and the second elastic band are disposed on the opposite side of the board from the first striker and the first elastic band, The board has targets on both sides of the board, After the second band is stretched and released from the board by the user, the second striker can be hit against one of the targets from at least one position on the second band from at least one stretched configuration of the second band. The game device according to claim 1.
6. The board has holes, The targets are disposed in the respective holes, Each target is removed from its respective hole when the striker hits it. The game device according to claim 1.
7. The target is a ball that can be crushed. The game device according to claim 1.
8. The striker is a ball that can be crushed. The game device according to claim 1.
9. The target is a sensor capable of detecting when the striker hits it. The game device according to claim 1.
10. The first band is a string, and the first striker is movable along the first band. The game device according to claim 1.
11. The game device according to claim 1, wherein two ends of the first band are movable parallel to each other and independently of the board.
12. A game in which a user stretches and releases an elastic band to strike a striker against at least one target on a board having a target, wherein the striker is movably disposed on the elastic band at a position away from the board, each end of the band is at a certain distance from the board respectively, and after the band is stretched and released from the board by the user, the striker can be struck against at least one of the targets from at least one position on the band and from at least one stretched configuration.