Automated playing court

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fully automated playing court consisting of an enclosed playing surface and comprising a panel with accuracy points around a pair of goals located at each of the opposite ends of the playing court. These accuracy points are formed by a ball dispenser, a continuous box that channels the balls, a ball-catching box and a lifting device provided with a platform that ensures translation and subsequent travel from the corresponding box to the ball dispenser. Advantageously, the game becomes more technical and dynamic, and allows the balls to be detected and counted when a goal is scored or the ball enters a ball-catching box or continuous box, generating the corresponding score in real time.

Description

[0001] AUTOMATED PLAY TRACK.

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to an automated playing surface consisting of an enclosed playing area that prevents the balls from leaving the court and includes a panel with precision points around a pair of goals located at opposite ends of the playing area. These precision points are automated and are formed by ball-catching boxes and continuous boxes, which are detailed below.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to make the game more technical, fun and dynamic, in which the track is fully automated and allows us to detect and count balls when a goal is scored or enters a ball-catching box or uninterrupted box.

[0006] Additionally, the invention's track allows for other game modes besides the conventional one, by subdividing the goal-scoring zones, making the game more interesting.

[0007] The invention's track is scalable, in order to constitute playing fields for different numbers of players, without affecting the essence of the invention.

[0008] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In the practical application of the invention, although there are known playing fields with goals at their ends and which include means for detecting and counting the balls that enter one goal and the other, the reality is that none of the known fields include elements such as ball-catching boxes and uninterrupted boxes to improve the athlete's aim.

[0010] In other words, there are no known tracks that include additional mechanical elements that automatically guide the ball to the center of the field, thus avoiding, depending on the box into which the ball is placed, the time lost by having to manually position the ball in the center of the field. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The automated playing field proposed by the invention fully and satisfactorily solves the aforementioned problem based on a highly effective solution, significantly speeding up the game.

[0012] To this end, and more specifically, starting from the structuring of a playing field in which a perimeter-closed playing surface is defined, both laterally and superiorly, in which two end goals participate, the invention consists of providing said field with a ball collection and counting system associated with each of the two goals, as well as a ball dispensing system located above the central circle of the field, which communicates with the systems established in both goals through a ball lifting, channeling and supply system.

[0013] The systems installed in the goals retain the balls that enter them during the game.

[0014] More specifically, in each goal and box there is an electronic detection device equipped with an electrical sensor, such as a photocell, arranged in the perimeter frame of the goal, intended to control the count of incoming balls.

[0015] In this regard, the goal will include at least one ball-catching box and one continuous box. The ball-catching box includes a guillotine-style mechanism and an electronic stopping device equipped with a photoelectric sensor linked to ball-detection photocells. When the photocells detect the presence of the ball in the box, they electrically activate the guillotine-style mechanism to release the ball. The ball-catching box includes a net on its inner surface to cushion the impact of the ball and retain it.

[0016] Thus, the uninterrupted ball drawer is linked to a ball lifting system. This system includes a series of channels that guide the ball from the uninterrupted drawer at each goal to the central dispenser. Specifically, the system includes a transmission chain with a ring or platform that, like a cradle, holds the ball and ensures its correct movement to a Y-shaped collector. This collector, through mechanical channels, guides the ball from the corresponding drawer to the ball dispenser. Each elevator includes a motor and its frequency inverter. The motor is activated by a presence sensor, part of the electronic detection device located in the ball collection drawer. This sensor detects the presence of the ball in the uninterrupted drawer and signals the frequency inverter to activate the elevator motor.

[0017] Regarding the ball dispenser, it will preferably be located in the center of the court, incorporating a unit-dispensing mechanism for the balls that arrive from above through its upper loading openings. Internally, it may include a helical storage structure with an electromechanical ball retention system, a dispensing motor, and an electrical sensor such as a photocell at the outlet opening. The photocell detects the presence of a retained ball and indicates a minimum accumulation level to trigger ball dispensing.

[0018] The system described above will be assisted by a centralized control panel with a PLC that receives signals from the electronic detection devices and activates the ball's release in the ball dispenser based on the number of balls entering the goal and drawers, including electronics for counting balls and generating the corresponding scores in real time, which can be displayed through screens or other conventional electronic means installed on the playing field.

[0019] Specifically, based on this structure, the proposed automated system guarantees the presence of at least one ball on the court and includes additional elements to the goal itself to enhance the players' aim, making the game more dynamic, permanently active, and enabling the improvement of the players' skills.

[0020] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] To complement the description that follows and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of its practical embodiment, a set of drawings is included as an integral part of said description, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an automated playing track made in accordance with the object of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 shows a front perspective view of one of the goals involved in the track of the invention.

[0023] Figure 3 shows a rear perspective view of one of the goals involved in the track of the invention.

[0024] Figure 4 shows an enlarged detail of one of the elevators in one of the goalposts.

[0025] Figure 5 shows a perspective detail of one of the ball-catching boxes that participate in the track of the invention.

[0026] Figure 6 shows, finally, a perspective detail of the ball dispenser device.

[0027] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0028] In view of the figures described, it can be observed how the automated playing court of the invention is constituted, as is conventional, from a playing surface (1) enclosed perimeter-wise, both laterally and above, and which in the chosen embodiment includes a padded perimeter base (2) supported on the perimeter structure of the playing surface (1), as well as a net or upper grid, not represented in the figures, which prevents balls from leaving the court.

[0029] For illustrative purposes only, the track could have dimensions of approximately 24 meters long by 10 meters wide, although it could be manufactured in any dimensions deemed appropriate without affecting the essence of the invention.

[0030] As is also conventional, the respective goals (3) will be included at both ends of the court. Well, in accordance with the essence of the invention, it has been planned that the court will have a ball collection and counting system associated with each of the two goals (3), as well as a ball dispenser (4) located above the center of the court, which communicates with the systems established in both goals through an elevator (11).

[0031] The system is designed with a centralized control panel in which a programmed PLC is responsible for managing the automation of the different electronic detection devices (10) equipped with sensors and control devices that participate in the playing surface (1).

[0032] More specifically, the goals (3) will include a front panel (5), which includes an electrical ball detection system which tells us that the player has scored a goal.

[0033] Subsequently, in said goal (3), at a medium height and flush with the ground, ball-catching boxes (6) are established as shown in figure 5, the ball-catching box (6) being provided with a guillotine system (7), assisted by the corresponding electromechanical mechanism (8) and by the electronic detection device (10) provided with a photoelectric sensor, which orders the closing of the guillotine system (7) when it detects the entry of a ball (12) into the ball-catching box (6), which makes it impossible to put a new ball into the ball-catching box unless the game ends or qualified personnel reactivate the ball-catching box, which further complicates the game, increasing the level of skill required for the players.The ball-catching boxes can be distributed not only at ground level but also across the entire front panel (5) of the goal (3), and different scoring levels can even be assigned to them depending on the difficulty of getting into each one.

[0034] In either case, a second net (9') will be placed on the bottom of the ball-catching box (6) to cushion the trajectory of the ball.

[0035] Additionally, the front panel (5) of the goal (3) at a higher and centered height, uninterrupted boxes (21) are established as shown in figures 2, 3 and 4, which include a first net (9) that cushions the trajectory of the ball (12) for its channeling to the platform (15) of the elevator (11), as shown in detail in figure 4.Said elevator (11) will include in its lower area an electronic detection device (10) provided with a photoelectric sensor or photocell, which detects the presence of balls (12) on the platform (15) and activates the motor (13) to start the lifting cycle, having for this purpose a transmission chain (14) on which the platforms or hoops (15) are mounted in the function of a cradle in which the ball (12) is housed, allowing its upward translation to a collector (16) in the shape of a “Y” whose branches are slightly inclined to be able to move the balls by simple gravity to the entrance mouth (17) of the dispenser (4) of balls (12).

[0036] As previously mentioned, the electronic detection device (10) of the elevator (11) gives the order to start the motor (13) when it detects the presence of a ball (12) on the platform (15), so that the motor (13) moves the platform (15) until it reaches the highest point of the elevator (11), where the ball (12) runs through the collector (16) to the dispenser (4), the dispenser (4) being provided with sensor and PLC control means of the different electronic detection devices (10) for the management of the movement of the ball (12), as well as counting them and generating the corresponding scores in real time.

[0037] According to Figure 6, the ball dispenser (4) includes at least one inlet (17) onto which the collectors (16) discharge, in which helical guides (18) are established that define the means of storing the balls (12), including in correspondence with the lower end of said helical structure (18) an electromechanical retention mechanism (19), such as a tilting cradle, which allows the balls (12) to be dispensed individually to the game, also including a photocell for the presence of the ball which also manages the order to start the motor that assists the electromechanical retention mechanism (19).

[0038] This photocell controls the presence of the ball, indicating the minimum accumulation required for dispensing, and allows counting the balls that have been dispensed. This enables control of the stock of balls stored in the dispenser and generates alarm signals when there is a lack of a minimum number of balls (12) to recharge the device via the lifting systems (11) associated with the goals (3).

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- An automated playing court, of the type consisting of a playing surface (1) with respective goals (3) at its ends, is characterized in that it comprises at least: - a ball dispenser (4) located above the playing surface (1), - an uninterrupted drawer (21) provided with: - a first net (9) to cushion the trajectory of the ball (12) for its channeling - a ball-catching box (6) provided with: - a guillotine system (7) for closing the ball-catching drawer (6), - an electromechanical mechanism (8), - an electronic detection device (10) provided with a photoelectric sensor, which commands the closing of the guillotine system (7) when it detects the entry of a ball (12) into the ball-catching drawer (6), and - a second net (9') cushioning the trajectory of the ball (12), - an elevator (11 ) provided with: - a platform (15) arranged at the end of the path of the first network (9) of the uninterrupted box (21 ) - a motor (13) associated with a transmission chain (14) and connected to the platform (15), - an electronic detection device (10) provided with a photoelectric sensor - a Y-shaped collector (16) whose branches are inclined towards the ball dispenser (4) (12) where the electronic detection device (10) of the elevator (11) gives the order to start the motor (13), when it detects the presence of a ball (12) on the platform (15), so that the motor (13) moves the platform (15) until it reaches the highest point of the elevator (11), where the ball (12) runs through the collector (16) to the dispenser (4), the dispenser (4) being provided with sensor and PLC control means of the different electronic detection devices (10) for the management of the movement of the ball (12), as well as counting them and generating the corresponding scores in real time. 2.- Automated playing court, according to claim 1 characterized in that the ball dispenser (4) includes at least one inlet (17) onto which the collectors (16) discharge, in which helical guides (18) are established that define the means of storing the balls (12), including in correspondence with the lower end of said helical structure an electromechanical mechanism for retaining (19) and releasing the balls (12) individually, duly sensorized. 3.- Automated playing court, according to claim 1, characterized in that the playing surface (1) includes a padded perimeter base (2) supported on the perimeter structure of the playing surface (1), as well as an upper net or grid.

Images