GB2187964A - Game - Google Patents

Abstract

Equipment for two people to play a ball game resembling squash at table height, comprises a base 1 having a substantially horizontal upper surface which comprises a rectangular playing area whose front is defined by the front edge of the base; a planar back wall B which extends substantially vertically upwards from the upper surface of the base and whose junction with the upper surface of the base (A) defines the back of the playing area, the wall bearing a substantially horizontal base line 3-12 inches above the upper surface of the base to indicate the level above which the ball must strike; two planar side walls C of equal size and shape, which extend substantially vertically upwards from the upper surface of the base, which form a continuous wall with the back wall, and whose junction with the upper surface of the base defines the two opposite sides of the playing area; and support means to maintain the upper surface of the base at table height. The walls, B, C may be demountably attached to each other and the base. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Game This invention relates to a new game.

The game is a table version of squash. The game resembles squash in that two people play, taking alternate hits at a ball bouncing off a base, a back wall and two side walls, the back wall bearing a horizontal base line which indicates the level above which the ball must strike. Other similarities will also be apparent.

Accordingly, the invention provides equipment for 2 people to play a ball game resembling squash at table height, the equipment comprising: (A) a base having a substantially horizontal upper surface which comprises a rectangular playing area whose front is defined by the front edge of the base; (B) a planar back wall which extends substantially vertically upwards from the upper surface of the base (A) and whose junction with the upper surface of the base (A) defines the back of the playing area, the wall bearing a substantially horizontal base line 3-12 inches above the upper surface of the base (A) to indicate the level above which the ball must strike;; (C) two planar side walls of equal size and shape to each other, which extend substantially vertically upwards from the upper surface of the base (A), which form a continuous wall with the back wall (B), and whose junction with the upper surface of the base (A) defines the two opposite sides of the playing area; and (D) support means to maintain the upper surface of the base (A) at table height.

A kit can be provided for the user to erect on a base (A) and support means (D) he already possesses, so as to form the equipment. Accordingly, the invention provides also a kit of parts for erecting on a base (A) and support means (D) as defined above, which kit comprises: (1) a planar back wall adapted to be erected to form the back wall (B) as defined above; and (2) two planar side walls adapted to be erected to form the two side walls (C) as defined above.

Similarly, a kit can be provided for the user to erect on support means (D), for example a table, he already possesses, so as to form the equipment. Accordingly, the invention provides also a kit of parts for erecting on support means (D) as defined above, which kit comprises: (1) a planar back wall adapted to be erected to form the back qall (B) as defined above; (2) two planar side walls adapted to be erected to form the two side walls (C) as defined above; and (3) a base adapted to be erected to form the base (A) as defined above.

This kit is especially useful when the base (A) has its playing area marked so as to define service areas as discussed below, or when the user's table is too small itself to provide the playing area.

Similarly, a kit can be provided for the user to erect on a substantially vertical wall he already possesses, such as a wall of a room or garage. Accordingly, the invention provides also a kit of parts for erecting on a substantially vertical wall to form the equipment, the wall providing the planar back wall (B) as defined above, which kit comprises: (1) a base adapted to be erected to form the base (A) as defined above; (2) two planar side walls adapted to be erected to form the two side walls (C) as defined above; and (3) support means adapted to be erected to form the support means (D) as defined above.

Any of the kits can include at least one ball and at least two bats for hitting the ball.

The base (A) has a substantially horizontal, rectangular, playing area-the court. The front of the court is defined by the front edge of the base, so that the players can approach up to the front of the court.

The back wall (B) faces the players and is substantially vertical. Where the back wall (B) meets the upper surface of the base (A) defines the back of the playing area. The back wall (B) bears a substantially horizontal line, as it does in squash, to mark the level above which the ball must strike. In the present equipment, this line is 3-12 inches above the upper surface of the base (A).

The two side walls (C) are of equal size and shape to each other, as they are in squash, so that neither player has an advantage in this respct. The side walls (C) are substantially vertical. Where they meet the upper surface of the base (A) defines the two sides of the court. The side walls (C) and the back wall (B) form a continuous wall, as in squash, so that the ball cannot escape between the back wall and a side wall.

The base (A) usually is marked so as to define service areas. Thus, usually the base (A) bears on its playing area (1) a first line which divides the playing area into a front rectangular section and a back rectangular section, and (2) a second line, perpendicular to the first line, which second line divides the front section into two equal rectangular service areas. The front rectangular section is preferably of 2 to 12 times the area of the back rectangular section. Especially preferred is the area of the front rectangular section being substantially equal to that of the back rectangular section.

The front of the playing area is usually 3-8, preferably 4-6, feet in length. Since the playing area is rectangular, the front and back are equal in length.

The length of the side of the playing area is preferably related to the length of the front, the wider the front the greater the length of the side so as to give a player a greater time to take up his position to return his opponent's shot. Preferably, the side of the playing area is of length from 3 to 12 times the length of the front. Especially preferred is the playing area being square, in particular substantially 5 feet square.

The back wall (B) is usually rectangular. Its height is preferably related to the length of the side of the playing area, the longer the side the greater the height as the ball travels further. Preferably, the height is 2 to 121, especially 3 to 1, times the length of the side of the playing area. Particularly preferred is a height of substantially 4 feet.

The two side walls (C) are usually of trapezium shape. Their height at the back of the playing area is the height of the back wall (B) where they meet. Their height at the front of the playing area is preferably 9-36 inches, especially 1-2 feet, particularly substantially 18 inches.

The table height can be the usual table height. Usually it is 2-3 feet, particularly substantially 22 feet.

The support means (D) usually comprise table legs, for instance a set of standard table tennis legs. The table legs can conveniently be adapted so that they can be folded flat under the base (A) on dismantling the equipment.

The table legs can be joined to the base (A). Conveniently they are hinged to the base (A) so that they can be folded flat under the base (A) on dismantling the equipment.

The support means (D) need not be joined to the base (A). Thus, the base (A) can rest on a separate table.

Conveniently the back wall (B) is hinged to the base (A) so that the back wall (B) can be folded down onto the base (A) on dismantling the equipment.

In a preferred embodiment, the base (A) has two grooves, each adapted to receive one of the side walls (C); in this way, the side walls sit in place in the grooves. The grooves can conveniently be provided as follows: The base (A) has a body portion having the substantially horizontal upper surface which comprises the playing area and to the underside of the body portion is attached two L-shaped strips, so that each strip forms, with an edge of the body portion, one of the grooves.

So as to permit dismantling conveniently, the back wall (B) preferably has attached behind it at each side a strip containing a plurality of hoirzontal holes at different heights aligning with corresponding holes in a back extension of the adjacent side wall (C), each hole in the strip and corresponding hole in the extension of the side wall being adapted to receive a bolt which can be secured in place by a wing nut so as to secure the back wall (B) to the side wall (C) in a way which permits dismantling. The strips can also serve to strengthen the back wall (B).

The equipment need not be free-standing. It can be fixed to a pre-existing substantially vertical wall, for instance a wall of a room or garage. The equipment can be thus fixed by means of brackets, for example 2 at the top of the back wall (B) and 2 at each side. The base (A) can be hinged to the back wall (B) so that the base (A) can be folded up substantially vertically on dismantling the equipment. The base (A) can be held in the foldedup position by retaining means, for instance a latch. The upper surface of the base (A) can be maintained substantially horizontal at table height in use by using as the support means (D) wires or ropes which join the front corners of the base (A) to the top corners of the back wall (B) or to the pre-exisiting wall itself; alternatively, the support means (D) can be a set of legs which are hinged to the base (A) at its front and which fold down.

In a similar arrangement, the pre-existing substantially vertical wall can itself provide the planar back wall (B). Thus, a kit can be provided of the remaining parts for erecting on such a pre-existing wall so as to form the equipment.

The equipment must of course be suitable for the game. As in squash, the playing surfaces are planar so that the bounce of the ball off them is true. The equipment is made for instance of wood or fibre glass, preferably wood.

Preferably the equipment is adapted to be dismantled so that it can be folded flat for storage between games.

It can be seen that the equipment can be made such that it can be erected and dismantled readily, and packed up and stored in a comparatively small space.

Any suitable ball can be employed to play the game. Conveniently the bats are table tennis bats.

The present kits or equipment can include at least one ball and at least two bats.

The horizontal line on the back wall (B) and any markings on the playing area should readily be visible to the players. In one embodiment, all the playing surfaces are dark green in colour. In another embodiment, any markings are put on with thin white strips of tape.

The present game resembles squash but is played on a table in a fashion somewhat similar to table tennis.

In the game, no shot must strike the back wall (B) below the horizontal base line; any shot which does is deemed to be a foul shot.

The game can be played as follows. This is described with reference to equipment having the preferred feature of the base (A) bearing on its playing area (1) a first line which di vides the playing area into a front rectangular section and a back rectangular section, and (2) a second line, perpendicular to the first line, which second line divides the front section into two equal rectangular service areas.

When the equipment does not have this feature, the rules are changed so that they do not depend on these service areas.

Whoever is to serve first is decided by the toss of a coin or similar fashion. The server then decides which side of the playing area (the court) he wants to start from. When his opponent is ready, the server serves the ball onto the service area on his side so that it then bounces off the back wall (B) or any combination of side walls (C) and back wall (B) as long as it strikes the back wall (B) above its base line and falls into the opposite service area. That is to say, if service is from the left hand side of the court, this is onto the left hand service area and onto the back wall (B) so that when the ball falls it is into the right hand service area, and vice-versa.

From then on, the ball is played alternately by the two players. The ball must not be hit directly onto the playing area. It must be hit directly onto the back wall (B) or any combination of the side walls (C) and back wall (B), and every shot, including a service shot, must strike the back wall (B) and must strike it above the base line.

Not more than one bounce of the ball on the playing area is permitted between shots, excluding the service bounce into the server's service area. There does not have to be one bounce, however; the ball can be hit on the volley.

The rally continues until a foul shot is played. A shot is deemed foul if: (a) The ball makes more than once successive bounce on the playing area. The point is awarded to the player who hit the ball before the bounce because his opponent should return the shot before it bounces a second time.

(b) The ball fails to strike above the base line. Here the point is awarded against the player who hit the ball.

(c) The ball fails to fall on the playing area by being hit too hard and rebounding past the front edge of the base (A). The point is awarded against the player who hit the ball.

However, the returning player may choose to hit the ball on the volley even if there is a chance that it would not have bounced on the playing area. If he does so choose to play the ball, then play continues normally.

(d) The ball is hit over the top of the back wall (B) or side walls (C), the point being awarded against the player who so hit the ball.

(e) The serve fails to land in the service area. If the server makes a foul serve, the opportunity to serve immediately passes to his opponent. No second service is permitted.

The server may start serving from whichever side of the playing area (the court) he wishes, but if he wins the point then his next service must be taken from the other side of the court. He must serve alternately from each side of the court until he loses service to his opponent.

The game can be scored as follows: Points are only scored on service, so if your opponent is serving you must first win the right to serve i.e. by winning the rally which your opponent served. Then any point you win, that you served, is added to your score, until the right to serve is won back by your opponent.

If one player is deemed to have obstructed the other player, then a 'let' is played with the player who was obstructed to serve.

The first player to reach eleven points wins the set. A full match has three sets. Accordingly, the player who wins two sets is the winner of the match.

The players alternate who is to start serving in a set.

Though the present equipment and kits of parts are designed primarily for use by two players, it can be seen that they can be used to play a similar game by one player since the ball bounces back off the back wall (B) towards the player.

A specific, preferred, embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the back wall (B), side walls (C) and body portion of the base (A) as erected; Figure 2 is a plan view of the back wall (B), side walls (C) and body portion of the base (A) before erection; Figure 3 is a cross-section of the base (A); and Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the back wail (B) and part of the side walls (C).

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the body portion (1) whose substantially hoirzontal upper surface comprises a rectangular playing area whose front is defined by the front edge of the base (A). The front has a length (a) of 5 feet. The body portion (1) is hinged to the base of the planar back wall (B) as shown in Fig. 2, so that the back wall (B) can be folded flat to the body portion (1). The back wall (B) has a height (b) of 4 feet, and bears a horizontal line 6 inches above the body portion (1). Held at right angles against the body portion (1) and the back wall (B) are two planar side walls (C). The side walls (C) are of trapezium shape and have a height (c) at the front of 1 foot 6 inches and a length (d) of 5 feet. The playing area bears a cross-shaped marking to divide the area into 4 equal squares, the front two being service areas in the game.

The body portion (1) is made from chip board 2 inch thick. Alternatively, it can be made from plywood t inch thick, which is lighter. The back wall (B) and side walls (C) are made from plywood - inch thick.

As shown in Fig. 3, to the underside of the body portion (1) is attached two L-shaped strips of wood (2) which form, with the edges of the body portion (1), two grooves (3) each of which receives one of the side walls (C) so that, when the equipment is erected, the side wall sits in place in the groove. The L-shaped strips (2) are made from wood of width (e) 3 inches and height (f) 1 inch, rebated so that the inside of the L has a width (g) of 2 inches and a height (h) of 21 inch.

As shown in Fig. 4, the back wall (B) is strengthened by having a strip of wood (4) attached behind it at each side. Each strip of wood (4) is screwed (not shown) to the back wall (B). The strip of wood (4) has a width (i) of 12 inches to its face with the back wall (B) and a depth (j) of 2 inches. To the face of depth (I) 2 inches abuts a back extension (5) of a side wall (C). Each strip (4) is drilled with 3 horizontal holes at different heights (preferably 6 inches high, 2 feet high and 3 feet 6 inches high up the back wall (B)) aligning with corresponding holes in the back extension (5) of the side wall (C). Each hole in the strip (4) and corresponding hole in the extension (5) of the side wall (C) receives a bolt (6) which can be secured in place by a wing nut (7) so as to secure the back wall (B) to the side walls (C) in a way which permits dismantling.Fig. 4 shows only one set of holes in a strip (4) and corresponding extension (5) of a side wall (C), and the accompanying bolt and wing nut, but there is a corresponding set of holes, bolt and wing nut at the same height in the other strip (4) and extension (5) of the other side wall (C).

All the playing surfaces are painted dark green and the markings put on with thin white strips of tape.

The base (A) is mounted on a set of standard table tennis legs (not shown) which makes it stand 2 feet 6 inches high. The legs are hinged to the base (A) so that they can fold underneath it.

To erect the equipment, one simply: 1. Takes the base (A) with the back wall (B) hinged to it and the legs hinged to it and folded underneath, and erects the legs by unfolding them; the table now stands with the back wall (B) lying flat on the base (A); 2. Unfolds the back wall (B) so that it stands at right angles to the base (A); 3. Drops the side walls (C) into the grooves (3), and lines up the holes in the side walls (C) with the holes in the strengtheners (4) on the back wall (B); and 4. Places the bolts (6) through the holes and tightens up the wing nuts (7).

This specific embodiment can be erected and dismantled quickly. It is light and easy to erect and dismantle, so that children can do this with the minimum of adult assistance. It can be packed flat, and stored in a comparatively small space.

Claims (32)

1. Equipment for two people to play a ball game resembling squash at table height, the equipment comprising: (A) a base having a substantially horizontal upper surface which comprises a rectangular playing area whose front is defined by the front edge of the base; (B) a planar back wall which extends substantially vertically upwards from the upper surface of the base (A) and whose junction with the upper surface of the base (A) defines the back of the playing area, the wall bearing a substantially horizontal base line 3-12 inches above the upper surface of the base (A) to indicate the level above which the ball must strike;; (C) two planar side walls of equal size and shape to each other, which extend substantially certically upwards from the upper surface of the base (A), which form a continuous wall with the back wall (B), and whose junction with the upper surface of the base (A) defines the two opposite sides of the playing area; and (D) support means to maintain the upper surface of the base (A) at table height.

2. Equipment according to claim 1 wherein the base (A) bears on its playing area (1) a first line which divides the playing area into a front rectangular section and a back rectangular section, and (2) a second line, perpendicular to the first line, which second line divides the front section into two equal rectangular service areas.

3. Equipment according to claim 2 wherein the front rectangular section is of 24 to 1 1 4 2 times the area of the back rectangular section.

4. Equipment according to claim 3 wherein the area of the front rectangular section is substantially equal to that of the back rectangular section.

5. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the front and back of the playing area are each 3-8 feet in length.

6. Equipment according to claim 5 wherein the front and back of the playing area are each 4-6 feet in length.

7. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each side of the playing area is of length from 4 to 1 21 times the length of each of the front and back of the playing area.

8. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the playing area is square.

9. Equipment according to claim 8 wherein the length of each side of the square is substantially 5 feet.

10. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the back wall (B) is rectangular and of height from 2 to 12 times the length of each side of the playing area.

11. Equipment according to claim 10 wherein the height is from l to 1 times the length of each side of the playing area.

12. Equipment according to claim 11 wherein the height is substantially 4 feet.

13. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the two side walls (C) are each of trapezium shape, and their height at the front of the playing area is 9-36 inches.

14. Equipment according to claim 13 wherein the height at the front of the playing area is 1-2 feet.

15. Equipment according to claim 14 wherein the height at the front of the playing area is substantially 18 inches.

16. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the table height is 2-3 feet.

17. Equipment according to claim 16 wherein the table height is substantially 22 feet.

18. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support means (D) comprise table legs.

19. Equipment according to claim 18 wherein the table legs are adapted to be folded flat under the base (A) on dismantling the equipment.

20. Equipment according to claim 19 wherein the table legs are hinged to the base (A).

21. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the back wall (B) is hinged to the base (A) so that the back wall (B) can be folded down onto the base (A) on dismantling the equipment.

22. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base (A) has two grooves, each adapted to receive one of the side walls (C) so that the side walls sit in place in the grooves.

23. Equipment according to claim 22 wherein the base (A) has a body portion having the substantially horizontal upper surface which comprises the playing area and to the underside of the body portion is attached two L-shaped strips, each of which forms one of the grooves with an edge of the body portion.

24. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the back wall (B) has attached behind it at each side a strip containing a plurality of horizontal holes at different heights aligning with corresponding holes in a back extension of the adjacent side wall (C), each hole in the strip and corresponding hole in the extension of the side wall being adapted to receive a bolt which can be secured in place by a wing nut so as to secure the back wall to the side wall in a way which permits dismantling.

25. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims which is made of wood.

26. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims which can be dismantled so that it can be folded flat for storage between games.

27. Equipment for two people to play a ball game resembling squash at table height, which equipment is substantially as described herein.

28. Equipment for two people to play a ball game resembling squash at table height, which equipment is substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

29. A kit of parts for erecting on a base (A) and support means (D) as defined in any one of the preceding claims to form equipment claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which kit comprises: (1) a planar back wall adapted to be erected to form the back wall (B) as defined in any one of the preceding claims; and (2) two planar side walls adapted to be erected to form the two side walls (C) as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

30. A kit of parts for erecting on support means (D) as defined in any one of claims 1-28 to form equipment claimed in any one of claims 1-28, which kit comprises: (1) a planar back wall adapted to be erected to form the back wall (B) as defined in any one of claims 1-28; (2) two planar side walls adapted to be erected to form the two side walls (C) as defined in any one of claims 1-28; and (3) a base adapted to be erected to form the base (A) as defined in any one of claims 1-28.

31. A kit of parts for erecting on a substantially vertical wall to form equipment claimed in any one of claims 1-28, the wall providing the planar back wall (B) as defined in any one of claims 1-28, which kit comprises: (1) a base adapted to be erected to form the base (A) as defined in any one of claims 1-28; (2) two planar side walls adapted to be erected to form the two side walls (C) as defined in any one of claims 1-28; and (3) support means adapted to be erected to form the support means (D) as defined in any one of claims 1-28.

32. A kit or equipment claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes at least one ball and at least two bats for hitting the ball.