US3612530A

US3612530A - Ball tethered to a circular hoop

Info

Publication number: US3612530A
Application number: US14433A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry S Smith
Original assignee: HENRY S SMITH
Current assignee: HENRY S SMITH
Priority date: 1970-02-26
Filing date: 1970-02-26
Publication date: 1971-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-12

Abstract

A game implement comprised of a circular hoop with a handle secured to the outer side thereof for being grasped in a person''s hand, the hoop having a radially inwardly extending projection of flexible nature and to which there is secured one end of a tethering line, the opposite end of the tethering line being secured to a small ball, and which in operative use is attempted to be driven through the hoop from both opposite directions so to develop a score when the device is used competitively.

Description

United States Patent Henry S. Smith 1226 E. 71st PL, Chicago, HI. 60619 [21] App]. No. 14,433

[22] Filed Feb. 26, 1970 [45} Patented Oct. 12, i971 [72] Inventor [54] BALL TETHERED TO A CIRCULAR HOOP.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CI 273/98 [51] Int. Cl [50] Field otSearch 273/98,97

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,038,724 6/1962 Klamp 273/98 3,325,167 6/1967 Wolpert Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-Julius L. Solomon ABSTRACT: A game implement comprised of a circular hoop with a handle secured to the outer side thereof for being grasped in a persons hand, the hoop having a radially inwardly extending projection of flexible nature and to which there is secured one end of a tethering line, the opposite end of the tethering line being secured to a small ball, and which in operative use is attempted to be driven through the hoop from both opposite directions so to develop a score when the device is used competitively.

BALL TETHERED TO A CIRCULAR HOOP This invention relates generally to target toys. More specifically the present invention relates to tethered ball game toys.

A principal purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel game device including a hoop and a tethered ball which a player is obliged to drive through the hoop center opening from each opposite side so as to test the players skill.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game device which can be used either by a single player or which can be played in competition with other players so as to see which player obtains a greater score in maintaining the ball to travel back and forth through the hoop center opening before the ball finally misses.

Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a game device which can be played in a horizontal or vertical direction so that the ball can be moved horizontally back and forwardly through the hoop central opening, or wherein the ball can travel upwardly and downwardly through the hoop central opening.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a ball thru game device which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein: I

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is an edge elevation view thereof showing the game device in operative use.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a ball thru game device according to the present invention wherein there is a target 1 1 made preferably of a single piece of plastic material and which includes a relatively large circular hoop 12 around a central opening 13. The hoop has an integral handle 14 on the outer side thereof, the handle 14 extending along radially axis outwardly of the hoop. The handle 14 is adaptable accordingly for being grasped within a players hand 15, as shown in FIG. 2.

An extension 16 is also integrally formed on the target 11, the extension 16 comprising a relatively thin and flexible shaft that extends from the hoop rim and to the center of the opening 13 and wherein the extension 16 is provided with a small opening 17 to which there is tethered one end of a rubberband band or string 18.

The opposite end of the tethered rubberband or string has a small rubber ball 19 of circle shape secured thereto.

In operative use, the object of the game device is for a player to test his skill and try to maintain the ball to bounce back and forth through the opening 13 of the hoop for an unlimited number of times before the ball strikes out. This is accomplished as is indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawing wherein the ball passes in reciprocating manner back and forth between a right and left side while the extension 16 flexes slightly outwardly of the opening 13 so as to not interfere with the ball in case the same strikes thereagainst during passage through the hoop opening.

It is readily evident that the game device may be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction depending on the preference of the player. Accordingly the ball can be bounced back and forth through the hoop opening upwardly and downwardly as well as from right to left as indicated in FIG. 2.

It is now also evident that in testing the skill of the player, the present game device may be used by a player alone or in competition with other players so as to see who gains the highest of the score before the ball strikes out from passing through the opening of the hoop.

What I now claim is:

l. A ball through game apparatus comprising a circular hoop having inner and outer surfaces, a handle fixed to the outer surface of the said hoop and extending outwardly along a line radiating from the center of the hoop, a flexible member extending inwardly from a point along the inner surface of the hoop to the center of the hoop, a tethering line havingltwp ends, one end of which is fastened to the free end of the exible member and the other end fastened to a ball which is of such size that it may pass freely through the hoop between the end of the flexible member and the inner surface of the hoop.

2. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 1 in which the said flexible member is formed with an eyelet at its free end.

3. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 1 in which the said handle is an integral part of the hoop.

4. A ball through game apparatus as in claim I in which the said flexible member is an integral part of the hoop.

5. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 1 in which the handle and the flexible member are both integral parts of the hoop.

6. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 5 in which the said hoop, handle and flexible member are molded in one piece of a material having elastic properties so that the flexible member can act as a cantilever spring.

7. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 6 in which the said flexible member and handle both lie along the same radial line.

8. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 6 in which the said tethering line is made of a flexible material.

Claims

1. A ball through game apparatus comprising a circular hoop having inner and outer surfaces, a handle fixed to the outer surface of the said hoop and extending outwardly along a line radiating from the center of the hoop, a flexible member extending inwardly from a point along the inner surface of the hoop to the center of the hoop, a tethering line, having two ends, one end of which is fastened to the free end of the flexible member and the other end fastened to a ball which is of such size that it may pass freely through the hoop between the end of the flexible member and the inner surface of the hoop.

4. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 1 in which the said flexible member is an integral part of the hoop.