U.S. patent application number 10/961189 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-13 for football game.
Invention is credited to John Brenneke.
Application Number | 20060079351 10/961189 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36146071 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060079351 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brenneke; John |
April 13, 2006 |
Football game
Abstract
The football game is an apparatus for playing the football game
and a method for playing the football game. The football game
apparatus has one or more balls and one or more collapsible goal
assemblies. The collapsible goal assembly has an open base frame, a
pivotally attached goal frame, and an upright support bar that
holds the goal frame in a tilted position. A net that forms a pouch
for the reception of balls is attached to the goal frame. The
football game goal assemblies are placed opposite one another and
then team players attempt to throw balls in to the nets. The teams
stand behind or next to the goal assembly and scoring is based on
the number of balls a team can successfully throw into the opposing
teams goal assembly. The goal assembly is collapsible so that it is
easily set up and transported.
Inventors: |
Brenneke; John; (Jefferson
City, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard C. Litman;LITMAN LAW OFFICES, LTD.
P.O. Box 15035
Arlington
VA
22215
US
|
Family ID: |
36146071 |
Appl. No.: |
10/961189 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/439 ;
473/470; 473/477 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2210/50 20130101;
A63B 69/002 20130101; A63B 63/00 20130101; A63B 67/002
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/439 ;
473/470; 473/477 |
International
Class: |
A63B 63/00 20060101
A63B063/00; A63B 69/00 20060101 A63B069/00; A63B 67/00 20060101
A63B067/00 |
Claims
1. A method of playing a game, comprising the steps of: (a)
erecting at least one collapsible goal having a net attached to a
frame defining a goalmouth; (b) selecting two teams, each team
having at least one player; (c) playing a round in which a player
from each team makes at least one throw of a ball at the goal; (d)
awarding points according to a differential in throws resulting in
the ball lodging in the net; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until
one of the two teams accumulates a point total equal to an agreed
point total; and (f) declaring the team accumulating the agreed
point total winner of the game.
2. The method of playing a game according to claim 1, wherein said
at least one collapsible goal comprises two collapsible goals, step
(a) further comprising erecting the goals spaced apart from and
facing each other.
3. The method of playing a game according to claim 1, wherein each
team selected in step (b) consists of two players.
4. The method of playing a game according to claim 1, wherein the
ball comprises a football.
5. The method of playing a game according to claim 4, wherein said
at least one collapsible goal comprises two goals spaced apart
about sixty feet and facing each other, step (c) further comprising
standing at one of the two goals and throwing the football at the
other goal.
6. The method of playing a game according to claim 5, wherein each
of the rounds comprises two throws per team.
7. The method of playing a game according to claim 6, wherein step
(d) further comprises awarding one point for a differential of
one.
8. The method of playing a game according to claim 7, wherein step
(d) further comprises awarding three points for a differential of
three.
9. The method of playing a game according to claim 8, wherein the
agreed point total comprises twenty-one, step (f) comprising
declaring the team first reaching a total of twenty-one points the
winner.
10. A method of playing a football game, comprising the steps of:
(a) erecting two collapsible goals having a net attached to a frame
defining a goal mouth, the goals being spaced apart and facing each
other; (b) selecting two teams having two players per team; (c)
playing a round in which a player from each team stands at one of
the two goals and makes two throws of a football at the other goal;
(d) awarding points according to a differential in throws resulting
in the ball lodging in the net, including awarding one point for a
differential of, one and three points for a differential of two;
(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until one of the two teams
accumulates a point total equal to an agreed point total; and (f)
declaring the team accumulating the agreed point total winner of
the game.
11. The method of playing a football game according to claim 10,
wherein the agreed point total is twenty-one.
12. A collapsible goal for a football game, comprising: a pair of
parallel base legs and a bight connecting the two base legs,
defining a U-shaped base; a U-shaped goal frame having a pair of
parallel legs and a top crossbar joining the legs, the legs of the
goal frame being pivotally attached to the legs of the base; a
second crossbar spanning the legs of the goal frame, the top
crossbar, the second crossbar, and the legs of the goal frame
defining a goalmouth; a net having a closed end and an open end
attached to the goal mouth; and a support bar pivotally attached to
the bight of the base, the support bar being removably fastened to
the top crossbar in order to prop the goal frame up for use as a
goal, the support bar and the goal frame being pivoted against the
base in order to collapse the goal for storage and transport.
13. The collapsible goal according to claim 12, further comprising
a cross brace extending between the legs of the base so that the
base is generally rectangular.
14. The collapsible goal according to claim 12, wherein said
support bar is pivotally attached to the bight of the base at a
midpoint of the base.
15. The collapsible goal according to claim 12, further comprising
a plurality of hinges pivotally attaching the legs of the goal
frame to the legs of said base and pivotally attaching said support
bar to the bight of said base.
16. A football game kit, comprising a plurality of collapsible
goals according to claim 12.
17. The football game kit according to claim 16, further comprising
a plurality of footballs.
18. The football game kit according to claim 17, wherein one half
of the plurality of footballs is a first color and the other half
of the plurality of footballs is a second color.
19. The collapsible goal according to claim 12, wherein said base,
said goal frame, and said support bar are made from metal
tubing.
20. The collapsible goal according to claim 12, wherein said base,
said goal frame, and said support bar are made from plastic tubing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a game, and particularly to
a football game where players attempt to throw a football into a
net from a fixed distance in order to score points.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Various types of games exist where opponents, either as
individuals or members of a team, compete against one another by
throwing an object at a fixed target. The usual goal is to land the
object as close as possible to the target. These types of games are
typically played outdoors in a backyard or field setting. Examples
include such games as horseshoes and lawn darts.
[0005] There are several disadvantages to the lawn games currently
played. Games such as lawn darts involve throwing a large, pointed
metal dart, which can be dangerous to both participants and
onlookers. A game of horseshoes requires a pit to be prepared and
also has the further disadvantage that many people lack the
strength to accurately throw a steel horseshoe effectively. In
addition, most lawn sports lack the extreme popularity of sports
such as football or soccer.
[0006] Team sports such as football or soccer require considerable
space and can also be strenuous for participants. Game devices for
one or more players utilizing footballs or soccer balls are known,
such as quarterback training devices, but these devices are often
bulky and difficult to transport, and can require considerable time
to assemble. It is therefore desirable to have a game that can be
played by participants of all ages and abilities, but is both
portable and utilizes components from some of the more popular
field sports.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The football game includes an apparatus for playing the
football game and a method for playing the football game. The
football game apparatus comprises one or more balls and one or more
collapsible goal assemblies. The collapsible goal assembly
comprises an open base frame, a pivotally attached goal frame, and
an upright support bar that holds the goal frame in a tilted
position. A net that forms a pouch for the reception of balls is
attached to the goal frame. One version of the football game is
played by placing the goal assemblies opposite one another at a
fixed distance, the fixed distance being based on the skill level
of the players, and then attempting to throw balls into the net.
The teams, which comprise one or more players, stand behind the
goal assembly, and scoring is based on the number of balls a team
can successfully throw in to the opposing teams goal assembly. The
goal assembly is collapsible so that it is easily set up and
transported.
[0008] These and other features of the present invention will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of the football
game being played according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible goal
assembly.
[0011] FIG. 3A is a detail view of the pivotal attachment joining
the goal frame to the base.
[0012] FIG. 3B is a detail view of the pivotal attachment joining
the upright support bar to the base.
[0013] FIG. 3C is a detail view of the removable attachment joining
the goal frame to the upright support bar.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the collapsible goal
assembly in the folded position.
[0015] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] The present invention is a football game. The football game
comprises one or more collapsible goal assemblies, referred to
generally as 10 in the drawings, one or more balls, and a method of
playing the football game.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, the collapsible goal assembly 10
comprises a U-shaped frame with a cross brace adjacent the open
mouth defining a generally rectangular base frame 12, a U-shaped
goal frame having two legs 14, 16, a top crossbar 18, and a
crossbar 20 extending between the two legs 14 and 16 at about the
middle of the goal frame, an upright support bar 22, and a net 24.
The two legs 14, 16 of the U-shaped goal frame are pivotally
attached to the front of the base frame 12. One possible means of
pivotally attaching the legs 14, 16 to the base frame 12 is by
using a hinge 26, as is shown in FIG. 3A. The upright support bar
22 connects the top 18 of the goal frame to the middle of the bight
of the U-shaped base frame 12, thereby supporting the goal frame in
a tilted position as shown in FIG. 2. The first end of the upright
support bar 22 is pivotally connected to the back of the base frame
12. One possible means of pivotally attaching the upright support
bar 22 to the base frame 12 is by using a hinge 26, as is shown in
FIG. 3B. The second end of the upright support bar 22 is removably
attached to the top 18 of the goal frame. One possible means of
removably attaching the second end of the upright support bar 22 to
the top 18 of the goal frame is by securing a bolt 30 to the top
18, where the bolt 30 passes through an opening 32 in the support
bar 22 and is secured by a wing nut 34, as is shown in FIG. 3C. In
addition to the embodiment described above, it is contemplated that
the first end of the upright support bar 22 is removably attached
to the base frame 12.
[0018] The mouth of the net 24 is attached to top crossbar 18, legs
14 and 16, and crossbar 20, which define a goal mouth that is
approximately three feet wide and a foot and a half tall. The body
of the net 24 sags behind the goal frame, forming a sack that
receives footballs thrown through the goalmouth. If desired, legs
14 and 16 may have a plurality of registered holes aligned at
different heights so that crossbar 20 may be removably attached to
legs 14 and 16 and adjusted at different heights to change the size
of the opening defining the goal mouth.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows the collapsible goal assembly 10 in a folded
position. By disconnecting the second end of the upright support
bar 22 from the top 18 of the goal frame, both the upright support
bar 22 and the top 18 may be folded down over the base frame 12, as
shown in FIG. 4. Folding the collapsible goal assembly 10 makes the
assembly 10 easy to store and transport. The simple construction of
the collapsible goal assembly 10 also makes the assembly 10 easy to
set up.
[0020] The method for playing the football game includes forming
teams of one or more players and setting one or more collapsible
goal assemblies 10 in opposing attitudes as is shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 shows the football game being played with two teams of one
player each. The first player 40 stands behind one collapsible goal
assembly 10 and the second player 42 stands behind another
collapsible goal assembly 10. The collapsible goal assemblies 10
are set apart at a distance based on the skill level of the players
40, 42. Players 40, 42 then alternately attempt to throw one or
more balls into the opposing teams collapsible goal assembly 10.
FIG. 1 shows the football game being played with a football 44,
although other types of balls such as tennis balls, soccer balls or
baseballs may be used. Scoring is based on the number of footballs
44 each team can land inside the opposing teams collapsible goal
assembly. One set of footballs 44 may be used or each team can be
provided with their own set of footballs 44.
[0021] Although not shown, it is further contemplated that the
football game can be played with two teams throwing a ball at a
single collapsible goal assembly. Thus, in one embodiment the game
may be played with two goal assemblies 10 spaced apart by about
sixty feet. Each team would consist of two players, one player from
each team standing beside each goal assembly 10. Four footballs may
be provided, two footballs having a first color and two footballs
having a second color to distinguish between the teams. Each team
would first throw their two footballs towards the opposing
goal.
[0022] No points are scored unless the football is received in the
net. If both teams each have either one or both of the footballs
received in the net, no points are scored, as each team had the
same number of footballs received in the net. If one team has one
of their two throws received in the net and the other team missed
the goal on both throws, then the first team would score one point.
If one team has both of their throws received in the net while the
other team misses the goal with both of their throws, then the
first team would score three points. The game continues, switching
from side to side. The first team to reach twenty-one points is the
winner.
[0023] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *