Swimming pool water game goal apparatus

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/442,662, filed Nov. 18, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,975, by the same title and by the present inventor.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention is directed to a goal in the form of a backboard which is to be mounted in conjunction with a swimming pool with the goal to be utilized in conjunction with a ball which is played between a pair of teams with proper placement of the ball in conjunction with the backboard generating a score for the team. The goal can be used by a single team to practice.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] It has been popular, for many years, to play ball games in conjunction with swimming pools. One form of a game is called water polo. Water polo is played between opposing teams with there being located within the confines of the swimming pool a pair of oppositely located goal in the form of a net. It is the intention of each player to throw the water polo ball into the opposing teams goal. Most swimming pools provide little means for enjoyment of the pool other than merely swimming within the pool. Therefore, to use a ball game in conjunction with the swimming pool expands the usage of the swimming pool.

[0007] In the past, it has been known to construct goals to be mounted in conjunction with the edge of a swimming pool. A typical goal may include a basketball hoop and net with it being the intention of a player to throw a ball through the hoop and net with an opposing player attempting to prevent that player from so throwing of the ball. The basketball hoop and net are located some elevated distance above the surface of the water of the swimming pool. The scoring procedure requires that a player throw the ball in an arc with it being intended that it is to pass through the hoop and the net. It is the intention of this invention to construct a goal that is located directly adjacent the surface of the water so a water polo type of ball game can be played which is different from the basketball type of game.

[0008] One of the objectives of the present invention is to incorporate a goal apparatus to be used in conjunction with a game that is played similar to water polo.

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to construct a goal apparatus which facilitates portability therefore making it easy to place the goal apparatus within a swimming pool in order to play the game and also facilitate extraction of the goal apparatus from the pool for placement in a storage location when not playing of the game.

[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to construct a goal apparatus which can be manufactured relatively inexpensively thereby minimizing the overall cost that is required in order to play the game of this invention.

[0011] When playing of the game generally there will only be used one goal apparatus of the present invention. However, if the field of play permits, two separate goals may be used on opposite ends of the swimming pool. One embodiment of water game goal apparatus of this invention utilizes a frame which has a substantially planar backboard mounted thereon. The backboard has a front surface and a rear surface with the backboard having a through hole that extends from the front surface to the rear surface. Incorporated within the backboard is a ball guiding means which may be mounted on the rear surface of the backboard. When a ball is thrown through the through hole, the ball guiding means functions to direct the ball in a particular direction.

[0012] Another embodiment of this invention mounts the through hole centrally within the backboard.

[0013] Another embodiment of this invention mounts the backboard in a tilted arrangement so the backboard assumes an inclined position to horizontal.

[0014] Another embodiment of this invention constitutes forming on the front surface of the backboard at least one target located in close proximity to but spaced from the through hole.

[0015] In still another embodiment of this invention, the rearward section may include wheels with the wheels to be used for moving of the goal apparatus when placing of the goal apparatus in storage or when moving of the goal apparatus from storage to be installed in conjunction with the swimming pool in order to be used.

[0016] Another embodiment of this invention comprises the wheel means comprising a first set of wheels and a second set of wheels with the first set of wheels functioning to move the goal apparatus in a longitudinal direction and a second set of wheels to be usable to move the goal apparatus in a transverse direction.

[0017] A still further embodiment comprises utilizing a ballast in conjunction with the goal apparatus with the ballast being mounted on the rearward section of the goal apparatus.

[0018] A still further embodiment comprises locating a brace means in conjunction with the forward section of the frame with the brace means to be positioned against the sidewall of the swimming pool when the water game goal apparatus is properly installed for usage.

[0019] A still further embodiment of this invention comprises utilizing of a net as the ball guiding means.

[0020] Another embodiment of this invention comprises a water game goal apparatus which utilizes a frame which is to be located in conjunction with a swimming pool with the frame having a pair of spaced apart support members with each of these support members being approximately of the same length. Each support member has an outer end and an inner end with the inner end adapted to be placed against a sidewall of a swimming pool. Mounted on the support members and at the outer end directly adjacent the outer end thereof is a substantially planar backboard with this backboard having a through hole that extends from the front surface to the rear surface of the backboard. A bracing system is mounted between the backboard and the support members with the bracing system for supporting the backboard in an upwardly extending position which is inclined relative to horizontal. The bracing system is disconnectable from the backboard to permit the backboard to fold to a collapsed position and be located in juxtaposition with the support members when the backboard is removed from the swimming pool.

[0021] Another embodiment of this invention is where the support members are located parallel to each other.

[0022] A still further embodiment of this invention includes securement members between the support members and the swimming pool coping in order to fix in position the backboard relative to the swimming pool.

[0023] A still further embodiment of this invention is where the water game goal apparatus may include a through hole centrally located within the backboard.

[0024] A still further embodiment of this invention is where the front surface of the backboard includes at least one target located in close proximity but spaced from the through hole.

[0025] In all embodiments, the bottom edge of the backboard is designed to be located just at or below the surface of the water within the swimming pool. Each comprises a frame with the forward section of the frame removably mounted onto a backboard. The backboard may include a through hole. Mounted in conjunction with the through hole is a net. A ball is to be thrown through the through hole and into the net which functions to guide the ball to a location just rearward of the backboard facilitating grasping of the ball to continue play of the game after a goal is scored. The backboard also may include target areas which can be utilized when practicing of the game in order to rebound the ball back to the player that has thrown the ball to the backboard. The backboard is to be mounted at an upwardly inclined position so that upon a ball striking the backboard, the ball will be rebounded up into the air above the surface of the pool so as to avoid rebounding in the area directly adjacent the backboard. The rearward section of the frame of the goal apparatus includes two different sets of wheels. One set of wheels is to facilitate movement of the goal apparatus in a longitudinal direction with the second set of wheels to facilitate movement of the goal apparatus in a transverse direction. The movement of the goal apparatus is to be to and from a storage location. The rearward section also includes a ballast tank to add weight to the goal apparatus so as to keep it in a fixed location during the playing of the game.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a first embodiment of water game goal apparatus of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a front isometric view of the frame of the first embodiment of water game goal apparatus of the present invention with the backboard having been removed;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a back view of the backboard utilized in conjunction with the first embodiment of water game goal apparatus of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of water game goal apparatus of the present invention taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a side view, partly in cross-section, of the first embodiment of water game goal apparatus of the present invention taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 6 is a side view of the first embodiment of water game goal apparatus of the present invention showing how the goal apparatus can be moved in the longitudinal direction;

[0032] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment of water game goal apparatus of the present invention showing how the goal apparatus can be moved in the transverse direction;

[0033] FIG. 8 is a frontal isometric view of the second embodiment of water game goal apparatus of the present invention showing the water game goal apparatus being positioned in conjunction with a swimming pool;

[0034] FIG. 9 is a left side view of the second embodiment of water game goal apparatus of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of water game goal apparatus of the present invention; and

[0036] FIG. 11 is a frontal view of a modified form of backboard which may be utilized with either the first embodiment of this invention or the second embodiment of this invention to be substituted for the backboards that are shown in conjunction with the first embodiment of this invention and the second embodiment of this invention.

[0037] Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown the water game goal apparatus 10 of this invention. The goal apparatus 10 is composed of a backboard 12 and a frame 14. The frame 14 is constructed of a plurality of rigid tubular plastic members in the form of a front section 16 which is integrally connected to a rearward section 18. The front section 16 is composed of a main horizontal member 20 which generally will be several feet in length. Integrally attached at each end of the main horizontal member 20 is a vertical member 22 with it being understood that there are two in number of the vertical members 22 located parallel to each other. Vertical members 22 are also of the same length and are such a length that when the goal apparatus 10 is installed in position for usage that the members 22 will be located just beneath the surface 24 of the water 26 that is confined within a swimming pool.

[0038] The swimming pool includes a sidewall 28 and a decking 30. Integrally connected to each vertical member 22 is a brace 32 with it being understood that there are two in number of the braces 32 with there being one brace 32 attached to each vertical member 22. Each brace 32 extends in a transverse direction from its respective vertical member 22 and is located directly adjacent the outer free end of each vertical member 22. The braces 32 are selected to be of a length so that when the goal apparatus 10 is installed in position that the braces 32 will come into contact with the sidewall 18 of the swimming pool.

[0039] The rearward section 18 is defined by a pair of spaced apart, parallel horizontal members 34 which are connected together at their free outer end by a longitudinal horizontal brace member 36. Each horizontal brace member 34 is braced with its respective vertical member 22 by an inclined brace member 38. The function of the inclined brace members 38 are to keep the rearward section 18 fixed in position and located substantially at a right angle to the front section 16.

[0040] Mounted at the outer end of each horizontal member 34 is a wheel 40. It is to be understood that there are two in number of the wheels 40 with each wheel 40 being pivotally mounted on its respective horizontal member 34. The wheels 40 are to function in unison so that when the frame 14 is in the position shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing, it can be moved longitudinally by rolling on the wheels 40.

[0041] It is to be noted that each wheel 40 is pivotally mounted on a slanted section 50 with their being a separate slanted section 50 attached to each horizontal member 34. The purpose of each slanted section 50 is so that when the horizontal members 34 are placed in contact and resting on the decking 30, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, that the wheels 40 are just in contact with the decking 30. If it were not for the slanted sections 50, the horizontal members 34 would not be in flush contact with the decking 30.

[0042] Mounted on the longitudinal horizontal brace member 36 are a pair of wheels 42. It is to be noted that the wheels 42 are of substantially larger diameter than the wheels 40. The wheels 40 are to be in contact with the decking 30 when the horizontal members are located substantially at a forty-five degree angle relative to the decking 30. In this position, the wheels 42 are not in contact with the decking 30. This permits the longitudinal manual movement in the direction of arrow 44 of the frame 14. However, when the frame 14 is pivoted an additional forty-five degrees, the horizontal members 44 are then located substantially vertical and wheels 42 will then be in contact with the decking 30 with the wheels 40 now being spaced from the decking 30. This will permit the transverse movement of the frame 14 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of arrow 44. The frame 14 is to be movable by using of wheels 40 and 42 to locate the frame 14 in a storage location and then movement from the storage location to its usage position in conjunction with the swimming pool. It is to be understood that the wheels 42 are low frictionally pivotally mounted on the longitudinal horizontal brace member 36.

[0043] Fixedly mounted on the longitudinal horizontal brace member 36 is a ballast tank 46. The ballast tank 46 has an inlet pipe 48. Water is to be poured through the inlet pipe 48 to substantially fill the ballast tank 46 which will provide added weight so as to keep the water goal apparatus 10 in a fixed location when in use.

[0044] The backboard 12 is defined principally by a main planer section 52 which is generally rectangular in configuration comprising three to four feet in height and eight to ten feet in length. This main section has a front surface 54 and a rear surface 56. Centrally located and formed through the backboard 12 from the front surface 54 to the rear surface 56 is a through opening 58. The size of the through opening 58 will generally be about twice the size of the ball that is to be used in conjunction with the game with the goal apparatus 10 of this invention. With the ball being generally about ten inches in diameter, this means that the through opening 58 will normally be about twenty inches in diameter. However, it is to be considered within the scope of this invention that the through opening 58 could be larger or smaller in size.

[0045] There may also be included on the front surface 54 a target area, such as targets 60 and 62. The function of the targets 60 and 62 is to permit a player to aim for the targets 60 and 62 which will have the ball rebound from the backboard 12 in a direction upward above the surface 24 of the water 26. It is to be noted that the targets 60 and 62 are shown as being a series of concentric circles. However, any configuration of targets 60 and 62 could be utilized without departing from the scope of this invention.

[0046] Mounted on the rear surface 56 about the through opening 58 is a net 64. The function of the net 64 is as a guiding device so that when the ball is propelled through through hole 58 that it comes into contact with the net 64 which will guide the ball in a straight down direction toward the surface 24 of the water 26 and position the ball directly adjacent the rear surface 56. To the players of the game, upon a ball being propelled through the through opening 58, the players know that the ball will be located directly beneath the through opening 58 so the player only needs to reach under the backboard 12 and grab the ball and extract such from its position for continued play of the game. The net 64 is of a length that is short of coming into contact with the surface 24 of the water 26.

[0047] The backboard 12 is integrally connected to a top edge 56. Mounted in conjunction with the top edge 56 are a series of straps 68 with three in number of the straps 68 being shown. It is the function of the straps 68 to securely mount the top edge 66 onto the main horizontal member 20 with member 20 abutting against surface 82 of backboard 12. The straps 68 will include fastening means, which is commonly sold under the trade name Velcro which comprises a pair of pads, with one pad including a mass of tiny eyelets and the other pad including a mass of tiny hooks.

[0048] Also integrally connected to the backboard 12 are side panels 70 and 72. The side panels 70 and 72 are of the same size and are of the same configuration. It is to be noted that each side panel 70 is narrow where it connects with the top edge 66 and is substantially wider where it connects at the bottom of the backboard 12. Side panel 70 has a pair of straps 74, similar to straps 68, which are used to fixedly secure the side panel 70 onto one of the vertical members 22 with vertical member 22 abutting against stop members 84 and 86 mounted on side panel 70. In a similar manner, side panel 72 has a pair of straps 76 which are similar to straps 68 which are used to fixedly secure the side panel 72 onto the remaining vertical member 22 with vertical member 22 abutting against stop members 84 and 86 of side panel 72. It is to noted that when the goal apparatus 10 of this invention is in use, the main section 52 of the backboard 12 assumes a forwardly inclined position of about twelve degrees. This inclination is such that when a ball is directed in contact with the front surface 54 that the rebounding of the ball will be in a direction upward and away from the surface 24 of the water 26. This will permit a single player to be able to practice by throwing at the backboard 12 and having the ball to bounce back to be located directly adjacent the player not requiring the services of any additional player. Targets 60 and 62 are to be used for this purpose. The through opening 58 is to be used when playing of the actual game rather than practicing.

[0049] Fixedly mounted on the rear surface 56 are a plurality of longitudinal ribs 78. It is the function of the longitudinal ribs 78 to prevent deflection of the main section 52 so that it will be maintained substantially planer at all times. Also fixedly mounted on the rear surface 56 is a short rib 80 for the same purpose.

[0050] Referring particularly to FIGS. 8-10 of the drawings, there is shown a second embodiment 88 of water game apparatus of this invention. The second embodiment includes a frame which is composed of a pair of parallel located spaced apart support members 90 and 92. The support members 90 and 92 are each elongated and are each approximately of the same length. Support members 90 and 92 comprise pontoons since such are floatable in water and function to have the entire second embodiment 88 float. Mounted on the inner end of each support member 90 and 92 is a stabilization plate 94. The plate 94 is larger in area than the cross-sectional area of each of the support members 90 and 92. The plate 94 is to be positioned against the sidewall 96 of the swimming pool. It is the function of the plate 94 to provide a larger area of contact with the sidewall 96. Fixedly mounted between the support members 90 and 92 is a cross brace 98. The cross brace 98 maintains the established spacing between the support members 90 and 92.

[0051] Mounted on the upper surface of each support member 90 and 92 is a forward mounting connector 100 and an aft mounting connector 102. Each forward mounting connector 100 is located directly adjacent the outer end 104 of each support member 90 and 92. A planar backboard 105 which has a front surface 106 and a rear surface 107, which is similar in construction to the backboard 54, is to be mounted so that the lower edge 108 is mounted in conjunction with the forward mounting connectors 100. The connection between the forward mounting connectors 100 and the backboard 105 is so the backboard 105 can pivot relative to the connectors 100.

[0052] Pivotally connected to each aft mounting connector 102 is an arm 110. The outer end of each arm 110 is fixedly mounted to a bracket 112. The bracket 112 can be mounted in conjunction with each side edge 114 and 116 of the planar backboard 105. Each bracket 112 can be readily manually disengaged from its respective side edge 114 and 116, the purpose of which will be explained further on in the specification.

[0053] The planar backboard 105 will normally also include a centrally mounted through hole 118 which extends from the front surface 106 to the rear surface 107, and on each side of the through hole 118 on front surface 106 are circular target areas 120 and 122. Normally, the target areas 120 and 122 will be of a larger diameter than the through hole 118. However, it is to be considered within the scope of this invention that the target areas 120 and 122 could be of smaller diameter and also possibly the target areas 120 and 122 could even be eliminated.

[0054] Fixedly mounted on the upper surface of each support member 90 and 92 is a pin 124. Mounted on the pin 124 is the outer end of a stretchable elastic cord 126. The inner of the cord 126 is mounted to a manually operated clamp 128. The manually operated clamp 128 is to be fixedly installed at the coping edge 130 of the coping 132. It is the function of the cords 126 to exert a continuous force against the support members 90 and 92 that tends to hold the plates 94 into tight contact with the sidewall 96.

[0055] When it is desired that the second embodiment 88 of goal apparatus of this invention is no longer desired to be used, the user is to disengage the C-clamps 128 and remove the goal apparatus 88 from within the confined area of the swimming pool to be located on the coping 132. The user then disengages the brackets 112 and pivots the arms 110 to be in contact with the support members 90 and 92. The planar backboard 105 is then permitted to pivot almost ninety degrees to be located against the support members 90 and 92. The second embodiment 88 of goal apparatus of this invention is now in a position of occupying a minimum amount of space which permits storage of the second embodiment 88 at a desired storage location. It is to be understood that removal of the second embodiment 88 of goal apparatus of this invention the installation of such constitutes just the reverse of the foregoing procedure.

[0056] Referring particularly to FIG. 11, there is shown a modified form of planar backboard 134 which has a front surface 135 which does not include target areas 120 and 122 and also does not include a through hole 118. The planar backboard 134 is to be used merely as a return backboard in order to practice with a water polo type ball where the water polo type ball is to be propelled against front surface 135 and the ball will then be bounced in a return direction. The backboard 134 is not intended to be used in conjunction with a scoring game because it does not include of the through hole 118.