WO1987006484A1

WO1987006484A1 - A tennis-like game

Info

Publication number: WO1987006484A1
Application number: PCT/GB1987/000268
Authority: WO
Inventors: Grahame J. Davidson
Original assignee: Davidson Grahame J
Priority date: 1986-04-23
Filing date: 1987-04-23
Publication date: 1987-11-05
Also published as: EP0267218A1

Abstract

A game comprises a net (7), supports (11), tapes (14) to be lain on the ground or floor to indicate whether or not rules of the game have been infringed, a ball of such characteristics that the ball has limited bounce compared with that of a tennis ball and has resistance to deviation by wind, a plurality of racquets or bats for hitting the ball across the net.

Description

A tennis-like game.

The present invention relates to a game and more particularly to a game in which a projectile such as a ball is hit across a net by at least one player at each side of the net.

Games such as tennis, short tennis and badminton are well known in which a ball, foam ball or shuttlecock respectively is hit across a net. These games are perfectly satisfactory when played in court areas for which they are intended. A disadvantage of tennis when played for example on the beach or in a park where there are people nearby or there is no enclosure , i s that a miss-hit by a player can cause the ball to travel an excessive distance so that much time is wasted in retreiving the ball. Also there is a danger that the ball could strike anyone in the vicinity. If full tennis is to be played indoors a playing area larger than most sports centres have available is needed. A disadvantage of playing badminton or short tennis outdoors is that since a shuttlecock or foam ball is very light even only a moderate wind can blow the shuttlecock or foam ball off course resulting in much time wasting and also that the game cannot be played properly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a game that can be assembled or dismantled in minutes in which the above disadvantages are reduced or avoi ded . lt is also an object of the present invention to provide a game that can be assembled and played in places of reduced area both indoors and outdoors compared with that required for tennis. To this end there is provided according to the present invention a game characterised by a net, means for supporting the net, a plurality of lengths of material adapted to be lain on the floor or ground to provide an indication of whether or not rules of the game have been infringed, means for securing the material to the floor or ground, a ball of such characteristics that the ball has limited bounce compared with that of a tennis ball and has resistance to deviation by wind and a plurality of racquets or bats for hitting the ball across the net.

The racquets may be junior tennis racquets and the projectile may be a tennis ball or the like of low compression having limited bounce, flight and velocity characteristics.

The height of the net may be adjustable and preferably this is accomplished by a plurality of net attachment means provided along the support means.

The support means preferably comprises a post for positioning at each end of the net and the net attachment means preferably comprises a plurality of loops fixed to the post or apertures in the post and through which a cord of the net can pass. The support means may further comprise a plate adaped to be located on the ground or the floor, which plate is provided with an aperture, the post being provided with a projection at its lower end for inserting in the aperture.

The support means may further comprise a plate adapted to be located on the ground or the floor, which plate is provided with an upwardly extending projection, the post being provided with a bore in its lower end for receiving the projection.

The lengths of material may each comprise a strip which can be rolled out onto the floor or ground. Some of which strips may be of different lengths from the others. For indoor use the strips may be provided with sticky tape for adhering them to the floor. Alternatively boundary lines can be painted on the floor.

Preferably each strip is provided with a plurality of holes to receive the fixing means which are preferably in the form of metal or plastic pegs.

The game may be in the form of a kit including instructions far setting up and playing the game.

The present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a court for playing a singles game according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows a view similar to that of figure 1 of a court for playing a doubles game according to the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a view similar to that of figures 1 and 2 of a court for playing a singles and doubles game for training and coaching in preparation for the game of lawn tennis.

Figure 4 shows a support post far supporting the net. Figure 5 shows a post supported on a tray provided with an upwardly extending projection. Figure 6 shows a post provided with a downwardly extending projection supported on a plate provided with an aperture for projection. Figures 7 and 8 show two variations of support for the posts. The court shown in figure 1 for playing a singles game comprises a rectangular arrangement of approximately 2.54 to 4.88 cms wide white polyester or adhesive court marking tapes The sides of the court comprises two such tapes 1 and 2 approximately 16 to 20 metres long depending on the size available which each extend along the entire length of one side. The size of a tennis court is 23.8 metres by 8.1 metres and a badminton court 13.4 metres by 6.1 metres. The ends of the court comprise two further such tapes 3,4 approximately 4.5 metres long which extend across thre entire width of the court. These tapes may be up to 6.5 metres long depending on the space available for playing the game. A quarter of the length of the court from each end, i.e. 4.75 metres on a court of 18 metres long , are yet two more such tapes 5,6 also approximately 4.5 metres long and in all cases the same length as tapes 3 and 4. Extending across the middle of the court is a net 7 of preferably 40 to 50 millimetre mesh size and made of 210/18 to 210/36 nylon. Each side of the net 7 has a cord 9 which passes through a loop 10 in a respective post 11 as shown in figure 4. The end of each cord is secured into the ground. Each post 11 has four loops or holes 10 spaced o.80, 0.35 , 0. 90 and 0.95 metres above the ground. Each post 11 has a spiked end 12 which is surrounded by a disc 13 which stabilises the post when the spike is inserted in the ground. Each tape 1 to 6 is provided with brass eyelets 14 spaced along its length. The tapes 1,2 are provided with nine equally spaced eyelets 14 and the tapes 3 to 6 are each provided with eyelets approx- imately 1.0 metres apart, the number being determined by the length of approximately 4.5 metres up to 6.5 metres. Through each eyelet extends a metal or plastic peg 15 which projects into the ground for fixing down the tapes 1 to 6. Each cord 9 is also fixed to the ground by means of a peg 15.

The court for playing a doubles game is shown in figure 2 and is similar to that for the singles game except that a further length of tape 16,17 is laid parallel with and spaced from each tape 1,2. The spacing between the tapes 1 and 16 and 2 and 17 is approximately 1.0 metre thereby giving the court an overall width of approximately 6.5 metres up to 8.5 metres depending oh the space available. Four short tapes 13 extend the tapes 3,4 to the tapes 16,17. The tapes 16,17 are each provided with nine equally spaced eyelets 14 and the tapes 13 with an eyelet at each end. The court for playing a singles and doubles game for coaching and training purposes in preparation far the game of lawn tennis is shown in figure 3 and is similar to the courts shown in figures 1 and 2 except that a further length of tape 19 is laid parallel to tapes 1 and 2 extending along the centre of the court between lines 5 and 6. The racquets used to play the game are strung with either synthetic or gut material and are similar to those used in the game of lawn tennis but that the size is between 20 to 25 inches and the weight 10 to 12 ozs . The projectile is a ball which preferably has a circumference of 19 to 21 cms and a weight of 2.5 to 3.0 ozs. The ball should preferably be a tennis ball of low compression having a weight of 40 to 50 gm in contrast to a wimbledon tennis ball having a weight of 57 gm and a foam ball having a weight of 16.5 gm.The ball has velocity, bounce and flight characteristics less than that of a tennis ball of high compression as used in the game of lawn tennis, so that there is no danger of the ball travelling an excessive distance when hit hard. Also the ball is not driven off course by wind as would a light foam ball or shuttlecock. Also to enable the coaching and training in preparation for the game of tennis using these low compress ion balls necessitates the use of a court area more than that of a badminton or short tennis court but less than that of a tennis court.

In badminton a shuttlecock and badminton racquet are used. In short tennis a foam ball and plastics racquet are used. In tennis a high compression ball and 27inch / 13 1/2 to 15 oz racquets are used. In contrast in a game according to this invention a low compression ball and 20 to 25 inch / 10 to 12 oz racquets are used.

SETTING UP AN OUTDOOR GAME The tape 1 is taken and secured temporarily by means of hand pressure at one end by passing one of the metal pegs through a brass eyelet 14 and pushing into the ground. The remainder of the tape is then pulled out to the other end of where the court is planned to lay.

The tape 3 is taken and the brass eyelet 14 at one end is laid over the eyelet 14 of the stretched out tape 1 at its unsecured end and secured by passing a metal peg through bath eyelets 14 and pushing into the ground. Before the peg is pushed into the ground it should be ensured that the tape is reasonably taut and straight. Depending on varying soil conditions it may be necessary to use a small hammer or other such tool to drive the metal pegs into the ground. The unsecured tape 3 is stretched away at right angles to the secured tape 1 and the brass eyelet 14 is aligned at the other end over the eyelet 14 at one end of the other tape 2 and secured as above. The tape 2 is stretched back along the ground keeping it as parallel as possible to the other secured tape 1. The tapes do not stretch or shrink and can be washed in a washing machine. After checking that the court is square another tape 4 is taken and the eyelet 14 at one end of the tape 4 is aligned over the eyelet of the unsecured end of the tape 2 and secured as above. It may be necessary at this time to adjust the temporarily secured tape 1 . After checking that all the tapes are as straight as possible the previously temporarily secured end is secured by pushing the metal peg firmly into the ground.

The remaining two tapes 5,6 (service box markers) 10 are aligned with the appropriate eyelets 14 on the two tapes 1,2 .

Some of the metal pegs are passed over the court marking tapes on all lengths and widths between each of the secured eyelets and pushed into the ground to 15 further secure the tapes. All the metal pegs used for securing the tapes should be firmly pushed into the ground so that the upper ends of the pegs are not visible above ground level.

One of the posts 11 are then taken and a round disc 13 is first threaded through the spike 12 at the base of the post 11 and then the spiked end is pushed into the ground at a point approximately 1.0 metres outside the centre eyelet of the tape 2.

The cord 9 fixed at one end of the net 7 is passed through the the desired loop-hole 10 at the tap of one of the pasts 11 to vary the height of the net according to the expertise of the players and secured at its end by pushing the metal peg 13 through the looped end and into the ground. The cord 9 at the other end of the top of the net 7 is pased through the corresponding loop-hole 10 at the top of the other post 11 and secured in the same way making sure that the net 7 is as stretched as possible. Any one of the loop-holes 10 at the top of each post can be utilised depending upon the degree of difficulty it is wished to introduce into the game. The more proficient the players become - particularly at serving - the higher the net can be secured above the ground.

To convert a singles court into a doubles court the following steps are taken :

A peg at the corner of one end of the court is removed and one eyelet 14 of one of the short extension tapes 18 is laid over the previously secured eyelets of tapes 1 and 3 and the tape 13 is secured to the ground using the same metal peg. The same is done with the three other corners of the court. The short extension tapes 18 are stretched out following the line of tapes 3 and 4.

A tape 16 is stretched out keeping it parallel to tape 1 and is secured after aligning the eyelet of the short extension tapes 18 to the eyelets of the tape 16.

The above instructions are then repeated to secure the tape 17 at the other side of the court.

To convert a singles or doubles as in figures 1 and 2 into a court which may be used for training and coaching purposes in preparation for the game of lawn tennis as in figure 3 a tape 19 is stretched out keeping it parallel to tape 1 and is secured at one end by removing the metal or plastic peg from the centre eyelet on tape 5 and the eyelet at one end of the tape 19 laid over the previosly secured eyelet and the tape 19 is secured to the ground using the same metal or plastic peg. The same is done with the other end of the tape 19 and the centre eyelet on tape 6. Some of the metal or plastic pegs are passed over the tape between the secured eyelets and pushed into the ground to further secure the tape.

PLAYING A SINGLES GAME After spinning a racquet or a coin to determine which of the players will begin serving, the ball is served from behind the base line into the service box of the opponent receiver on the other side of the net. The server may serve the ball from anywhere behind the base line as long as his feet on contact with the ball by the racquet are behind the line. The server may either hit the ball overarm or underarm. In either case the ball must travel over the net and into the receiver's service box without bouncing first. The serve is only "good" when this happens. If the ball should hit the net and then fall into the receiver's service box (without bouncing before hand ) then this is a "let ball" and the server may then serve the ball again with no penalty to his service. If the ball should fall outside the receiver's service box or the ball should bounce in the server's side of the court or the ball should be served into the net then "second service" is called and the server has another chance tσ serve "good". Should this service hit the net, or fall outside the receiver's service box or the ball bounce on the server's side of the net, then the service is lost and the serve is passed over to the opponent. Should the server's second serve hit the net without bouncing first and fall into the receiver's service box this is also called a let and the second serve is re-taken as above. If the third consecutive serve hits the net and falls into the receiver's box, the serve is lost and passed over to the opponent.

A match normally consists of the best of five games, each game being played to ten points. A point may only be scored by the player who is serving and points can only be scored by the opponent on regaining the serve. After the server has served a good serve the return and ensuing shots during the rally are only "good" as long as: (A) The ball is returned over the net and bounces within the boundaries of the court on the opponents side of the net.

(B) The ball crosses the net without bouncing first on that players side of the court.

(C) The ball does not bounce more than once before being returned.

(D) The ball is volleyed without bouncing first and returned over the net (except on return of service when the ball must be allowed to bounce in the service box ). (E) The ball is struck with the racquet only to return it.

Should the ball in the course of a game after a good serve hit the net and drop into the boundaries of the court on the opponents side of the net then the ball is counted "good". "Lets" are only played on serves. Only the player serving can score points, so the receiver must regain service by breaking the opponents serve before he can begin to score points.

If a player makes such a shot as in (A) to (E) above so the opponent on the other side of the net cannot return it, or it bounces more than once and the shot played is "good" then the player wins the rally. If that player was serving then he gains a point. If that player was receiving serve at the start of that rally, he gains service, but does not gain a point. The first player to reach ten points wins that game at which time the players should change sides for the start of the next game and that game commencing with whoever won the previous game, serving first. Should the score reach nine points all for the first time in that game, the receiver at that time can elect before the next serve is delivered to set "two". In this case the player first to scare two points wins the game.

These two points do not have to be scored consecutively. The receiver must however indicate his preference to the server clearly by either calling "no set" or "set two". The score does not go above eleven points because in the case of the "no set" the game will be won by the margin of ten points to nine and in the case of "set two" the game will be won by either eleven points to ten or eleven points to nine.

PLAYING A DOUBLES GAME A doubles game played with two players on either side of the net is played on a court measuring 13.9 metres (approximately 62 ft.) long by 6.5 metres (approximately 21 ft.) wide up to 3.5 metres (approximately 28 ft.) wide where more space is available. The service boxes remain the same as those used for the singles game. The rules for the doubles game are the same as those for the singles game except as detailed below. At the start of the first game and every game thereafter the serving side will only be allowed one serve. When that serve has been lost each of the players will serve in turn until their serve is lost. Should the server gain a point he or she will serve the next point to the other player on the other side of the net. In other words the server will serve the ball to each of the opposing players in turn until that serve is lost. The player serving second will begin serving to that player who did not receive the previous serve.

A doubles match will normally consist of the best of five games each game being played to ten points except in the case of the score reaching their preference by either calling "NO SET" or "SET TWO" as in the singles game. If the tape 19 shown in figure 3 is used the same rules 'which apply to the game of lawn tennis can be substituted. If the game is to be played indoors the support post shown in figure 5 can be used. This comprises a post 20 provided with a bore 21 extending upwardly from the lower end of the post. The post rests on a plate 22 comprising a planar area 23 and a pair of fingers 24 extending from the planar area is a projection 25 which locates inside the bore in the post 20 . In order to support the post and the net weights (not shown) can be placed on the planar area 23.

An alternative support past far the indoor game is shown in figure 6. This comprises a post 26 provided with a projection 27 extending downwardly from the lower end of the post. The post rests an a plate 23 comprising a planar area 29 and a pair of fingers 30 extending from the planar area 29. An aperture 31 is provided in the planar. The plate is so located an the flaar that the aperture is aligned with ≄ a pre-formed hole in the floor and the projection 27 of the post is inserted through the aperture 31 into the hole in the floor. As with the embodiment shown in figure 4 , weight can be placed on the planar area 23. Figure 7 shows a base 32 having a generally T - shaped configuration. At each extremity of the base 32 is a hole 33 into each of which extends a screw or bayonet fitting 34 for securing the base 32 to the floor. The base is so located on the floor that the aperture is aligned with a pre formed hole in the floor into which has been fitted a sleeve 35. The screw or bayonet fitting 34 is then passed through the hole 33 and secured into the sleeve 35. If this base is used for play out of doors on a surface such as grass the screw or bayonet fitting 34 and the sleeve 35 can be substituted by a metal or plastic peg 15 as per fig 1 for fixing to the ground. A post 36 which can comprise one or more interconnecting post lengths 37, 39 is located over a projection 40 which extends upwardly from one of the limbs of the base 32. The post 36 can be of any suitable cross-section and preferably have a width of 1.0 to 1.5 inches. They may be made from extruded PVC with inlaid webbing for extra rigidity. The upper post length 37 is provided with a projection at its bottom end for location in a bore in the top end of the lower post length 39. The lower post length 39 is provided with a base in its bottom end, or with a continuous base from top to bottom, for location over the projection 40 of the base 32. The post 37 may be in three lengths of which the lower and intermediate post lengths are combined to give a net height suitable for short tennis or a game according to this invention and the upper post length can be used for playing badminton.

Figure 3 shows a further base 41 having a generally triangular shape. The base 41 is provided with three holes 42 to enable the base to be secured to the floor and a hollow upwardly extending projection 43 for receiving a post. The base may be made from any suitable material such as ABS.

Claims

1. A game characterised by a net, means for supporting the net, a plurality of lengths of material adapted to be lain on the floor or ground to provide an indication of whether or not rules of the game have been infringed, means for securing the material to the floor or ground, a ball of such characteristics that the ball has limited bounce compared with that of a tennis ball and has resistance to deviation by wind and a plurality of racquets or bats for hitting the ball across the net.

2. A game according to claim 1, characterised in that the racquets are strung racquets of lighter weight than full sized tennis racquets.

3. A game according to claim 2, characterised in that the racquets are junior tennis racquets.

4. A game according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ball is a low compression ball of tennis ball type.

5. A game according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means far supporting the net includes two supports each comprising a post.

6. A game according to claim 5, characterised in that each support includes a base adapted to accommodate the lower end of a post.

7. A game according to claim 6, character ised in that each base comprises a plate portion to accommodate weights for holding the support in position.

3. A game according to claim 6, characterised in that each base comprises a generally T - shaped portion provided with an aperture at each extremity to accommodate means for fixing the base to the floor or ground.

9. A game according to claim 3, character ised in that the fixing means comprises bayonet means.

10. A game according to any of the claims 6 to 9, characterised in that each post comprises a plurality of post lengths in order that the height of the net can be varied.

11. A game according to any of the claims 7 to 10, characterised in that a hollow projection extends upwards from the plate portion to receive therein the lower end position of the post.

12. A game according to any of the claims 7 to 10, characterised in that a projection extends upwards from the plate position and the post has a hollow lower end position to receive therein the projection of the plate portion.

13. A game according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lengths of material comprises polyester.

14. A game according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lengths of material are aproximately 2.54 cm to 4.88 cm wide.

15. A game according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lengths of material can be laid on the ground or floor and are preferably non - shrink, non - stretch and washable.

16. A game according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lengths of material can be used to mark out courts or pitches of any size.

17. A game according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the net has a 40 to 50 mm mesh size and is preferably made of 210/18 to 210/36 nylon.

13. A game according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the height of the net can be varied to accommodate Short Tennis, Tenaquet or Badminton.