FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention comprises a position or score indicator for a game such as swingball.

BACKGROUND

Swingball is a field game typically played casually, in which two players use bats to hit a ball (typically like a tennis ball) tethered by a cord at about shoulder height to an upright pole between them. In particular, the cord may be tethered to a ring which moves on a vertical spiral element. If each player hits the ball the same number of times during a period of play i.e. if after one player has hit the ball in one direction around the pole and spiral for example clockwise, then the other player returns the ball in the opposite direction counter-clockwise and so on, neither player will achieve an advantage over the other. However if one player hits the ball more often than the other, typically because the other player attempts to hit but misses, so that the ball rotates around the pole in one direction more times than in the other direction, the ring will ascend or descend the spiral. When during any period of play, the ring is closer to the top than the bottom of the spiral or vice versa, this indicates that one player is ahead of the other in score or position in the game. When the ring to which the ball is tethered reaches the top or bottom of the spiral and can go no further, one player has won the game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In broad terms in one aspect the invention comprises a position or score indicator for a game, comprising :

• a casing

• score indicators visible at least one from each of opposite sides of the casing

• a drive system including :

o opposed flag gears within the casing, one associated with each of the score indicators,

o a drive gear which engages the opposed flag gears to counter-rotate the opposed gears to move the score indicators, and

• a part external to or engageable from an exterior of the casing, associated with the drive gear, to which a part of equipment for playing a game is attachable and which when rotated rotates the drive gear.

Typically the part external to the casing comprises an arm external to the casing which extends at a non-zero angle to an axis of rotation of the drive gear. Typically the part external to or engageable from an exterior of the casing is at a topside of the casing of the indicator and the casing comprises on an underside

In at least some embodiments the score indicators comprise flags which counter-rotate through similar limited arcs on opposite sides of the casing. In some embodiments the drive system is arranged to move the score indicators in steps. In other embodiments however the drive system may be arranged to move the score indicators with a non- stepped movement. Preferably the drive system is arranged to internally slip when the score indicators are at end points of movement of the score indicators.

In at least some embodiments the drive gear is comprises a drive gear axis of rotation which extends through a top and underside of the casing and the opposed flag gears are arranged to counter-rotate about a common axis transverse to the drive gear axis of rotation, and the opposed flag gears comprise facing arcs or rings of gear teeth engaged by the drive gear.

In broad terms in another aspect the invention comprises a position or score indicator for a game, comprising :

• a casing

• score indicators visible at least one from each of opposite sides of the casing

• a part external to the casing which is rotated during play by a ball and tether, and

• a mechanism within the casing associated with the score indicators, to move the score indicators in opposite directions to indicate relative positions of the players during a game.

In broad terms in a further aspect the invention comprises a set of games equipment comprising a position or score indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, mounted to the top of a pole, bats, and a ball and tether for attaching the ball to the position or score indicator.

In this specification the term "comprising" means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting a statement in this specification and claims that includes "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted similarly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying figures which show an embodiment of a position or score indicator of the invention, by way of example and without intending to be limiting, and in which :

Figure 1 shows two persons playing swingball with equipment including the embodiment of the position or score indicator of the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the position or score indicator separate from the other parts of tetherball game equipment,

Figure 3 is a view from above of the position or score indicator,

Figure 4 is a view from one side of the position or score indicator (other side similar),

Figure 5 is a view of the underside of the position or score indicator,

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the position or score indicator,

Figure 7 is a view of the position or score indicator with an upper part of the casing removed, and

Figures 8 and 8A are a schematic cross-section view of parts of the internal mechanism, and a view of similar parts alone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows two persons playing tetherball with equipment including a position or score indicator 1 of the invention ('score indicator'). The score indicator 1 is mounted at the top of pole 2 which is typically pushed into the ground where the game is to be played. Ball 3 is tethered via cord 4 to rotating arm 5 of the score indicator 1.

During play as the players hit the ball back and for the between them, the arm 5 rotates clockwise and counter-clockwise around the pole and score indicator 1. Flags 8 and 9 are visible one on each of opposite sides of the casing as shown, and during play move through arc F (see Figures 2 and 4). The flags 8 and 9 counter rotate, so that the flag 8 shown in Figure 4 will move to the left or right as a player on that side of the score indicator does better or worse in the game than the other player, while the flag 9 on the other side of the score indicator will move in the opposite direction ie to the right or left. Vice versa, if the opposite player begins to do better, the direction of movement of the flags 8 and 9 will reverse. When neither player has an advantage over the other, the flags 8 and 9 will both be in the top position shown in all of the figures ie both flags will be in the same position. Conversely when one player has 'won', the flags will have moved through an arc to be as far apart from each other as possible. Thus during play the flags will move to a similar extent through similar arcs but in opposite directions, back and forth to indicate the relative position of the players to one another at any time, or 'score' in the tetherball game. Preferably the flags are contrasting colours eg one flag may be red and the other blue for example.

In the embodiment shown in the figures the drive system is arranged to move the flags 8 and 9 in steps i.e. with a stepped movement. For example each complete circuit of the ball around the pole/score indicator in favour of one player i.e. which is not returned by the other player, may cause one flag to move one step in one direction and the other flag one step in the opposite direction, to increment the indicated score by one in favour of one player and decrement the score by one against the other player. A score scale e.g.

numbers or other indicia or a changing colour bar, may be provided behind the flags on the casing.

Flag gears 18 and 19 are mounted within the casing to counter rotate about a common transverse axis as shown and as indicated by arrows M. Each flag gear 18 and 19 comprises a ring (or alternatively a lesser arc may be sufficient) of gear teeth 18a and 19a as shown. A gear 20 which rotates with the arm 5, as indicated by arrow D, about a vertical axis, but in steps as will be described, engages the flag gears 18 and 19 and causes them to counter rotate in steps, which in turn drives the movement of the flags 8 and 9 in steps at the exterior of the casing 1 on either side. The axis of rotation of the gear 20 extends through a top and underside of the casing between the flag gears 18 and 19. The flags 8 and 9 comprise pins 8a and 9a which extend through arc shaped apertures in the upper part of the casing on either side, and insert into apertures 10a and 11a in flag wheels 10 and 11 on either side. The flag wheels 10 and 11 are in turn carried by the flag gears 18 and 19 at 18c and 19c via a splined or friction clutch or similar other slipper connection, so that when the flags 8 and 9 reach the end points of their movement in the arc shaped apertures in the upper part of the casing on either side and cannot move further (away from their centre position), should the winning player continue to hit the ball in the same direction, then the clutch or similar connection between the flag gears 18 and 19 and flag wheels 10 and 11 will slip, enabling the flag gears to continue to rotate with further rotation of the external arm 5 but without causing further movement of the flag wheels 10 and 11 (and flags 8 and 9). The internal mechanism does not 'lock up'. As stated, in the embodiment shown in the figures the drive system is arranged to move the flags 8 and 9 in steps. Referring to Figure 6 and now also Figures 8 and 8A, end 5a of arm 5 fits onto the upper end of shaft 13a of drive gear 13, which rotates within gear carrier 14, and comprises a limited number of teeth namely two teeth 13b as shown, which when they engage idler gear 15 once per complete rotation of drive gear 13, in turn rotate idler gear 15 one step which rotates pinion gear 20 one step and flag gears 18 and 19 and flag wheels 10 and 11 and flags 8 and 9 one step. Rotation of the arm 5 in the opposite direction cause the parts of the internal drive system to rotate in the opposite direction also, to move the flags oppositely.

Alternatively in other embodiments the drive system may be arranged to move the score indicators with a non-stepped movement. For example a drive gear rotated by the arm 5 may directly engage and cause counter rotation of the flag gears 18 and 19, or similar.

In the embodiment shown the score indicator comprises a hollow casing 6, split at 6a into upper and lower parts 6b and 6c, held together by screws 7 (see Figures 5 and 6).

In the embodiment shown the casing is taller and wider than it is deep ie has the form of a short cylinder as shown. In alternative embodiments the casing may be in other forms such as for example lozenge shaped or square shaped.

The arm 5 at end 5a passes through an aperture 22 in the casing 6 and is splined to the drive gear 20. In the embodiment shown the arm extends horizontally ie at a right angle to the axis of rotation of the main gear but alternatively the arm or equivalent may extend at some other non-zero angle to the axis of rotation of the drive gear.

On its underside the casing has an integral fitting enabling the score indicator to be securely mounted to the top of a pole. Typically the score indicator will be sold in a set also including bats and a ball and tether for attaching the ball to the position or score indicator.

The foregoing describes the invention including an embodiment thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof as defined in the accompanying claims.