The present invention relates to a ball-game target, which is preferably but not necessarily collapsible for stowing. The invention further relates to a method of providing a difficulty-adjustable ball game. Football or soccer is the most popular sport in the world, but it is difficult for players to train or play small-scale games when there are insufficient participants. Portable goalposts are well-known, but these tend to be quite small structures which are suitable for children, and their use can be challenging for fully-grown adults, given that the goal area is easily defended. Other sports have similar issues, such as rugby, American football, baseball, hockey, handball, frisbee and so on. Basketball is something of an exception, in that, where a hoop is provided, it is relatively easy for two players to train or play together in a one-on- one fashion. The only equipment required is a ball and a hoop, and the players can easily rotate between attack and defence. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a portable apparatus which is suitable for use in a wide range of possible ball games, to act as a target for enabling one-on-one training or play.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a ball-game target comprising: a stand portion having an elongate body having a base at one end and a first engagement region at an opposite end to the base, the elongate body comprising a collapsible frame; and a target portion having a target body and a second engagement region receivably engagable with the first engagement region of the stand portion, the target body comprising a collapsible frame, wherein the collapsible frame of the stand portion and/or target portion is formed as a helical spring frame. The provision of a collapsible stand and target body allows for a very portable gameplay target to be created. The ball-game target can be used with a variety of different ball games, merely requiring the players to strike the ball-game target in such a way as to dislodge the target portion from the stand portion. A collapsible arrangement allows the target to be popped up in situ without complex assembly. A collapsible frame, such as a helical spring frame, can be compressed down into near-zero volume and popped out to full size very easily. This makes assembly of the ball-game target very straightforward. Optionally, the elongate body of the stand portion may be formed as a cylinder.

A cylinder provides a suitable vertical freestanding portion which can easily support a target thereon, and the use of a collapsible spring frame enables a rapid assembly of the ball-game target.

Preferably, the first engagement region may be formed as an aperture.

Having an aperture in the top of the stand portion provides a means of allowing the target portion to be at least in part inserted into the top of the stand portion. The engagement region being formed purely as an aperture in an otherwise fabric panel ensures that there is no strong resistance to dislodgement of the target portion during the game.

In one embodiment, the stand portion may comprise a weighted member at the base.

It will be apparent that a collapsible ball-game target will be quite lightweight, and therefore liable to fall or be blown in the wind during use. It is highly advisable to increase the weight of the stand portion at the base so that the ball-game target remains in a standing condition during play.

Optionally, the weighted member may be a disciform weight.

A disciform weight is most suited to being received in a cylindrical stand portion having a hollow centre, which would be the typical construction.

Additionally, or alternatively, the weighted member may be integrally formed with the base.

To ensure that the weight is not lost during transit, it will be preferred that the weighted member is integrally formed, for example, by stitching into the fabric.

The stand portion may comprise an anchor point at the base.

In order to reduce the weight of the ball-game target, it may be preferable to include anchor points, such as fabric loops for receiving stakes or tent pegs, to hold the stand portion in position.

Optionally, the second engagement region may comprise an insertion node extending from the target body. The insertion node method of coupling the target portion to the stand portion is a very simple means of providing releasable engagement so that the target portion is dislodged by lateral striking with a ball.

Preferably, the insertion node may be formed as a frusto-cone.

A frusto-conical shape has the necessary tapering walls which should prevent the target portion from becoming stuck or wedged into the corresponding aperture, and therefore striking of either the target or stand portion should eject the target portion.

First and second said insertion nodes may be provided at opposite ends of the target body.

If the ball-game target is provided such that the target portion has multiple ways of being engaged with the stand portion, then this provides a way in which the difficulty of dislodgment can be altered.

The first and second insertion nodes may have different longitudinal extents to one another.

The further the insertion node projects into the stand portion, the more difficult it will be to dislodge, as a greater striking force will be required from a ball. This provides a physical means of altering the difficulty of the game, by using different sizes of insertion node.

The ball-game target may further comprise a secondary securing means for improving an engagement between the stand and target portions, for instance, hook and loop fasteners.

Additional securing means may be necessary to mitigate for weather conditions. For instance, wind may dislodge the target portion, and the additional securing means may provide sufficient security to prevent this.

Preferably, the stand portion may be hollow.

A hollow stand portion will be helpful for an insertion node type of engagement, since the insertion node can project into the interior of the stand portion when engaged. The target portion may be stowable inside the stand portion when both the bail portion and stand portion are in a collapsed state.

The stowability of the target portion inside the stand portion is highly synergistic with the collapsible nature of the ball-game target as a whole.

Optionally, the target portion may be engagable with the stand portion without requiring additional stand portions for support.

It is beneficial to allow the ball-game target to stand without needing additional support from other targets, since this reduces the equipment requirements for the players.

In one embodiment, the stand portion and/or target portion may be at least in part inflatable.

An inflatable arrangement is just one alternative to the assembly of the ball-game target without needing a dedicated collapsible frame.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a ball-game target comprising: a stand portion having an elongate body having a base at one end and a first engagement region at an opposite end to the base; and a target portion having a target body and a plurality of second engagement regions, each second engagement region being selectably and receivably engagable with the first engagement region of the stand portion, a difficulty of dislodging the target portion from the stand portion being altered depending on which of the plurality of second engagement regions is engaged with the first engagement region.

Most ball games do not have a means of altering difficulty, since this would traditionally be altered by the quality of opponent. The present invention provides a means for levelling the difficulty for players of different skill competencies.

Optionally, each second engagement region may comprise an insertion node extending from the target body.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing a difficulty-adjustable ball game, the method comprising the steps of: a] providing a ball- game target in accordance with the second aspect of the invention; and b] selecting a difficulty by engaging one of the plurality of second engagement regions with the first engagement region. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a ball-game target comprising: a stand portion having an elongate body having a base at one end and a first engagement region at an opposite end to the base, the elongate body being at least in part collapsible; and a target portion having a target body and a second engagement region receivably engagable with the first engagement region of the stand portion, the target body being at least in part collapsible.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1A shows a side view of one embodiment of a ball-game target in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; in an assembled state;

Figure 1B shows a side view of the ball-game target of Figure 1A, in a collapsed state;

Figure 2 shows a perspective representation of a ball game utilising the ball-game target of Figure 1 A, prior to dislodgement of the target portion; and Figure 3 shows a perspective representation of the ball game of Figure 2, following dislodgement of the target portion of the ball-game target.

Referring to Figure 1A, there is illustrated a ball-game target, referenced at 10, which is suitable for training or gameplay of ball games, such as football. The ball-game target 10 comprises a stand portion 12 and a target portion 14 which is engagable with the stand portion 12, typically by being seated on top of the stand portion 12.

The stand portion 12 has an elongate body 16, preferably in the form of a cylinder, which has a base 18 or similar ground support portion, and an opposite end 20 which defines a first engagement region. The first engagement region is here formed as an aperture 22 in the in-use upper end 20 of the elongate body 16 which is dimensioned to receive a part of the target portion 14 therein.

The first engagement region may be formed in any manner which allows the target portion 14 to be supported. It could be in part convex or concave, engaging with a complementary part of the target portion 14, or could comprise a projection or extending portion which is receivable into the target portion 14. Many options will be evident to the skilled reader. The elongate body 16 is, in the preferred embodiment, formed so as to be collapsible. One option to achieve this might be to produce an inflatable body, but in the depicted arrangement, the elongate body 16 is formed from a fabric material which can be folded down into a compact stowed condition. To assist with this, the elongate body 16 may preferably include a collapsible frame 24, which may be in the form of a helical spring frame as illustrated. The elongate body 16 can thus be compressed along the longitudinal axis to compress the collapsible frame 24, creating the collapsed version indicated in Figure 1B. One or more ties or similar fasteners may be provided to prevent the collapsible frame 24 from popping out when in the collapsed state.

The target portion 14 is formed having a target body 26 with a second engagement region thereon which is engagable with the first engagement region of the stand portion 12. In this arrangement the second engagement portion has the form of an insertion node 28 which is insertable into the aperture 22 of the stand portion 12. A perimetric rim 30 of the target portion 14 can then abuttably engage with the top surface 32 of the upper end 20 of the stand portion 12.

The target body 26 may, similarly to the elongate body 16, be collapsible. Again, this could be achieved via inflation, but a fabric material around a collapsible frame 34, again, preferably in the form of a helical spring frame, is shown in Figure 1A. In Figure 1B, when the target portion 14 is in a collapsed state, the target portion 14 can be stowed inside a hollow inner region of the stand portion 12, minimising the stowing volume.

The target portion 14 is engagable with the stand portion 12 in more than one way. Here, this is achieved by providing a plurality of second engagement regions, with first and second insertion nodes 28, 28’ on opposite ends of the target body 26. The first and second insertion nodes 28, 28’ may have different longitudinal extents to one another, which affects the ease of dislodgement of the target portion 14 from the stand portion 12. The first and/or second insertion nodes 28, 28’ may have a frusto-conical, or indeed, generally tapering, profile, so as to prevent the first and/or second insertion nodes 28, 28’ from becoming wedged in the aperture 22.

Whilst first and second insertion nodes 28, 28’ are described, it will be appreciated that the variation in difficulty could be increased or decreased, depending on the number of different second engagement regions which are provided on the target portion 14. If a single second engagement regions is provided, then no, or only a very limited, variability in difficulty of dislodgement is achievable. As many second engagement regions could, of course, be provided, depending on the geometric constraints of the target portion 14; for example, it will be readily apparent that a cubic shape will yield six faces and thus six options for second engagement regions.

Difficulty of dislodgement of the target portion 14 from the stand portion 12 may be altered by the use of secondary securing means, such as hook and loop fasteners, which could be positioned on, for instance, the top surface 32 of the end 20 of the stand portion 12 and the perimetric rim 30 of the target portion 14 respectively.

In use, the target portion 14 is engaged with the stand portion 12 whilst the stand portion is in a vertically upright condition, forming a tower. A standard tower might have assembled dimensions of 110cm height and 45cm diameter, but this will be variable depending on the intended use. A professional version may be much narrower, whereas a version for children may be shorter.

In all scenarios, however, the stand portion 12 ought to be capable of standing upright. To achieve this, it may be advantageous to provide a weighting member at the base 18 of the stand portion 12. This could be a weight which is just dropped into the hollow inner region of the stand portion 12, or could be a weighting member which is integrally formed with the stand portion 12, for example, by being stitched into the base 18. This could be a disciform weighted member.

Additionally, or alternatively, the stand portion 12 may include one or more anchor points at the base 18, which could take the form of fabric loops with which tent pegs or similar stakes can be used to secure the stand portion 12 in softer ground.

Figure 2 shows the ball-game target 10 in use. The stand portion 12 is positioned in a vertically upright condition, and the target portion 14 is then positioned on top of the stand portion 12. One of the insertion nodes 28 is positioned into the aperture 22 so that the insertion node 28 projects into the hollow body of the stand portion 12. This provides some limited resistance to dislodgement.

The players 36 may take it in turns to dislodge the target portion 14 from the stand portion 12 by striking a ball 38 past their opponent. If the ball 38 strikes the ball-game target 10, as illustrated in Figure 3, the target portion 14 will become dislodged from the stand portion 12, and this can be deemed a scoring situation for the striking player 36. If there is a difference between the skill levels of the players 36, it may be desirable to use the different difficulty options provided by the different insertion nodes 28, 28’ of the target portion 14. In this scenario, when resetting the ball-game target following dislodgement, the insertion node 28, 28’ to use may be selected based on a difficulty of dislodgement. For a more assured player, the strongest engagement may be selected with the greatest resistance to dislodgement. Here, this is provided by inserting the longer insertion node 28 into the aperture 22, since this will reduce the ease of dislodgement compared with insertion of the shorter insertion node 28’.

The game can thus be played with only a single ball-game target 10, requiring only a stand portion 12 and target portion 14. This differentiates from cricket, for example, where the bails are supported between two stumps to form the wicket. However, more complex games can be created using a plurality of ball-game targets 10, and the present disclosure is not intended to be limiting in this regard.

It will be apparent that the same gameplay can be achieved with a non-collapsible ball- game target, and in particular, the selectively adjustment of the difficulty of the game using the different second engagement regions of the target portion can be applied to more rigid or solid components.

It is therefore possible to provide a ball-game target suitable for enabling gameplay between two players having a ball, which involves striking the ball-game target with the ball to dislodge a target portion from a stand portion. In order to improve portability, it is preferred that the ball-game target be collapsible. This allows the game to be played in almost any location at short notice.

The words ‘comprises/comprising’ and the words ‘having/including’ when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination. The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.