Abstract
A game-court-surface projector system and method providing projection of a variety of projected images upon a game court or half court, showing proper boundaries and lines for various games and levels of play, allowing multiple uses for one game court or half court, allowing the development of new games or variants, and allowing improved training and practice by using accurate boundaries and lines for different games and levels of play, and using other projected images.
Claims
1. A game-court-surface projector system comprising: (i) a projector unit adapted to project a projected image upon a game court surface; (ii) a light supply unit adapted to supply light to said projector unit; (iii) a control link adapted to provide communications with said projector unit; and (iv) a control unit adapted to provide control through said control link.
2. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 1, where said light supply unit further comprises adaptation to focus and concentrate incident ambient light.
3. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 1, where said light supply unit further comprises an artificial light source.
4. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 1, where said projected image further comprises a basketball court image.
5. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 1, where said projected image further comprises an information display image.
6. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 1, where said projected image further comprises a virtual object image.
7. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 1, where said projected image further comprises a location marker image.
8. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 1, where said projected image further comprises a virtual layout image.
9. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 5, where said information display image further comprises an indication of time.
10. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 5, where said information display image further comprises score information.
11. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 6, where said virtual object image further comprises representation of an opposing player.
12. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 6, where said virtual object image further comprises representation of an obstacle.
13. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 7, where said location marker image further comprises an indication of a location from which to make a shot.
14. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 8, where said virtual layout image further comprises boundaries and lines for a game.
15. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 1, where said projected image further comprises a changing image.
16. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 1, where said projected image further comprises changeable images corresponding to a number of participating players.
17. The game-court-surface projector system of claim 1, where said projected image further comprises changeable images corresponding to passage of time.
18. A game-court-surface projection method comprising: (i) providing a game-court-surface projector comprising: (a) a projector unit adapted to project a projected image upon a game court surface; (b) a light supply unit adapted to supply light to said projector unit; (c) a control link adapted to provide communications with said projector unit; and (d) a control unit adapted to provide control through said control link; (ii) projecting said projected image upon the game court surface under control of said control link and said control unit; and (iii) changing said projected image under control of said control link and said control unit.
19. The game-court-surface projection method of claim 18, further comprising using said game-court-surface projector to devise new activities and games.
20. The game-court-surface projection method of claim 18, further comprising using said game-court-surface projector for player training and practice.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the game-court-surface projector of the invention in use;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the game-court-surface projector of the invention in use for a professional basketball court;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the game-court-surface projector of the invention in use for a college basketball court;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the game-court-surface projector of the invention in use for a high school basketball court;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the game-court-surface projector of the invention in use with an information display image;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the game-court-surface projector of the invention in use with virtual object images;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the game-court-surface projector of the invention in use with a location marker image; and
[0025] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the game-court-surface projector of the invention in use with a virtual layout image.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring to FIG. 1 the game-court-surface projector 10 of the invention is shown in use projecting a projected image 20 on the surface of a game court such as a basketball court. The image is projected from a projector unit 1 suspended above the game court at an optimal place that is not obtrusive to the use of the court, such as the location on a basketball backboard support as shown. Light for the projected image is supplied by the light supply unit 2. In an all-light embodiment, the light supply unit 2 can gather incident ambient light such as sunlight and focus, concentrate, and amplify that light sufficiently to project an image which is visible in that ambient light, and can also supply light from an incorporated artificial light source, such as LED lighting known in the art. Such an all-light embodiment would allow daytime use as well as low-lighting or nighttime use. An alternative embodiment provides a light supply unit 2 sufficiently powerful to be used in daylight or high ambient light conditions. Another alternative embodiment provides a light supply unit 2 sufficient for use in low ambient light conditions.
[0027] The game-court-surface projector 10 also provides a control link 3 and a control unit 4 for controlling the projected image 20. In a wireless embodiment, as shown, the control link 3 provides wireless communication as known in the art, and the control unit 4 is a wireless hand-held remote-control unit. The control unit 4 can be a purpose-built unit or the control unit 4 function can be implemented on a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer, or other device having wireless communications capabilities.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the game-court-surface projector 10 is shown in use projecting a professional basketball court image 21, a college basketball court image 22, and a high school basketball court image 23, respectively. The different levels of basketball use different court configurations with different distances and different placement of lines. The game-court-surface projector 10 projects the proper boundaries and lines for a given level of play, and can then be changed to project other boundaries and lines. Use on a half court is shown. Use on a full court would be best implemented with two projectors. It is anticipated that the game-court-surface projector 10 will be useful in half-court setups such as a residential driveway, a playground, training and practice facilities, and other circumstances where space is limited or where space must also be used for other games or purposes. The game-court-surface projector 10 facilitates the use of a game court or half court for a variety of games or other purposes because no lines or markers need to be painted permanently on the court, but can be projected as needed and quickly changed as needed. With the game-court-surface projector 10 a player or a team of players would be able to train or play on a court or half-court having the appropriate boundaries and lines for an accurate specific court configuration, and then the court could be put into a different configuration for different players or purposes.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, the game-court-surface projector 10 can project an information display image 24 onto the court surface. As shown, the information display image 24 can be an indicator of time, such as time available to make a free throw or time elapsed or remaining. The information display image 24 can also be a score or the letters comprising “horse”. By displaying such information on the court itself both players and spectators can more easily see the information instead of having to look away from the court toward a scoreboard, or on a court not having a scoreboard, such as a driveway, playground, or practice court. The information displayed can be controlled through the control link 3 and control unit 4.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 6, the game-court-surface projector 10 can project one or more virtual object images 25 onto the court surface. The virtual object image 25 can represent an opposing player or an obstacle, and can be moved around on the court controlled by the control link 3 and control unit 4. Virtual object images 25 can be used to simulate play for training purposes or to make play more challenging or interesting for a single player or small number of players.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 7, the game-court-surface projector 10 can project one or more location marker images 26 onto the court surface. A location marker image 26 might be used to indicate, for example, a spot from which a player is required to make a shot. Location marker images 26 can be placed under control by the control link 3 and control unit 4, and can be used to, for example, provide a comprehensive drill or practice of different types of shots, or to invent games or variations of games.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 8, the game-court-surface projector 10 can project a virtual layout image 27 onto the court surface. The virtual layout image 27 can represent a game of hopscotch, as shown, or can provide boundaries and lines for other games, including custom-made games and games having changing boundaries and lines, under the control of the control link 3 and control unit 4. For example, games could be devised in which the boundaries and lines change according to the number of players participating or change with the passage of time.
[0033] Many other changes and modifications can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
