ADJUSTABLE BUOYANCY BALL AND SWIMMING POOL GAME

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a swimming pool game having a plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls and a plurality of floatable targets. Each of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls has a water-impervious shell that separates an inside cavity from an outside of the water-impervious shell. The water-impervious shell has a fluid passageway through which a gameplayer can selectively cause fluid transport between the outside of the water-impervious shell and the inside cavity. Each of the plurality of floatable targets has a closed geometrical shape that, when floating on a water surface, defines an inside region of the water surface and an outside region of the water surface. The inside region has an area that is large enough to permit the buoyancy-adjustable ball to reside therewithin.

Claims

1. A swimming pool game comprising: a plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls, each having a water-impervious shell that separates an inside cavity from an outside of the water-impervious shell, the water-impervious shell has a fluid passageway through which a gameplayer can selectively cause fluid transport between the outside of the water-impervious shell and the inside cavity, thereby changing buoyancy thereof; and a plurality of floatable targets, each of which having a closed geometrical shape that, when floating on a water surface, defines an inside region of the water surface and an outside region of the water surface, the inside region having an area that is large enough to permit the buoyancy-adjustable ball to float on the water surface therewithin.

2. The swimming pool game of claim 1, wherein the water-impervious shell has a translucent window, thereby providing visual indication of a water lever of water within the inside cavity.

3. The swimming pool game of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls has indicia that indicates a water level of water within the inside cavity.

4. The swimming pool game of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls has indicia of teams or game players.

5. The swimming pool game of claim 1, wherein the water-impervious shell of the buoyancy-adjustable ball is deformable such that a user can manually compress the buoyancy-adjustable ball from a natural undeformed configuration so as to express water from the inside cavity to outside the water-impervious shell when the valve in in the open position.

6. The swimming pool game of claim 5, wherein the water-impervious shell is configured to elastically expand to the natural undeformed configuration in response to the user permitting expansion thereof, thereby permitting water transport into the inside cavity of the buoyancy-adjustable ball in response to the user manually compressing the buoyancy-adjustable ball and permitting expansion thereof underwater.

7. The swimming pool of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls has raised texture on an outside surface of the water impervious shell, thereby facilitating manual gripping thereof by a user.

8. The swimming pool game of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls has a manual valve that a user can manually configure to an open position and a closed position, the open position permitting fluid transport through the fluid passageway, and the closed position not permitting fluid transport through the fluid passageway.

9. The swimming pool game of claim 1, wherein the plurality of floatable targets includes a plurality of subsets of different sizes, the different sizes defining different areas of inside regions.

10. The swimming pool game of claim 1, wherein the plurality of floatable targets includes a plurality of subsets having different closed geometrical shapes, the different closed geometrical shapes defining different areas of inside regions.

11. The swimming pool game of claim 1, wherein the plurality of floatable targets includes a plurality of subsets having different indicia.

12. The swimming pool game of claim 1, further comprising two boundary markers, each boundary marker configured to be located on opposite sides of a swimming pool so as to mark a boundary between a throw zone and a play area of the swimming pool.

13. A method of game play using the swimming pool game of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: step 1) distributing the plurality of floatable targets upon the water surface; step 2) adjust, by a first game player, buoyancy of a first of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls; step 3) throwing, by the first game player, the first of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls into a swimming pool in an attempt to position the first of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls within the inside region of one of the plurality of floatable targets; step 4) adjust, by a second game player, buoyancy of a second of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls; step 5) throwing, by the second game player, the second of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls into a swimming pool in an attempt to either: i) position the second of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls within the inside region of one of the plurality of floatable targets; or ii) displace the first of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls to without the inside region of the one plurality of floatable targets in which it resides; and repeating steps 2) and 5) until every one of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls have been thrown.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: scoring a round of game play, after every one of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls have been thrown.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein buoyancy-adjustable balls that reside within the inside region of any of the plurality of floatable targets are given a score.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the score given to a buoyancy-adjustable ball corresponds to a score associated with the floatable target within which the buoyancy-adjustable ball resides.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of floatable targets has an index indicating the score associated with the floatable target.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a size of the floatable target is the index indicating the score associated with the floatable target.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a score given to a buoyancy-adjustable ball that resides within inside region of a small one of the plurality of floatable targets is greater than a score given to a buoyancy-adjustable ball that resides within inside region of a large one of the plurality of floatable targets.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein a score given to a buoyancy-adjustable ball that resides within the inside region of two intersecting ones of the plurality of floatable targets is given a score corresponding to a sum of scores given for each of the two intersecting ones of the plurality of floatable targets.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] FIG. 1 is perspective view of an outdoor swimming pool in which a swimming pool game is being conducted.

[0005] FIG. 2 shows various perspective views of an embodiments of a buoyancy-adjustable ball used in the swimming pool game depicted in FIG. 1.

[0006] FIG. 3 shows perspective and plan views of various floatable targets used in the swimming pool game depicted in FIG. 1

[0007] FIG. 4 shows perspective and side elevation views of the boundary marker used in the swimming pool game depicted in FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 5 is a chart describing one embodiment of rules of playing the swimming pool game depicted in FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method for playing the swimming pool game depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Apparatus and associated methods relate to a swimming pool game having a plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls and a plurality of floatable targets. Each of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls has a water-impervious shell that separates an inside cavity from an outside of the water-impervious shell. The water-impervious shell has a fluid passageway through which a gameplayer can selectively cause fluid transport between the outside of the water-impervious shell and the inside cavity. Each of the plurality of floatable targets has a closed geometrical shape that, when floating on a water surface, defines an inside region of the water surface and an outside region of the water surface. The inside region has an area that is large enough to permit the buoyancy-adjustable ball to reside therewithin.

[0011] FIG. 1 is perspective view of an outdoor swimming pool in which a swimming pool game is being conducted. In FIG. 1, swimming pool game 10 is being conducted in swimming pool 12. Swimming pool 12 has been divided into two regionsthrow zone 14 and play area 16 of the swimming poolby boundary markers 18. Game players 20A and 20B are competing against one another while playing swimming pool game 10. Swimming pool game 10 includes buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B and floatable targets 24. Floatable targets 24 have closed geometrical shapes that, when floating on a water surface, defines inside regions 26 of a water surface respectively. Each of inside regions 26 of each of floatable targets 24, respectively, has an area that is large enough to permit the buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B to float upon the water surface therewithin. Floatable targets 24 can be distributed on a water surface of swimming pool 12 so as to define targets for game players 20A and 20B. Game players 20A and 20B attempt to throw or toss buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B, respectively, into swimming pool 12 so that buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B come to rest floating within inside regions 26 of floatable targets 24. In some embodiments, buoyancy of floatable targets 24 can be selectively adjusted in a fashion disclosed below with respect to buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B.

[0012] Buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B have indicia of teams or game players, so that each of game players 20A and 20B can identify which of buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B correspond to each of game players 20A and 20B. One method of playing swimming pool game 10 is for game players 20A and 20B to alternately throw or toss buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B, respectively, into swimming pool 12 so as to score points. buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B are alternately tossed into swimming pool 12 until no more of buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B remain un-tossed. In some rules of gameplay, points are rewarded for buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B that reside within inside regions 26 of floatable targets 24 24C at end of a round. In some rules of play, penalties are assessed for buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B that do not reside within any of inside regions 26 of floatable targets 24, respectively, at end of a round. In some rules of play, penalties are assessed for buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B that are thrown out of swimming pool 12 during gameplay. Gameplay can end after each round, or multiple rounds can be conducted before end of gameplay. In some rules of gameplay, game players 20A and 20B rotate order of throwing so that a first thrower in a first round of play of game players 20A and 20B tosses second in a second round to play, and a second thrower in the first round of play of game players 20A and 20B tosses first (or third if three game players are competing) in the second round of play. In some rules of gameplay, the one of game players 20A and 20B who has the most points at the end of a round throws first in the next round of play. Such a rule recognizes that there is a benefit to throwing second, as one can displace an opponents ball from an inside region 26 by a subsequently thrown buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A or 22B.

[0013] Game players 20A and 20B can use various strategies to have their buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B to remain residing within inside regions 26 of floatable targets 24 at end of a round. For example, game players 20A and 20B can adopt a strategy of accuracy, attempting to accurately toss buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B into inside regions 26 of floatable targets 24. Alternatively, game players 20A and 20B adopt a strategy of sabotage, attempting to displace any of an opponent's buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B from within inside regions 26 of floatable targets 24 to without.

[0014] Each of buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B has water-impervious shell 28 that separates inside cavity 30 from an outside of water-impervious shell 28. Water-impervious shell 28 has fluid passageway 32 through which game players 20A and 20B can selectively cause fluid transport between the outside of water-impervious shell 28 and inside cavity 30. In some embodiments, fluid transport across water-impervious shell 28 can only occur at fluid passageway 32. Fluid passageway 32 provides game players 20A and 20B with selectable fluid transport between inside cavity 30 and the outside of water-impervious shell 28. In some embodiments, fluid passageway 32 is a small, fixed orifice. In other embodiments, fluid passageway 32 is part of or fluidly connected to a valve, as will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

[0015] Fluid passageway 32 can be used by game players 20A and 20B to selectively permit fluid transport between the outside of the water-impervious shell 28 and inside cavity 30. Such fluid transport can be used to fill inside cavity 30, partially or completely, with water from swimming pool 12, for example. Such fluid transport can also be used to empty inside cavity 30, partially or completely, of water from swimming pool 12 as well. Fluid passageway 32 can be configured so as to substantially retain, within inside cavity 30, any water that resides therewithin. If fluid passageway 32 is part of or fluidly connected to a valve, such a valve together with water-impervious shell 28, can be configured (e.g., closed) to secure any water that resides within buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A or 22B, as well as preventing additional water that resides without buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A or 22B from entering inside cavity 30. If fluid passageway 32 is a fixed orifice, such an orifice can be configured to be small so as to similarly permit little fluid transport therethrough without game players 20A and 20B intentional operation of fluid passageway 28. Buoyancy of buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A and 22B is controlled by an amount of water resides within inside cavity 30.

[0016] Buoyancy of buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B can be selectively adjusted by game players 20A and 20B for strategic reasons of gameplay. For example, buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B can be made less buoyant so as to be heavier and/or to float lower in swimming pool 12 relative to the water surface. In some situations, heavier buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B can better displace an opponent's balls floating within an inside region 26 to without inside region 26 than lighter buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B. buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B that float lower in swimming pool 12 relative to the water surface can be more difficult to displace from within inside region 26. Heavier buoyancy-adjustable balls can also be used in a submarine fashion (i.e., thrown so as to hit the water immediately before the target, so that the ball goes underwater and resurfaces within the inside region 26 of the target 24). If a buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A or 22B floats too low in the water, however, it might be easier to displace the buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A or 22B within inside region 26, by pushing it under floatable target 24 (i.e., in submarine fashion). Lighter buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B, however, can be easier to throw, can be thrown with more accuracy, or can be thrown a greater distance than heavier buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B. Thus, the last thrower in a round might choose accuracy over displacement.

[0017] In some embodiments, buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B and/or floating targets 24 can be illuminated so as to facilitate play at nighttime, or on dark days. For example, buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A and 22B and/or floating targets 24 can illuminate via phosphorus in various colors (e.g., magenta, sky, blue, yellow, green, pink-red, etc.) after exposure to ultra-violet light. In some embodiments, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can provide such illumination. These LEDs can be manually switched on and off or can be automatically controlled on by motion sensing switching.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows various perspective views of an embodiments of a buoyancy-adjustable ball used in the swimming pool game depicted in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 includes water-impervious shell 28, fluid passageway 32, translucent or transparent window 34, water level indicia 36, and raised texture 38. In some embodiments, a valve or a removable water plug is configured to permit player 20A and/or 20B to selectively expose and/or plug fluid passageway 32. In other embodiments, fluid passageway 32 has no valve or removeable water plug. Buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 has translucent or transparent window 34, which facilitates game players 20A and 20B to visibly inspect a water level within inside cavity 30 of buoyancy-adjustable ball 22. In some embodiments, the entirety of water-impervious shell 28 is translucent or transparent. Water level indicia 36 can be used by game players 20A and 20B to measure such water level so as to be able to repeatedly fill buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 to a desired level. Raised texture 38 permits game players 20A and 20B to easily grip buoyancy-adjustable ball 22, even when wet. Buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 is sized so that even a child can hold and throw buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 with one hand. In some embodiments water-impervious shell 28 and/or raised texture 38 can be colored (or be otherwise marked with some kind of indicia), so as to indicate to which team or player buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 corresponds.

[0019] In some embodiments, water-impervious shell 28 can be deformable such that game players 20A and 20B can manually compress water-impervious shell 28 from a natural undeformed configuration to a compressed configuration. Alternatively, after water-impervious shell 28 has been compressed, game players 20A and 20B can permit water-impervious shell 28 to elastically expand to the natural undeformed configuration or shape. Such operations can be used to adjust buoyancy of buoyancy-adjustable ball 22.

[0020] For example, to make buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 more buoyant, some or all of the water from within inside cavity 30 is expelled therefrom, and replaced with air. To expel some or all of the water from within inside cavity 30, game player 20A or 20B holds buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 above of the water of swimming pool 12 and orients buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 so that fluid passageway 32 is in direct fluid communication with the water therewithin. For example, game player 20A or 20B holds buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 above the water with fluid passageway 32 pointed in a downward direction or at a bottom side of buoyancy-adjustable ball 22. While doing so, game player 20A or 20B compresses water-impervious shell 28, thereby expelling some or all of the water from inside cavity 30 to without buoyancy-adjustable ball 22. After expelling some or all of the water, and while still holding buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 above the water, game player 20A or 20B permits water-impervious shell 28 to elastically expand to the natural undeformed configuration or shape, thereby filling with air.

[0021] Alternatively, to make buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 more buoyant, some or all of the air from within inside cavity 30 is expelled therefrom, and replaced with water. To expel some or all of the air from within inside cavity 30, game player 20A or 20B holds buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 under the water of swimming pool 12 and orients buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 so that fluid passageway 32 is in direct fluid communication with the air therewithin. For example, game player 20A or 20B holds buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 under the water with fluid passageway 32 pointed in an upward direction or at a top side of buoyancy-adjustable ball 22. While doing so, game player 20A or 20B compresses water-impervious shell 28, thereby expelling some or all of the air from inside cavity 30 to without buoyancy-adjustable ball 22. After expelling some or all of the water, and while still holding buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 under the water, game player 20A or 20B permits water-impervious shell 28 to elastically expand to the natural undeformed configuration or shape, thereby filling with water.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows perspective and plan views of various floatable targets used in the swimming pool game depicted in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, floatable targets 24 are depicted alongside buoyancy-adjustable ball 22. buoyancy-adjustable ball 22 is depicted to show relative size and dimensions of floatable targets 24. Floatable targets 24 are shown from largest (i.e., floatable target 24A) to smallest (i.e., floatable target 24D). In some rules of gameplay, the score obtained for having a ball reside within inside regions 26 of floatable targets 24A-24D are inversely related to area of inside regions 26. In the depicted embodiment the largest floatable targetfloatable target 24Ais a one point target, the medium-sized targetfloatable target 24Bis a two point target, floatable target 24Cis a three point target, and the smallest floatable targetfloatable target 24Dis a five point target. Thus, a ball remaining within inside region 26D at the end of a round obtains a much higher score than a ball remaining within inside region 26.

[0023] In some rules of gameplay, game players can only score points in specific ones of floatable targets 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D. For example, in some rules of gameplay, a game player must score in each of floatable targets 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D. Thus, if game player 20A or 20B, for example, has already scored within floatable target 24A, then throwing another buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A or 22B within inside region 26 does not obtain a score. In other rules of gameplay, each of game players 20A and 20B alternately choose which of targets 24A, 24B, 24C or 24D they are to score within or which their opponent is to score within.

[0024] The plan views depicted in FIG. 3 show various configurations of floatable targets floating on the surface of swimming pool 12. In some configurations, inside regions 26 can intersect with one another. When inside regions 26 intersect, as shown, they form an intersection region with an area, into which buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A or 22B can be thrown. If buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A or 22B is cast into such an intersection region, buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A or 22B resides within both (or all) of floatable targets 24A, 24B, 24C or 24D that form the intersection region. In some rules of play, such a ball, if remaining therein at the end of the round, would be rewarded with a sum of the points that are awarded to the floatable targets 24A, 24B, 24C or 24D that form the intersection region.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows perspective and side elevation views of the boundary marker used in the swimming pool game depicted in FIG. 1. In the FIG. 4 depiction, boundary marker 18 is a round disk-shaped bean bag first side 40 and second side 42. First side 40 has indicia corresponding to first game player or first team, and second side 42 has indicia corresponding to second game player or second team. Such indicia can be used in various manners. For example, boundary marker 18 can be flipped, like a coin flip, and upon landing, the side facing up indicating which team or player is to begin play. Boundary markers 18 can then be placed on opposite sides of the pool. thereby marking a boundary between the throw zone and the play area of the swimming pool.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a chart describing one embodiment of rules of playing the swimming pool game depicted in FIG. 1. In FIG. 5 chart 44 includes an overview of swimming pool game 10 as well as basic rules of swimming pool game 10. The rules expressed in chart 44 pertain to an embodiment of swimming pool game 10 described in the overview section. In the depicted embodiment, swimming pool game 10 has five plastic floating targets 24A-24D (e.g., rings) in varying sizes: two seven-inch diameter rings, each worth five points; one ten-inch diameter ring worth three points; one fourteen-inch diameter ring worth two points, and one seventeen-inch diameter ring worth one point. Various other shapes, sizes and combinations of rings can be used in various other embodiments. In the depicted embodiment, swimming pool game 10 has six buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A-22B of approximately 3.25 inches in diameter, three of color A and three of color B. Various other sizes, numbers, and number of colors (or other indicia) can be used in various other embodiments. In the depicted embodiment, swimming pool game 10 has two boundary markers 18, which can be used to divide the play area from the throw zone. In some embodiments, boundary markers 18 can be configured to determine which team or game player will begin game play, such as, for example, is described above. In the depicted embodiment, swimming pool game 10 has a rules booklet and a storage tote bag for easy storage and transportation. Various other rules, as described above can be used with the various embodiments of swimming pool game 10 described herein.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method for playing the swimming pool game depicted in FIG. 1. In FIG. 6, method 50 begins at step 52 with game players 20A-20N distributing floatable targets 24 upon a water surface of swimming pool 12. Then, at step 54, a game player index i is initialized to 0, indicating that it is the first game player's turn to play. Then at step 56, a first of game players 20A adjusts buoyancy of one of that first game player's buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A. Then at step 58, the first game player 20A throws or tosses the buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A into swimming pool 12. After the first game player has thrown or tossed his buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A into swimming pool 12, it is the next game player's turn as indicated at step 60, where a game player index is advanced in modular fashion i=i+1 mod N (i.e., modularity is equal to the number of game players N). Unless, at step 62, all buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A-22N have been thrown, method 50 returns to step 56, where a next game player adjusts buoyancy of one of that next game player's buoyancy-adjustable balls 22B. If, however, at step 62, all buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A-22N have been thrown, method 50 advances to step 64, where the round is scored. If more than one round is played, method 50 can be repeated with scores of each round aggregated into a game score (e.g., a winner can be awarded to the game player 20A-20N who wins the most rounds or who has the highest sum of round scores).

[0028] Various methods of scoring a game and/or round can be used. For example, each of the plurality of buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A-22N that remain within an inside regions 26 of a floatable targets 24 can be awarded a score corresponding to the floatable target 24 in which it remains. Floatable targets 24 can have scores that correspond to their size (e.g., area of inside region), indicia, or distance from the game players 20A-20N, for example. If floatable targets are distributed in such a fashion that two or more intersect one another (i.e., sharing at least a portion of inside regions 26), then a buoyancy-adjustable ball 22A-22N that remains in such an intersecting region can be award a sum of the scores corresponding to the intersecting floatable targets 24. In some rules of gameplay, no score is given to balls that do not remain within inside regions 26 of floatable targets 24. Also, according to some rules, if buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A-22N from two or more opposing game players remain within the same inside region 26 of a floatable target 24, then either no score is awarded to such buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A-22N or the score corresponding to the floatable target 24 is divided amongst the scoring buoyancy-adjustable balls 22A-22N that reside therein.

[0029] While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.