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  Croquet-like gameRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Croquet; Game Element Or Accessory ThereforThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060111203. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] None. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of games and more particularly to croquet-like game. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Croquet is a game enjoyed by people through out the world. Unfortunately, croquet can only be played outdoors during relatively nice weather. In addition, croquet requires a large fairly flat lawn to setup the course. As a result, people are not able to enjoy this game during inclement weather or if they live in a crowed urban area or otherwise do not have access to a large fairly flat lawn. [0004] Thus there exists a need for a croquet-like game that can be played in inclement weather and does not require a large fairly flat lawn. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0005] A croquet-like game that overcomes these and other problems has a striking character with a trigger coupled to a striking surface. A ball is struck by the striking surface. A goal is setup through which a user attempts to strike the ball. The trigger may have a power setting. The trigger may have a coupling to an arm of the striking character. The striking character may have a handle containing the trigger and an extension connecting the handle to a character form. The arms of the character may be coupled to a spring. A sound making device may be coupled to the trigger. [0006] In one embodiment, a striking character for a croquet-like game has a striking surface. An energy storing system is coupled to the striking surface. The energy storing system may have a power setting device and a trigger coupled to the power setting device. A character housing may be attached to the striking surface. The energy storing system may have an energy storing device coupled to the power setting device and the striking surface. An arm may be pivotally connected to the character housing and coupled to the striking surface. The energy storing device may be a coil spring. The power setting device may have a number of discrete settings. A handle may contain the trigger and the power setting device. There may be an extension from the handle to the character housing. A sound making device may be coupled to the trigger. A sound making device may be coupled to the power setting device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a top left perspective view of the croquet-like toy in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; [0008] FIG. 2 is a top view of the striking character in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; [0009] FIG. 3 is a side view of the striking character in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; [0010] FIG. 4 is a front view of the striking character in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; [0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the upper portion of the striking character in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; [0012] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the lower portion of the striking character in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; [0013] FIG. 7 is an cross sectional view of the striking character in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and [0014] FIG. 8 is lower left perspective view of a goal in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] A croquet-like game has a striking character, a ball and a number goals. The striking character is used to strike the ball and attempt to roll the ball through one of the goals. The ball is made of a soft material and the goals can be placed on the floor of a house or apartment. As a result, this allows users to play croquet in inclement weather or when they do not have access to a lawn. The ball is made of soft material so it cannot harm furniture and the goals either stand-up on their own base or have suction cup base. [0016] FIG. 1 is a top left perspective view of the croquet-like toy 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The toy 10 has a striking character 12, a ball 14 and a number of goals 16. The game is played with the same rules as standard croquet. The striking character 12 has a handle 18 coupled to the character housing 20 by an extension 22. The extension 22 may be a tube. FIG. 2 is a top view of the striking character 12 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The view shows the handle 18 and the character 20. The character 20 has a pair of striking surfaces 24. FIG. 3 is a side view of the striking character 12 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This view shows that the handle 18 has a power setting lever 26 and a trigger 28. The power setting lever 26 determines how hard the striking surface 24 will strike the ball 14 when the trigger 28 is pulled. The striking surface 24 is on a dumbbell like object 30. FIG. 4 is a front view of the striking character 12 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. [0017] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the upper portion of the striking character in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This figure shows that the handle 18 is made of two interlocking housing parts 40 & 42. The two interlocking housing parts 40 & 42 define a cavity 44 and are held together by a blots and screws 46. A slot 48 exists in the upper portion of the handle housing 40 & 42 for the power setting lever 26. The power level 26 is pivotally 50 attached to a mounting 52. The mounting 52 is attached to the handle housing 40 or to the extension 22. The housing 40 & 42 also has a slot for the trigger 28. A sound board 54 is mounted in the handle by screws or other attachment devices and is activated by the power lever switch 26. The handle 18 clamps onto an upper end of the tube 22. The lower end of the tube 22 is attached to a pair of braces 56 & 58. The pair of braces 56 & 58 is held together by a pair of bolts and nuts 60. The upper bolt may extend through a hole 62 in the tube 22. A slot 64 in the lower end of the tube 22 allows a disk 66 to rotate on it square axle 68. The disk 66 is coupled to the power setting lever 26 by a string or wire 70. A rotary hub 71 slides onto the square axle 68. A coil spring 72 and a coil spring 74 are seated on the square axle 68 and attached to the rotary hubs 71. Note that there are two rotary hubs 71 one on each side. One is already placed on the axle 68 and therefore cannot be seen in the figure. A pair of posts 75 may be used to attach the body of character housing to the braces 56 & 58. [0018] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the lower portion of the striking character in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The figure shows that the coil springs 72 & 74 are coupled to the arms 80 and 82. The arm 82 has a cam 84 that transfers force from the square axle 68 to the arm 82 a similar cam is located in arm 80 but cannot be seen in this view. The arms 80 & 82 are connected by bolts 86 & 88 to the square axle 68. The character housing has a front part 90 and a back part 92. The two parts may be glued together or held together by screws or other fastening systems. Continue reading... Full patent description for Croquet-like game Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Croquet-like game patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Croquet-like game or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Golf club Next Patent Application: Equipment threader and carrier for stick sports Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Croquet-like game patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.23727 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
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