Hydrodynamic levitation system and method of play using same

Abstract

There is provided a system for hydrodynamic and/or air levitation of an object, such as a ball by a stream of water, and a striking object for hitting the object, and a method of play comprising the system.

1 . A hydrodynamic levitation system comprising an object for hydrodynamic levitation, a striking object for striking the object for hydrodynamic levitation, and a base which has an entrance aperture and an exit aperture. 
     
     
         2 . The hydrodynamic levitation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a conduit and wherein the entrance aperture is capable of connection to the conduit, and wherein the conduit is capable of transport of water obtained from a water source. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrodynamic levitation system of  claim 2 , wherein the water source is a pressurized water source obtained from a residential or commercial water line. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrodynamic levitation system of  claim 2 , wherein the conduit is a garden hose. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrodynamic levitation system of  claim 1 , wherein the exit aperture is smaller than the entrance aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrodynamic levitation system of  claim 2 , wherein the base is connected to the conduit through a male/female connector which feeds the entrance aperture and/or the base is connected to the conduit through an entrance valve which controls the feed of pressurized water into the entrance aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The hydrodynamic levitation system of  claim 6  wherein the male/female connector is constructed such that the male or female portion of the connector is located within or on the surface outside of a protruding cylinder which extends from the base the entrance aperture, and the opposing male or female portion of the connector is present on the end of the conduit for a respective connection therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The hydrodynamic levitation system of  claim 5 , wherein the exit aperture has a valve which controls the feed of pressurized water out of the exit aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The hydrodynamic levitation system of  claim 3 , wherein the pressurized water is of a pressure sufficient to hydrodynamically levitate the object for hydrodynamic levitation at a height above the base and wherein the pressurized water can be varied such that it is able to be altered in height so as to be able to be struck by users of varying height with the striking object. 
     
     
         10 . The hydrodynamic levitation system of  claim 1 , wherein the object for hydrodynamic levitation is a ball, and the striking object is a bat. 
     
     
         11 . The hydrodynamic levitation system of  claim 10 , wherein the bat is shaped like a shark or a baseball bat. 
     
     
         12 . A method of play comprising:
 providing a hydrodynamic levitation system comprising   
       an object for hydrodynamic levitation, a striking object for striking the object for hydrodynamic levitation, and a base which has an entrance aperture and an exit aperture;
 connecting a conduit between a closed source of pressurized water and the entrance aperture of the base; 
 opening the source of pressurized water to provide a flow of pressurized water to the entrance aperture of the base, said flow of pressurized water being sufficient to provide a stream of pressurized water from the exit aperture of the base; 
 hydrodynamically levitating the object for hydrodynamic levitation on a portion of the stream of pressurized water; 
 providing a user with the striking object; and, 
 allowing the user to attempt to strike the hydrodynamically levitated object for hydrodynamic levitation with the striking object. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein during or after the opening step, the water pressure is varied to provide a height of the stream of pressurized water which is suitable for the user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of hydrodynamically levitating the object for hydrodynamic levitation comprises placing the object for hydrodynamic levitation in a top center position of the stream of pressurized water. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of hydrodynamically levitating the object for hydrodynamic levitation comprises placing the object in an off-center location in the top of the pressurized stream. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the placing of the object in an off-center location in the top of the pressurized stream comprises placing the object perpendicularly into a side portion of the stream of pressurized water and releasing the object. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method of play is a method of playing T-ball. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bat is shaped like a baseball bat or a shark and the ball is a t-ball. 
     
     
         19 . The method of play of  claim 12  which is selected from the group consisting of baseball, T-ball, wiffleball, softball, soccer, tennis, and golf. 
     
     
         20 . An air levitation system comprising an object for air levitation, a striking object for striking the object for air levitation, and a base which has an entrance aperture and an exit aperture.