Ball Game Apparatus and Method of Play

Abstract

A portable ball game apparatus and method of play is disclosed. It has a generally horizontal, generally circular court surface peripherally surrounded by a low fence and the court surface has a radius r with the fence having a height h measured above the court surface. The court surface is generally planar and is substantially unbroken by irregularities or openings and an optional structure is provided that supports the court surface, such that the court surface is at a height hs above a player standing surface.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A portable ball game apparatus comprising a generally horizontal, generally circular court surface peripherally surrounded by a low fence, the court surface having a radius r and the fence having a height h measured above the court surface. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the court surface is generally planar and is substantially unbroken by irregularities or openings. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a structure supporting the court surface, such that the court surface is at a height hs above a player standing surface. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the support structure further comprises an outermost member immediately below the court surface, and the court surface overhangs the support structure outermost member by a radially measured playing clearance c, and playing clearance c is maintained beneath the court surface to a vertical depth d. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein playing clearance c is in the range of 50-100 mm, and vertical depth d is in the range of at least 150-200 mm 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein height hs is in the range of 40-60 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein height hs is 50 cm. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fence completely surrounds the court surface. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the court surface is relatively hard. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fence comprises relatively hard inner and outer deflecting surfaces and fence height h is relatively small compared to radius r. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein a ratio of fence height h to court radius r is in the range 22% to 40%. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  where the ratio h/r is substantially 32%. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein fence height h is in the range of 40-85 mm 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein fence height h is 60 mm 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein playing clearance c is 75 mm, and vertical depth d is 175 mm 
     
     
         16 . A method of directing a bouncing ball past an opponent, the method comprising the steps of:
 standing on an area of playing surface that is lower than a court surface located within the playing surface area, the court surface surrounded on all sides by a low fence;   directing the ball over the low fence to bounce onto the court surface only once in such a way as to get the ball back over the fence on an opponents side of the court and thereafter traveling at a height above the playing surface that does not exceed the height of the opponent as the ball leaves the playing surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  where the court surface is elevated above the playing surface by a support structure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the court surface is generally circular and has a radius r, and the surrounding fence extends to a height h above the court surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein fence height h is in the range of 40-85 mm 
     
     
         20 . A method of playing a game, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a game apparatus having a bouncing ball and a generally horizontal, generally circular court surface peripherally surrounded by a low fence, the court surface having a radius r and the fence having a height h measured above the court surface, the court surface generally planar and substantially unbroken by irregularities or openings, and further having a structure supporting the court surface, such that the court surface is at a height hs above a player standing surface; and   standing on the playing surface and directing the ball over the low fence to bounce onto the court surface only once in such a way as to get the ball back over the fence on an opponents side of the court and thereafter traveling at a height above the playing surface that does not exceed the height of the opponent as the ball leaves the playing surface.