WO2024254633A1

WO2024254633A1 - A sporting apparatus and system

Info

Publication number: WO2024254633A1
Application number: PCT/AU2024/050308
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Humphrey Bowden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-06-16
Filing date: 2024-04-02
Publication date: 2024-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-16
Also published as: AU2024303821A1

Abstract

A sporting apparatus comprising a floor having a front edge, rear edge, left-side edge and a right-side edge; a front-facing wall positioned transversely of the rear edge; a left-side wall positioned transversely of the left-side edge; and a right-side wall positioned transversely of a right-side edge; the front-facing wall comprising a transverse line extending from a left-side edge to a right-side edge of the front-facing wall parallel to the rear edge, wherein the transverse line defines the upper portion and the lower portion of the front-facing wall; wherein the lower portion is vertical with respect to level of the floor; wherein the upper portion of the front-facing wall is outwardly inclined from vertical with respect to the lower portion of the front-facing wall.

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990

PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION

FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: -

A SPORTING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

The invention is described in the following statement:-

A SPORTING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to sporting equipment or sporting apparatus suitable for playing over a surface. More particularly, the sporting apparatus may be a court that can be constructed to facilitate playing of one or more different games. The sporting apparatus may also be configured to be an interactive games system.

BACKGROUND

[0002] There is a significant problem plaguing Australia and the rest of the world, where a large number of individuals suffer from poor fitness, obesity, limited mobility, and related health issues. These conditions incur substantial costs amounting to billions of dollars. There is a long felt need to develop innovative equipment that can promote health, fitness, and overall wellness, with a particular focus on individuals leading sedentary lifestyles. Additionally, there is a market for individuals seeking to enhance and improve and/or maintain their fitness, skills and hand-eye coordination, particularly in sports involving ball-hitting such as squash, tennis, table tennis, badminton, racquetball, and pickleball.

[0003] It is a challenge to encourage people with sedentary lifestyles and mobility challenges to engage in physical exercise. Many of these individuals may lack a natural inclination towards sports or competitiveness, making it difficult for them to enjoy or participate in competitive activities. Other complex factors which may contribute in deterring individuals may include expensive memberships for sports, expenses for hiring of courts and/or equipment, and risk of injury. Sedentary lifestyles can limit social interaction and as a consequence, many of these individuals with sedentary lifestyles may often experience feelings of isolation, limited socialization, various mental health issues. Government schemes such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme allocate substantial funds each year towards maintaining the health, wellness, and fitness of these individuals. While sports enthusiasts are well-catered for through a diverse range of sports and sports facilities, gyms are not considered a viable solution for individuals with overweight or poor fitness levels, as well as limited mobility. [0004] The majority of the Australian population, approximately 85%, do not subscribe to gyms and wellness centres, highlighting a significant untapped market for organized health and wellness equipment and dedicated facilities. This presents a unique opportunity to revolutionize the concept of Fitness and Wellness Clubs, particularly catering to individuals leading sedentary lifestyles. By introducing innovative and targeted clubs, there is immense potential to surpass the current operations of traditional gyms. The demand for improved health among the vast number of unfit individuals is high, but there is a lack of accessible venues offering diverse and appealing services.

[0005] The envisioned Wellness Clubs are not limited to fitness activities alone but would encompass a broad range of offerings. These clubs would also address issues such as loneliness, depression, psychological well-being, and socialization. The concept involves creating a social environment where members can gather for activities like enjoying coffee, snacks, or drinks while also providing amenities such as childcare services. Currently, wellness, health, and fitness centers exist in various basic forms but require further evolution by integrating exercises, enhancing mobility and fitness programs, and catering to mental health needs and benefits.

[0006] Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

SUMMARY

[0007] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED

[0008] It may be an advantage to provide a portable or fixed sporting equipment or sporting apparatus.

[0009] It may be an advantage to provide a sporting equipment to easily store the sporting apparatus when finished playing with it or erecting the apparatus when wanting to play with it. [0010] It may be an advantage to provide a sporting equipment or sporting apparatus that may be demountable or folded for saving space when the player finishes playing with the apparatus.

[0011] It may be an advantage to provide a sporting equipment or sporting apparatus that have the front and side walls be mountable to the floor for easy construction of the court when player(s) want to play with the apparatus.

[0012] It may be an advantage to provide a sporting equipment or sporting apparatus with specially designed bats or paddle and a ball.

[0013] It may be an advantage to provide a sporting equipment or sporting apparatus with softer plastic material such as extruded plastic, or injection moulded plastic, or rotational moulded plastic, or thermoformed plastic, or compression moulded plastic, in which the plastic walls placed at the front and sides for creating a smaller sporting apparatus similar to a squash court.

[0014] It may be an advantage to provide a paddle or a racquet with harder firmer plastic such that the ball can bounce off the paddle well, when playing.

[0015] It may be an advantage to provide a wrist strap at the handle of the paddle or racquet to prevent the paddle from flying away from the user’ s hand when the user loses its grip or not held securely when swinging the paddle.

[0016] It may be an advantage to provide a ball that is not too bouncy off the floor and the front and side walls so as to increase the likelihood of keeping the ball bouncing within the apparatus, when playing.

[0017] It may also be an advantage to provide a ball that is not too bouncy so as to encourage and train players to react and move faster to hit or get their paddle to the ball before the ball bounces at the floor twice. [0018] It may be an advantage to have a front wall with an outward incline to improve the prospects of the ball landing on the surface of the floor of the apparatus.

[0019] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

[0020] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0021] A first aspect of the present invention may relate to a sporting equipment or a sporting apparatus comprising: a floor having a front edge, rear edge, left-side edge, and a right-side edge; a front-facing wall positioned transversely of the rear edge; a left-side wall positioned transversely of the left-side edge; and a right-side wall positioned transversely of a right-side edge; the front-facing wall comprising a transverse line extending from a left-side edge to a right-side edge of the front-facing wall, wherein the transverse line defines the upper portion and the lower portion of the front-facing wall; wherein the upper portion of the front-facing wall is outwardly inclined with respect to the lower portion of the front-facing wall.

[0022] Preferably, the front-facing wall is securable to the front edge of the floor.

[0023] Preferably, the left-side wall may be in connection to the left-side edge of the floor, and the right-side wall may be in connection to the right-side edge of the floor.

[0024] Preferably, the left-side wall is securable to the left-side edge of the floor and the rightside wall may be securable to the right-side edge of the floor.

[0025] Preferably, when the side walls are secured, the securing means may be one or more selected from the group of: tongue and groove connectors, fasteners, screw, and hinge.

[0026] Preferably, wherein the floor is constructed of a first resilient material, and the walls are constructed of a second resilient material, wherein first resilient material is less resilient than the second resilient material.

[0027] Preferably, the first resilient material is one material selected from the group of: cardboard, plywood, melamine, and medium density particleboard.

[0028] Preferably, the second resilient material is one material selected from the group of: plastic, plywood, melamine, and medium density particleboard.

[0029] Preferably, the left-side wall has a first contoured edge across the rear perpendicular edge to the top edge of the left-side wall; and wherein the right-side wall has a second contoured edge across the rear perpendicular edge to the top edge of the right-side wall.

[0030] Preferably, the angle of inclination is between 8 and 30 degrees from vertical.

[0031] Preferably, a left- side wall has a first line, wherein the first line extends from the left end of the transverse line of the front-facing wall to the first contoured edge of the left-side wall, and wherein the right-side wall has a second line, wherein the second line extends from the right end of the transverse line of the front-facing wall to the second contoured edge of the right-side wall.

[0032] Preferably, the first line defines the upper portion and the lower portion of the left-side wall.

[0033] Preferably, the upper portion of the left-side wall is outwardly inclined with respect to the lower portion of the left-side wall.

[0034] Preferably, the second line defines the upper portion and the lower portion of the rightside wall. [0035] Preferably, the upper portion of the right-side wall is outwardly inclined with respect to the lower portion of the right-side wall.

[0036] Preferably, a first contoured edge protector is mountable to the first contoured edge, and wherein a second contoured edge protector is mountable to the second contoured edge.

[0037] Preferably, the first contoured edge protector and the second contoured edge protector is of a material selected from the group of: foam, soft plastic, and rubber.

[0038] Preferably, the first contoured edge defines the height of the left-side wall from the rear end to the front end of the left-side wall relative to the length of the floor, and wherein the second contoured edge defines the height of the right-side wall from the rear edge to the front edge of the right-side wall relative to the length of the floor.

[0039] Preferably, the height of the rear end of the left- side wall is higher than the height of the front edge of the left-side wall, and wherein the height of the rear end of the right-side wall is higher than the height of the front edge of the left-side wall.

[0040] Preferably, the front edge of the left-side wall and the front edge of the right-side wall are positioned at a predetermined distance before the front edge of the floor.

[0041] Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a ball, and at least one paddle; wherein the at least one paddle each has a handle, wherein the handle has a textured surface, and wherein the end of the handle comprises a wrist strap.

[0042] Preferably, the ball is a ball type selected from the group of: rubber ball, foam ball, foam rubber ball with latex skin, celluloid ball, plastic ball with perforated holes, and wiffle ball. [0043] Preferably, a transverse line is disposed on an upper surface of the floor parallel to the front edge of the floor; and wherein a longitudinal line is disposed on an upper surface of the floor from the centre of the transverse line to the front edge of the floor.

[0044] An another aspect of the present invention may relate to an interactive game apparatus, the interactive game apparatus comprising: an interactive display of the court, wherein a simulated ball is configured to simulate bouncing from the walls and the floor of the court; at least one first motion sensor mountable to the interactive display, wherein the at least one first motion sensor is configured to detect a first motion signal from a motion of a player or a paddle; at least one second motion sensor mountable to the interactive display, wherein the at least one second motion sensor is configured to detect a second motion signal from the motion of the player or the paddle; a processor coupled to the first motion sensor and the second motion sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine angle of motion of the player or the paddle and relative strength of hit with respect to simulated contact to the simulated squash ball, based on motion sensed from the first motion sensor and the second motion sensor.

[0045] In the context of the present invention, the words “comprise”, “comprising” and the like are to be construed in their inclusive, as opposed to their exclusive, sense, that is in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.

[0046] The invention is to be interpreted with reference to the at least one of the technical problems described or affiliated with the background art. The present aims to solve or ameliorate at least one of the technical problems and this may result in one or more advantageous effects as defined by this specification and described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0047] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the sporting equipment or a sporting apparatus showing the outward inclination of the upper portion of the front-facing wall with respect to the lower portion of the front-facing wall. [0048] Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the sporting equipment or sporting apparatus.

[0049] Figure 3 illustrates a zoomed-in perspective view of the sporting equipment or sporting apparatus with paddles and a ball on top of the floor of the sporting apparatus.

[0050] Figure 4 illustrates a back perspective view of the sporting equipment or sporting apparatus showing a person or persons (if playing doubles) using a paddle to hit a ball when playing with the sporting apparatus.

[0051] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a sporting equipment or a sporting apparatus showing the outward inclination of the upper portion of the front-facing wall with respect to the lower portion of the front-facing wall; the outward inclination of the upper portion of the left- side wall with respect to the lower portion of the left-side wall; and the outward inclination of the upper portion of the right-side wall with respect to the lower portion of the right-side wall. This embodiment also illustrates the front corners being rounded.

[0052] Figure 6 illustrates a front view of the sporting equipment or sporting apparatus of Figure 5.

[0053] Figure 7 illustrates a zoomed-in perspective view of the sporting equipment or sporting apparatus of Figure 5 with paddles and a ball on top of the floor of the sporting apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and non-limiting examples.

[0055] In an embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, Figure 1 shows a sporting equipment 10 or sporting apparatus 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The sporting apparatus may also be an apparatus 10 that is an equipment suitable for playing a sport or a game. The sporting apparatus 10 may have a floor 12 or court 12 of a first material. The floor 12 may be rectangular and in terms of orientation, the floor 12 may have a rear edge 14, a leftside edge 16, a right-side edge 18, and a front edge 20. The sporting apparatus 10 may also have a front-facing wall 22, a left-side wall 24, and a right-side wall 26. The front-facing wall 22 may be mountable or securable to the front edge 14 of the floor 12, and similarly, the leftside wall 24 and the right-side wall 26 may be mountable or securable to the left-side edge 16 and the right-side edge 18 respectively. In one embodiment of the present invention, the frontfacing wall 22, the left-side wall 24, and right-side wall 26 may be separately mountable or securable to the respective edges 16, 18 of the floor 12. In another embodiment of the present invention, the edge 28 of the left-side wall 24 may be connected to the left-side edge 30 of the front-facing wall 22, and similarly, the edge 32 of the right-side wall 26 may be connected to the right-side edge 34 of the front-facing wall 22. The connection may be a fixed connection or a hinged connection at the edges 28, 34 may allow the user or player fold the disassembled walls 22, 24, 26 to save space when the sporting apparatus 10 is to be packed up after use.

[0056] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the left-side wall 24 may have left-side legs 36, and the right-side wall 26 may have right-side legs 38, in which the left-side legs 36 and the right-side legs 38 (not shown) allow for the gaming apparatus 10 to be stably attached to the ground or to a level surface. The level surface may be a platform that can be height adjustable to accommodate a player or players of certain height to ergonomically play with the gaming apparatus 10. For a person sitting on a wheelchair, it may be appreciated that the player will adjust the height of the platform to be lower when playing compared to a player that would be playing when standing such that when playing, the floor 12 or court 12 may be preferably about the player’s knee height. Further, when a player hits the ball 56 to any of the walls 22/24/26, there may be significant forces of the ball 56 pushing the walls and/or the sporting apparatus 10 away from the player. As such, the left-side legs 36 and the right-side legs 38 may have to be mounted securely to the ground or to the level surface to resist unwanted movement of the sporting apparatus 10 and/or to resist the toppling over of the sporting apparatus 10. Further, the walls 22/24/26 mounted to the respective edges 14/16/18 of the floor 12 may have to be securely mounted to resist detachment of the wall to the respective edge when the ball 56 hits or rebounds from the wall(s) during play. It may be appreciated that the construction of the sporting apparatus 10 may be fixed, demountable, or foldable.

[0057] In another embodiment (not shown), the underside 36 of the floor 12 may be securely mounted to the level surface for resisting movement and/or toppling over of the sporting apparatus 10 during play. In such an embodiment, there may be no need for the left-side legs 36 and the right-side legs 38 when the bottom edges of the front wall 38, left-side wall 40, and right-side wall 42 can be securely mounted to the respective rear edge 14, left edge 16, and right edge 18 of the floor 12. In the embodiments, the front-facing wall 22 may be positioned transversely of a rear edge 14 or rear end 14 of the floor 12 or above the level of the floor 12 or court 12. Similarly, the left-side wall 24 may be positioned transversely of a left-side edge 16 or left end 16 of the floor 12 or above the level of the floor 12; and the right-side wall 26 may be positioned transversely of a right-side edge 18 or right end 18 of the floor 12. It may be appreciated that the angle between the front-facing wall 22 or side walls 24, 26 to the floor is 90°.

[0058] The front-facing wall 22 may have a transverse line 44 extending from the left-side 46 to the right-side 48 of the front-facing wall 22. The transverse line 44 may be a transverse service line 44. The transverse line 44 may be a crease 44 produced by bending the resilient material. The transverse line 44 or crease 44 may define the upper portion 50 and the lower portion 52 of the front-facing wall 22, in which the upper portion 50 of the front-facing wall 22 is outwardly inclined with respect to the lower portion 52 of the front-facing wall 22. The outward inclination angle may preferably be between 0.1° to 40° from vertical. Most preferably, the outward inclination angle may be between 8° to 30°. The outward inclination angle is needed as it maximises the length of play at which the ball 56 is able to bounce within the area of the floor 12 of the apparatus 10 upon a reasonable and responsible force of hit on the ball 56 during play. In a normal hit of minimal spin to the ball 56, the outward inclination of the upper portion 50 of the front wall 22 rebounds the ball 56 to bounce relatively closer at the upper portion 54 of the floor 12 compared to no outward inclination of the front-facing wall 22, thereby it reduces the chance of the ball 56 of not being able to bounce once before the front edge 20 or front end of the floor 12 of the gaming apparatus 10. While better players may apply spin to the ball 56 during play, whether backspin or top spin is applied to the ball 56 during the hit with the paddle 58, the outward inclination of the upper portion 50 of the front-facing wall 22 will also allow the ball 56 to bounce relatively closer to the upper portion 54 of the floor 12, wherein the upper portion 54 of the floor 12 is a region of the floor proximal to the rear edge 14 or rear end 14 of the floor 12.

[0059] In one embodiment, the floor 12, the front-facing wall 22, the left-side wall 24 and the right-side wall 26 may be constructed of the same resilient material. In another embodiment, the floor 12 may be constructed of a first resilient material and the walls 22, 24, 26 may be constructed of a different second resilient material. As the ball 56 may bounce differently when rebounding or bouncing between different resilient materials, it greatly enhances hand-eye coordination of the player(s) playing with the sporting apparatus 10. Preferably, the first resilient material is less resilient than the second resilient material as the ball 56 should be predicably able to bounce off the wall(s) 22/24/26 of the second resilient material in minimal bounce dampening. As the first resilient material is less resilient, there may be bounce dampening which may allow the ball 56 to bounce again to the floor 12 of the gaming apparatus 10 faster. To keep the ball 56 in play, it becomes a very good training sporting apparatus 10 to get their paddle 58 to hit the ball 56 before the ball 56 bounces twice at the floor 12 of the sporting apparatus 10. In one embodiment, the first resilient material of the floor is one material selected from the group of: cardboard, plywood, melanine, particleboard, medium density fibreboard (mdf), and medium density particleboard (mdp). The second resilient material of the front wall 22 and side walls 24, 26 may be a material selected from the group of: plastic, plywood, melanine, particleboard, medium density fibreboard (mdf), and medium density particleboard (mdp).

[0060] In terms of durability and resistance to damage, plastic may generally be more resilient than cardboard. It may be appreciated to create a lightweight and inexpensive sporting apparatus 10, cardboard may be preferred and easily and inexpensively replaced. While resilience of cardboard can be adjusted from thickness and quality of the cardboard material, this may be an inexpensive way to train coordination by adjusting the bounce dampening of the floor 12. It may be appreciated that other embodiments such as composite wood, or particleboard, or medium density particleboard (mdp), medium density fibreboard (mdf), or plywood or melamine or other suitable wood material be used to adjust the bounce dampening of the ball 56 when the ball 56 rebounds off of the floor 12. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the front-facing wall 22 and the side walls 24, 26 may be another type of wood material.

[0061] As shown in Figure 2, the left-side wall 24 may have a first contoured edge 60 across the rear perpendicular edge 62 to the top edge 64 of the left-side wall 24, and similarly, the right-side wall 26 may have a second contoured edge 66 across the rear perpendicular edge 68 to the top edge 70 of the right-side wall 26. Appreciating that the contoured edges 66/70 can be sharp and may be a cutting risk to a player’s hand when moving their hand towards the upper portion 54 of the floor 12 when attempting to hit the ball 56, it may be preferable to have a first contoured edge protector mountable to the first contoured edge, and a second contoured edge protector mountable to the second contoured edge. The first and second contoured edge protector may be of a material selected from the group of: foam, soft plastic, and rubber and other suitable protective materials, where the material may prevent a player’s hand from being cut when accidentally brushing against the protective material during play.

[0062] As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the first contoured edge 60 may define the height of the left-side wall 24 from the rear edge towards the front edge of the left-side wall 24 relative to the length of the floor 12. Similarly, the second contoured edge 66 may define the height of the right-side wall 26 from the rear edge towards the front edge of the right-side wall 26 relative to the length of the floor 12. To allow a player more room to swing from left to right when playing with the sporting apparatus 10, the first contoured edge 60 is specifically shaped such that the height of the rear end of the left-side wall 76 is higher than the height of the front end of the left- side wall 78. In similar consideration, to allow a player more room to swing from right to left when playing the apparatus 10, the second contoured edge 66 is specifically shaped such that the height of the rear end of the right-side wall 80 is higher than the height of the front end of the right-side wall 82. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the rear end of the left-side wall and the rear end of the rightside wall do not extend all the way to the front edge 20 of the floor 12 but are positioned at a predetermined distance before the rear end 20 of the floor 12. The predetermined distance may be any distance but preferably 15 cm before the rear end 20 of the floor 12. This allows the player more room to move and creatively play angled shots such as a boast. Further, the positioning at a predetermined distance of the side walls also minimises the likelihood of a player from brushing their hand against the contoured edge of the side walls 24, 26. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, where the top edge 98 of the front facing wall 22 meets with the first contoured edge 60, at a first corner, there may be a predetermined distance at a right angle before the first contoured edge 60 slopes down towards the front edge of the floor 12. Similarly, where the top edge 98 of the front facing wall 22 meets with the second contoured edge 66, at a second corner, there may be a predetermined distance at a right angle before the second contoured edge 66 slopes down towards the front edge of the floor 12.

[0063] The sporting apparatus 10 may have a ball 56, and at least one paddle 58 having wrist straps 84 to prevent the player from accidentally flinging their paddle 58 when the player loses their grip on the paddle handle 86 during play. The hitting surface 88 of the paddle 58 may be textured which may alter the interaction between the paddle 58 and the ball 56. The textured surface such as one with pimples or roughness can increase the grip on the ball 56 when hit, allowing the player to impart more spin. The texture can enhance the ability to generate topspin, backspin, or sidespin, thereby affecting the trajectory and bounce of the ball 56. The textured surface may be rough to create more air resistance or friction, which can influence the accuracy and control of shots. The ball may be a ball type selected from the group of: rubber ball, foam ball, foam rubber ball with latex skin, celluloid ball, plastic ball with perforated holes, and wiffle ball.

[0064] In one embodiment or sporting apparatus configuration, the sporting apparatus may be similar to a squash court. A transverse line 90 or a short line 90 may be markable or disposed on the upper surface of the floor 12, and a longitudinal line 92 or a half court line 92 may be disposed on the upper surface of the floor 12 from the centre of the short line along the centre of the floor 12 towards the front end 20 of the floor 12. Further, out lines (not shown) may be markable or disposed at the upper portion of the front-facing wall 22 and at the side walls 24, 26.

[0065] In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the left-side and rightside walls 24, 26 may be vertical. In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the left-side wall 24 may have a first crease 94 or first line 94, wherein the first crease 94 extends from the left end of the transverse line 46 of the front-facing wall 22 to the first contoured edge 60 of the left- side wall 24. The first crease 94 may define the upper portion 91 and the lower portion 93 of the left-side wall 24, in which the upper portion 91 of the leftside wall 24 is similarly outwardly inclined with respect to the lower portion 93 of the left-side wall 24. The right-side wall 26 may have a second crease 96 or second line 96, wherein the second crease 96 extends from the right end 48 of the transverse line of the front-facing wall 22 to the second contoured edge 66 of the right-side wall 26. The second crease 96 may define the upper portion 95 and the lower portion 97 of the right-side wall 26, in which the upper portion 95 of the right-side wall 26 is similarly outwardly inclined with respect to the lower portion 97 of the right-side wall 26. The first crease 94 and the second crease 96 may be produced by bending the resilient material. The outward inclination angle of the side walls may be between 0.1° to 40° from vertical. Most preferably, the outward inclination angle may be between 8° to 30° from vertical. As the outward inclination angle maximises the chance of the ball 56 in play having a first bounce at the upper region 54 of the floor 12, having the creases 94, 96 at the side walls 24, 26 together with the front-facing wall 22 may allow the ball 56 to be kept within the gaming apparatus 10 for longer, which may enhance the playing experience. [0066] In one embodiment, the dimensions of the sporting apparatus 10 may have a floor 12 with a front edge 20 and the rear edge 14 being 130 cm, and the left-side edge 16 and rightside edge 18 being 135 cm long. The transverse line 44 or crease 44 may be at a height 40 cm above the level of the floor 12 of the front-facing wall 22, and while the upper portion 50 of the front-facing wall 22 is outwardly inclined, the vertical height of the top edge 98 of the frontfacing wall 22 to the level of the floor 12 may be 110 cm. The floor 12 may have a predetermined thickness or a thickness of 2.5 cm, and the left-side legs 36 and the right-side legs 38 may each have a depth of 50 cm below the level of the floor 12. The left-side wall 24 may be 120 cm long going from rear-left corner 99 along the left-side edge 16 of the floor 12, in which the first contoured edge 60 of the left-side wall 24 terminally tapers 15 cm from the front-left corner 100 of the floor 12. Similarly, the right-side wall 26 may be 120 cm long going from rear-right corner 102 along the right-side edge 18 of the floor 12, in which the second contoured edge 66 of the right-side wall 26 terminally tapers 15 cm from the front-right corner 104 of the floor 12. While dimensions may be listed as an example, it may be appreciated that different lengths or different thickness may be used depending on the space available to play an assembled sporting apparatus 10. While the front comers 100, 104 of the floor 12 may be shown as right angles, other embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 and 6 may have curved corners 100, 104 for reducing sharp corners and for reducing injury to a player if they accidentally collide their leg or knee at that front comer(s) during play.

[0067] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms, in keeping with the broad principles and the spirit of the invention described herein.

[0068] The present invention and the described preferred embodiments specifically include at least one feature that is industrial applicable.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A sporting apparatus comprising: a floor having a front edge, rear edge, left-side edge and a right-side edge; a front-facing wall positioned transversely of the rear edge; a left-side wall positioned transversely of the left-side edge; and a right-side wall positioned transversely of a right-side edge; the front-facing wall comprising a transverse line extending from a left-side edge to a right-side edge of the front-facing wall parallel to the rear edge, wherein the transverse line defines the upper portion and the lower portion of the front-facing wall; wherein the lower portion is vertical with respect to level of the floor; wherein the upper portion of the front-facing wall is outwardly inclined from vertical with respect to the lower portion of the front-facing wall.

2. The sporting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front-facing wall is securable to the rear edge.

3. The sporting apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the left-side wall is securable to the left-side edge of the floor, and wherein the right-side wall is securable to the right-side edge of the floor.

4. The sporting apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the floor is constructed of a first resilient material, and the front and side walls are constructed of a second resilient material, wherein first resilient material is less resilient than the second resilient material.

5. The sporting apparatus of any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the first resilient material is one material selected from the group of: cardboard, plywood, melamine, medium density fibreboard, and medium density particleboard.

6. The sporting apparatus of any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the second resilient material is one material selected from the group of: plastic, plywood, melamine, medium density fibreboard, and medium density particleboard.

7. The sporting apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the left-side wall has a first contoured edge across the rear perpendicular edge to the top edge of the leftside wall; and wherein the right-side wall has a second contoured edge across the rear perpendicular edge to the top edge of the right-side wall.

8. The sporting apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the range of angle of inclination is 8° to 30° from vertical.

9. The sporting apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a left-side wall has a first line, wherein the first line extends from the left end of the transverse service line of the front-facing wall to the first contoured edge of the left-side wall, and wherein the right-side wall has a second line, wherein the second line extends from the right end of the transverse line of the front-facing wall to the second contoured edge of the right-side wall.

10. The sporting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first line defines the upper portion and the lower portion of the left-side wall.

11. The sporting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the upper portion of the left-side wall is outwardly inclined with respect to the lower portion of the left-side wall.

12. The sporting apparatus of any one of claims 10 to 11, wherein the second line defines the upper portion and the lower portion of the right-side wall.

13. The sporting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the upper portion of the right-side wall is outwardly inclined with respect to the lower portion of the right-side wall.

14. The sporting apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein a first contoured edge protector is mountable to the first contoured edge, and wherein a second contoured edge protector is mountable to the second contoured edge.

15. The sporting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first contoured edge protector and the second contoured edge protector is of a material selected from the group of: foam, soft plastic, and rubber.

16. The sporting apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 15, wherein the first contoured edge defines the height of the left-side wall from the rear edge to the front edge of the left-side wall relative to the length of the floor, and wherein the second contoured edge defines the height of the right-side wall from the rear edge to the front edge of the right-side wall relative to the length of the floor.

17. The sporting apparatus of claim 16, wherein the height of the rear edge of the leftside wall is higher than the height of the front edge of the left-side wall, and wherein the height of the rear edge of the right-side wall is higher than the height of the front edge of the left-side wall.

18. The sporting apparatus of any one of claims 16 to 17, wherein the front edge of the left-side wall and the front edge of the right-side wall are positioned at a predetermined distance before the front edge of the floor.

19. The sporting apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the apparatus further comprises a ball, and at least one paddle; wherein the at least one paddle each has a handle, wherein the handle has a textured surface, and wherein the end of the handle comprises a wrist strap.

20. The sporting apparatus of claim 19, wherein the ball is a ball type selected from the group of: rubber ball, foam ball, foam rubber ball with latex skin, celluloid ball, plastic ball with perforated holes, and wiffle ball.

21. The sporting apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein a transverse line is disposed on an upper surface of the floor parallel to the front edge of the floor; and wherein a longitudinal line is disposed on the upper surface of the floor from centre of the transverse line to the front edge of the floor.