Hockey-type game apparatus

Claim 2

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object shaped to be propelled along a playing surface in a direction longitudinal to said object, and also shaped to roll along said playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said object having a length greatly in excess of the diameter thereof, and b. a hockey stick having an elongate shaft adapted to be held by a player, said stick also having at one end of said shaft an elongate blade shaped to strike said object to either propel it along said playing surface in a direction longitudinal to said object, or to roll it along said playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said blade having an upwardly concave region at the lower portion thereof so as to fit downward over at least the central portion of said object and thereby move said object along the playing surface in unison with said blade, the relationship between said shaft and said upwardly concave region being such that, when said shaft is held in front of the player, and in upwardly inclined relationship to the playing field, with said upwardly concave region seated over said elongate object, a portion of said blade is behind said object whereby the player may push said object forwardly in a controlled manner.

Claim 3

another such way being in rolling, uncontrolled manner when launched by said protuberance means, and

Claim 4

another such way being in rolling, uncontrolled manner when launched by said protuberance means, and

Claim 5

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which the length of said object is at least about twice the diameter thereof.

Claim 6

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which the length of said object is on the order of several times the diameter thereof.

Claim 7

another such way being in sliding or rolling, uncontrolled manner, when struck by said impact region.

Claim 8

another such way being in sliding or rolling, uncontrolled manner, when struck by said impact region.

Claim 9

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said object is resilient and bouncy.

Claim 10

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said object is generally dumbbell-shaped.

Claim 11

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which the exterior surface of said object is a surface of revolution about the longitudinal axis of said object.

Claim 12

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said blade of said hockeY stick has a horizontally projected small-area impact point with a generally vertical face adapted to strike said object at one end thereof or at the central region of one side thereof, so as to cause said object to move generally along the surface of the playing field.

Claim 13

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said blade has a generally convex side face shaped to effect said striking of said object and also shaped to make it difficult for the player to merely hold said face against the object and roll it laterally.

Claim 14

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having an elongate blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being non-symmetrical about a plane through the longitudinal axes of said blade and said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said object, said blade having an upwardly concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly concave region being shaped to fit downwardly over the central horizontal portion of said object in order to effect, when said blade is moved longitudinally and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface.

Claim 15

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having an elongate blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being non-symmetrical about a plane through the longitudinal axes of said blade and said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said object, said blade having an upwardly concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly concave region being shaped to fit downwardly over the central horizontal portion of said object in order to effect, when said blade is moved longitudinally and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface.

Claim 16

The invention as claimed in claim 9, in which said object weighs less than 1 pound, and is formed at least partially of resilient and bouncy material.

Claim 17

The invention as claimed in claim 10, in which said object is generally cylindrical, and is about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and about 7 inches in length.

Claim 18

The invention as claimed in claim 9, in which said blade has a generally horizontally protruding impact region at the forward face thereof, said impact region being adapted to strike said object either at one end thereof or at the central region of one side thereof so as to cause the object generally to roll or slide along the surface of said playing field.

Claim 19

The invention as claimed in claim 9, in which said object is formed at least partially of resilient material, and is generally dumbbell-shaped.

Claim 20

The invention as claimed in claim 9, in which said object comprises an elastomeric inflated bladder having a relatively small-diameter central portion and relatively large-diameter end portions.

Claim 21

The invention as claimed in claim 9, in which said object comprises a skin having a cylindrical central region which is connected at each end to an enlarged end region, each of said end regions being of the same diameter as the other and being shaped to roll along the playing surface, in which said skin is filled with sponge or foam material, and in which said upwardly-concave region of said blade is shaped to fit downwardly over said central region and to permit said central region to rotate relative to said blade.

Claim 22

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having a blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said object, said blade having an upwardly-concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly-concave region being shaped to fit downwardly over at least a portion of said elongate object in order to effect, when said blade is moved forwardly and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface, said blade being contoured on the forward face thereof, and planar on the rear face thereof, whereby to make it relatively difficult for the player to roll said object forwardly but relatively easy for the player to roll said object rearwardly.

Claim 23

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having a blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said object, said blade having an upwardly-concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly-concave region being shaped to fit downwardly over at least a portion of said elongate object in order to effect, when said blade is moved forwardly and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface, said blade being contoured on the forward face thereof, and planar on the rear face thereof, whereby to make it relatively difficult for the player to roll said object forwardly but relatively easy for the player to roll said object rearwardly.

Claim 24

Hockey-type game apparatus, wHich comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said object having first and second external annular beads near the end portions thereof, each of said beads having the same diameter as the other of said beads, said beads being adapted to engage the playing surface and roll or slide therealong, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having a blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said object, said blade having a upwardly-concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly-concave region being shaped to fit downwardly over at least a portion of said elongate object in order to effect, when said blade is moved forwardly and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface.

Claim 25

Hockey-type game apparatus, wHich comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said object having first and second external annular beads near the end portions thereof, each of said beads having the same diameter as the other of said beads, said beads being adapted to engage the playing surface and roll or slide therealong, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having a blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said object, said blade having a upwardly-concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly-concave region being shaped to fit downwardly over at least a portion of said elongate object in order to effect, when said blade is moved forwardly and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface.

Claim 26

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said object comprising an elastomeric inflated bladder having a relatively small-diameter central portion and relatively large-diameter end portion and a cylindrical sleeve which is mounted coaxially over said central portion, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having a blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said object, said blade having an upwardly-concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly-concave region of said blade being shaped to fit downwardly over said cylindrical sleeve and to permit said sleeve to rotate relative to said blade in order to effect, when said blade is moved forwardly and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface.

Claim 27

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said object comprising an elastomeric inflated bladder having a relatively small-diameter central portion and relatively large-diameter end portion and a cylindrical sleeve which is mounted coaxially over said central portion, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having a blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said object, said blade having an upwardly-concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly-concave region of said blade being shaped to fit downwardly over said cylindrical sleeve and to permit said sleeve to rotate relative to said blade in order to effect, when said blade is moved forwardly and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface.

Claim 28

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said object weighing less than one pound and being formed at least partially of resilient and bouncy material, said object being generally cylindrical and having enlarged end regions adapte to roll or slide along the playing surface, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having a blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said object, said blade having an upwardly-concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly-concave regions being shaped to fit downwardly over at least a portion of said elongate object in order to effect, when said blade is moved forwardly and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface, the central region of said object being adapted to fit upwardly into said upwardly-concave region of said blade and to rotate relative to said upwardly-concave region of said blade, said blade having a protuberant impact region at the forward face thereof, said impact region being adapted to strike said object either at one end thereof or at the central region of one side thereof, said blade being contoured on the forward face thereof, and planar on the rear face thereof, whereby to make it relatively difficult for the player to move said object forwardly but relatively easy for the player to move said object rearwardly.

Claim 29

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said object weighing less than one pound and being formed at least partially of resilient and bouncy material, said object being generally cylindrical and having enlarged end regions adapte to roll or slide along the playing surface, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having a blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said object, said blade having an upwardly-concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly-concave regions being shaped to fit downwardly over at least a portion of said elongate object in order to effect, when said blade is moved forwardly and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface, the central region of said object being adapted to fit upwardly into said upwardly-concave region of said blade and to rotate relative to said upwardly-concave region of said blade, said blade having a protuberant impact region at the forward face thereof, said impact region being adapted to strike said object either at one end thereof or at the central region of one side thereof, said blade being contoured on the forward face thereof, and planar on the rear face thereof, whereby to make it relatively difficult for the player to move said object forwardly but relatively easy for the player to move said object rearwardly.

Claim 30

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having a blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said objEct, said blade having an upwardly-concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly-concave region being shaped to fit downwardly over at least a portion of said elongate object in order to effect, when said blade is moved forwardly and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface, said blade having a downwardly-convex surface at the lower side thereof and relatively remote from said shaft, said downwardly-convex surface merging with the upwardly-concave surface of said upwardly-concave region, said upwardly-concave region of said blade being defined in part by a downwardly-protuberant portion of said blade.

Claim 31

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object, the length of said object being much greater than the diameter thereof, said object being shaped to roll along a playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, and b. a hockey stick having a shaft and having a blade at one end of said shaft, said blade being adapted to strike said objEct, said blade having an upwardly-concave region at the lower portion thereof, said upwardly-concave region being shaped to fit downwardly over at least a portion of said elongate object in order to effect, when said blade is moved forwardly and parallel to said playing surface, rolling of said object along said playing surface, said blade having a downwardly-convex surface at the lower side thereof and relatively remote from said shaft, said downwardly-convex surface merging with the upwardly-concave surface of said upwardly-concave region, said upwardly-concave region of said blade being defined in part by a downwardly-protuberant portion of said blade.

Claim 32

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object shaped to be propelled along a playing surface in a direction longitudinal to said object, and also shaped to roll along said playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said object having a length greatly in excess of the diameter thereof, said object having circumferential ribs near the end portions thereof, said ribs being adapted to roll along the playing surface when the object is rolling laterally, and b. a hockey stick having an elongate shaft adapted to be held by a player, said stick also having at one end of said shaft an elongate blade shaped to strike said object to either propel it along said playing surface in a direction longitudinal to said object, or to roll it along said playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said blade being upwardly concave at the lower portion thereof so as to fit downward over at least the central portion of said object and thereby move said object along the playing surface in unison with said blade.

Claim 33

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. a lightweight elongate object shaped to be propelled along a playing surface in a direction longitudinal to said object, and also shaped to roll along said playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said object having a length greatly in excess of the diameter thereof, said object having circumferential ribs near the end portions thereof, said ribs being adapted to roll along the playing surface when the object is rolling laterally, and b. a hockey stick having an elongate shaft adapted to be held by a player, said stick also having at one end of said shaft an elongate blade shaped to strike said object to either propel it along said playing surface in a direction longitudinal to said object, or to roll it along said playing surface in a direction lateral to said object, said blade being upwardly concave at the lower portion thereof so as to fit downward over at least the central portion of said object and thereby move said object along the playing surface in unison with said blade.

Claim 34

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. an elongated shaft adapted to be held forwardly of the player at an incline to the playing field, with the handle end of the shaft near the player and the distal end of the shaft remote from the player and near the playing field, b. means to form a protuberance which projects laterally of said shaft near the distal end thereof, c. means to form an impact region adapted to strike an elongated object to propel the same along the playing field in either sliding or rolling manner, said impact means (c) being substantially more remote from said handle end of said shaft than is said protuberance means (b), the spacing between said impact means and said protuberance means being such that said elongated object may be rotatably seated, in controlled manner, in front of said protuberance means and behind said impact means when said protuberance means is extending downwardly relative to the inclined shaft and when said elongated object is supported on the playing field, and d. a lightweight elongated object shaped to roll smoothly along said playing field in a direction lateral to the axis of said object, and also adapted to be propelled slidably along said playing field with its longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of propulsion, whereby said object may be moved on said playing field in several ways both controlled and uncontrolled:

Claim 35

Hockey-type game apparatus, which comprises: a. an elongated shaft adapted to be held forwardly of the player at an incline to the playing field, with the handle end of the shaft near the player and the distal end of the shaft remote from the player and near the playing field, b. means to form a protuberance which projects laterally of said shaft near the distal end thereof, c. means to form an impact region adapted to strike an elongated object to propel the same along the playing field in either sliding or rolling manner, said impact means (c) being substantially more remote from said handle end of said shaft than is said protuberance means (b), the spacing between said impact means and said protuberance means being such that said elongated object may be rotatably seated, in controlled manner, in front of said protuberance means and behind said impact means when said protuberance means is extending downwardly relative to the inclined shaft and when said elongated object is supported on the playing field, and d. a lightweight elongated object shaped to roll smoothly along said playing field in a direction lateral to the axis of said object, and also adapted to be propelled slidably along said playing field with its longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of propulsion, whereby said object may be moved on said playing field in several ways both controlled and uncontrolled: