US PATENT SUBCLASS 473 / 415
PLAYING FIELD OR COURT GAME; GAME ELEMENT OR ACCESSORY THEREFOR OTHER THAN PROJECTOR OR PROJECTILE, PER SE

Current as of: June, 1999
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473 /   HD   GAMES USING TANGIBLE PROJECTILE

415PLAYING FIELD OR COURT GAME; GAME ELEMENT OR ACCESSORY THEREFOR OTHER THAN PROJECTOR OR PROJECTILE, PER SE {14}
416  DF  .~> Having game element combined with or convertible to game element or practice or training device for different type of projectile game
417  DF  .~> Means removably supporting projectile in position to be struck and thereby projected by player (e.g., batting tee, etc.) {3}
421  DF  .~> Batting backstop or cage
422  DF  .~> Practice or training device {7}
465  DF  .~> Having at least two different types of game elements used in same game {6}
476  DF  .~> Goal or target structure for projectile; element thereof {2}
490  DF  .~> Means for dividing field or court into compartments; element thereof or accessory therefor (e.g., a net, marking strip, marked line, etc.) {3}
496  DF  .~> Table-tennis table
497  DF  .~> Pitching rubber or mound
498  DF  .~> Cricket wicket
499  DF  .~> Base for game in which play involves base running (e.g., for baseball, etc.) {2}
502  DF  .~> Flag belt (e.g., for use in football game without tackling, etc.)
503  DF  .~> Projectile catcher other than combined projector-catcher device
504  DF  .~> Cover for playing field or court (e.g., for baseball field, etc.)

DEFINITION

Classification: 473/415

PLAYING FIELD OR COURT GAME; GAME ELEMENT OR ACCESSORY THEREFOR OTHER THAN PROJECTOR OR PROJECTILE, PER SE:

(under the class definition) Subject matter relating to a directly interactive and competitive game or sport in which two or more opposing players or teams of players located upon or within a playing area manipulate or otherwise use a game projectile during play of the game or sport, and over which playing area at least one of the two or more opposing players or teams, in trying to achieve the game objective, moves,

either while manipulating the projectile or while interacting with, reacting to, or responding to another player who is manipulating the projectile or to movement of the projectile itself whenever it is free of the players' direct control, which game or sport includes any one of or a combination of the following: (a) a game component (e.g., a convertible goal or target device, etc.) which has a configuration that is adapted and intended to be changed so that it, in one configuration thereof, is a game component which is intended to be used in or for a game or sport included herein and, in another configuration thereof, is either a game component or a practice or training device that is intended to be used in or for a diverse type of game or sport which also uses a game projectile, which diverse type of game or sport is either a different game or sport included herein or a game or sport not included herein; (b) a kit of parts which is adapted and intended to be assembled or reassembled into a first game component intended to be used in or for a game or sport included herein and into either a second game component or a practice or training device which is intended to be used in or for a diverse type of game or sport which also uses a projectile, which diverse type of game or sport is either a different game or sport included herein or a game or sport not included herein; (c) a game component (other than a projector or projectile, per se) which is used during play of a game or sport included herein; or (d) an ancillary device or means (e.g., a cover for a playing field or court, etc.) which is adapted and intended to be used with or for a game component during the times that the game or sport is not being played (i.e., before or after the game or sport is played or during a time out) unless it is provided for elsewhere.

(1) Note. A game or sport of the type to be included in this and the indented subclasses, must involve a game projectile, whether or not claimed. The projectile used by the two or more opposing players or teams of players may be manipulated in such a manner that it may be thrown, carried, struck, kicked, pushed, etc. by any portion of a player's body or by a projector device carried by a player as dictated by the rules defined for the game. However, the projectile must, at some point in time during play of the game or sport, be free of the player's direct control as, for example, when the projectile is thrown or otherwise projected either through the air or for movement over the playing area toward a goal or target or toward another player.

(2) Note. The statement "directly interactive and competitive game or sport" referred to above is defined herein to mean that the opposing players or teams of players play the game or sport generally simultaneously (other than at such times as, for example, a penalty kick in a soccer game, etc.). Thus, for example, a game or sport in which a player, located upon or within a playing area, projects a projectile toward a goal or target and subsequently moves over the playing area to the location of the projected projectile for retrieval or reprojection thereof (as in the

games of hopscotch, croquet, golf, horseshoes, etc.) is not considered to be a playing field or court game or sport as defined herein and is, therefore, excluded because the player is not moving over the playing area either while manipulating the projectile or while interacting with, reacting to, or responding to another player who is manipulating the projectile or to movement of the projectile itself. Further, most simple target games in which the players take turns in projecting or impelling a game projectile toward a goal or target in order to achieve a score higher that another player, although a competition in a broad sense, are excluded from these subclasses because the players are not directly interacting with another player at the same time during play of the game (i.e., there is no interference from an opposing player of the game) or because a player and his opponent are not both moving over the playing area at the same time during play of the game.

(3) Note. A simple game of throw-and-catch in which the players may incidentally move over a playing area is not considered to be a playing field or court game or sport and is, therefore, excluded because the movement is caused by unintentional inaccuracy of the thrower in attempting to throw the projectile to the catcher.

(4) Note. A game component which is used in a playing field or court game included herein, is defined as a device or means which is used during the times that the game or sport is being played. Although the following list is not to be considered as exhaustive, such a game component may include any of one of the following devices or means: (a) a playing area of indeterminate extent or a playing area defined by a visually (e.g., marked) or otherwise sensory distinct enclosing peripheral boundary or by an enclosure. However, this type of game component is, per se, excluded from these subclasses since it is classifiable elsewhere. That is, this type of game component, to be included here, must be combined with another game component which is included herein. See (6) Note below for a further discussion of this line. Such additional game component may be a court dividing net as in a tennis court, another interior playing field or court dividing means that breaks the playing area into compartments, sub-areas, or sections, as the ten yard line markings on a football field, a goal or target device, a game projectile, a projectile impelling device manipulated by a player, etc.; (b) a structure, per se (e.g., a net, barrier, etc.) or a visually or otherwise sensory distinct means, per se (e.g., a marked line, etc.) which is adapted and intended to break the playing area into compartments, subareas, or sections; (c) a goal or target, per se, for providing a point of aim for a game projectile projected thereat by a player; (d) a player-held and powered, nonmechanical implement adapted and intended to project a game projectile (e.g., a bat, tennis racket, polo mallet, hockey stick, etc.). However, this type of game component is, per se, excluded from these subclasses since it is classifiable elsewhere. That is, this type of game component, to be included here,

must be combined with another game component which is included herein; (e) a game projectile (e.g., a ball, hockey puck, badminton shuttlecock, etc.). However, this type of game component is, per se, excluded from these subclasses since it is classifiable elsewhere. That is, this type of game component, to be included here, must be combined with another game component which is included herein; (f) a football kicking tee, per se, which is used once in a while during play of an American football game; (g) a means, per se, used by a player when projecting a game projectile for enhancing the movement of the projectile after projection thereof (e.g., a means that a player uses to assist in causing a pitched baseball to curve during flight); (h) a base, per se, adapted and intended to be located on or within a playing area used in a game involving base running (e.g., a base to be located at a corner of the diamond-shaped playing area used in playing the game of baseball, etc.); (i) a strike-zone detector (e.g., a detector for determining whether or not a ball pitched toward a batter located in the vicinity of home plate is within the strike zone in a baseball-type game, etc.) provided that it is claimed in combination with another game component classifiable herein (e.g., with the home plate, etc.); or (j) a boundary detector (e.g., a ball-out-of-bounds detector for use on a tennis court, etc.) provided that it is claimed in combination with another game component classifiable herein (e.g., with the tennis court, tennis court net, etc.). (5) Note. An accessory (i.e., an ancillary device or means) is generally not considered to be a game component unless it is convertible or is part of a kit of parts, as specified in parts (a) and (b) of the definition above. An accessory, per se, intended to be used with or for a game component used in a game or sport included herein, is often classified with the component it is intended to be used with or for, unless it is provided for elsewhere. For example, a press for a tennis racket is included under the subclasses providing for the tennis rackets which, in turn, is included under the subclasses providing for player-held and powered, nonmechanical projectors for projecting an aerial projectile into or through the air by striking. On the other hand, a cover, per se, for a playing field or court included herein is classified herein by itself near the end of the group of subclasses under this mainline subclass. Also, it should be kept in mind that some accessory devices or means are classifiable elsewhere as, for example, in other classes.

(6) Note. The playing area itself, the peripheral boundary or enclosure itself, or both may be included in this and the indented subclasses provided that at least one other game component intended to be used in or for a playing field or court game or sport as defined above is also claimed in combination therewith. For example, a ball or a goal combined with a particular floor structure, a walled enclosure combined with a game racket, or a football field combined with a peripheral boundary marking and with an interior yard line marking would be included herein. However, a particular

floor, field, or court structure per se, a particular walled enclosure per se, a peripheral boundary marking per se, or a particular floor, field, or court structure combined only with a particular walled enclosure or peripheral boundary marking would not be included herein.

(7) Note. A means which is specifically adapted and intended to enable a player of a playing field or court game included herein to improve or perfect his or her physical skills (e.g., motor skills, coordination, etc.) in the playing of any aspect of the game or sport (i.e., a practice or training device) is included herein.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

44+, for a projecting implement or apparatus used in playing the surface projectile game known as billiards or pool.

52+, for a ball used in playing a billiard or pool game.

107, for a mechanical projecting device used in playing the surface projectile game known as bowling.

125+, for a ball used in playing a bowling game.

219+, for a practice swingable implement used (by a player of the game known as golf) to improve or perfect his or her skill in playing the game.

280+, for a practice projectile used by a player of golf to improve or perfect his or her skill in playing the game.

282+, for a projecting implement used in playing a golf game. 351+, for a ball used in playing a golf game.

410+, for a projecting implement (e.g., a mallet, etc.) or a ball used in playing the surface projectile game known as croquet.

516+, for a player held and powered, nonmechanical, game projector, per se, which is used by a player to strike and thereby propel, impel, launch, or otherwise project a projectile into the air during play of a projectile game or sport.

569+, for a game projectile, per se, in general which is thrown, propelled, impelled, launched, or otherwise projected by a player during play of a projectile game or sport.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

52, Static Structures (e.g., Buildings), for an arena, stadium, or other building structure of general utility.

124, Mechanical Guns and Projectors, for a mechanically or

centrifically operated projector device or implement, per se, which is used to project a projectile into or through the air as, for example, an archery bow, a slingshot, a baseball pitching machine, a tennis ball throwing machine, a clay pigeon throwing trap, or a fluid pressure, pinch, or centrifugally operated (e.g., a sling, etc.) type of projector device, etc. And see the (3) Note in the class definition of Class 473 above.

273, Amusement Devices: Games, for another game which also uses a tangible projectile, particularly

108+, for surface projectile game or apparatus therefor (other than a projectile, per se), subclasses 108.1+ for such a surface projectile game that mimics some aspect or the scoring of a playing field or court game such as the sports known as baseball, basketball, football, hockey, tennis, soccer, etc., subclass 129 for a projector used to project a projectile in such a surface projectile game, subclasses 317+ for an aerial projectile game or apparatus therefor (other than a projectile per se or a device or implement, per se, for projecting such a projectile), and subclasses 317.1+ for such an aerial projectile game that mimics some aspect or the scoring of a playing field or court game such as the sports noted above. Class 273 is currently undergoing reclassification and will eventually be replaced either by this Class 473 or Class 463, Amusement Devices: Games. Until this reclassification is completed, the subject matter of Class 273 relating to games or sports which use a tangible projectile is to be considered as following in hierarchy the last occurring subclass of the Class 473 schedule. Specifically, subclasses 108+ and 317+ of the Class 273 schedule are to be considered as following in hierarchy after the last occurring subclass in the Class 473 schedule.

463, Amusement Devices: Games, for a game apparatus or means, in general. The relationship between Class 473 and Class 463 is that Class 463 is the residual class for games, while Class 473 provides only for those specific types of games in which a ball, missile, or other such tangible projectile (other than a simulation or representation thereof) is used during play thereof. Accordingly, if a game (or a game component thereof) which uses a ball, missile, or other such tangible game projectile (other than a simulation or representation thereof) during play thereof is claimed or solely disclosed, then classification is in Class 473; otherwise, classification is in Class 463 or in the appropriate subclasses of Class 273, Amusement Devices: Games, which follow behind the subclasses of Class 463. However, note that Class 463 provides for (a) a game apparatus or means which uses a simulation or representation of a tangible projectile (e.g., a light-ray simulation of a projectile, a computer generated representation of a projectile, etc.), (b) a propelled racing game in which an object (often a representation of a horse, vehicle, person, etc.) is propelled during play thereof, and (c) a chance device, either per se or in combination with a game which

does not use a tangible projectile, whether or not a projectile is included therein, and even if it is not a game or subcombination element of a game (these are, for the most part, still located in Class 273). 472, Amusement Devices,

92+, (a) for the structure or composition of a playing surface, per se (b) for the structure or composition of a peripheral boundary structure, marking, or enclosure per se, for such a playing surface, or (c) for the combination of only a playing surface and a peripheral boundary structure, marking, or enclosure; all of the above of which are limited to use for an athletic or exhibition event such as, for example, the playing of a game or sport thereon or therein. Also see the Search Notes appended thereto.

482, Exercise Devices, for a device adapted and intended to be used by a player of a playing field or court game for the sole purpose of strengthening or exercising his or her muscles so as to improve play of the game. If the device is adapted to be used along with a game component (as, for example, a weight to be attached to a baseball bat or a kicking exercise device intended for use with a soccer ball or football, etc.), then the device is classifiable in Class 473. Also, if the device is intended to be used either for exercising or for warmup by the player, then the device is classifiable in Class 473.

602, Surgery: Splint, Brace, or Bandage, for a device adapted and intended to be used for the treatment of a disorder or injury of a portion of the human body, particularly

5+, for an immobilization appliance (e.g., a splint, brace, etc.) for treating a disorder or injury of a body portion.