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US-12623130-B1 - Bocce ball measurement device

US12623130B1US 12623130 B1US12623130 B1US 12623130B1US-12623130-B1

Abstract

A bocce ball measurement device includes a support surface for being supported over a pallino ball and a generally cylindrical wall for supporting the support surface over the pallino ball. The generally cylindrical wall has an inside diameter greater than a diameter of the pallino ball for encircling the pallino ball without touching it when placed around the pallino ball. A housing is coupled with the support surface at a center of the support surface. A retractable measurement ribbon is stowable within the housing. A first end of the housing can provide an index for reading a measurement on the retractable measurement ribbon. The bocce ball measurement device further includes a biasing mechanism coupled with the retractable measurement ribbon for biasing the retractable measurement ribbon into a retracted orientation within the housing so that the retractable measurement ribbon can be retracted and stowed within the housing.

Inventors

  • Jeff Larson
  • Suzanne Larson

Assignees

  • All In Sports, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20230608

Claims (13)

  1. 1 . A bocce ball measurement device for placing over a pallino ball to determine a distance between the pallino ball and a bocce ball, the bocce ball measurement device comprising: a support surface for being supported over a pallino ball; a generally cylindrical wall for supporting the support surface over the pallino ball, the generally cylindrical wall having an inside diameter greater than a diameter of the pallino ball for encircling the pallino ball without touching the pallino ball when placed around the pallino ball; a housing rotatably coupled with the support surface at a center of the support surface, the housing fixedly connected to the support surface, the housing having a first end; a retractable measurement ribbon stowable within the housing, the first end of the housing providing an index for reading a measurement on the retractable measurement ribbon, the index configured to generally align with the pallino ball for determining a distance from pallino ball to a bocce ball; and a biasing mechanism coupled with the retractable measurement ribbon for biasing the retractable measurement ribbon into a retracted orientation within the housing so that the retractable measurement ribbon can be retracted and stowed within the housing, and the bocce ball measurement device can be grasped and carried between measurements by either the generally cylindrical wall or the housing, the biasing mechanism having an axis of rotation about which the retractable measurement ribbon retracts, the axis of rotation of the biasing mechanism at least substantially aligned with the center of the support surface.
  2. 2 . The bocce ball measurement device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing is riveted to the support surface at the center of the support surface.
  3. 3 . The bocce ball measurement device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the retractable measurement ribbon comprises a blade having a curved cross-sectional profile.
  4. 4 . The bocce ball measurement device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring return mechanism.
  5. 5 . The bocce ball measurement device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the generally cylindrical wall has an outside diameter of about two and three-quarters inches (2¾″).
  6. 6 . The bocce ball measurement device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the generally cylindrical wall has an inside diameter of about two and three-eighths inches (2⅜″).
  7. 7 . The bocce ball measurement device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the support surface is about two and fifteen-sixteenths inches (2 15/16″) from a base of the generally cylindrical wall.
  8. 8 . A bocce ball measurement device for placing over a pallino ball to determine a distance between the pallino ball and a bocce ball, the bocce ball measurement device comprising: a support surface for being supported over a pallino ball; a generally cylindrical wall for supporting the support surface over the pallino ball, the generally cylindrical wall having an inside diameter greater than a diameter of the pallino ball for encircling the pallino ball without touching the pallino ball when placed around the pallino ball; a housing rotatably coupled with the support surface at a center of the support surface, the housing riveted to the support surface, the housing having a first end; a retractable measurement ribbon stowable within the housing, the first end of the housing providing an index for reading a measurement on the retractable measurement ribbon, the index configured to generally align with the pallino ball for determining a distance from pallino ball to a bocce ball; and a biasing mechanism coupled with the retractable measurement ribbon for biasing the retractable measurement ribbon into a retracted orientation within the housing so that the retractable measurement ribbon can be retracted and stowed within the housing, and the bocce ball measurement device can be grasped and carried between measurements by either the generally cylindrical wall or the housing, the biasing mechanism having an axis of rotation about which the retractable measurement ribbon retracts, the axis of rotation of the biasing mechanism at least substantially aligned with the center of the support surface.
  9. 9 . The bocce ball measurement device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the retractable measurement ribbon comprises a blade having a curved cross-sectional profile.
  10. 10 . The bocce ball measurement device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring return mechanism.
  11. 11 . The bocce ball measurement device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the generally cylindrical wall has an outside diameter of about two and three-quarters inches (2¾″).
  12. 12 . The bocce ball measurement device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the generally cylindrical wall has an inside diameter of about two and three-eighths inches (2⅜″).
  13. 13 . The bocce ball measurement device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the support surface is about two and fifteen-sixteenths inches (2 15/16″) from a base of the generally cylindrical wall.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/350,278, filed Jun. 8, 2022, and titled “BOCCE BALL MEASUREMENT DEVICE,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Bocce is a game played on a stretch of level ground. Bocce involves two teams and nine balls total, which include four balls of one color for one team, four balls of another color for the other team, and one pallino ball. The pallino ball is rolled onto the playing surface. The object of the game is for one team to get one or more of their color bocce balls closer to the pallino ball than the closest ball for the other team. DRAWINGS The Detailed Description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances in the description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a bocce ball measurement device in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is another perspective view illustrating a bocce ball measurement device, such as the bocce ball measurement device of FIG. 1, in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an environmental view illustrating a bocce ball measurement device, such as the bocce ball measurement device of FIG. 1, further illustrating a pallino ball and bocce balls, in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an environmental view illustrating a bocce ball measurement device, such as the bocce ball measurement device of FIG. 1, further illustrating a retractable measurement ribbon for measuring the distance to a bocce ball, in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is another environmental view illustrating a bocce ball measurement device, such as the bocce ball measurement device of FIG. 1, further illustrating a retractable measurement ribbon for measure the distance to a bocce ball, in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is another environmental view illustrating a bocce ball measurement device, such as the bocce ball measurement device of FIG. 1, in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional top plan view of the bocce ball measurement device illustrated in FIG. 6, taken on the line 7-7 in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional end elevation view of the bocce ball measurement device illustrated in FIG. 6, taken on the line 8-8 in FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Aspects of the disclosure are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, example features. The features can, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the combinations set forth herein; rather, these combinations are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. Bocce is one of the most popular sports in the world. Overseen by the International Bocce Federation, bocce is played nationally and internationally. Bocce is included in various international multi-sport events such as: Paralympic Games, Special Olympics, Mediterranean Games, World Games, some of the continental games and youth festivals, and so forth, and has made strong bids to become an Olympic sport. Since the sport is played on multiple levels, consistency in rules and scoring is of paramount importance, and increasing fairness and objectivity is essential for furthering a more widespread adoption of bocce in international multi-sport competitions. A bocce court is approximately 55 to 91 feet (16.8 to 27.7 meters) in length and approximately 8.2 to 13.1 feet (2.5 to 4 meters) wide. Bocce is played with a small ball called a pallino (also known as a jack or boccino) and a set of larger bocce balls. The pallino generally has a diameter in the range of one and one-half inches (1½″) to two and one-half inches (2½″) (approximately 38.1 millimeters to 63.5 millimeters). The bocce balls generally have a diameter in the range of three and one-half inches (3½″) to four and one-half inches (4½″) (approximately 88.9 millimeters to 114.3 millimeters). The size of the court, the pallino, and the bocce balls may vary depending on the level of play, preference, and/or space constraints. In Special Olympics play, for example, the bocce court is approximately 60 feet by 12 feet (18.3 meters by 3.7 meters), the pallino is approximately 2.2 inches (57 millimeters) in diameter, and the bocce balls are approximately 4.2 inches (107 millimeters) in diameter. To play bocce, one of two players (or teams) throws the pallino from one end of the bocce court. The players or teams then throw or