Patent Application
20130069311
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This invention relates to ball games, and more particularly to ball and cup games for two or more players.
Various ball and cup games that involve balls, such as ping pong balls, and sets of cups have been around for many years. A popular game of this sort is the well-known “beirut” or “beer pong” family of games that involve setting up sets of cups, often in a triangle shape, on either side of a table. Beer or other liquids may be present within the cups. Each player stands next to a set of cups. The purpose of the game is to throw balls into the cups of your opponent. When a ball is successfully tossed into a cup then that cup is removed from the set. There are many variations on this type of game, including variations on the number of cups, the number of throws allowed for each player, the contents within the cups and the different ways in which cups are eliminated from the set. But the common theme among the “beer pong” family of games includes throwing balls, such as ping pong balls, into the cups of an opponent until all of the cups are removed.
One of the problems associated with ball and cup games is that the arrangement of cups are generally in a triangle shape, similar to the way balls are racked in billiards games or pool tables. U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2004/0188942 shows this arrangement of cups in a “beer pong” type game. This arrangement is cumbersome to maintain as the cups are normally placed on a flat table surface with no other support. During game play, the cups are constantly being moved or they may shift when balls or players touch or hit the cups. These cups must be closely managed to retain a triangular shape. This management of cups makes it difficult for players to focus on the game. Often times, accurate cup formations are not being used which can lead to confusion and arguments during league play. The need to manage the playing field affects the perception of the game and particularly the user-friendliness of the game.
Another problem involves scoring. In “beer pong,” when a ping pong lands into a cup of an opponent's set, then that cup is removed and the contents of the cup, usually beer, must be drunk. The game is won by eliminating the opponents set of cups. Not only is this a timely disruption in the game, but there are potential health risks. The ping pong balls often are in players grasp and frequently touch the ground. When the ball lands into a cup with liquid, there is transfer of potential germs. Players then remove the ball with their fingers and consume the liquid. Cups are often used in more than one game so there is additional transfer of germs when drinking from the same cup. Lastly, spills from cups that are knocked over or bumped require extensive cleanup and disruption to the game. This can be annoying, time consuming and a potential health hazard to players.
Yet another problem associated with conventional ball and cup games involves the use of a table—namely, the game is limited to the height and length of the particular table being used. The height of a conventional table, however, can often be too low or too high for a conventional ball and cup game. And since there are few, if any, tables commercially available for playing conventional ball and cup games, players are usually resigned to using an existing table that is not the preferred height. The length is also an important difficulty factor that is limited by the table. Cups cannot be positioned further away than the length of the table allows, and cannot be positioned too close, or else players cannot reach the foul line from which to toss. These factors involving a table for play can limit players from optimizing the playing field according to their size and skill level. In addition, the need to have a table makes it difficult to transport the game.
Therefore, there is a need to traverse the deficiencies in the prior art and more particularly there is a need for a more efficient and easy to use ball and cup game system.
Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a game system for playing a ball and cup game is disclosed. The game system includes an array of seven integrally-formed, sixteen-ounce decreasing-radius cups coupled together in a substantially hexagonal shape, a shaft having a top end coupled to an underside of the array, wherein a length of the shaft is up to about 50 inches, a quadruple-pronged base coupled to a bottom end of the shaft and at least one ball with a diameter that fits within the sixteen-ounce, decreasing-radius cup.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a game system for playing a ball and cup game includes an array of a plurality of integrally-formed cups coupled together in a substantially hexagonal shape, a shaft having a top end coupled to an underside of the array, a base coupled to a bottom end of the shaft and at least one ball with a diameter that fits within a cup.
In another embodiment of the present invention, ball and cup game system for at least two players includes a pair of cup arrays, wherein each cup array corresponds to at least one player, wherein each cup array comprises an array of a plurality of integrally-formed cups coupled together. The ball and cup game system further includes a plurality of balls corresponding to each player, wherein each ball includes a diameter that fits within a cup and a set of game rules providing for each player to throw his plurality of balls towards the cup array of the other player, whereupon points are awarded to a player based on a location of a cup into which the player threw a ball, and wherein the player that is awarded the most points, wins.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features and also the advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Additionally, the left-most digit of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
It should be understood that these embodiments are only examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in the plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts through several views.
The present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, overcomes problems with the prior art by providing a more efficient and easy to use ball and cup game system. The ball and cup game system of the present invention provides a cup array in a hexagonal-shaped grouping, thereby equalizing the possibilities of succeeding in throwing balls into any cup in the grouping and preventing arguments about configurations as cups are removed. This increases the user-friendliness of the game of the present invention. Further, the present invention provides a set of integrally-formed cups, thereby eliminating the possibility that the cups may shift or move when balls or players touch or hit the cups. If it is desired to play with rules similar to “beer pong,” then removable sixteen ounce cups can be placed into each of the integrally-formed cups. When a ball lands into the cup, the cup is removed and the liquid is consumed. This reduces or eliminates spills of liquids within the cups, and subsequent cleanup and rearrangement of the cups. Lastly, the present invention provides a standalone, specially-made cup stand at the optimal height for playing a ball and cup game. This arrangement facilitates quick assembly of the game and easy transport of the game system.
The invention shall now be described with reference to
The present invention anticipates a game with a set of rules as follows. Each player is associated with a cup stand and a set of balls. Each player stands next to his cup stand. The cup stands are preferably placed 5-10 feet apart. When throwing a ball, a player must not move beyond a horizontal line that extends through a center of the cup stand that corresponds to that player. For example,
The game is played as a series of turns. In each turn, a player (the “offensive” player) throws his balls towards the cup stand of the “defensive” player, attempting to land his balls within the cups of the defensive player. Points are awarded based on the location of the cup into which an offensive player throws a ball. The center cup may be awarded a larger number of points, such as 3 points, compared to a cup in the outer ring, which may award 1 point. Points are tallied to each player's score after his turn is finished. A score threshold, such as 21 points, may mark the goal that must be reached by a player in order to win the entire game.
In one embodiment, a point is awarded to the defensive player if he intercepts a ball thrown by the offensive player after the ball has made contact with the cup stand or other surface or is below the top plane of the cup array. Also, additional points, such as double points, are awarded to an offensive player if the player bounces a ball off a surface before the ball enters an opponent's cup.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the cup array 102 may be removed from the shaft 106 and base 109 and may be used on its own in game play. In this embodiment, the cup array 102 may be placed on a table, on the floor or any other raised or lowered surface.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, if it is desired to play by “beer pong” rules, then separate, disposable, sixteen-once cups filled with beer or other liquids may be placed in each of the integrally-formed cups 104 in each cup array 102. This will allow players to remove the disposable cups and drink the liquid. In this way, the cup array 102 aids players by preventing disposable cups from falling over or moving around during game play. It is also a good training device for professional “beer pong” players as it allows them to easily transport, store and set up the game as well as optimize the distance between stands.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments. Furthermore, it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.
