Patent Application
20250186876
The embodiments generally relate to the field of bottle cap game apparatuses and methods.
Board games often include game pieces that are moved along a horizontal playing surface. Such board games generally do not require players to be active. Rather, players usually passively take their turns.
There is a need for a different type of game that has a vertical playing surface, and which requires players to actively participate in gameplay.
This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in a simplified form that is further disclosed in the detailed description of the embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In general, a game apparatus and a method for playing the game apparatus are disclosed. The game apparatus can include a board defining at least a plurality of circular holes and an elongate slit, each circular hole of the plurality of circular holes being constructed and arranged to allow one or more bottle caps to pass through the each circular hole, the elongate slit being constructed and arranged to allow the one or more bottle caps to pass through the elongate slit, each of the plurality of circular holes being designated primarily by at least a first color, a second color, or a third color. During a game, players snap bottle caps through the circular holes and score points based on the colors of the bottle caps and the colors designating the circular holes through which the bottle caps are snapped. Bottle caps snapped through the elongate slit result in points being deducted.
Other illustrative variations within the scope of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. The detailed description and enumerated variations, while disclosing optional variations, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
A more complete understanding of the embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by references to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and certain features and certain views of the drawings may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are to the described product or methods of use. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only and no unnecessary limitations or inferences are to be understood from there.
It is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components and procedures related to the products. Accordingly, the product and components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
In general, the embodiments described herein relate to a game apparatus and a method for playing the game apparatus. The game apparatus can include a board defining at least a plurality of circular holes and an elongate slit, each circular hole of the plurality of circular holes being constructed and arranged to allow one or more bottle caps to pass through the each circular hole, the elongate slit being constructed and arranged to allow the one or more bottle caps to pass through the elongate slit, each of the plurality of circular holes being designated primarily by at least a first color, a second color, or a third color. During a game, players snap bottle caps through the circular holes and score points based on the colors of the bottle caps and the colors designating the circular holes through which the bottle caps are snapped.
Each circular hole of the plurality of circular holes can be designated primarily by the first color, the second color, or the third color by any suitable method, such as by color labeling, painting, inking, or otherwise including any color indicia proximate to the each circular hole. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of circular holes can be further designated by any suitable indicia such as, for example, labels, text, images, etc.
The first color, the second color, and the third color can be any substantially different colors. In some embodiments, the first color can be primarily yellow, the second color can be primarily white, and the third color can be primarily red.
In some embodiments, the one or more bottle caps can be substantially the same size and shape. In some embodiments, the one or more bottle caps can be made primarily of metal.
In some embodiments, the board can be made primarily of any suitable material such as, for example, wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the board can have a length of approximately 6 feet and a width of approximately 4 feet. In some embodiments, each circular hole can have a diameter of approximately 6 inches. In some embodiments, the elongate slit can have a width of approximately 4 inches and a length of approximately 3 feet. In some embodiments, the board can define at least ten circular holes.
Referring to
A first circular hole 31 of the plurality of circular holes 14 is positioned between a first edge 41 of the board 12 and a first end 51 of the elongate slit 15, the first circular hole 31 being designated primarily by the third color 23. A second circular hole 32 of the plurality of circular holes 14 is positioned between a second edge 42 of the board 12 and a second end 52 of the elongate slit 15, the second circular hole 32 being designated primarily by the third color 23. In some embodiments, the first edge 41 is opposite the second edge 42 of the board 12. The elongate slit 15 can be positioned in approximately a central position 18 in the board 12, the elongate slit 15 extending in substantially a horizontal direction 19 along the board 12. The horizontal direction can be substantially parallel to the ground 100.
A first set 61 of circular holes of the plurality of circular holes 14 is positioned above the elongate slit 15. A second set 62 of circular holes of the plurality of circular holes 14 is positioned below the elongate slit 15. Colors 21, 22 primarily designating the circular holes of the first set 61 of circular holes alternate between the first color 21 and the second color 22 along the horizontal direction 19. Colors 21, 22 primarily designating the circular holes of the second set 62 of circular holes alternate between the second color 22 and the first color 21 along the horizontal direction 19.
A first stand 60 can be attached to the board 12. The first stand 60 can be constructed and arranged to provide support to the board 12 so that the board 12 stands upright and vertically.
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The score of each team can be initialized to any suitable value such as zero prior to the snapping of any bottle caps 20. Different points can be awarded to a team based on whether a player of that team snapped a bottle cap 20 through a circular hole 16 or the elongate slit 15. If a player snaps a bottle cap 20 through any circular hole 16 and into a corresponding cap catching receptacle 74, and if the color designating the bottle cap 20 matches the color designating the circular hole 16, and if the color designating the circular hole is not the third color, a first number of points (e.g., 20 points) can be added to the score of the team to which the player belongs.
If a player snaps a bottle cap 20 through any circular hole 16 and into a corresponding cap catching receptacle 74, if the color designating the bottle cap 20 does not match the color designating the circular hole 16, and if the color designating the circular hole 16 is not the third color 23, a second number of points (e.g., 10 points) can be added to the score of the team to which the player belongs, wherein the second number of points is smaller than the first number of points.
If a player snaps a bottle cap 20 through any circular hole 16 and into a corresponding cap catching receptacle 74, if the color designating the bottle cap 20 does not match the color designating the circular hole 16, and if the color designating the circular hole is the third color 23, a third number of points (e.g., 25 points) can be added to the score of the team to which the player belongs, wherein the third number of points is larger than the first number of points.
If a player snaps a bottle cap 20 through the elongate slit 15 and into a corresponding cap catching receptacle 74, a fourth number of points (e.g., 10 points) can be deducted from the score of the team to which the player belongs.
In some variations, each team can take a turn snapping bottle caps 20 toward the board 12 until any team has a score equal to or greater than the predetermined number of points and each team takes the same number of turns. In some variations, during a turn, each player of a team can snap a predetermined number of bottle caps 20 (e.g., 5) toward the board 12.
If the score of a team is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of points and if the last player of the team to snap a bottle cap has any remaining bottle caps of the predetermined number of bottle caps 20, a number of points equal to the number of remaining bottle caps (e.g., 1, 2, etc. points) is added to the score of the team.
In some variations, when a team has a score equal or greater than the predetermined number of points, the team is no longer able to take any additional turns (i.e., no longer able to snap any bottle caps 20 toward the board 12) unless the team has the same number of points as any other team.
Each team shall take the same number of turns during a game. If the first team has a score equal to or greater than the predetermined number of points and if the first team took a first number of turns, every other team shall take any additional turns so that every other team takes the first number of turns.
If all teams take the same number of turns, and if at least two teams have the same score that is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of points, the team that has more remaining bottle caps wins the game. If the at least two teams have the same number of remaining bottle caps, each team shall take a turn snapping a predetermined number of bottle caps until there is a winner.
If all teams have taken the same number of turns, and if a team has a score higher than any other team, the team with the highest score wins the game.
A snapped bottle cap 20 can rebound when the bottle cap 20 bounces off any portion of the board 12, and lands on the ground (e.g., 100 in
If a snapped bottle cap 20 does not pass through any circular hole 16 or the elongate slit 15, and if the snapped bottle cap does not rebound, the snapped bottle cap may not be snapped again until the next turn.
If any player snaps a bottle cap 20 while standing closer than the predetermined distance from the board 12, a second predetermined number of points (e.g., 10 points) can be deducted from the score of the team to which the player belongs.
In some variations, a second predetermined number of bottle caps 20 designated by the first color 21 or the second color 22 can be exchanged for a third predetermined number of bottle caps 20 designated by the third color 23. The second predetermined number of bottle caps 20 can be two bottle caps 20. The third predetermined number of bottle caps 20 can be one bottle cap 20.
If a player snaps a bottle cap 20 designated by the third color 23 through the first circular hole 31 or the second circular hole 32 and into a corresponding cap catching receptacle 74, a fifth number of points (e.g., 50 points) can be added to the score of the team to which the player belongs, wherein the fifth number of points is larger than the first number of points and the third number of points.
If a player snaps a bottle cap 20 designated by the third color 23 through any circular hole 16 other than the first circular hole 31 or the second circular hole 32 and into a corresponding cap catching receptacle 74, the second number of points can be added to the score of the team to which the player belongs.
In some variations, each team can be assigned the first circular hole 31 or the second circular hole 32, and each team can only snap a third plurality of bottle caps (e.g., 83 in
In some variations, a person can be assigned to be a score keeper. The score keeper is not assigned to any team so as to remain neutral in keeping score.
The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, products, and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, products, and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and are still considered to be within the scope of the invention.
According to variation 1, a method for playing a game apparatus can include providing a plurality of bottle caps, wherein a first set of the plurality of bottle caps is designated primarily by a first color and a second set of the plurality of bottle caps is designated primarily by a second color; providing a board defining at least a plurality of circular holes and an elongate slit, each circular hole of the plurality of circular holes being constructed and arranged to allow one or more bottle caps of the plurality of bottle caps to pass through the each circular hole, the elongate slit being constructed and arranged to allow the one or more bottle caps to pass through the elongate slit, each circular hole of the plurality of circular holes being designated primarily by the first color, the second color, or a third color; wherein: a first circular hole of the plurality of circular holes is positioned between a first edge of the board and a first end of the elongate slit, the first circular hole being designated primarily by the third color; a second circular hole of the plurality of circular holes is positioned between a second edge of the board and a second end of the elongate slit, the second circular hole being designated primarily by the third color; the elongate slit is positioned in approximately a central position in the board, the elongate slit extending in substantially a horizontal direction along the board; a first set of circular holes of the plurality of circular holes is positioned above the elongate slit; a second set of circular holes of the plurality of circular holes is positioned below the elongate slit; colors primarily designating the circular holes of the first set of circular holes alternate between the first color and the second color along the horizontal direction; colors primarily designating the circular holes of the second set of circular holes alternate between the second color and the first color along the horizontal direction; the method further comprising: snapping, by a first player, a first bottle cap of the first set through a first circular hole of the plurality of circular holes and into a first cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the first bottle cap and the first circular hole are designated primarily by the first color; snapping, by the first player, a second bottle cap of the first set through a second circular hole of the plurality of circular holes and into a second cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the second bottle cap is designated primarily by the first color and the second circular hole is designated primarily by the second color; snapping, by the first player, a third bottle cap of the first set through a third circular hole of the plurality of circular holes and into a third cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the third bottle cap is designated primarily by the first color and the third circular hole is designated primarily by the third color; snapping, by the first player, a fourth bottle cap of the first set into the elongate slit and into a fourth cap catching receptacle attached to the board; wherein a first number of points is added to a first score of at least the first player for the first bottle cap that was snapped into the first cap catching receptacle; wherein a second number of points is added to the first score of at least the first player for the second bottle cap that was snapped into the second cap catching receptacle, wherein the first number of points is larger than the second number of points; wherein a third number of points is added to the first score of at least the first player for the third bottle cap that was snapped into the third cap catching receptacle, wherein the third number of points is larger than the first number of points; wherein a fourth number of points is deducted from the first score of at least the first player for the fourth bottle cap that was snapped into the fourth cap catching receptacle; the method further comprising: snapping, by a second player, a fifth bottle cap of the second set through a fourth circular hole of the plurality of circular holes and into a fourth cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the fifth bottle cap and the fourth circular hole are designated primarily by the second color; wherein: a fifth number of points is added to a second score of at least the second player for the fourth bottle cap that was snapped into the fourth cap catching receptacle, wherein the fifth number of points is the same as the first number of points; the first score of at least the first player meets a predetermined threshold; the first player is determined to have won the game in response to the first score of at least the first player meeting the predetermined threshold.
Variation 2 can include the method of variation 1, further comprising: collecting one or more of the first plurality of bottle caps with a magnetic sweeper.
Variation 3 can include the method of variation 1, wherein a third set of the plurality of bottle caps is designated primarily by the third color.
Variation 4 can include the method of variation 3, further comprising: receiving, by the first player, a bottle cap of the third set in exchange for at least two bottle caps of the first set.
Variation 5 can include the method of variation 4, further comprising: snapping, by the first player, the bottle cap of the third set through the first circular hole; wherein: a sixth number of points is added to the first score of at least the first player; the sixth number of points being larger than the third number of points.
Variation 6 can include the method of variation 1, wherein the first cap catching receptacle comprises a cylindrical or conical portion attached to the board, and a bag attached to the cylindrical or conical portion.
Variation 7 can include the method of variation 1, further comprising: providing a stand constructed and arranged to support the board.
According to variation 8, a method for playing a game apparatus can include providing a plurality of bottle caps, wherein a first set of the plurality of bottle caps is designated primarily by a first color and a second set of the plurality of bottle caps is designated primarily by a second color; providing a board defining at least a plurality of holes and an elongate slit, each hole of the plurality of holes being constructed and arranged to allow one or more bottle caps of the plurality of bottle caps to pass through the each hole, the elongate slit being constructed and arranged to allow the one or more bottle caps to pass through the elongate slit, each hole of the plurality of holes being designated primarily by the first color, the second color, or a third color; wherein: a first hole of the plurality of holes is positioned between a first edge of the board and a first end of the elongate slit, the first hole being designated primarily by the third color; a second hole of the plurality of holes is positioned between a second edge of the board and a second end of the elongate slit, the second hole being designated primarily by the third color; the elongate slit is positioned in approximately a central position in the board, the elongate slit extending in substantially a horizontal direction along the board; a first set of holes of the plurality of holes is positioned above the elongate slit; a second set of holes of the plurality of holes is positioned below the elongate slit; the method further comprising: snapping, by a first player, a first bottle cap of the first set through a first hole of the plurality of holes and into a first cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the first bottle cap and the first hole are designated primarily by the first color; snapping, by the first player, a second bottle cap of the first set through a second hole of the plurality of holes and into a second cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the second bottle cap is designated primarily by the first color and the second hole is designated primarily by the second color; snapping, by the first player, a third bottle cap of the first set through a third hole of the plurality of holes and into a third cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the third bottle cap is designated primarily by the first color and the third hole is designated primarily by the third color; snapping, by the first player, a fourth bottle cap of the first set into the elongate slit and into a fourth cap catching receptacle attached to the board; wherein a first number of points is added to a first score of at least the first player for the first bottle cap that was snapped into the first cap catching receptacle; wherein a second number of points is added to the first score of at least the first player for the second bottle cap that was snapped into the second cap catching receptacle, wherein the first number of points is larger than the second number of points; wherein a third number of points is added to the first score of at least the first player for the third bottle cap that was snapped into the third cap catching receptacle, wherein the third number of points is larger than the first number of points; wherein a fourth number of points is deducted from the first score of at least the first player for the fourth bottle cap that was snapped into the fourth cap catching receptacle; the method further comprising: snapping, by a second player, a fifth bottle cap of the second set through a fourth hole of the plurality of holes and into a fourth cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the fifth bottle cap and the fourth hole are designated primarily by the second color; wherein: a fifth number of points is added to a second score of at least the second player for the fourth bottle cap that was snapped into the fourth cap catching receptacle, wherein the fifth number of points is the same as the first number of points; the first score of at least the first player meets a predetermined threshold; the first player is determined to have won the game in response to the first score of at least the first player meeting the predetermined threshold.
Variation 9 can include the method of variation 8, further comprising: collecting one or more of the first plurality of bottle caps with a magnetic sweeper.
Variation 10 can include the method of variation 8, wherein a third set of the plurality of bottle caps is designated primarily by the third color.
Variation 11 can include the method of variation 10, further comprising: receiving, by the first player, a bottle cap of the third set in exchange for at least two bottle caps of the first set.
Variation 12 can include the method of variation 11, further comprising: snapping, by the first player, the bottle cap of the third set through the first hole; wherein: a sixth number of points is added to the first score of at least the first player; the sixth number of points being larger than the third number of points.
Variation 13 can include the method of variation 8, wherein the first cap catching receptacle comprises a cylindrical or conical portion attached to the board, and a bag attached to the cylindrical or conical portion.
Variation 14 can include the method of variation 8, further comprising: providing a stand constructed and arranged to support the board.
According to variation 15, a method for playing a game apparatus can include providing a plurality of bottle caps, wherein a first set of the plurality of bottle caps is designated primarily by a first color and a second set of the plurality of bottle caps is designated primarily by a second color; providing a board defining at least a plurality of circular holes and an elongate slit, each circular hole of the plurality of circular holes being constructed and arranged to allow one or more bottle caps of the plurality of bottle caps to pass through the each circular hole, the elongate slit being constructed and arranged to allow the one or more bottle caps to pass through the elongate slit, each circular hole of the plurality of circular holes being designated primarily by the first color, the second color, or a third color; wherein: a first circular hole of the plurality of circular holes is positioned between a first edge of the board and a first end of the elongate slit, the first circular hole being designated primarily by the third color; a second circular hole of the plurality of circular holes is positioned between a second edge of the board and a second end of the elongate slit, the second circular hole being designated primarily by the third color; the elongate slit is positioned in approximately a central position in the board, the elongate slit extending in substantially a horizontal direction along the board; a first set of circular holes of the plurality of circular holes is positioned above the elongate slit; a second set of circular holes of the plurality of circular holes is positioned below the elongate slit; the method further comprising: snapping, by a first player, a first bottle cap of the first set through a first circular hole of the plurality of circular holes and into a first cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the first bottle cap and the first circular hole are designated primarily by the first color; snapping, by the first player, a second bottle cap of the first set through a second circular hole of the plurality of circular holes and into a second cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the second bottle cap is designated primarily by the first color and the second circular hole is designated primarily by the second color; snapping, by the first player, a third bottle cap of the first set through a third circular hole of the plurality of circular holes and into a third cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the third bottle cap is designated primarily by the first color and the third circular hole is designated primarily by the third color; snapping, by the first player, a fourth bottle cap of the first set into the elongate slit and into a fourth cap catching receptacle attached to the board; wherein a first number of points is added to a first score of at least the first player for the first bottle cap that was snapped into the first cap catching receptacle; wherein a second number of points is added to the first score of at least the first player for the second bottle cap that was snapped into the second cap catching receptacle, wherein the first number of points is larger than the second number of points; wherein a third number of points is added to the first score of at least the first player for the third bottle cap that was snapped into the third cap catching receptacle, wherein the third number of points is larger than the first number of points; wherein a fourth number of points is deducted from the first score of at least the first player for the fourth bottle cap that was snapped into the fourth cap catching receptacle; the method further comprising: snapping, by a second player, a fifth bottle cap of the second set through a fourth circular hole of the plurality of circular holes and into a fourth cap catching receptacle attached to the board, wherein the fifth bottle cap and the fourth circular hole are designated primarily by the second color; wherein: a fifth number of points is added to a second score of at least the second player for the fourth bottle cap that was snapped into the fourth cap catching receptacle, wherein the fifth number of points is the same as the first number of points; the first score of at least the first player meets a predetermined threshold; the first player is determined to have won the game in response to the first score of at least the first player meeting the predetermined threshold.
Variation 16 can include the method of variation 15, further comprising: collecting one or more of the first plurality of bottle caps with a magnetic sweeper.
Variation 17 can include the method of variation 15, wherein a third set of the plurality of bottle caps is designated primarily by the third color.
Variation 18 can include the method of variation 17, further comprising: receiving, by the first player, a bottle cap of the third set in exchange for at least two bottle caps of the first set.
Variation 19 can include the method of variation 18, further comprising: snapping, by the first player, the bottle cap of the third set through the first circular hole; wherein: a sixth number of points is added to the first score of at least the first player; the sixth number of points being larger than the third number of points.
Variation 20 can include the method of variation 15, wherein the first cap catching receptacle comprises a cylindrical or conical portion attached to the board, and a bag attached to the cylindrical or conical portion.
Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for anyone of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements can be described above as acting in certain combinations, and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations are possible considering the above teachings without departing from the following claims.
