Patent Application
20210178236
Embodiments generally relate to apparatus for playing outdoor games, m particular outdoor games in which game play includes rolling a ball toward a target.
Boules is a collective name for a wide range of games similar to bowls and bocce in which the objective is to roll heavy balls as close as possible to a small target ball. Boules games are often played in open spaces, e.g., town squares, parks, etc. Dedicated playing areas for boules-type games are typically large, level, rectangular courts made of flattened earth, gravel, or crushed stone, enclosed in wooden rails or back boards.
Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments including rules for playing a boules-style game, and apparatus for playing. The apparatus includes specially configured rigid gamepads with a flat upper surface on which balls can roll smoothly, each gamepad having a raised ridge around its periphery defining a base area, and shapes formed thereon by raised ridges defining one or more additional distinct areas. Game balls may be configured to provide slightly unpredictable rolling characteristics, for example by providing them with grooves, ridges, lumps, dimples, or other surface anomalies; or internal weights that make the ball's center of gravity different from its geometric center point; or having a non-spherical shape. The game may be played in an open area with one or more gamepads placed on the ground spaced apart from each other. Each gamepad may have a post affixed thereto extending vertically from the gamepad. A bonus ball may be balanced atop the post.
The areas defined by the raised ridges partition each gamepad into a plurality of areas having at least two different point values. Players take turns rolling balls with the object of coming to rest as close as possible to the post and inside a high-value area of the gamepad.
Gameplay is divided into rounds. In each round, players take turns in a sequence determined at the beginning of the round. Every player rolls one ball per turn, and all have the same number of turns. After all of the balls have been rolled, the one closest to the post is identified. The player who rolled it wins the round, and only that player is eligible to receive points for the round. The winner is awarded a number of points corresponding to the point value of the area each eligible ball came to rest in. The ball closest to the post is always eligible for points. Each additional ball rolled by the winner is also eligible for points, provided it is closer to the post than every ball rolled by every other player in that round.
Before a round begins, a “bonus” ball may be balanced on top of the post. If a player knocks down the bonus ball during their turn, that player “owns” the bonus ball for that round. The bonus ball is eligible for points only if the winner of the round also owns the bonus ball. The winner is awarded a number of points corresponding to the point value of the area the bonus ball came to rest in, regardless of how close it is to the post.
Rounds are played until at least one of the players is awarded a predetermined threshold number of points. The first player to do so wins the game.
The game play described in the foregoing is merely an example of a game that may be played using the herein described specially configured apparatus. Game play may be modified in any desired way, and other games may also be played, using the disclosed apparatus.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate disclosed embodiments and/or aspects and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims.
In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical or similar elements. Additionally, generally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number corresponds to the number of the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions provided herein may have been simplified to illustrate aspects that are relevant for a clear understanding of the herein described embodiments and aspects while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, other aspects that may be found in typical game systems, methods and apparatus. Those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art may recognize that other elements and/or steps may be desirable and/or necessary to implement the systems, methods and apparatus described herein. Because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein. However, the present disclosure is deemed to inherently include all such elements, variations, and modifications to the described aspects that would be known to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be configured and arranged in a wide variety of ways. Thus, the following detailed description and the attached figures are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments and aspects of the invention.
The features, structures, or characteristics of the invention described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. The usage of the phrases “example embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with any embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “example embodiments”, “in some embodiments”, “in other embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same group of embodiments. The described features, structures, and characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
A variety of embodiments will now be described. These embodiments are provided as teaching examples and should not be understood or construed to limit the scope of the invention. Although specific details of the embodiments are presented, these embodiments may be modified by changing, supplementing, or eliminating many of the described details without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.
The game may be played in a relatively flat open outdoor area with one or more gamepads 100 placed on the ground spaced at any suitable distance apart from each other. Each gamepad may have a post 140 permanently or removably coupled thereto, extending vertically from the gamepad. Or affixed to the ground through an opening in the game pad. A bonus ball 150 may be configured with a dimple matching a surface at the top end of the post 140 so the bonus ball can be balanced atop the post.
The cap 330 can similarly be coupled to the shaft 320 using any convenient connection mechanism known in the art, for example, a friction fitting, a snap fitting, a threaded fitting, or the like. For example, a male portion of the fitting, which may be part of either the shaft 320 or the cap 330, may couple to a female portion of the fitting, which may be part of the other of the shaft 320 or the cap 330. In a currently preferred embodiment, the cap 330 includes the male portion of the fitting; and the shaft 320 includes the female portion of the fitting as a matching surface. To assemble, the male portion on the cap 330 is pushed into the female portion at the top of shaft 320. In addition, the currently preferred embodiment includes a surface 370 at the top of the cap that matches the surface of dimple 220 on the bonus ball 150, so that the bonus ball can be balanced on the assembled vertical post 140, as shown in
Of course, other variations are possible. For example, the gamepads may have other shapes (hexagon). The post may be placed elsewhere in the base area, away from the center. One or more of the shapes formed by ridges may have a different shape, size, arrangement, and assigned point value. Other variations may also be created in the light of the present disclosure.
The areas defined by the raised ridges partition each gamepad into a plurality of areas having at least two different point values. Players take turns rolling balls with the object of coming to rest as close as possible to the post and inside a high-value area of the gamepad. Defensively of course, the object is to prevent other player's balls from doing so.
Gameplay is divided into rounds. In each round, players take turns in a sequence determined at the beginning of the round. Every player rolls one ball per turn, and all have the same number of balls to roll or bags to toss. After all of the balls have been rolled or bags have been tossed, the one closest to the post is identified. The player who rolled it wins the round, and only that player is eligible to receive points for the round. The winner is awarded a number of points corresponding to the point value of the area each eligible ball came to rest in. The ball closest to the post is always eligible for points. Each additional ball rolled by the winner is also eligible for points, provided it is closer to the post than every ball rolled by every other player in that round.
Before a round begins, a “bonus” ball may be balanced on top of the post. If a player knocks down the bonus ball during their turn, that player “owns” the bonus ball for that round. The bonus ball is eligible for points only if the winner of the round also owns the bonus ball. The winner is awarded a number of points corresponding to the point value of the area the bonus ball came to rest in, regardless of how close it is to the post.
Rounds are played until at least one of the players is awarded a predetermined threshold number of points. The first player to do so wins the game.
The game play described in the foregoing is merely an example of a game that may be played using the herein described specially configured apparatus. Game play may be modified in any desired way, and other games may also be played, using the disclosed apparatus.
A currently preferred exemplary game embodiment will now be described. In the game, the balls are called “ROX”, and the name of the game is ROX. The game can be played in a number of ways, by players that may be individuals or teams. An entire match is called a “JAM”, which consists of three games or “SETS”. Each game is won by scoring nine points. The first person or team that wins three games wins the JAM.
The hardware of the game is described in the foregoing, and particularly as illustrated in
The rules of the preferred game embodiment are as follows. The field of play may be flat and level, or may include contour variations, obstacles, and the like to spice up game play. The field is prepared by placing one or more gamepads at any desired location(s), coupling a vertical post to each one, and balancing a bonus ball on top of each vertical post. Before a game begins, players decide on a rolling sequence in any convenient manner, e.g., by consensus, by coin tosses, by drawing straws, by rock-paper-scissors, etc. Each player gets 2 balls to roll, one in a first turn in the rolling sequence, and the other in a second turn.
If playing with only one post, the first player in the rolling sequence chooses a “rolling position” from which every player will roll. A round ends after everyone gets two or more turns. After each round is concluded, the winner's points are awarded as will be described, and every player retrieves their own two (or more) ROX and the next round starts. For example, each player could play with three balls. This works if there is a small number of players.
If playing with two posts, the first player to roll chooses which post is the initial target post. The initial rolling position is adjacent to the other post, called the “rolling post”. After each round, the target post and the rolling post switch roles, and the game continues.
If playing with more than two posts, the first player to roll chooses Similar to play with only two posts, after each round the target post the target post becomes the next rolling post, a new target post is chosen by the winner of the previous rolling post SET. and rolling post, until the game is completed. After each game, the winner of that game chooses target post and initial rolling post for the next game.
A round is over after everyone has rolled twice. The player whose ROK is closest to the target post wins the round. Only the winner of a round is awarded points. The area around the target post is divided by ridges into distinct areas, each area having a predetermined number of points to be awarded to the winner of the round. Points for the ROK closest to the post are awarded first. The number of points awarded is the point value of the area in which the ROK rests at the end of the round. Then the ROK next closest to the post is identified. If that ROK also belongs to the winner of the round, an additional number of points is awarded equal to the point value of the area in which the second ROK rests at the end of the round.
At the beginning of each round, a bonus ball is balanced on top of the target post. If the post is tapped by a ROK during a player's turn and causes the bonus ball to fall, that player “claims” the bonus ball and may be awarded bonus points, but only if that player is also the winner of the round. If that player wins the round, the number of bonus points awarded is the point value of the area in which the bonus ball rests at the end of the round, regardless of the bonus ball's distance from the post.
Rounds are played until a player achieves a total of at least nine points. That player wins the SET. If more than one player has at least nine points at the end of a round, the one with the highest total wins the game. If there is a tie, the tied players continue to play rounds until one player's point total at the end of the round is higher than the others.
Games are played until a player wins three games. That player wins the JAM.
In an exemplary gameplay scenario, three players set up the field, each of them setting up a post at any location on the field they choose. With all three posts set, the three players stand “ready to JAM”. They decide which player rolls first (player 1), second (player 2), and third (player 3) in the rolling sequence. Player 1 selects an initial target post, and an initial rolling post, and rolls the first ROK from beside the rolling post. The ROK comes to rest in a “pit” on the gamepad the target post is coupled to (i.e., in an area enclosed by a ring).
Player 2 is up next. Player 2 may attempt to knock player 1's ROK further from the post, or get their own ROK closer to the target post than player 1 's ROK, or both. Player 2 rolls and tries to hit player 1's ROK, but rolls past player 1's ROK and hits the post hard enough to dislodge the bonus ball, which falls off the post. Player 2 claims the bonus ball and may become eligible for bonus points by winning the round. The bonus ball lands inside a pit having a point value of 3.
Player 3 is up next. Player 3 has several options to consider. Rolling the ROK closest to the post is always the ultimate goal. But player 3 is mindful of both offense and defense. Player 3 considers if it is worth trying to knock the bonus ball out of bounds, because only player 2 stands to gain from it. Player 3 could also try to roll into player 1's ROK, currently closest to the post. Or, player 3 may simply try to roll a ROK to come to rest even closer to the post than player 1's. Player 3 rolls and knocks player 1's ROK out of the pit it is in, and player 3's ball ends up nearest to the post. As player 3 celebrates a great first roll, player 1 gets ready to take a second turn.
Player 1 is stinging from being knocked out of winning position and out of a pit, and considers targeting player 3's ROK to knock it away from the post. Player 1 also considers whether to knock the bonus ball out of bounds. Player 3 is also mindful of avoiding leaving his ROK in a position vulnerable to a subsequent player's roll. Further, player 3 considers whether it may be possible to carom off ROX already played to achieve a better outcome. After strategizing, player 1 rolls his second ROK. It taps the edge of player 3's ROK and veers toward the post, ending up almost against it, while player 3's ROK is knocked further from the post. Moreover, player 1 's second ROK comes to rest in a position that makes it difficult to hit from the rolling position, so player 1 feels fairly confident of winning the round.
Player 2 is up next. Player 2 hopes not only to win the game, but to receive bonus points as well. Player 2 chooses to try to knock player 1's second ROK away from the post, and at the same time achieve a winning position. Player 2 rolls and lightly taps player 1's ROK, but player 1's ROK remains closer to the post than player 2's second ROK.
Player 3 then gets his second turn, the last turn of this round. Player 3 thinks it is possible to push both player 1's and player 2's ROX away from the post by rolling between the two and hitting both. This is a difficult shot, but player 3 tries it anyway. Although the shot does hit both ROX, player 2's ROK still ends up closest to the post as the round ends.
Player 2 has won the round because the ROK closest to the post is his. That ROK is in an area with a point value of 3, so player 2 is awarded 3 points. However, player 2's other ROK is further from the post than one of the other players' ROX, so player 2 does not receive any points for that ROK. Lastly, player 2 is also awarded points for the bonus ball because it fell from the post during one of his turns. The bonus ball also ends the round in a three point pit, so player 2 is awarded three more points, for a total of 6 points. Note, points from the bonus ball do not depend on whether it is closer to the post than any of the ROX, but only depends on the point value of the area in which it sits when the game ends.
The score: player 1-0; player 2-6; player 3-0.
Since player 2 won the round, he rolls first in the next round. There are more than 2 posts, so player 2 also chooses the next target post and roll post. Player 2 rolls hard, trying to knock the bonus ball off its roost, but the ball misses the post, and rolls across the gamepad and off the far side. The player with the highest point total other than player 2 will roll next, and so on, thereby establishing the rolling sequence for this round. In the case of a tie, the tied players proceed in the order of the first rolling sequence of the game. In this exemplary scenario, players 1 and 3 are tied with zero points each, so player 1 rolls next, then player 3, as determined by their position in the rolling sequence of the first round of the game. Then player 2 gets a second turn, then player 1, then player 3, ending this round.
Player 1 takes his first turn and hits the post, causing the bonus ball to fall. It rolls into a two point pit, while the rolled ROK ends up in a one point area just inside the perimeter.
Player 3 is up next. His ROK lightly taps the post and comes to rest near the post, but off to the side where it is vulnerable to being hit by a subsequent player.
Player 2 is now up for a second time, and rolls toward the post with just enough force to end up in a pit worth three points, coming to rest at about the same distance from the post as player 3's ROK, but directly in front of it. This makes player 2's ROK more difficult to knock away from the post than player 3's ROK.
Player 1 is up for his second roll. If player 1 wins the round, he may be awarded bonus points because the bonus ball fell during his turn. Player 1 rolls quite hard, aiming to hit the edge of player 2's ROK, carom off player 3's ROK, and end up in a winning position close to the post. But player 1 misses player 2's ROK completely and hits player 3's ROK square instead, knocking it away from the post and itself rolling away from the post, leaving player 2's ROK is winning position closest to the post.
Player 3 has the final roll of the round. To win the round and prevent player 2 from winning this round, player 3 must roll so that his ROK ends up closer to the post than player 2's. This requires a precise gentle roll, which is difficult to achieve because the ROX are configured not to roll in a straight line, even on a perfectly smooth surface. However, to simply prevent player 2 from winning the game, player 3 can roll more vigorously, resulting in a path somewhat easier to control and increasing the likelihood of hitting player 2's ROK and preventing player 2 from winning the SET and keeping the game going. Player 3 rather recklessly decides to try to roll gently toward the post, hoping to win the round. But even though this ROK ends up fairly close to the post, it is not closer than player 2's ROK. So player 2 wins the round, and is awarded three points because the winning ROK is in a pit worth three points. This brings player 2's point total to 9, winning the SET. This is the first SET won by player 2, so player 2, if he wins two more SETs will win the JAM. If neither other player has scored any points at all in the entire JAM, then player 2 will win a “SKUNK” because everyone else apparently stinks at this game.
In a game embodiment, a player must keep one foot on the base area of the gamepad coupled to the rolling post. Failure to do so is considered a “FOOT FAULT” with a penalty of either skipping their next roll, or giving up a point. This induces each player to roll from approximately the same distance to the post. In an embodiment, if a player rolls his first ROK out of turn, he must skip his second roll. In an embodiment, if no one challenges that player immediately, then no penalty is laid.
In embodiments, a scorekeeper or referee, preferably someone not taking turns during gameplay, may he made responsible for keeping score and dispensing penalties.
As noted previously, the first player to get nine points (after all players have completed their rolls) wins the game (called a SET). The first player to win three games (SETS) wins the “JAM”.
If players decide they want to play all day they can go for a “CONCERT”, which ends by a player winning three jams.
In the standard game each player gets 2 balls, hence 2 rolls per round. If more players want to play than there are ROX to allow them to play individually, they can play as teams of two, where each team member gets one roll per game. This is fun, but brings up some new issues, such as who shoots first. A team can change who rolls first after each game, but when playing as a team a single player cannot take both shots in a round. If playing in teams, it is suggested to limit the number of teams to four (i.e., eight players). Any more than that may slow gameplay and detract from the fun of maintaining a fast pace.
In embodiments, if a player gets two balls in three point pits, no other players' balls are closer to the post, and the same player dislodges the bonus ball and it rests at the end of the game (SET) in a three point pit as well, that player wins the game (SET) in a single round. This is called a “SOLO”. The solo gets bragging rights, and is deemed a temporary “SUPERSTAR”.
In embodiments, if a player wins two games and the other players have not won any or only one, this puts gameplay into “EXACTA” mode. In exacta mode, the winner of two games must win the third game by exactly nine points, while other players can win by nine or more points. Any points over nine scored by the winning player are subtracted from that player's score. For example, suppose a player has won two games, and has eight points in a subsequent game of the same JAM. If that player is awarded three points on their next roll, then one point is added to their score to get to nine, and the other two points are subtracted from the total, leaving the player with a score of seven. To win the game in the next round, that player would have to win the round and be awarded exactly to points for the round, bringing their total to nine and winning the game. Playing in exacta mode improves other players chances of catching up and winning against a really hot player.
If a player wins two jams in a row, the player's subsequent gameplay is called an “ENCORE”, and the player is heading for a “CONCERT”.
In an embodiment, with regard to the “BONUS BALL”, if the bonus ball is dislodged during a player's turn, that player can claim the bonus ball only if the post was struck by the ROK rolled by that player. However, it may happen that a player rolls his ROK into another player's ROK, which hits the post and knocks the bonus ball down. In an embodiment, at this point either the player that rolled the ROK that hit the other ROK, or the player that had rolled the other ROK, can claim the bonus ball if either of them wins the round.
? open for discussion In an embodiment referred to as “ROX ASSAULT”, every player is awarded points in every round based on the position of their ROX at the end of the round. Such a game is won by the first player to achieve a predetermined score selected at the beginning of the game. For example, a game may be won by the first player to achieve a score of 25, or 50, or 100, where the winning score is determined before the game begins in any desired manner. The first player to reach that number of points becomes the “STAR” and wins the “ASSAULT”.
In an embodiment called “ROX ASSAULT RETREAT”, each player starts with a predetermined number of points, for example 100 points. At the end of each round, one or more players determine if they are to be awarded points in any manner described in the foregoing. However, they take those points away from one or more other players of their own choosing, with the object of zeroing all the other players out by gathering all of their points. This type of gameplay lends itself to strategies in which multiple players cooperate to take points away from the same adversary, attempting to zero out that player faster.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated in exemplary forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is noted that the description and illustrations have been made by way of example only. Numerous changes in the details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and steps may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, such changes are understood to be inherent in the disclosure. The invention is not limited except by the appended claims and the elements explicitly recited therein. The scope of the claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit. It should also be noted that all elements of all of the claims may be combined with each other in any possible combination, even if the combinations have not been expressly claimed.
