Game Board and Method of Use of the Same

Abstract

A game board apparatus includes a pair of game boards, one or more beverage containers supported by the game boards, and a plurality of darts. A method of using the game board apparatus includes throwing darts at the beverage containers in an effort to puncture the beverage containers and consuming the beverages in the beverage containers in the event the beverage containers are punctured.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to games boards, specifically to a board used in a dart game and method of use thereof.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, these statements are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is or is not prior art.

Darts is a traditional game that has been enjoyed for centuries, typically involving players throwing small, darts at a circular target (dartboard) affixed to a wall. The objective is to score points by hitting specific areas on the dartboard, with certain zones offering higher point values.

According to the present disclosure, a set of game boards is provided in which two game boards are equipped with beverage containers positioned at the top of each game board. Teams take turns throwing a dart at the other team's board, attempting to stick the dart on the other team's board and/or puncturing a beverage container positioned on the other team's board. Teams will get different points depending on where the dart lands. A team wins a game by scoring a certain number of points. If a beverage container(s) is struck by a team, the other team consumes the contents of the struck beverage container(s) and may replace the consumed beverage container(s) for the next round.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The previously described aspects of this disclosure will grow to be appreciated at a greater level once references to the following accompanying illustrations are expounded upon.

FIG. 1 is the schematic diagram of a scene where two teams of two players are playing a game, showing one team tossing a dart at a beverage container on the other team's game board and the dart puncturing a beverage container on the other team's board, awarding points to the team who punctured the other team's beverage container.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the game boards of FIG. 1 showing a first dart thrown by a team that punctures a beverage container, awarding a team points, a second dart thrown by the team that sticks within a designated diamond-shaped area, awarding the team an additional point, and a third dart thrown by the team that sticks outside the designated diamond-shape area, awarding the team no additional points.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the one of the game boards of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of one of the game boards of FIG. 1.

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed in the following detailed description. Instead, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. Unless otherwise indicated, the components shown in the figures are shown proportional to each other. It will be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. The disclosure includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrative devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the disclosure, which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates.

To promote an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a complete set 10 is preferably comprised of game boards 12, darts 26, and beverage containers 22. Game boards 12 are spaced apart with one game board 12 positioned opposite another game board 12. Game boards 12 have a top surface/board 14 and a bottom surface/board 15. The top surface/board 14 has a diamond area 16 and a pair of holes 18 located within the diamond area 16 to receive beverage containers 22. Frame members 17 are positioned between top surface/board 14 and bottom surface/board 15 on lateral sides of top and bottom boards 14, 15 and the front of top and bottom boards 14, 15. Leg pieces 20 are supporting top surface 14 at an angle and can be removable from the game board 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, bottom board 15 includes a pair of holes 28. During assembly, legs 20 are inserted into holes 28 so that an upper portion 30 extends through bottom board 15 as shown in FIG. 3. To disassemble game boards 12, legs 20 are removed from holes 28 and stored in a pocket 32 defined between top and bottom boards 14, 15 through a hole 34 at the rear end of game boards 12. Hole 34 is defined by top and bottom boards 14, 15 and frame members 17.

Beverage containers 22 are positioned in holes 18. Teams of players 24 toss darts 26 at beverage containers 22 in an attempt to puncture beverage containers 23 and/or stick darts within diamond area 16 (shown in FIG. 2). Beverage containers 22 are preferably 12-ounce aluminum cans containing a pressurized/carbonated beverage, such as soda, beer, energy drinks, etc. Frame members 17 are preferably provided between the front and side ends of top surface/board 14 and bottom surface/board 15. Frame members 17 are preferably not provided between the rear end of top surface/board 14 and bottom surface/board 15, thereby providing an opening 19 between top surface/board 14 and bottom surface/board 15. The opening allows players 24 to remove a container 22 that may not be readily accessible through holes 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, each team has two players 24, and players 24 will stand behind each game board 12. Game boards 12 are set apart a predetermined distance apart, preferably thirteen feet, as measured from the fronts of game boards 12. To begin the game, players 24 from one team throw darts 26 at the other team's game board 12 while standing behind their own game board 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, each team will have three darts 26 at the beginning of each game. During each round of the game, one player 24 from each team throws three darts 26 at the other team's board, alternating throws. For example, a player 24 from a first team throws their first dart 26, then a player 24 from the other/second team throws their first dart 26, then player 24 from the first team throws their second dart 26, then the player 24 from the second team throws their second dart 26, then player 24 from the first team throws their third/last dart 26, and then the player 24 from the second team throws their third/last dart 26, completing a round. Points are awarded to one of the teams after each round as explained in greater detail below. Once each player 24 finishes throwing their three darts 26 and points are awarded, the other player 24 from each team will throw three darts 26, assuming the game has not finished as described in greater detail below.

Depending on where darts 26 land in each round, the teams will be awarded points. For example, a team may be awarded (i) one point for each of their darts 26 that lands and sticks inside any part of diamond area 16, (ii) three points for each of their darts 26 that punctured any beverage container 23, and (iii) no points for any darts 26 that fail to land and stick inside diamond area 16 or puncture any beverage container 23. According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, other point values may be awarded. For example, a point may be awarded if dart lands and sticks on game board 12 outside of diamond area 16 with more points awarded for landing and sticking inside of diamond area 16, etc. Although area 16 is diamond-shaped, other shapes for area 16 may be provided, such as circles, squares, etc.

During each round, points of one player 24 will cancel out the points of the other player 24. For example, if one player 24 scores seven points (e.g. two darts 26 puncture a beverage container(s) 23 and one dart 26 lands inside diamond area 16) and the other player 24 scores four points (e.g. one dart 26 puncture a beverage container 23 and one dart 26 lands inside diamond area 16), the teams that scored seven points is only awarded three points (i.e. seven minus four). After each round, the team awarded points adds the awarded points to their total points. For example, if after three rounds, a first team had ten points and the second team had six points and the first team was awarded three points after a fourth round, the first team would have thirteen points and the second team would have six points after the fourth round. The team of players 24 that was awarded points in the previous round will throw darts 26 first in the next round, assuming the game has not finished as described below.

If after a round, a team of players 24 is awarded twenty-one points, that team wins the game. If a team of players 24 is awarded more than twenty-one points after a round, their points will be set back to fifteen, and play continues. If after a round, neither team has twenty-one points, play continues.

If during a round, a beverage container(s) 22 is punctured by a dart 26, the other player 24 consumes the beverage in punctured container(s) 23 after the round is complete. A consumed container 22 is replaced with an unpunctured container 22 (shown to the right of game board 12 in FIG. 2) after both containers 22 on a game board 12 have been punctured (i.e. two punctured containers 23 are replaced with two unpunctured containers 22 at the same time between rounds). Alternatively, a consumed beverage container 22 may be placed back into hole 18 from which it was removed for consumption and remain available for scoring points.

Claims

1. A method for playing a game comprising the steps of providing at least one game board supported on the ground and having at least one hole, at least one carbonated beverage container, and at least one dart,positioning the at least one carbonated beverage container in the at least one hole of the at least one game board,throwing the at least one dart at the least one carbonated beverage container,puncturing the at least one beverage container with the at least one dart thrown at the at least one beverage container, anddrinking a beverage in the one beverage container after the at least one beverage container is punctured.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one game board includes a plurality of holes and the positioning step includes positioning at least one carbonated beverage in each of the plurality of holes.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing at least one leg and supporting the game board at an angle relative to the ground with the at least one leg.

4. A game board apparatus, comprising: at least one game board supported on the ground and having at least one hole,at least one carbonated beverage container positioned in the hole, andat least one dart to be thrown at the at least one carbonated beverage container.

5. The game board apparatus of claim 4, wherein the game board includes a top board with the at least one hole and a bottom board spaced apart from the top board, the top and bottom boards cooperate to define a space therebetween that receives a bottom of the at least one carbonated beverage container.

6. The game board apparatus of claim 5, wherein the top and bottom boards are flat.

7. The game board apparatus of claim 6, wherein the bottom board is parallel to the top board.

8. The game board apparatus of claim 4, further comprising at least one leg supporting the game board at an angle relative to the ground.

9. The game board apparatus of claim 4, wherein the game board includes a plurality of holes each receiving at least one of the carbonated beverage containers.