Patent Application
20240286016
The present invention relates generally to a tossing game having at least one scoring target, at least one defensive target, and at least one game piece, and a corresponding method of play and, more specifically, to a tossing game with a football theme (in a preferred embodiment.)
Outdoor lawn games such as horseshoes, lawn darts, cornhole, and bocce are well known.
Cornhole, for example, (also known regionally as sack toss, or bean bag toss) is a lawn game in which players or teams take turns throwing fabric bean bags at a raised, angled board with an aperture therein. The goal of the game is to score points by either landing a bag on the board or putting a bag through the hole. Cornhole matches are played with two sets of four bags (eight total), two boards and two, four, or eight players.
There are four bags to a set. Each set of bags should be distinguishable from the other, usually by using different colors. Although bags used to be filled with preserved corn kernels (hence “cornhole”) or dried beans, bags are now usually filled with plastic resin or other materials that will maintain a consistent weight and shape over many throws without deforming. Bags may be dual-sided, with each side of the bag being a different material that can affect grip and react faster or slower on the board's surface.
Each board is approximately two by four feet, with approximately a six-inch diameter aperture therein. In a preferred configuration of each board, the aperture's center is positioned about nine inches down from the center of a top edge of the board. Each board is angled with the top edge of the playing surface being arranged approximately 12 inches above the ground, and a bottom edge approximately three to four inches above the ground. A standard court places the two boards around 26 to 34 feet apart, measuring from the bottom edge of the boards.
The areas immediately to the left and right of the boards are the pitcher's boxes. The line (either drawn or imaginary) extends from the bottom edge of the board in both the left and right directions, is the foul line. When throwing the bags, players cannot step past the foul line or else the throw does not count.
A cornhole match is separated into innings (or frames). During each inning, each player or team will throw their designated four bags. The manner in which the bags are thrown depends on which format of cornhole is being played: singles (1 vs. 1), doubles (2 vs. 2), or crew (4 vs. 4).
In doubles (2 vs. 2), one partner from each team stands in the left pitcher's box of one board while the other partner stands in the right pitcher's box of the opposite board. Thus, each team's partners are on opposite ends, facing each other, both in the same lane. From here, the two opponents at one board alternate throwing their four bags at the other board, after which a mid-inning score is tallied; then their partners at that board alternate throwing their team's four bags back at the other board, after which the final inning score can be tallied. In doubles, players may not change sides, i.e., one partner will throw from the left pitcher's box of one board and the other from the right pitcher's box of the other board for the entire game.
To score points, bags must be on the surface of the board or fall through the aperture. To score three points, a bag may fall directly into the aperture, slide into the aperture after hitting the board, or be knocked into the aperture by another bag. A bag remaining on the board scores a single point. A bag partially on the board and partially on the ground (“dirt bag”) does not count and should be removed before the next throw.
In cornhole, cancellation scoring is used. When the scores are tallied at the end of an inning, whichever player or team scores higher is awarded points equal to the difference between both sides. For example, if a first team scores 12 points in an inning and a second team scores 10 points, then the first team is awarded two points (i.e., 12 points minus 10 points); whereas if the first team and the second team both score 12 points, the difference is zero, and neither team scores. Play continues until one player or team reaches or exceeds 21 points at the end of an inning. By using cancellation scoring, it is only possible for one side (or neither side) to score in any inning, so match ties are impossible.
Various iterations of cornhole, and similar game piece tossing games, are known in the art. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0038108 (hereinafter “McLaughlin, Jr.”) discloses a cornhole-type tossing game with a football theme arranged on the board, where the board includes a plurality of apertures. McLaughlin, Jr. does not disclose a plurality of multiple target areas, nor a plurality of offensive targets and defensive targets.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 11,192,010 (hereinafter “Areskog et al.”) generally discloses a portable outdoor game kit or tossing game. The tossing game includes a boundary rope that is used to designate a general target area, and a plurality of both offensive and defensive implements, where the defensive blocking implements are thrown by an opposing defensive player during regular play, i.e., not turn-based like the traditional rules of cornhole, described supra. Areskog et al. do not disclose a plurality of multiple target areas, nor a plurality of offensive targets and defensive targets.
In a further example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,775,525 (hereinafter “Staver et al.”) disclosed a tossing game, a method of manufacture and a method of use. The target of Staver et al. substantially resembles a typical cornhole-type target, with a sloped top surface, but is alternatively configured with multiple apertures arranged as scoring targets. The surface also includes printed indicia associated with scores achieved by tossing the game piece into specific apertures. The invention disclosed in Staver et al. is sports-based and includes different templates to simulate football, baseball, soccer, basketball and auto-racing, for example. The templates cover the top of the target exposing the apertures. Staver et al. do not disclose playing a team-based game using multiple targets: offense and defense.
Thus, there is a long felt need for a game piece tossing game which includes a plurality of scoring targets and a plurality of defensive targets, where a first team may arrange each of the plurality of scoring targets at a particular distance from a starting line, and where a neutral party may arrange each of the defensive targets substantially adjacent, or at least proximate to, at least one of the plurality of scoring targets.
There is also a long felt need for a game piece tossing game which includes a plurality of scoring targets and a plurality of defensive targets, where a first team may arrange each of the plurality of scoring targets at a particular distance from a starting line, and where a second team may arrange each of the defensive targets substantially adjacent, or at least proximate to, at least one of the plurality of scoring targets.
There is a further long felt need for a game piece tossing game which includes a plurality of scoring targets and a plurality of defensive targets, where a first team may arrange each of the plurality of scoring targets at a particular distance from a starting line, and where a neutral party or a second team may arrange each of the defensive targets substantially adjacent, or at least proximate to, at least one of the plurality of scoring targets, where there are a greater number of defensive targets than scoring targets.
The present invention generally comprises a game piece tossing game having a first plurality of offensive game targets, where each of the offensive targets comprises a playing surface and a target aperture within the playing surface, a second plurality of defensive game targets, where each of the defensive targets comprises a playing surface and a target aperture within the playing surface, at least one game piece, arranged to be tossed toward the playing surface of at least one of the offensive game targets, and preferably arranged to be tossed toward the target aperture within the playing surface of the at least one of the offensive game targets, wherein the first plurality of offensive game targets are arranged on a playing field by a first team, and the second plurality of defensive game targets are arranged on a playing field by a neutral party or by a second team. In some configurations, the second plurality of defensive game targets of the game piece tossing game is greater than the first plurality of offensive game targets.
The present invention also comprises a method for playing a game piece tossing game, the method comprising the steps of: (1) assigning at least one player to a first team; (2) assigning at least one player to a second team; (3) placing a plurality of offensive targets into a plurality of positions on a playing field relative to a starting line on the playing field, each of the plurality of offensive targets having a target aperture and a target surface; (4) placing a plurality of defensive targets into a plurality of positions on the playing field, each of the plurality of defensive targets having a target aperture and a target surface, where the plurality of defensive targets is greater than the plurality of offensive targets; (5) determining which of the first team and the second team is a first throwing team and a second throwing team; (6) throwing at least one game piece from the starting line by the first throwing team toward the plurality of offensive targets and the plurality of defensive targets, preferably towards the plurality of offensive targets; (7) calculating a score of the first throwing team based on which of the plurality of offensive targets and the defensive targets the at least one game piece is thrown through or on; (8) throwing at least one game piece from the starting line by the second throwing team toward the plurality of offensive targets and the plurality of defensive targets, preferably towards the plurality of offensive targets; (9) calculating a score of the second throwing team based on which of the plurality of offensive targets and the defensive targets the at least one game piece is thrown through or on; (10) repeating steps (6) through (9) at least once; (11) adding the scores of step (7) to determine a total score of the first throwing team and adding the scores of step (9) to determine a total score of the second throwing team; and, (12) comparing the total score of the first throwing team and the total score of the second throwing team to determine a winner.
In other embodiments, the present invention may also comprise a method for playing a game piece tossing game, the method comprising the steps of: (1) placing a plurality of offensive targets into a plurality of positions on a playing field relative to a starting line on the playing field, each of the plurality of offensive targets having a target aperture and a target surface; (2) placing a plurality of defensive targets into a plurality of positions on the playing field, each of said plurality of defensive targets having a target aperture and a target surface, the plurality of defensive targets is greater than the plurality of offensive targets; (3) throwing at least one game piece from the starting line toward the plurality of offensive targets and the plurality of defensive targets, preferably towards the plurality of offensive targets; and, (4) calculating a score based on which of the plurality of offensive targets and the defensive targets the at least one game piece is thrown to.
In further embodiments, the present invention may also comprise a method of scoring in a game piece tossing game, the method comprising the steps of: earning a first predetermined score when successfully tossing a game piece onto a surface of an offensive target; earning a second predetermined score when successfully tossing a game piece into an aperture on the surface of the offensive target; and, earning a first negative score when tossing a game piece onto a surface of a defensive target.
In other configurations, the present invention may also comprise a game piece tossing game, the game piece tossing game comprising at least one offensive game target having a playing surface and an offensive target aperture within the playing surface, the playing surface including printed indicia thereon, the printed indicia comprising a graphical representation of the upper body of a first football player including an open-hand configuration arranged to at least partially circumscribe the offensive target aperture, the configuration functioning to indicate the offensive target aperture.
In further configurations, the present invention may also comprise a game piece tossing game, the game piece tossing game comprising at least one defensive game target having a playing surface and a defensive target aperture within the playing surface, the playing surface including printed indicia thereon, the printed indicia comprising a graphical representation of the upper body of a second football player including an open-hand configuration arranged to at least partially circumscribe the defensive target aperture, the configuration functioning to indicate the defensive target aperture.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon a review of the following detailed description, in view of the drawings and appended claims.
Various embodiments are disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements. It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It should be understood that any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the example embodiments.
It should be appreciated that the term “substantially” is synonymous with terms such as “nearly,” “very nearly,” “about,” “approximately,” “around,” “bordering on,” “close to,” “essentially,” “in the neighborhood of,” “in the vicinity of,” etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. It should be appreciated that the term “proximate” is synonymous with terms such as “nearby,” “close,” “adjacent,” “neighboring,” “immediate,” “adjoining,” etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. The term “approximately” is intended to mean values within ten percent of the specified value.
It should be understood that use of “or” in the present application is with respect to a “non-exclusive” arrangement, unless stated otherwise. For example, when saying that “item x is A or B,” it is understood that this can mean one of the following: (1) item x is only one or the other of A and B; (2) item x is both A and B. Alternately stated, the word “or” is not used to define an “exclusive or” arrangement. For example, an “exclusive or” arrangement for the statement “item x is A or B” would require that x can be only one of A and B. Furthermore, as used herein, “and/or” is intended to mean a grammatical conjunction used to indicate that one or more of the elements or conditions recited may be included or occur. For example, a device comprising a first element, a second element and/or a third element, is intended to be construed as any one of the following structural arrangements: a device comprising a first element; a device comprising a second element; a device comprising a third element; a device comprising a first element and a second element; a device comprising a first element and a third element; a device comprising a first element, a second element and a third element; or, a device comprising a second element and a third element.
Moreover, as used herein, the phrases “comprises at least one of” and “comprising at least one of” in combination with a system or element is intended to mean that the system or element includes one or more of the elements listed after the phrase. For example, a device comprising at least one of: a first element; a second element; and, a third element, is intended to be construed as any one of the following structural arrangements: a device comprising a first element; a device comprising a second element; a device comprising a third element; a device comprising a first element and a second element; a device comprising a first element and a third element; a device comprising a first element, a second element and a third element; or, a device comprising a second element and a third element. A similar interpretation is intended when the phrase “used in at least one of:” is used herein. A similar interpretation is intended when used in a method of using the present invention.
It will be appreciated that various aspects of the disclosure above and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
The following description should be taken in view of
Target 10 includes first end 11 and second end 12. Target 10 generally comprises target board 13 having playing surface 14, mounting surface 14a, and target aperture 15, base 16, and a plurality of risers, 17a through 17c, extending from base 16.
In some embodiments, base 16 is formed by a plurality of members, 16a through 16d, which are preferably fixed secured to one another to form base 16. It should be appreciated that base 16 could comprise a singular piece. Members 16a and 16d, when interconnected form internal space 16e.
Riser 17a, riser 17b, and medial riser 17c extend from base 16. In a preferred embodiment, riser 17a is secured to an inside surface of members 16a and 16c, riser 17b is secured to an inside surface of members 16a and 16c, and medial riser 17c is secured to an inside surface of member 16c and is arranged between risers 17a and 17b. Risers 17a and 17b have a tapered configuration on their surfaces arranged away from base 16, specifically a taper that slopes substantially downward from second 12 to first end 11 of target 10. Medial riser 17c may also have the aforementioned taper. Member 16a of base 16 may also have the aforementioned taper, i.e., the inside surface of member 16a tapers downwardly in the direction towards the outside surface of member 16a.
Mounting surface 14a of target board 13 is arranged to be secured to a top end of risers 17a through 17c, i.e., the end of risers 17a through 17c that substantially extends to, or past, the topmost edge of base 16. Due to the tapered configuration of 17a through 17c, and/or member 16a, target board 13, when secured thereon, will have a substantially downward slope from second end 12 to first end 11. In a preferred embodiment, angle α is the angle of target surface 14 and the lowermost surface of base 16, where angle α is preferably an acute angle. In some embodiments, angle α is less than 45°. In other embodiments, angle α may be between 100-35°. It should be appreciated that angle α may be arranged to a plurality of different degrees depending on the desired slope of target surface 14 of target board 13.
In a preferred embodiment, the edges of target board 13, proximate first end 11 and second end 12, are arranged to extend past members 16a and 16c. In some configurations, portions of the edges of target board 13, proximate members 16b and 16d, are arranged to extend past members 16b and 16d.
In a preferred embodiment, target board 13 is configured to substantially resemble the upper torso of a football player, that is, a football player having a helmet and shoulder pads underneath a jersey, where target board may also include various markings that further illustrate a football player, e.g., jersey numbers, jersey decals, helmet styles and/or decals, etc.
Adverting now to
In some arrangements of game piece tossing game 100, landing a game piece on a playing surface, i.e., game piece 32 on playing surface 14 of target 10a, may be considered a miss, that is, no points are awarded. In other arrangements of game piece tossing game 100, landing a game piece on a playing surface, i.e., game piece 32 on playing surface 14 of target 10a, may be considered a score, that is, points are awarded. In further arrangements of game piece tossing game 100, throwing the game piece through a target aperture, i.e., game piece 31 being thrown through target aperture 15 of target 10b, may be considered a score, that is points are awarded. In even further arrangements of game piece tossing game 100, throwing the game piece onto the ground, i.e., game piece 33 on ground G, may be considered a miss, that is, no points are awarded.
In a preferred embodiment game pieces 30 through 33 may be comprised of a “bean bag” that complies with, or is substantially similar to, the bean bags required by the American Cornhole League. Thus, these bean bags are double-seamed fabric bags measuring approximately six by six inches and weighing approximately 14.5 to 17.5 ounces. The bags may be filled with preserved corn kernels, dried beans, plastic resin or other materials, such that the bags will maintain a consistent weight and shape over many throws without deforming. As such, the aforementioned description of the game pieces of the present invention is intended to be exemplary and non-restrictive as alternatives are intended to be within the scope of the appending claims.
It should be appreciated that the aforementioned game pieces could take a variety of forms. For example, the game pieces could be balls, e.g., tennis balls, or could take the form of flying discs, or could take the form of a football-shaped game piece, or could similarly comprise a puck, ring, horseshoe, and/or dart (i.e., lawn dart, tipped, or not tipped).
It should be appreciated that the positions of game pieces 31 and 32 could also apply to targets 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, 20f, and/or 20g illustrated in
The following description should be taken in view of
Once player 50 has thrown all of the game pieces, e.g., three, four, five, etc. game pieces, at the offensive targets, a score is calculated based on the locations of each game piece, i.e., the various positions of game pieces 30 through 33, illustrated in
If player 50, the offensive team, throws one of the game pieces through a target aperture of a defensive target, i.e., target aperture 15 of target 20c, that is considered an interception, and the aforementioned team switch occurs, i.e., the offensive team switches to defense and the defensive team switches to offense, regardless of how many game pieces are left to be thrown by the offensive team.
The following description specifically pertains to
It should be appreciated that the aforementioned indicia configurations can be applied to offensive and/or defensive targets, whereas jersey indicia configuration 14′ and helmet indicia configuration 14″ of an offensive target may have a first design, logo, and/or color, and jersey indicia configuration 14′ and helmet indicia configuration 14″ of a defensive target may have a second design, logo, and/or color-indicating to a player playing the game which target they should throw too, preferably offensive, and which target they should avoid throwing too, preferably defensive (generally depicted in
It should be further appreciated that aforementioned indicia configurations can be applied to offensive and/or defensive targets, whereas first hand indicia portion 14d (located on first arm indicia 14b) and second hand indicia portion 14e (located on second arm indicia 14c) of an offensive target will indicate target aperture 15 that scores points (offensive target aperture 15o, generally depicted in
The aforementioned points, either scored or deducted, is explained in greater detail, infra.
It should be noted that the number of offensive targets and defensive targets can vary, however, in a preferred embodiment of use, there will be a greater number of defensive targets positioned in play than offensive targets positioned in play.
The following description should be taken in view of all of the aforementioned figures and
In a preferred embodiment, game piece tossing game 100 includes three (3) offensive targets (10a through 10c) and four (4) defensive targets (20a through 20d) however it should be noted that the number of offensive and defensive targets may vary. In other words, there needs to be at least one more of the total defensive target than total offensive targets.
It should be noted that the terms “target” and “board” are substantially equivalent.
In some embodiments, offensive targets (10a through 10c) have preferred distances for placement on playing field PF relative to starting line SL. For example, distance D1 that corresponds to target 10a is preferably positioned approximately 18′ from starting line SL, distance D2 that corresponds to target 10b is preferably positioned approximately 25′ from starting line SL, and distance D3 that corresponds to target 10c is preferably positioned approximately 31′ and 6″ from starting line SL. The distances D1 through D3 may be taken from the starting line SL and one of either a center point of target aperture 15 of a target, or the edge of member 16a of a respective target (or a similar edge of a target that is proximate starting line SL).
The target that is positioned at distance D1 may also be referred to as the “short” target. The target that is positioned at distance D2 may also be referred to as the “medium” target. The target that is positioned at distance D3 may also be referred to as the “deep” or “long” target. In a preferred use of game piece tossing game 100, the target aperture and the playing surface of the short target (i.e., aperture 15 and playing surface 14 of target 10a) are worth 1-point and 3-points respectively, the target aperture and the playing surface of the medium target (i.e., aperture 15 and playing surface 14 of target 10b) are worth 2-points and 5-points respectively, and the target aperture and the playing surface of the long target (i.e., aperture 15 and playing surface 14 of target 10c) are worth 3-points and 7-points respectively points are awarded by throwing the game piece on the playing surface or throwing the game piece through the target aperture, generally illustrated in
Before the game pieces are thrown, the defensive targets are positioned (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, 20f, and 20g) on playing field PF such that each respective defensive target is preferably proximate an offensive target (10a through 10c). A defensive target that is positioned proximate distance D1 may also be referred to as the “short” defensive target. A defensive target that is positioned proximate distance D2 may also be referred to as the “medium” defensive target. A defensive target that is positioned proximate distance D3 may also be referred to as the “deep” or “long” defensive target. In a preferred use of game piece tossing game 100, the target aperture and the playing surface of the short defensive target, or targets (i.e., apertures 15 and playing surfaces 14 of targets 20a and 20b) are worth −1 point and −3 points respectively, the target aperture and the playing surface of the medium defensive target, or targets (i.e., apertures 15 and playing surfaces 14 of targets 20c, 20d, and 20e) are worth −2 points and −5 points respectively, and the target aperture and the playing surface of the long defensive target, or targets (i.e., apertures 15 and playing surfaces 14 of targets 20g and 20f) are worth −3 points and −7 points respectively points are awarded by throwing the game piece on the playing surface or throwing the game piece through the target aperture, generally illustrated in
Generally, defensive targets can be arranged anywhere on the playing field so long as there is approximately a 4″ distance between any offensive target and any defensive target. In some embodiments, the position of each defensive target is determined by a neutral party, i.e., a referee, where in other embodiments, the position of each defensive target is determined by the defensive team, i.e., the team who does not throw the game pieces first.
In a preferred use, the game involving game piece tossing game 100 has at least two players, where one of the two players is on a first team and the other of the two players is on a second team. The teams will determine which team will throw the game pieces first, i.e., be the first offensive team, whereas the other team will throw the game pieces second, i.e., be the first defensive team. The determination can be decided with a coin toss, general discussion, etc.
Once the targets are in position for play, as described supra, the first offensive team may begin their “turn”. In a preferred arrangement, there are four (4) game pieces. A full “turn” is completed when each player of a team throws all four (4) game pieces, e.g., a team of three (3) players will each throw four (4) game pieces, totaling twelve (12) throws per turn. Each team will have four (4) turns during a full game, where a turn for each team is one quarter of the game, i.e., a full game has four (4) quarters. Turns are ended prematurely for a team if any member of the team throws an interception (i.e., a game piece is thrown into the target aperture of a defensive target), as described supra. At the end of two (2) quarters, i.e., halftime, the team with the lowest score may rearrange the targets in accordance with the aforementioned positioning guidelines. At the end of the four (4) quarters, if both teams have the score, i.e., tie, then one additional quarter, i.e., an additional turn for each team, is played to determine the winner.
As shown in
As described supra, offensive playing surface 14o will have a different graphical configuration (i.e., a first graphical configuration of a football player's torso and/or upper body, including, but not limited to, jersey numbers, colors, logos, designs, etc.) than defensive playing surface 14D (i.e., a second graphical configuration of a football player's torso and/or upper body, including, but not limited to, jersey numbers, colors, logos, designs, etc.), thereby indicating to players which of the targets score points (i.e., offensive) and which of the targets deduct points (i.e., defensive).
It will be appreciated that various aspects of the present invention described supra, and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
