Patent Application
20250073565
The invention relates to games, and more particularly, to a game system that tests players skills at rolling a ball in a particular manner across a play surface of the game into different score zones and through an opening to score points.
A variety of games are known that test various skills of players, such as Cornhole, Skeeball and billiards, for example. Some games test players hand-eye coordination whereas other games test players' physical and/or mental abilities. Some games are designed to be played outdoors whereas other games are designed to be played indoors. New types of games are constantly being developed to meet consumer entertainment needs.
The example embodiments are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawing figures. It is emphasized that the various features are not necessarily drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions may be arbitrarily increased or decreased for clarity of discussion.
representative embodiment.
In the following detailed description, a few exemplary, or representative, embodiments are described to demonstrate the inventive principles and concepts. For purposes of explanation and not limitation, the representative embodiments disclosing specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of an embodiment according to the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that other embodiments that depart from the specific details disclosed herein remain within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, descriptions of well-known apparatuses and methods may be omitted to avoid obscuring the description of the representative embodiments. Such methods and apparatuses are clearly within the scope of the present teachings, as will be understood by those of skill in the art.
The terminology used herein is for purposes of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. The defined terms are in addition to the technical and scientific meanings of the defined terms as commonly understood and accepted in the technical field of the present teachings.
As used in the specification and appended claims, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include both singular and plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, “a device” includes one device and plural devices.
Relative terms such as top, bottom, front back, left side, and right side may be used to describe the various elements' relationships to one another, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. These relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device and/or elements for purposes of describing the views depicted in the drawings, but are not intended to be limiting.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it can be directly connected or coupled, or intervening elements may be present.
Exemplary, or representative, embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference numerals represent like components, elements or features. It should be noted that features, elements or components in the figures are not intended to be drawn to scale, emphasis being placed instead on demonstrating inventive principles and concepts.
The game system 100 can have different dimensions and configurations, and therefore it should be noted that the inventive principles and concepts are not limited to the game system 100 having any particular dimensions or configuration. However, to provide an example of possible dimensions and configuration of the game system 100, an example of the game system 100 having particular dimensions and a particular configuration will be described with reference to
The game system comprises a front end 101, a back end 102, a first side 103 extending from the front end 101 to the back end 102, a second side 104 opposite the first side 103 extending from the front end 101 to the back end 102 substantially parallel to the first side 103, a bottom side 105 extending from the front end 101 to the back end 102 and from the first side 103 to the second side 104, and a play surface 106 extending from the back end 102 toward the front end 101 and stopping before reaching the front end 101 to form a ball return 107 for at least a first play ball.
The play surface 106 is a substantially planar surface that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second sides 103 and 104, respectively, and substantially parallel to the bottom side 105. A lip 108 extends about a periphery of the play surface 106 to prevent the play ball(s) from rolling off of the play surface 106 when the play ball is rolled across the play surface 106. The back end 102 is inclined relative to the front end 101 to cause the play surface 106 and the bottom side 105 to be inclined in a direction from the front end 101 toward the back end 102 such that when the ball is rolled over the play surface 106 in a direction from the front end 101 toward the back end 102, the ball will be acted on by gravity to cause the ball to eventually roll in a direction from the back end 102 toward the front end 101. The play surface 106 has at least a first opening 111 formed therein through which the ball passes from the play surface 106 onto the bottom side 105 if the ball rolls into the first opening 111. The inclined bottom side 105 causes the ball to travel to the ball return 107.
One or more score zone delincators 112a, 112b and 112c are disposed on the play surface 106 for visually identifying one or more score zones 1, 2 and 3 to players such that if a player causes the ball to roll into one of the scoring zones 1, 2, 3 and then pass through the first opening 111, the player receives a score associated with the highest score zone into which the ball rolled before passing into the opening 111. Scoring zone 3 awards a higher score than scoring zone 2 and scoring zone 2 awards a higher score than scoring zone 1. It should be noted that while three score zone delincators 112a-112c are shown in
A non-limiting example of the dimensions is as follows. The game 100 can be, for example, 2 feet in length, 13 inches in width, and 5.5 inches tall at its highest point at end 102. Preferably, the length of the game 100 from the front end 101 to the back end 102 in a direction substantially parallel to the first and second sides 103 and 104, respectively, ranges from approximately eighteen inches to forty-eight inches. Preferably, the width of the game 100d from the first side 103 to the second side 104 in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second sides 103 and 104, respectively, ranges from approximately six inches to approximately eighteen inches. Preferably, the height of the back end 102 in a direction that is substantially normal to the play surface ranges from approximately three inches to approximately ten inches. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, however, the inventive principles and concepts are not limited to the game 100 having any particular dimensions.
The game 100 can be played one player v. one player, or multiple players on teams, e.g., two players v. two players. The primary object of the game 100 is to roll the ball up the play surface 106 so that it fully enters a score zone 1, 2 or 3 and then rolls back down into the opening, or hole, 111 in order for the points to count. The game 100 is not limited to having any particular rules of play, but an exemplary set of rules of play for the game 100 will now be described for exemplary purposes.
Players roll from the front end 101. The ball preferably must be released and make contact with the play surface 106 before it crosses the foul line 113. Each player preferably gets two rolls per turn. A round is over once each player has a turn. Players/Teams alternate turns. The points do not stack during a roll. For example, rolling through the 1-point and 2-point zones 112a and 112b, respectively, will not net three points if the ball rolls into the hole 111; it would only be worth two points. The ball must fully enter a point zone for the points to count. For example, if a ball rolls through the 1-point zone and partially enters the 2-point zone, straddling score zone delineating line 112b before rolling down and passing through the hole 111, that roll would only be worth one point. On the other hand, if a ball rolls through the 1-point zone and fully enters the 2-point zone before rolling backwards and passing through the hole 111, that roll would only be worth two points. If the ball partially enters the 3-point zone and rolls backwards into the hole 111, the player earns two points, not three points. As indicated above, each player has two consecutive turns after which the next player plays. For a given player and a given turn, the number of points earned in the two consecutive turns are summed to generate the players total score for that turn.
Preferably, the game ends when a player/team reaches exactly 21 points. Players keep their previous scores if they score more than 21 points on a roll or turn. If a player/team scores 21 points, the opposing player/team can attempt to tie the game if they can score enough points with their remaining turns. If the game is tied at 21 points, play continues until a player/team has more points than their opponent at the end of a round. Of course, the game rules can be modified as desired or as necessary to play different versions of the game using the game system 100 or a modification of the game system 100.
It should be noted that the illustrative embodiments have been described with reference to a few embodiments for the purpose of demonstrating the principles and concepts of the invention. Persons of skill in the art will understand how the principles and concepts of the invention can be applied to other embodiments not explicitly described herein. For example, while a particular configuration of the game system 100 is described herein and shown in the figures, a variety of other configurations may be used, as will be understood by those skilled in the art in view of the description provided herein. Many modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein while still achieving the goals of the invention, and all such modifications are within the scope of the invention.
This application is a nonprovisional application that claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/580,360, filed on Sep. 2, 2023, entitled “A GAME SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLAYING THE GAME,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63580360 | Sep 2023 | US |
