Patent Application
20250032874
The present invention generally relates to the field of outdoor games. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel outdoor game which requires players to put a hacky sack into a hole or land on the surface of a board for scoring points. The game unit includes two round slanted wooden or plastic boards that have holes in the center and a nylon sack or net attached to the underside of the holes to catch the hacky sacks. Three locking foldable metal legs and a small plastic or wooden box (to house the hacky sacks) attached to the underside of the board. Players score points by getting the hacky sack to land on the board, or in (i.e., through) the hole, using their feet, legs, or head. Players pass the hacky sack to their teammates using their feet, legs, or head and any team member can attempt to score. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
By way of background, outdoor gatherings are a common way for individuals to come together. Outdoor gatherings include events like picnics, tailgates, family reunions, and BBQs or a day at the beach. These gatherings provide an opportunity for friends and family to meet, socialize, and enjoy the outdoors. Outdoor gatherings provide sufficient space to sit and socialize comfortably. Outdoor gatherings also provide natural daylight, fresh air, connection with nature, and reduced indoor restrictions.
However, outdoor gatherings can become dull or uninteresting after a while, primarily due to the lack of exciting outdoor activities. Conventional outdoor activities and games are not designed to be played by multiple players or players of all ages. This limits the options for entertainment at these gatherings. Many games are either too complicated for kids or not challenging enough for adults. Card games and arcade games may become boring and lack physical activity. Due to the lack of interesting games, individuals may feel isolated or not fully engaged in the outdoor event, which can be counterproductive to the purpose of such gatherings. Individuals desire an improved fun and competitive outdoor yard game that can be played in a variety of outdoor settings and by individuals of all ages and genders.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved outdoor yard game that is both fun and competitive and can be played at outdoor gatherings. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a novel outdoor yard game that provides entertainment and promotes physical activity for individuals of all ages and genders. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor game that replaces conventional card games, arcade games, and other outdoor games at outdoor gatherings. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor yard game that enables users to play with hacky sacks to kick and volley hacky sacks in holes disposed on wooden or plastic boards. Furthermore, there is a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor game that can be played by users in teams and can be played using hacky sacks. Also, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hacky sacks game that includes two wooden or plastic boards having holes which are used for putting hacky sacks there through to score points. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor game that enables players to use their existing hacky sack playing skills or hone their new skill to help their team win games.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a hacky sack outdoor game assembly. The game assembly is used for playing a competitive game using hacky sacks to put into or through a hole or on a board using feet, legs, and the head to score points. The game assembly includes two identical game boards, each game board includes a slanted circular wooden or plastic member with a hole disposed at the center of the wooden or plastic member, the hole is used for receiving a hacky sack, a nylon sack, or net attached to the underside of the hole to catch the hacky sack, a plurality of pivoting legs attached to the bottom surface of the wooden or plastic member, the legs adapted to transition between a folded position and an unfolded position, a box for securely storing a plurality of sacks, a nylon strap each to secure the two game boards together and to provide additional support to the legs in the folded position. In use, players of a first-team kick, volley, and move a hacky sack into the hole or to place the hacky sack onto the wooden or plastic member of a game board of the two boards to score points; and, players of a second team kick, volley, and move the hacky sack into the hole or onto the wooden or plastic member of the two boards to score points. The team which scores the maximum or designated points wins the game.
In this manner, the hacky sack outdoor game assembly of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives and provides users with a fun and competitive outdoor yard game which includes placing a hacky sack on a slanted board or in (i.e., through) the hole disposed in the slanted board. The game assembly is easy to carry, promotes physical activity, and provides a competitive and fun game for individuals of all ages and genders. The rules can be customized as per the requirements of the players.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a hacky sack outdoor game assembly. The game assembly further comprising two identical game boards, each game board includes a slanted circular wooden or plastic member with a hole disposed at the center of the wooden or plastic member, the hole is used for receiving a hacky sack, a nylon sack, or net attached to the underside of the hole to catch the hacky sack, a plurality of pivoting legs attached to the bottom surface of the wooden or plastic member, the legs adapted to transition between a folded position and an unfolded position, a box for securely storing a plurality of sacks, a nylon strap each to secure the two game boards together and to provide additional support to the legs in the folded position. In use, players of a first-team kick, volley, and move a hacky sack into the hole or onto the wooden or plastic member of a game board of the two boards to score points, and players of a second-team kick, volley, and move the hacky sack into the hole or onto the wooden or plastic member of the two boards to score points.
In yet another embodiment, the hacky game using hacky sack outdoor game assembly is played between two teams or two individuals, wherein the points are scored by getting a hacky sack into or through the hole or landing onto the wooden or plastic member of the game board of the other player or team, with players on the same team working together to pass a hacky sack to their teammates to put the hacky sack into the hole or on the board of the opposing team.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the legs are telescoping and adjustable to different heights to accommodate users of varying preferences.
In yet another embodiment, the top surfaces of the wooden or plastic members are imprinted with a logo or other indicia for marketing and branding purposes.
In yet another embodiment, a method for playing a hacky hole or hacky sack game is described. The method comprising the steps of setting up two game boards at a distance, the game boards are in a deployed position standing on unfolded legs on a surface. Each game board has a wooden or plastic member which has a hole for receiving a hacky sack. The method further includes dividing players into two teams, each team associated with one of the game boards, utilizing feet, legs, or head to kick, volley, and move a hacky sack to put the hacky sack into the hole or place onto the wooden or plastic member of the game board of the opposing team, and playing the hacky hole or hacky sack game for a predetermined time or until a predefined maximum or designated point total is reached by a team, wherein the team achieving the maximum or designated points is declared as the winner.
In yet another aspect, a competitive outdoor game for children and adults is disclosed. The game is played using hacky sacks which are required to be put in a hole of a wooden surface or onto the wooden surface to score points. The game is played using a game unit which includes two round slanted wooden or plastic boards, each board has a hole in the center and a nylon sack or net attached to the underside of the hole to catch the hacky sacks. Each board has three locking foldable metal legs and a small wooden box to house the hacky sacks. During the hacky sack game, the two boards are placed ten feet apart. Players score points by getting the hacky sack to land on the board, or in (i.e., through) the hole, using their feet, legs, or head. Players are divided into two teams wherein the teams target the wooden or plastic board of the opposite team to score points.
Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved outdoor yard game that is both fun and competitive and can be played at outdoor gatherings. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a novel outdoor yard game that provides entertainment and promotes physical activity for individuals of all ages and genders. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor game that replaces conventional card games, arcade games, and other outdoor games at outdoor gatherings. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor yard game that enables users to play with hacky sacks to kick and volley the hacky sacks into holes disposed through the wooden or plastic boards. Furthermore, there is a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor game that can be played by users in teams and can be played using hacky sacks. Also, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hacky sacks game that includes two wooden or plastic boards having holes which are used for putting hacky sacks therethrough to score points. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor game that enables players to use their existing hacky sack playing skills or hone their new skills to help their team win the game.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a method for playing a hacky hole or hacky sack game. The method includes the steps of setting up two game boards at a distance, the game boards are in a deployed position standing on unfolded legs on a surface. Each game board has a wooden or plastic member which has a hole for receiving a hacky sack. The method further includes dividing players into two teams, each team associated with one of the game boards, utilizing feet, legs, or head to kick, volley, and move a hacky sack into the hole or place onto the wooden or plastic member of the game board of the opposing team, and playing the hacky hole or hacky sack game for a predetermined time or until a predefined maximum or designated point total is reached by a team, wherein the team achieving the maximum or designated point total is declared as the winner.
Referring initially to the drawings,
Referring to the
Referring again to
The game board 104 has the same structure and design as of the first game board 102. As illustrated, the second game board 104 has the wooden or plastic member 138 which includes a central hole 140 for receiving hacky sacks. A nylon sack or net 142 is attached to the underside of the hole 140 at the bottom surface 144 of the wooden or plastic member 138. Three pivoting legs 146, 148, 150 are disposed on the bottom surface 144 for enabling a user to place the game board 104 on any surface. The pivoting legs 146, 148, 150 can be folded when the game board 104 is not used as illustrated in
In some embodiments of the present invention, the legs 114, 116, 118, and the legs 146, 148, 150 are telescoping and can be adjusted to different heights to adjust the game boards 102, 104 to different users. The top surfaces of the game boards 106, 138 can have a logo or any other indicia 160 for marketing and branding purposes.
The game played using the hacky hole or hacky sack game unit 100 provides a competitive game for individuals of all ages and genders. Players score points by getting the hacky sack into or through the hole or landing same onto the wooden or plastic member of the game board of the other player or team. More specifically, for playing the game, players on the same team work together to pass a hacky sack to their teammates to put the hacky sack into the hole or board of the other team.
Thereafter, a scoring system is defined for scoring points by successfully kicking the hacky sack into or through the hole, or landing same onto the wooden or plastic member and staying on the member (Step 306). The scoring system can be tailored to the specific rules of the game, such as assigning different point values for different achievements.
In the next step 308, the players use their feet, legs, or head to kick, volley, and move a hacky sack to their teammates to maneuver the hacky sack into the hole or onto the wooden or plastic member of the other team. Finally, in step 310, the hacky sack game is played for a set amount of time or until a predefined maximum or designated point total is reached by a team, and the team with maximum points, or the first team to get to the designated point total, wins the game.
In one embodiment of the present invention, five points can be awarded to a team when a hacky sack is put into or through the hole of a board and three points can be awarded to the team when the hacky sack is placed onto the surface of the board. In other embodiments, ten points can be awarded upon putting the hacky sack into or through the hole and five points can be awarded upon placing the hacky sack onto the surface of the board.
In some embodiments, the wooden or plastic boards and the hacky sack contain photoluminescence material that illuminates in the dark to enable players to play the hacky sack game at night and in low-light areas.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “hacky hole or hacky sack competitive outdoor game assembly”, “competitive outdoor game assembly”, “game board assembly”, “hacky hole or hacky sack game unit”, and “game assembly” are interchangeable and refer to the hacky hole or hacky sack outdoor game unit 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the hacky hole or hacky sack outdoor game unit 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hacky hole or hacky sack outdoor game unit 100 as shown in the FIGS. is for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the hacky hole or hacky sack outdoor game unit 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the hacky hole or hacky sack outdoor game unit 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the hacky hole or hacky sack outdoor game unit 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/516,073, which was filed on Jul. 27, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63516073 | Jul 2023 | US |
