METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAGNETIC TOSS GAMING

Abstract

Methods, systems and pieces for developing and challenging eye-hand coordination are provided. In one version, a game is provided that includes one or more magnetically charged game pieces. A magnetic target may be mounted on a preferably inclined and magnetically attractive target surface. One or more game piece forms an aperture. The aperture enables the game piece to be more easily tossed toward and adhere to a magnetically attractive surface. The apertures further allow the game pieces to overlay each other when adhered to the target surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to objects that may be tossed by hand. The present invention further relates to objects that temporarily adhere to a surface when thrown by hand against the surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Eye hand coordination is a skill that is useful in a myriad of human occupations and pastimes. The tossing of game pieces towards a target surface or object, such as a flat surface, a wall or a vertical post, may help develop eye-hand coordination as well as provide entertainment value.

A number of games have been developed which involve the use of game pieces that temporarily adhere to a target surface. The prior art includes magnetically charged game pieces that adhere against a surface that is magnetically attractive to the game pieces.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,605 to Davey discloses a magnetic toss game that simulates an established sports game. Davey's game provides a plurality flat magnetic disks that are shaped to evoke or signify a hockey puck, soccer ball, football, basketball, or golf ball, and the like. Each type of game piece has a corresponding magnetic target that is designed to evoke or signify a hockey net, soccer goal net, football goal post, basketball net, golf green with hole, and the like. The magnetic target of Davey may be mounted on a refrigerator, or other flat metallic surface, and is preferably vertically oriented. The magnetic target mounted on the flat metallic surface is intended to form a game surface capable of adhering magnetic interaction with the thrown magnetic game pieces. The game pieces are each flat, continuous sheets that too often bounce off of the game surface and fail to adhere to the game surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,587 to O'Grady discloses a Magnetic Game and Method which involves a rigid backed game board which itself is magnetized to attract the projectiles thrown at the game board. U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,509 to Bishop discloses a Molded Bingo Chip with Magnetic Structure Secured Therein. The chip of Bishop is a bingo marker containing a preformed slot into which is placed a structure of magnetic material. An additional sealing layer of material is placed and secured over the magnetic material, thus sealing the magnetic structure within the bingo marker. U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,597 to Smith et al. discloses a ferromagnetic device for attracting and picking up circular or disc-like marker means which comprise an enmeshed magnetically chargeable metallic screen. U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,207 to Jones and U.S. Pat. No. 3,122,684 to Genin each separately disclose magnetized game boards designed to attract magnetic game pieces. U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,841 to Klick discloses a game board comprised of a metallic wire screen embedded between two layers of flexible plastic. U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,325 to Sheem discloses a magnetic dart game simulating ball games such as football, baseball and basketball.

However, none of the prior art magnetic toss game pieces provide a game piece design that is optimally adapted to enable successful adhesion of the game pieces to a target surface when the game pieces collide against the target surface as thrown by a human player. There is therefore a long-felt need to provide an improved game piece design, method and system that supports more accurate and consistent placement of magnetically charged game pieces by hand tossing towards a magnetically attractive magnetic surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other objects of the present invention are made obvious in light of this disclosure, wherein a method, system and a game piece are provided. An exemplary game piece comprises a magnetic game piece having a body material that is shaped to form at least one aperture that is internal to the game piece. The aperture may be fully or partially encompassed by the body material, and is preferably substantively central to the shape of the game piece. It is understood that one or more game pieces may be shaped to provide more than one aperture.

The invented game piece preferably provides an aperture that (a.) reduces the weight of the instant game piece, (b.) affects the summed air resistance experienced by the game piece as the game piece flies through the air, and (c.) allows the human player to develop hand throwing techniques to cause the game piece to rotate about the aperture as the game piece is thrown from the player's hand and to a target surface. The aperture of the invented game piece further enables a plurality of game pieces to overlay each other when adhered to the target surface. More particularly, the method of the present invention enables an adherence of a first game piece on a target surface, wherein a portion of the target surface is encompassed by an aperture of the first game piece and the encompassed portion of the target surface remains exposed and available for adherence with the body of material of a second game piece.

The magnetic game piece is preferably flexible and allows, when the game piece is tossed toward a surface having a magnetic charge that is opposite and attractive to a magnetic charge of the game piece, a leading portion of the game piece that strikes the surface to adhere to the surface while a trailing portion of the same game piece is still in motion toward the surface. The optional flexibility of the game piece thus allows the game piece, in certain alternate preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention, to become magnetically coupled with the magnetically attractive surface upon the occurrence of physical contact between the leading portion and the surface and while the trailing portion is still travelling toward, but has not yet struck, the surface. The coupling of the leading portion might, in certain instances, not by itself be sufficient to magnetically adhere the game piece to the surface, but might generate sufficient magnetic force to enable the trailing portion to come into contact with surface and thereupon cause simultaneous magnetic attraction between the surface and both (a.) the leading portion and (b.) the trailing portion sufficient to cause the entire game piece to adhere to the surface.

One or more game pieces may optionally be color-coded and/or bear distinctive logos or images on at least one surface of the game piece body material. The body material may comprise a flat, flexible rim having an inner radius that substantively forms or describes the aperture. The aperture may alternatively be shaped as a circle, an ellipse, a quadrilateral, a polygon, a logo, or other shape.

The body material of one or more game pieces may provide a first magnetic surface and a second surface, wherein the first magnetic surface carries a higher magnetic charge than the second surface, wherein preferably the first magnetic surface carries a magnetic charge density per surface area that is at least an order of magnitude higher than the magnetic charge density of the second surface.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety and for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Such incorporations include U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,605 (inventor: Davey, III; issued on Sep. 12, 2000) titled “Magnetic toss game”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,841 (inventor: Klick, A.; issued on Apr. 9, 1991) titled “Means and method of a game board for receiving magnetic pieces”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,325 (Inventor: Sheem, S.: issued on Jul. 21, 1987) titled “Game toy”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,509 (inventor: Bishop, K.; issued on Jun. 30, 1987) titled “Molded bingo chip with magnetic structure secured therein”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,587 (inventor: O'Grady, G.; issued on Dec. 15, 1981) titled “Magnetic game and method”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,597 (inventors: Smith, et al.; issued on Oct. 30, 1979) titled “Magnetic pick-up device and marker”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,207 (inventor: Jones, W.; issued on Apr. 8, 1975) titled “Board game apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,122,684 (inventor: Genin et. al; issued on Feb. 25, 1964) titled “MAGNETIZED GAME BOARD CONFIGURATIONS”.

The publications discussed or mentioned herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Furthermore, the dates of publication provided herein may differ from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These, and further features of various aspects of the present invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary first game piece being held by a human game player's hand;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a plurality of game pieces of FIG. 1 that have landed on, and are magnetically adhered to, a target surface;

FIG. 3 is a compiled perspective view of the first game piece of FIG. 1 depicted at several separate moments as the first game piece travels toward the target surface of FIG. 2 and after the first game piece has been tossed by a human player;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first game piece of FIG. 1 that is in the process of deflecting and magnetically adhering to the target surface of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view an alternate game piece, or magnetic disk, and illustrates an inner radius of a disk material thereof that defines an alternate aperture and a second radius of the disk material that defines an outer edge of the alternate game piece;

FIG. 6 is a cut-away side view of the alternate game piece of FIG. 5 that illustrates an outer layer, and adhesive and a magnetic layer;

FIG. 7 is a top view a second alternate game piece having a non-circular aperture and a non-circular outer edge;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a target that may be affixed to the target surface of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a front view of an alternate target having a planar surface and a pair of legs;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the alternate target of FIG. 9 in an inclined position;

FIG. 11 is a back view of the alternate target of FIG. 9 and showing an optional pair of apertures and an optional pair of spring assemblies; and

FIG. 12 is a cut-away side view detail of the alternate target of FIG. 9 showing an optional first clip engaging with a first leg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular aspects of the present invention described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.

Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recited events which is logically possible, as well as the recited order of events.

Where a range of values is provided herein, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the methods and materials are now described.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary first game piece 2 being held by a human game player's hand. The first game piece includes a flexible, flat body 4 (hereinafter “body” 4) that is defined by an inner radius R1 and an outer radius R2. In certain alternate preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention, the inner radius R1 is preferably dimensioned with a range from two inches to one foot, and the outer radius R2 is preferably dimensioned to be at least 0.25 inch greater than the inner radius and within a range of from five inches to one foot.

The body 4 may be or comprise a flexible magnetic sheet material such as, but not limited to, the 30 mil thick car magnetic sheeting as marketed by LogoMagnet.com, a division of Turner Graphics Corporation of Boiling Springs, S.C.; MessageMag™ flexible magnetic sheeting marketed by Magnum Magnetics of Marietta, Ohio; and/or other suitable flexible magnetically charged material known in the art.

The body 4 may be formed of a homogenous magnetically charged material 4A, or alternatively by combination of a layer of magnetic material 4A that is adhered to an outer layer 4B, wherein the outer layer is composed of a less magnetically charged material. The layer of magnetic material 4A of the body 4 preferably holds at least ten times the magnetic charge per unit volume as the outer layer 4B.

An internal aperture A of the first game piece is formed and defined by the inner radius R1 of the body. A planar area of the aperture A is defined within an X-Y plane by a surface area encompassed by the inner radius R1, wherein the planar area of the aperture A is preferably greater in magnitude than a planar body surface area of the body 4, whereby the body planar surface area of the body 4 is defined also within the X-Y plane and extends from the inner radius R1 of the body 4 and to the outer radius R2 of the body 4. More particularly, the surface area of the body 4 is defined as the area extending between the inner radius R1 and the outer radius R2 when the body is flattened out and in a planar orientation along the X-Y plane, as shown on FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. The surface area of the aperture A is preferably greater than twice the magnitude of the X-Y planar surface area of the body 4.

The planar body surface area of the body 4 preferably has a surface area less than half in magnitude of planar surface area of the aperture A; and the body 4 preferably weighs less than four ounces to improve ease of throwing and handling by the game player.

The outer radius R2 may be dimensioned within the range of from 0.5 inch to one foot and more preferably is dimensioned in the range from two inches to ten inches. The inner radius R1 may be dimensioned within the range from 0.25 inch shorter than the dimension of the outer radius R2 to six inches shorter than the dimension of the outer radius R2. The inner radius R1 is more preferably dimensioned within the range from 0.5 inch shorter than the dimension of the outer radius R2 to three inches shorter than the dimension of the outer radius R2.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a front view of a plurality of first game pieces 2 of FIG. 1 that are landed on, and magnetically adhered to, a target surface 6. The target surface 6 may be or comprise a magnetically attractive surface, such as a metal pan or sheet, a magnetically attractive door of a refrigerator, or other suitable magnetically charged or attractive material, surfaces and objects known in the art. The inclusion of the apertures A in the shape of the first game pieces 2 improve the capacity of the first game pieces 2 to (a.) partly overlay neighboring game pieces 2 and (b.) more often adhere to the target surface 6 when tossed by the game player. The apertures A allow the target surface 6 to magnetically hold the plurality of first game pieces 2 while exposing more surface area of the target surface 6 to accept further adherence by additional first game pieces.

The target surface 6 is preferably shaped to present both (a.) a height dimensioned within the range of from two times the game piece outer radius R2 to three feet or greater and (b.) a width dimension orthogonal to the target surface height, wherein the target surface width is dimensioned within the range of from two times the game piece outer radius R2 to two feet or greater.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a compiled perspective view of the first game piece 2 of FIG. 1 depicted at several separate moments as the first game piece 2 travels toward the target surface 6 of FIG. 2 and after the first game piece 2 has been tossed by a game player. The aperture A allows the first game piece 2 to pass through the air and towards the target surface 6 with reduced air or wind resistance than if the first game piece 2 were a solid sheet of material 4 extending for the full area defined by the second radius R2. The shape of the first game piece 2 further affects any spinning of the first game piece 2 resulting from the tossing of the first game piece 2 by the human game player as the first game piece 2 passes toward the target surface 6.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first game piece 2 of FIG. 1 that is in the process of deflecting while simultaneously magnetically adhering to the target surface 6 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The inclusion of the aperture A in the shape of the first game piece 2 affects the dynamic shape and behavior of the first game piece 2 (a.) as the first game piece 2 strikes the target surface 6, and (b.) as the flexible body 4 of the first game piece 2 deflects as a consequence of colliding with the target surface 6. The deflection of the first game piece 2 experienced during collision of the body 4 with the target surface 6 improves the resultant probability that the first game piece 2 will adhere to the target surface 6.

The magnetic game piece 2 is preferably flexible and allows, when the game piece 2 is tossed toward the target surface 6 having a magnetic charge that is opposite and attractive to a magnetic charge of the game piece 2, a leading portion of the game piece 2 that strikes the target surface 6 to adhere to the target surface 6 while a trailing portion of the game piece 2 is still in motion toward the target surface 6. The optional flexibility of the game piece 2 thus allows the game piece 2, in certain alternate preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention, to become magnetically coupled with the target surface 6 upon the occurrence of physical contact between the leading portion and the target surface 6 and while the trailing portion is still travelling toward, but has not yet struck, the target surface 6. The coupling of the leading portion might, in certain instances, not by itself be sufficient to magnetically adhere the game piece 2 to the target surface 6, but might generate sufficient magnetic force to enable the trailing portion to come into contact with target surface 6 and thereupon cause simultaneous magnetic attraction between the target surface 6 and both (a.) the leading portion and (b.) the trailing portion sufficient to cause the entire game piece 2 to adhere to the target surface 6.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a top view an alternate game piece 8, or magnetized disk 8, and illustrates an inner radius R3 of a flexible magnetized material 10 (hereinafter “disk” 10) that defines an alternate aperture B and a outer radius R4 of the disk 10 that defines an outer edge E1 of the disk 10. A flat rim surface 11 of the disk 10 of the may be positioned along a two-dimensional X-Y plane, wherein the flat rim surface 11 extends between a substantively circular inner edge E2 and a substantively circular outer edge E1 of the magnetic disk. A preferably uniform thickness T of the disk 10 extends preferably less than two inches along a Z-axis that is orthogonal to the X-Y plane when the flat rim 11 is aligned in parallel with the X-Y axis.

The disk 10 may be or comprise a flexible magnetic sheet material such as, but not limited to, the 30 mil thick car magnetic sheeting as marketed by LogoMagnet.com, a division of Turner Graphics Corporation of Boiling Springs, S.C.; MessageMag™ flexible magnetic sheeting marketed by Magnum Magnetics of Marietta, Ohio; and/or other suitable flexible magnetically charged material known in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, one or more bodies 4 or disks 10 of the plurality of game pieces 2, 8 may present an image, such as a textual image 11A that displays text, a corporate logo 11B, a sports team logo 11C, or other visually discernible elements. One or more images 11A-11C may present one or more visible colors, such as red, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange, or a mixture or combination of colors found within the light spectrum visible to the human eye.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a cut-away side view of the magnetized disk 10 of FIG. 5 that illustrates the outer layer 10A, an optional adhesive 10B and a magnetic layer 10C. The optional adhesive 10B may be included to bind the outer layer 10A to the magnetic layer 10B. In certain versions of the magnetic disk 10, the outer layer 10A may bind with the magnetic layer 10C as affected by a binding process and/or due to inner the inherent qualities of the outer layer 10A and/or the inner layer 10C, wherein an adhesive 10B is not comprised within the alternative magnetic disk 10. The magnetic disk 10 preferably weighs less than four ounces to improve ease of throwing and handling by the game player.

The magnetic layer 10C preferably has more than twice the magnetic charge density than the outer layer 10A, and more preferably more than twenty times the magnetic charge density per unit volume than the outer layer 10A. The combined thickness T of the inner layer 10A, adhesive 10B and outer layer 10C is preferably less than two inches and more preferably in the range of from 0.1 inch to 0.25 inch.

The first game piece 2 of FIG. 1 may alternatively or additionally comprise the magnetic layer 10C, the outer layer 10A, and/or the adhesive 10B as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a top view a second alternate game piece 14 having a second alternate body 14A comprising magnetically charged material and a non-circular aperture 14B. The second alternate body 14A includes a non-circular inner edge E3 and extends from the non-circular inner edge E3 to a non-circular outer edge E4. The non-circular aperture 14B is formed by the non-circular inner edge E3 of the second alternate body 14A.

The second alternate body 14A of FIG. 7 may alternatively or additionally be or comprise the magnetic layer 10C, the outer layer 10A, and/or the adhesive 10B as shown by FIG. 6. Alternatively or additionally, the second alternate body 14A may be or comprise a flexible magnetic sheet material, such as, but not limited to, the 30 mil thick car magnetic sheeting as marketed by LogoMagnet.com, a division of Turner Graphics Corporation of Boiling Springs, S.C.; MessageMag™ flexible magnetic sheeting marketed by Magnum Magnetics of Marietta, Ohio; and/or other suitable flexible magnetically charged material known in the art.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 2 and FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a front view of a target 16 that may be affixed to the target surface 6. The target surface 6 may be comprised within the area defined by the inner radius R1 of the first game piece 2, and alternately or additionally a target image 18 of the target may be small enough to be fully encompassed within the area defined by the inner radius R1 of the first game piece 2. The target 16 may optionally be magnetically charged and removably affixed to a magnetically attractive surface, such as the target surface 6 of FIG. 2. Alternatively or additionally, the target 16 may be comprised of the magnetic layer 10C, the outer layer 100, and/or the adhesive 100 as shown in FIG. 6, wherein the target image 18 is presented upon the outer layer 10A. The target 16 may be or comprise a flexible magnetic sheet material such as, but not limited to, the 30 mil thick car magnetic sheeting as marketed by LogoMagnet.com, a division of Turner Graphics Corporation of Boiling Springs, S.C.; MessageMag™ flexible magnetic sheeting marketed by Magnum Magnetics of Marietta, Ohio; and/or other suitable flexible magnetically charged material known in the art.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 9, FIG. 9 is a front view of an alternate target 20 having a planar surface 22 and a pair of legs 24 & 26. The planar surface 22 is magnetically charged to attract the game pieces 2 & 8 and forms a mutually orthogonal height H1 and width W. The planar surface 22 is preferably shaped to present both (a.) a height H1 dimensioned within the range of from two times the game piece outer radius R2 or R4 to three feet or greater and (b.) a width dimension W, wherein the target surface width W is dimensioned within the range of from two times the game piece outer radius R2 or R4 to two feet or greater. The first leg 24 and the second leg 26 are preferably detachably coupled with the planar surface 22. When coupled with the planar surface 22, the first leg 24 and the second leg 26 each extend from the planar 22 for a leg height H2, wherein leg height H2 is preferable dimensioned in a range of from one foot to three feet.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 10, FIG. 10 is a side view of the alternate target 20 in a preferred inclined position for game play, wherein the alternate target 20 is simultaneously standing on a floor 28 and leaning against a wall 30. In the game play position, a highest point of the planar surface 22, i.e., a point of the planar surface 22 most distal from the floor 28, may be positioned at a resting height Hr above the floor 28 while separate contact points between each leg 24 & 26 and the floor 28 is effected at a maximum displacement D from the wall 30. In certain alternate preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention, the preferred resting height Hr of the planar surface 22 may be approximately four feet and four inches plus or minus six inches, and the maximum displacement D of the legs from the wall 30 may be approximately one foot plus or minus six inches.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 11, FIG. 11 is a back view of the alternate target 20 wherein an optional pair of apertures are available for use in hanging the alternate target 20 from one or more features (not shown) of an external object, e.g., hooks (not shown) attached to the wall 30. The first aperture 32 and the second aperture 34 preferably extend fully through the planar surface 22 and are preferably symmetrically located in reference to a height axis Ah, wherein the height axis Ah bisects the planar surface 22. A first spring assembly 36 detachably couples the first leg 24 to the planar surface 22 by applying compressive forces against the first leg 24 in at least two directions that are each approximately orthogonal to the height axis Ah, wherein at least one compressive force is provided by a spring (not shown). A second spring assembly 38 detachably couples the second leg 26 to the planar surface 22 by applying compressive forces against the second leg 26 in at least two directions that are each approximately orthogonal to the height axis Ah, wherein at least one compressive force is provided by a spring (not shown).

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 12, FIG. 12 is a cut-away side view detail of an optional first clip 40 of the planar surface 22 inserted into a first channel 42 of the first leg 24. A first tongue 44 of the first clip 40 extends into the first channel 42 while not necessarily filling the entire first channel 42, whereby the first clip 40 supports the detachable coupling of the first leg 24 with the planar surface 22. It is understood that the second leg 26 may be additionally detachably coupled with the planar surface 22 by an additional optional clip.

The foregoing disclosures and statements are illustrative only of the present invention, and are not intended to limit or define the scope of the present invention. The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Although the examples given include many specificities, they are intended as illustrative of only certain possible applications of the present invention. The examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of some of the applications of the present invention, and the full scope of the Present Invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described applications can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. The scope of the present invention as disclosed and claimed should, therefore, be determined with reference to the knowledge of one skilled in the art and in light of the disclosures presented above.

Claims

1. A magnetic toss game piece comprising a substantively flat disk comprising a magnetically charged body material forming an aperture.

2. The game piece of claim 1 having a mass of less than four ounces.

3. The game piece of claim 1, wherein the body material fully encompasses the aperture.

4. The game piece of claim 1, wherein the body has a surface area less than a surface area of the aperture.

5. The game piece of claim 1, wherein the body has a surface area of less than one half of the surface area of the aperture.

6. The game piece of claim 1, wherein the body is shaped as a flat rim having an outer edge and an inner edge, and wherein the inner edge at least partially defines the aperture.

7. The game piece of claim 1, wherein at least one disk defines an outer radius dimensioned approximately within the range of from two inches to ten inches.

8. The game piece of claim 1, further comprising a magnetically attractive surface, wherein the surface is adapted for removable attachment of the body material.

9. A magnetic toss game set comprising a plurality of flat magnetic disks, each disk having a body material forming an aperture.

10. The magnetic toss game set of claim 9, wherein a first surface of the body material of a first disk of the plurality of disks at least partly presents an image.

11. The magnetic toss game set of claim 10, wherein the image includes an element of color selected from the color group consisting of red, blue, yellow, green, purple and orange.

12. The magnetic toss game set of claim 9, wherein at least one disk defines an outer radius dimensioned approximately within the range of from two inches to ten inches.

13. A magnetic toss game set comprising: a disk having a magnetically charged body material forming an aperture; anda target.

14. The magnetic toss game set of claim 13, the target further comprising a magnetically charged target surface, whereby the target surface presents a magnetic charge opposite to the body material.

15. The magnetic toss game set of claim 13, wherein the body material is shaped as a flat rim having an outer edge and an inner edge, and wherein the inner edge defines the aperture.

16. The magnetic toss game set of claim 13, wherein the target is magnetically charged and is removably attachable to an external magnetic surface.

17. The magnetic toss game set of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of flat magnetic disks, each disk having a body material forming an aperture.

18. The magnetic toss game set of claim 17, wherein at least one body material of at least one disk is shaped as a flat rim having an outer edge and an inner edge, and wherein the inner edge defines the aperture.

19. The magnetic toss game set of claim 17, wherein the target presents a smaller target surface area than an aperture surface area of the magnetic disk.

20. The magnetic toss game set of claim 17, wherein the target presents a target image having a smaller target surface area than an aperture surface area of the magnetic disk.