Patent Application
20230364481
The present invention relates broadly to apparatus for playing games of skill and more specifically to a ring toss game apparatus wherein a ring, tethered for pendulous movement, is manually guided toward a wall-mounted hook for capture by the hook, if tossed correctly.
Ring toss games are known generally and are employed to provide amusement, and competition or both, whether in someone's home or in a tavern or other public facility. Ring toss games exist with free rings that, as a game, resemble horseshoes and are likewise considered outdoor activities. In order to move the game indoors, the ring is tethered to a line that hangs freely from an overhead support, whether a cantilevered beam, the overhead or other support structure spaced a distance from the receiving hook. The object of such a game is to swing the ring through a pendulous arc toward a properly sized hook for capture of the ring on the hook. Scoring is accomplished by successfully placing the ring on the hook for retention thereby.
One such game apparatus is disclosed in Ferguson, U.S. Pat. No. 1,052,907. There, with reference to
A problem associated with the Ferguson '907 apparatus is that a player has to approach the hook and manually remove the ring from the hook for another attempt at ring capture. Further, scoring is also manually accomplished beyond a single-capture event. Ferguson '907 teaches multiple hooks, each with a predetermined score, which must be manually tallied, if at all.
In order to speed up the game, others have developed apparatus and methods to free the ring from the hook once captured, so that game play may be continued substantially uninterrupted. Such a structure is disclosed in Laskowski, U.S. Pat. No. 1,578,142. As seen in
A further development was provided by Coats et. al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,604. There, a stationary hook, as seen in
There accordingly exists a need for an apparatus to remove a ring from a hook in a ring toss game, in a manner that results in the ring being returned to the user quickly with the hook remaining stationary, ready to receive and capture the ring once again.
When playing ring toss games, each capture of the ring by a hook results in a scoring event that should be tallied. Such scoring systems range from the obvious, as seen by the multiple hooks with different scores written above the hooks at Ferguson '907, to the more sophisticated and modern. For example, Coats '604 has elevated scoring to an electronic endeavor and provides a displayed numerical score, updated on an ongoing basis throughout game-play. One of the problems with such electronic scoring systems is that it can be difficult to know whether an actual capture event has occurred or if the ring has merely made contact with a hook, such that no actual capture occurs. Coats '604 is silent on the structure required to determine whether an actual capture event has occurred in order to correctly tally the score.
Accordingly, a problem exists with electronic scoring systems for ring toss games, in that it is difficult to determine when an actual capture event has occurred or whether a mere ring-hook collision has occurred.
Another problem with such electronic scoring systems is that the unscrupulous player could merely stand in front of hook and repeat capture events one immediately after the other, thereby tallying scores in an unfair manner. Accordingly, there exists a need to ensure that the ring has been tossed from the designated starting line in order to enhance the control of game-play.
Therefore, while a tethered ring toss game can be an exciting and enjoyable competitive experience, such experience can be enhanced if the above-identified problems are addressed and solved.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a ring toss game apparatus that will further enhance the pace of a ring toss game by surely and rapidly engaging and removing a ring from the hook.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ring toss game apparatus with enhanced automated scoring accuracy.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a ring toss game apparatus that deters unscrupulous game play.
To those collective ends, and according to one preferred embodiment thereof, the present invention is directed to a ring toss game apparatus including a generally toroidal ring and a line configured for suspending the ring from a support structure at a distal end of the line, for selective, manually induced pendulous movement of the ring through an arcuate path. Also included is a housing configured for mounted disposition a predetermined length away from the ring support structure and a hook mounted to the housing for operative capture of the ring through the hook opening.
In addition, the present invention includes a device for providing a control signal responsive to the hook operatively capturing the ring and an apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook in operational communication with the device for providing a control signal, the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook being operable responsive to the control signal to engage the ring and move the ring off the hook.
Accordingly, games may be played by manually inducing pendulous movement of the ring toward the hook with the objective of each iteration thereof being operative engagement of the ring with the hook, resulting in a control signal being generated and applied to the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook, to engage the ring and move the ring off the hook, thereby allowing the ring to move under gravity and swing back to a player, thereby allowing another attempt at hook engagement without the player having to approach the hook and manually remove the ring.
It is preferred that the device for providing a control signal includes an electrical circuit having a normally-open switch operatively associated with the hook, wherein the switch is closed upon operative capture of the ring by the hook, the control circuit being in operative communication with the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook, wherein closing the switch initiates the control signal, thereby activating the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook.
It is further preferred that the hook includes a first conductive element, a second conductive element, and an insulator therebetween extending a predetermined distance through the long axis of the hook, thereby defining two conductors separated by an insulator through the length of the hook, wherein the first conductive element and the second conductive element are operatively connected to the device for providing a control signal, and wherein the ring is formed from an electrically conductive material, whereby the hook and the ring form the normally-open switch which is closed by operative capture of the ring by the hook, thereby causing the ring to electrically connect the first conductive element and the second conductive element, thereby closing the switch and initiating the control signal, thereby activating the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook.
Preferably, the device for providing a control signal includes an electrical circuit having an optical switch operatively associated with the hook, wherein the switch is closed upon operative capture of the ring by the hook, the control circuit being in operative communication with the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook, wherein closing the switch initiates the control signal, thereby activating the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook.
It is further preferred that the device for providing a control signal includes an electrical circuit having the hook in the circuit as a resistive element with a first predetermined resistance, wherein the operative capture of the hook results in the hook and ring forming the resistive element with a second predetermined resistance, and a voltage detector to detect the change in voltage drop across the resistive element caused by operative capture of the ring by the hook, the control circuit being in operative communication with the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook, wherein change in voltage drop across the resistive element activates the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook.
Preferentially, both the ring and hook are in electrical communication the control circuit, wherein the hook and ring form a switch that is closed upon operative capture of the ring by the hook, the control circuit being in operative communication with the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook, wherein closing the switch initiates the control signal, thereby activating the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook.
Preferably, the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook includes a movable arm mounted to the housing adjacent the hook for ring-removal movement through a predetermined path to selectively engage the ring and move the ring off the hook.
It is additionally preferred that the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook includes a motor operatively associated with the arm for driving the arm through the predetermined path to selectively engage the ring and move the ring off the hook, and a motor control circuit for controlling motor operation. Preferably, the motor is a servo motor configured to drive the arm between a vertically downwardly extending disposition and a generally upwardly extending position along the predetermined path upon activation by the motor control circuit signal to selectively engage the ring and move the ring off the hook.
It is also preferred that the device for providing a control signal includes a time delay circuit in operative communication with the motor control circuit to delay activation of the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook for a predetermined duration after the ring contacts the hook, thereby establishing an operative capture of the ring. It is preferred that the device for providing a control signal includes a time delay circuit configured to delay application of the control signal for a predetermined time after each operative ring capture to allow the ring to swing back to a user.
The present invention further preferably includes a scoring circuit including a preprogrammed microcomputer having at least one counter circuit configured to count the number of operative ring captures, and a display element operatively associated with the counter element to display a numerical score.
Preferably, the present invention further includes an elapsed time calculator selectively operable in association with the control circuit for timed game activities and a display element mounted to the housing for displaying numerical time data.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a ring toss game apparatus includes a generally toroidal ring, a line configured for suspending the ring from a support structure at a distal end of the line, for selective, manually induced pendulous movement of the ring through an arcuate path and a housing configured for mounted disposition a predetermined length away from the ring support structure. A hook is mounted to the housing for operative capture of the ring through the hook opening.
Also included is a device for providing a control signal responsive to the hook operatively capturing the ring including an electrical circuit having a switch operatively associated with the hook, wherein the switch is closed upon operative capture of the ring by the hook. The present invention also includes an apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook in operational communication with the device for providing a control signal, the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook being operable responsive to the control signal to engage the ring and move the ring off the hook.
Thereby, games may be played by manually inducing pendulous movement of the ring toward the hook with the objective of each iteration thereof being operative engagement of the ring with the hook, resulting in a control signal being generated and applied to the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook, to engage the ring and move the ring off the hook, thereby allowing the ring to move under gravity and swing back to a player, thereby allowing another attempt at hook engagement without the player having to approach the hook and manually remove the ring.
It is preferred that the hook includes a first conductive element, a second conductive element, and an insulator therebetween extending a predetermined distance through the long axis of the hook, thereby defining two conductors separated by an insulator through the length of the hook, wherein the first conductive element and the second conductive element are operatively connected to the device for providing a control signal, and wherein the ring is formed from an electrically conductive material, whereby the hook and the ring form the normally-open switch which is closed by operative capture of the ring by the hook, thereby causing the ring to electrically connect the first conductive element and the second conductive element, thereby closing the switch and initiating the control signal.
Preferably, the device for providing a control signal includes an electrical circuit having an optical switch operatively associated with the hook, wherein the switch is closed upon operative capture of the ring by the hook, the control circuit being in operative communication with the means for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook, wherein closing the switch activates the means for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook.
It is further preferred that the device for providing a control signal includes an electrical circuit having the hook in the circuit as a resistive element with a first predetermined resistance, wherein the operative capture of the hook results in the hook and ring forming the resistive element with a second predetermined resistance, and a voltage detector to detect the change in voltage drop across the resistive element caused by operative capture of the ring by the hook, the control circuit being in operative communication with the means for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook, wherein change in voltage drop across the resistive element acts as the switch to activate the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook.
Preferentially, wherein both the ring and hook are in electrical communication the control circuit, wherein the hook and ring form a switch that is closed upon operative capture of the ring by the hook, the control circuit being in operative communication with the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook, wherein closing the switch activates the means for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook.
It is further preferred that the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook includes a movable arm mounted to the housing adjacent the hook for ring-removal movement through a predetermined path to selectively engage the ring and move the ring off the hook, a servo motor operatively associated with the arm for driving the arm through the predetermined path to selectively engage the ring and move the ring off the hook, and a motor control circuit for controlling motor operation.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a toss game apparatus includes a generally toroidal ring, a line configured for suspending the ring from a support structure at a distal end of the line, for selective, manually induced pendulous movement of the ring through an arcuate path, and a housing configured for mounted disposition a predetermined length away from the ring support structure. A hook is mounted to the housing for operative capture of the ring through the hook opening.
The present invention also includes a device for providing a control signal responsive to the hook operatively capturing the ring including an electrical circuit having a switch operatively associated with the hook, wherein the switch is closed upon operative capture of the ring by the hook.
The present invention further includes an apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook in operational communication with the device for providing a control signal, the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook being operable responsive to the control signal to engage the ring and move the ring off the hook and including a movable arm mounted to the housing adjacent the hook for ring-removal movement through a predetermined path to selectively engage the ring and move the ring off the hook, a motor operatively associated with the arm for driving the arm through the predetermined path to selectively engage the ring and move the ring off the hook and a motor control circuit for controlling motor operation responsive to the device for providing a control signal.
Thereby, games may be played by manually inducing pendulous movement of the ring toward the hook with the objective of each iteration thereof being operative engagement of the ring with the hook, resulting in a control signal being generated and applied to the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook, to engage the ring and move the ring off the hook, thereby allowing the ring to move under gravity and swing back to a player, thereby allowing another attempt at hook engagement without the player having to approach the hook and manually remove the ring.
It is preferred that the control circuit being in operative communication with the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook, wherein closing the switch activates the apparatus for engaging the ring and moving the ring off the hook.
By the above, the present invention provides a ring toss game apparatus that will further enhance the pace of a ring toss game by surely and rapidly engaging in removing a ring from the hook. In addition, the present invention provides a ring toss game apparatus with enhanced automated scoring accuracy. Further, the present invention provides a ring toss game apparatus that deters unscrupulous game play.
Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to
A receiver 20 is mounted to a wall W or other generally vertical surface a predetermined distance away from the ring mount 14. The receiver 20 includes a housing 22 with a hook 40 projecting laterally outwardly therefrom toward the ring 12, and in general alignment therewith. As noted above, the hook 40 must be mounted a predetermined distance away from the ring mount 14, and therefore the 12, for proper game-play. Suspended from an eight-foot ceiling, a four-foot line 16 suspends the ring 12 in an operable position for player use. If the line is four feet long, presuming an angle of incidence of about 60° at capture, the receiver 20 should be mounted approximately six feet from the floor with the ring mount 14 approximately three and a half feet back from the hook 40. This should give the line 16 sufficient slack to allow the ring 12 to collide with the hook, with the ring 12 passing thorough the hook opening 48, resulting in capture of the ring 12 as seen in
During game play, a player (not shown) engages the ring 12 and manually urges or swings the ring 12 in a pendulous motion along an arc toward the hook. If the player is of sufficient skill, luck, and aim, an operative capture will occur wherein the ring 12 goes through the hook opening 48 and is captured by the hook 40 as seen in
With reference to
The hook 40 is formed with a substantially metallic shank 41 and is mounted to the sub-housing 24 to project laterally outwardly therefrom. The shank 41 extends a predetermined distance away from the sub-housing 24 and curves in the manner of a typical hook to form a partial loop with the distal end extending back toward the housing 22. The distal end of the shank 41 is angled approximately 50° from the vertical toward the housing 22 and defines a hook opening 48 through which the ring 12 can pass. As will be seen in greater detail hereinafter, the hook 40 can play an integral role in electrically determining whether an operative capture of the ring 12 has occurred.
The housing 22 also provides a structure for game controls that may include a game selector switch 54 and a power switch 56. In addition, other switches such as a time reset switch (72 in
The housing 22 also provides a cavity for a power supply which may be associated with a typical wall plug (not shown) and wire arrangement 26 as is known in the electrical arts. Further, receiver 20 may be battery powered using dry cells (not shown) for a more portable ring toss game apparatus 10.
As stated above, the sub-housing 24 contains the ring removal apparatus 28. There, a servo motor (36 in
Turning now to
The ring removal apparatus 28 enhances game-play, especially automated scoring and timed game-play, since the player no longer has to walk to the receiver 20 to remove the ring 12 from the hook 40. With the present invention, the ring 12 is quickly tossed free from the hook 40 and allowed to swing under the influence of gravity back toward the player, thereby enhancing the pace of the game. Further, a player's skills can be enhanced, because if a “sweet spot” to stand for proper aim is established, the player can remain at that position to await ring return.
While the pace of the game is enhanced by the structure set forth above, control of the game must be maintained especially with respect to scoring. Any game that is electronically scored depends on some electronic input that indicates that a scoring event has occurred. In the present case, the scoring event has occurred when the hook 40 “operatively captures” the ring 12. As used herein, the term “operative capture” means that the hook has captured the ring sufficiently to count as a scoring event and a triggering event for operation of the ring removal apparatus 28.
In order to maintain scoring integrity using the electronic scoring system of the present invention, the present invention includes a device for providing the control signal that acts as a trigger for both scoring and ring removal.
With reference to
The device for providing a control signal is illustrated at 58 and includes the hook 40 and a time delay circuit 66. In order to establish an operative capture, the ring 12 must lay on the hook 40 for a predetermined time period, which may be on the order of 0.5 seconds, in order to avoid spurious scoring events, such as when the ring 12 merely collides with the hook 40.
In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and with reference to
As previously discussed, the ring removal apparatus 28 includes the servo motor 36 with the arm 30 attached thereto. A motor controller 64 is operatively associated with the game control circuit 60 and operates the ring removal apparatus 28 upon receipt of the control signal CS from the first time delay 66. Therefore, once the operative capture is established, the control signal CS is sent to the motor controller 64 from the first time delay 66 and the ring removal apparatus 28 cycles thought its operation to remove the ring 12 from the hook 40.
In order to enhance game integrity, the motor controller 64 is operatively connected to a second time delay circuit 68 which provides a predetermined time delay on the order of 6.0 seconds, upon completion of the ring removal apparatus 28 operation, and sends a signal to the game controller 62 to halt further game-play for the predetermined time period to allow the ring 12 to swing back to the player.
The game controller 62, provides overall control of any number of games for game-play. The game controller 62 is operatively connected to a scoring circuit 70, which provides scoring information for a first score display 50 and a second score display 51. The scoring circuit 70 is controlled by the game controller 62, which withholds a scoring signal until the first time delay circuit 66 provides a control signal CS indicating an operative capture event has occurred and the second time delay circuit 68 communicates that sufficient time has passed since the last ring removal event to allow further scoring. The scoring circuit 70 tallies operative capture events and displays a score on a first score display 50 and, optionally, a second score display 51. There are no particular number of score displays required. Multiple score displays are at the discretion of the game designer.
The control circuit 60 also includes an elapsed timer 72, having an elapsed time display 54 and an elapsed time reset switch 84. The elapsed timer 72 provides a signal to the game controller for use in various game scenarios. Also included are a power switch 80 and a game controller reset switch 82 that can be used to cycle through various game scenarios as programmed into the preprogrammed game controller 62.
With reference now to
Turning now to
Turning now to
Use of the present invention can be illustrated by the following four examples, which also illustrate various modes of operation or game scenarios.
Example 1. The objective is to score as many points as you can in thirty seconds. With reference to
Example 2: The objective is to score three points as quickly as possible. Each player's time to three points is accumulated and the first player to reach a predetermined total time, for example 151 seconds, is deemed the loser. If the elapsed timer 72 reaches forty-five seconds before three points are scored, the player receives the forty-five seconds and a penalty five seconds, for a total of fifty seconds for that round.
Example 3: The objective is to score as many points as possible in ninety seconds. This mode is often used for single or double-elimination tournaments.
Example 4: Practice mode. There is no time limit in this mode, so the elapsed timer 72 is not used in practice mode. Use this mode to hone your throwing skills.
It is also contemplated that the present invention can be fitted with a wireless communication system, such as Wi-Fi, for remote communication of scores, game results and the like, via cell phones and the internet. Further, the Wi-Fi system may be operatively associated with the game controller for remote resets and the like, which may also be controlled via cell phone and the internet.
It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and application. While the present invention is described in all currently foreseeable embodiments, there may be other, unforeseeable embodiments and adaptations of the present invention, as well as variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, that do not depart from the substance or scope of the present invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.
