Patent Application
20210140735
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates to games and more particularly to a slingshot based tossing game using any one of a number of projectiles. The tossing of objects into a targeted area is well known and has served as an enjoyable pastime for many years. A number of games have been devised where objects are tossed or thrown into a basket or goal. Horseshoes, cornhole, ladder toss, and washers are all common examples of these types of tossing games.
The first variation of cornhole was patented in the late 1800′s. In this game, players toss bean bags onto a single, slanted and substantially horizontal game board where points are awarded for each bag that lands on that board. Players can earn additional points by tossing or bumping bags through a single hole within the board. This game has remained virtually unchanged for more than a hundred and thirty years and has endured as a favorite pastime for many players.
While cornhole is still extremely popular, a more energetic version would attract a new generation of players searching for faster paced entertainment. A standard cornhole board is large, heavy, cumbersome, and difficult to transport. A more dynamic game offering lightweight and easily maneuvered pieces would allow the game to be played in a variety of settings.
The present invention is directed to a fast-paced, lightweight, collapsible tossing game that is easily transported, set up, and stored. In this game, at least two game vessels are positioned at a specific distance from one another. Each game vessel is comprised of a collapsible base and a launch frame. When assembled, each game vessel is open at the top creating a target or basket in which projectiles can be received. The face of the game vessel has additional target areas as described more fully below.
The base is ideally comprised of a single piece of flexible material that connects to itself in a manner that forms a rigid, self-supporting structure. This base may be staked to the ground to enhance the stability of the assembled game vessel. Each base has a target face comprised of least two through-apertures extending through the thickness of the base material such that a projectile may pass through it. These apertures may take a variety of shapes and sizes provided that they accommodate the projectile; however, one hole is ideally smaller than the other. Unlike cornhole, the higher point value target faces in this game are substantially perpendicular to the ground.
A launch frame extends from the top of the base. Each launch frame is removeably attached to the base and has a pair of elongate members positioned a distance apart either by affixing the members at a specific distance or by placing a brace or crosspiece between the elongate members. An elastic material coupled to a sling or pouch is affixed to the elongate members to create a slingshot.
Each player takes turns launching projectiles of choice toward the target face of their opponent's game vessel. Each target opening is assigned a point value and two or more teams compete by tossing the projectiles through the target openings to accumulate a winning score. Game scoring is based on the area that the player hits with the projectile. An object passing through the smallest target is awarded more points than an object passing through the larger target or into opening at the top of the base. If the player strikes the barrel but the object does not pass through or into one of the target areas, the player is awarded even fewer points. By orienting the high point target areas vertically and introducing a slingshot to launch bean bags or other projectiles into these targets, inventors have a created an energetic game requiring a skill level that far exceeds that called for in cornhole.
The base 10 may be comprised of a single panel of stiff, flexible material such as a polymer or thin metal that, when manipulated, transforms into the base 10. This base panel 20 has an attachment means 25 that is either affixed to, or an integral part of, the base panel 20. When erected, the attachment means 25 allows the base panel 20 to connect to itself, forming a rigid, self-supporting base 10 as illustrated in
One embodiment, illustrated in
It should also be recognized that the base panel 20 may be scored, hinged, or folded to create a multi-faceted prismatic base 10. The base 10 may take the form of an octagonal, rectangular, hexagonal, triangular or other common prismatic shape. Target receptacles 55 may be placed on one or more of the various faces of a prismatic base to modify the game's complexity and skill level.
Each game vessel 5 has at least two through-apertures 55 that serve as the target receptacles; ideally one aperture is smaller than the other. Looking now to
A launch frame 15 extends substantially vertically from the open top 50 of the constructed base 10.
To assemble the game vessel 5 in this particular embodiment, the player slides the launch frame 15 into the open top 50 of the constructed base 10, placing the protrusions 70 into the cavities 75 and the slots 82 into the base panel 20 such that the launch frame 15 is held securely within the assembled base 10. This configuration makes it easy to assemble and disassemble each game vessel 5 and to transport and store the base panel 20 and launch frame 15 when the game vessel 5 is not in use. It should be noted that the launch frame 15 may be attached to the base 10 by other means including but not limited to alternate protrusion/cavity design, hook and loop tape, adhesives, mechanical fasteners and the like.
As previously noted, the launch frame 15 has two elongate members 80, each elongate member 80 having an attachment point 85 as illustrated in
A pouch or sling 105 having a size and shape that will accommodate the projectile 65 is affixed on or through the approximate center of the length of the elastic material 90. When a projectile 65 is placed in this pouch 105 and the pouch 105 is pulled back, potential energy is stored within the elastic material 90. When the player releases the grip on the pouch 105, this potential energy transforms into kinetic energy, launching the projectile 65 in the general direction in which it was aimed.
To play the game, each player takes aim and launches the projectile 65 into the opposing team's game vessel 5. The player places the object into the sling 105, pulls back on the elastic material 90, aims for the target receptacles 55 on the opposing team's game vessel 5, and releases the sling 105. Inventors anticipate that a soft projectile 65 such as a bean bag will be used but any appropriate projectile 65 capable of passing through the target receptacles 55 may be launched including snowballs, water balloons, eggs, soft balls, and other similar objects. The lightweight nature of the game vessel 5 and open base allows players to easily lift the units when retrieving projectiles 65 within it.
While the above description contains many specifics, these should be considered exemplifications of one or more embodiments rather than limitations on the scope of the invention. As previously discussed, many variations are possible and the scope of the invention should not be restricted by the examples illustrated herein.
This application claims benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/933,579 of Billy B. Mullet Jr. filed Nov. 11, 2019, entitled Slingshot Game Apparatus, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62933579 | Nov 2019 | US |
