STACKABLE CORNHOLE GAME BOARD

Abstract

A complete game board (unitary structure) for a cornhole game that can be stacked over another game board in multiple numbers without any limitation is disclosed. The singular design, along with the ability to be stacked without limitation, enables this design to be molded/manufactured using the latest techniques including injection molding and 3-D printing, and provides for easy transportation/storage due to the stacking ability.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to cornhole game boards, and more particularly, the present invention relates to the utility for full singularly molded (unitary structure) game boards with the ability to be stacked without limitation.

BACKGROUND

Cornhole, also known as bag, bag toss, sack toss, or bean bag toss, is a popular lawn game in which players take turns throwing 16-ounce bags filled with corn kernels (or resin, or other usable material) at a raised platform (game board playing surface) with a hole in the far end. A bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the board scores 1 point. Play continues until a team or player reaches or exceeds the score of 21 by means of cancellation scoring.

The game boards are commercially available in a standard or regulation size based on the rules of the game. Typically, the game board is 2 feet by 4 feet with a 6-inch hole centered 9 inches from the top. Each board is angled with the top edge (nearest the hole) of the playing surface approximately 12 inches above the ground, and the bottom edge 3-4 inches above the ground. Traditionally, the game boards are made from wood, however, plastic boards are also commercially available made by a molding process. Production by a molded process can help with bulk supply and availability.

A detailed view of the prior-art reveals a number of different designs/configurations of the cornhole game board. US patent U.S. Pat. No. 8,162,318 discloses a two-component modular game board design. The modules, consisting of a flat board with a hole and a rigid frame, when assembled form an inclined game board as required by the game specifications. US patent US20060125186A1 discloses a modular game board design consisting of a flat top surface with a hole, and a base unit. Once assembled, the completed setup forms the game board which also has additional storage space in the base unit. Moreover, the disassembled boards can be stacked in pairs of two for easy storage.

For game supply purposes, it is advantageous to utilize a bulk manufacturing process, such as molding. In addition, bulk storage of many game boards, bulk transportation of many game boards, as well as retail space for presentation of many game boards can be problematic. Two main drawbacks identified from the prior disclosed designs include modular structures requiring assembly before usage, and inability/limited ability to be stacked. Thus, there is a need for game boards used in the cornhole game to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of known game boards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to entire game boards used in the game of cornhole to be stably stacked.

Imperative to the principal object of this present invention and utility is that the game boards be singularly manufactured as one unitary (one piece) structure. There should be no “moveable” (such as legs) or “removeable” (such as a playing deck) parts of the whole that requires said parts of the whole to be moved or removed, in order for the entire individual units to stack stably one over another. Embodiments such as moveable and removable parts would be counterintuitive and inhibit or nullify the intent of this bulk stackable utility invention.

It is another object of the present invention that multiple game boards with this utility take less storage space.

It is another object of the present invention that multiple game boards can be more easily transported.

It is another object of the present invention that the game board is economical to manufacture.

It is another object of the present invention that multiple game boards can utilize less retail floor space for presentation for sale.

It is yet another object of the present invention that the game board can be manufactured in a range of colors and patterns, or even with additives such as glow in the dark material.

In one aspect, disclosed is a game board for the cornhole game that can be stably stacked without limitation one over another for compactness. The disclosed game board can have a platform of a rectangular shape that has two parallel long sides and two parallel short sides. Two upstanding legs can be provided at the two corners of one short side, elevating said short side, such that the platform is sloped at an acute angle. This elevated short side is the short side closest to the hole in the platform. The two legs may not perpendicularly extend downwards from the platform, but slightly offset to a perpendicular axis through the game board. The two legs slightly offset outwards such as one game board slide over the two legs of the lower game board, and the platform of the upper game board can rest on the platform of the lower game board.

In one aspect, disclosed is, any perimeters of the game board extending downward from the platform or playing surface can also be offset to further enable multiple game boards to be stacked stably and more compactly.

In another aspect there can be only one wide leg of the short side nearest to the hole extending downward from the platform that is similarly offset to allow for multiple and bulk stacking of the game boards.

In another aspect there can be more than two legs of the short side nearest to the hole extending downward from the platform that may not be perpendicular but slightly offset such that the multiple legs of the upper game board slide over the more than two legs of a lower board.

In one aspect the game board can be made from plastic through a known process, such as molding.

It is another aspect that the game board could be manufactured in a range of sizes and colors including game boards of standard or regulation game size, as aforementioned in paragraph [004].

These and other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein and summary will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the game board, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows multiple stacked boards, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows multiple stacked boards, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the game board from another perspective, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonable broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration”. Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the present invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.

Referring to FIG. 1 which shows an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed game board for the corn hole game. The board 100 can include a platform 110 which can be rectangular having two parallel short sides and two parallel long sides. The top surface of the platform can be flat with a round hole 120 near one of the short sides, referred to hereinafter as the first short side 130 of the two opposite sides of the platform 110. Preferably two legs 140 can be provided at corners of the first short side 130 extending at an angle vertically downwards, while the other side does not have any legs and is supposed to rest flat on the ground/base surface. Such an arrangement of the two legs results in the sloped platform wherein the angle by which the platform is sloped can be proportional to the length of the legs and depends on the rules of the game. The two legs have to be of the same length to provide horizontal stability.

Referring to FIG. 2 The two legs 210 are not perpendicular to the platform but slightly offset to a perpendicular axis through the top of the platform. As can be seen in FIG. 2 the two legs 210 extend slightly outwards such that one game board can be stacked over another game board. By being stacked, two legs of the upper game board can slide over the two legs of the lower game board.

Referring to FIG. 3 Also, any perimeter of the game board platform edges extending downward 320 can be offset outwards and also not perpendicular to the platform surface but slightly offset to a perpendicular axis through the platform. As can be seen in FIG. 3 the two legs 310 and the perimeter 320 extending downward from the board platform perimeter which are both slightly offset. By being stacked, two legs 310 and the all perimeters 320 of the upper game board, can slide over the two legs and the perimeter extending downward of the lower game board as depicted in FIG. 3. Also, as can be seen in FIG. 3, multiple game boards stacked stably and compactly by using this utility with singularly molded game boards in totality. As can be seen in FIG. 3 multiple game boards can be stably and compactly stacked for less space needed for bulk storage, transportation, or retail space. Moreover, inherent to the arrangement of the two legs and the outward protruding parameter of this setup, any number of identical game boards can be stacked compactly without limitation.

The disclosed game board can be manufactured in a range of sizes and designs. For example, different colors and patterns can be used in the manufacture of the game board. The game board can be designed in standard/regulation sizes, such as the 2 by 4 feet and the diameter and position of the hole can also be according to the rules of the game. Additionally, the slope of the platform can also be according to the rules of the game. However, the game board of different dimensions can be within the scope of the present invention.

The game boards can be manufactured using any mold process (or 3D printed or other manufacturing process) but the current preferred mold process is injection molding.

The game boards can be manufactured using any reasonable material, such as plastic. The presently preferred plastic is high-density polyethylene. Other suitable molding resins include polyurethane, polypropylene, two or more polymer blends, etc.

Also it can be seen in FIG. 1 that the legs (or one single support arm) and the platform are integral. It is also integral to the utility, as seen in FIG. 1, that the game board be manufactured/molded as one single piece. For example, the game board can be manufactured from a plastic material using an injection molding process. However, any other material or process can be used for the manufacturing of the game boards without departing from the scope of the present invention. The unitarily (all-in-one piece) molded game boards enable the stacking utility while maintaining strength, simplicity, durability, and sturdiness to the product (with no moveable or removable parts of the whole)

FIG. 4 Referring to FIG. 4 which shows an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed game board for the corn hole game. The board 400 in FIG. 4 depicts the backside view of the game board. Showing the underside of playing surface platform 420 which is rectangular having two parallel short sides and two parallel long sides. The first (nearest as viewed in FIG. 4) short side 410 with a round hole (hole not visible) near the first short side 410 of the two opposite sides of the platform. Preferably two legs 430 can be provided at corners of the first short side 420 extending at an angle vertically downwards, while the other side does not have any legs, only perimeter extending downwards 440 and is supposed to rest flat on the ground/base surface. Such an arrangement of the two legs results in the sloped platform wherein the angle by which the platform is sloped can be proportional to the length of the legs and depends on the rules of the game. FIG. 4 also depicts an inside or underneath view of the perimeter extending downward 440 from the playing surface platform.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. A cornhole game board comprising: a generally rectangular shaped game board having a first and second longitudinal side disposed in generally parallel relation, and first and second lateral sides disposed in generally parallel relation, wherein said longitudinal sides and said lateral sides extend downwardly from an upper surface thereof, and said game board further including four corners, wherein each corner is positioned where said longitudinal sides intersect with said lateral sides;said game board defining a hole in said upper surface thereof;a pair of legs extending downwardly and outwardly from two of said corners formed by said first lateral side and both of said longitudinal sides, wherein each of said legs is formed into a generally L-shaped cross section;wherein that said cornhole game board is formed to be rigid to maintain its shape, and is stackable with other similarly shaped cornhole game boards.

7. The cornhole game board set forth in claim 6, wherein said cornhole game board is integrally formed as a single monolithic unit.

8. The cornhole game board set forth in claim 6, wherein said upper surface is sloped downwardly from said first lateral side to said second lateral side.