Patent Application
20160045818
Outdoor games and activities at picnics, pool parties, beaches, and the like are very popular. There is always a need to keep persons entertained with new and different games. The present invention provides for particularly configured cups and rules for one such activity.
In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of playing a game and cups configured for the method, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least three cups, whereby said cups are constructed and arranged to have an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an interior cavity; at least one releasing ridge within said interior cavity; a grasping ridge formed about the circumferal lip of the outer surface of said cup; and a finger grip positioned on an exterior surface of said cup next to said grasping ridge; providing a receiving cup to each player, said receiving cups included in the at least three cups; designating one of said three cups as a launching cup; placing a quantity of water in the interior cavity of said launching cup; placing said launching cup in a single receiving cup; launching said water cup from said receiving cup; catching said launching cup.
The cup has at least one indicia marking a desired water level.
The indicia can be on the interior, exterior, or both.
The water cup nests within the interior cavity of said receiving cup in a configuration whereby the releasing ridge within said interior cavity contacts the outer surface of the water cup.
In one embodiment, the water cup nests within the interior cavity of said receiving cup in a configuration whereby the releasing ridge within said interior cavity contacts the outer surface of the water cup and the outer surface of the water cup is blocked from contacting the inner surface of the receiving cup by the releasing ridge. The blocking of surface contact in the nesting configuration allows cups to easily be separated when water cup is launched.
In one embodiment, the water cup further includes a weighted bottom.
In one embodiment, the method is also is including launching the launching cup from a first player to a second player; attempting to catch the launching cup by the second player; tabulating a score based on a successful or unsuccessful catch.
As generally understood, the present invention involves a novel cup 10 having a finger grip 12 formed thereon. Cup 10 is formed with a grasping ridge 14 and releasing ridge 16. Cup 10 further includes in its central interior cavity at least one releasing ridge 16 associated with a bottoming ledge 18. Contact ridge 20 is constructed and arranged to interact with finger grip 12 when cups are nested as demonstrated in
When conventional cups nest, typically various physical forces hold the cups one to another and require an exertion force in order to separate. The present invention has addressed this in configuring a cup constructed and arranged for playing the game described and enclosed herein. When two cups are in a nesting position, as demonstrated in
It is contemplated that each player will have a single cup. One player who is to start the game has a second cup nested within their receiving cup. An amount of water is placed in the nesting cup and the user launches the cup containing water from the receiving cup towards an opposing player. The opposing player must catch the water-containing cup without spilling the water. It is further contemplated that sufficient water be placed in the water-containing cup such that, when launched, the cup remains substantially upright while in flight. As shown in
In one embodiment, not shown in the figures, the liquid level of the cup is transparent or translucent. In another embodiment, the entire cup is either transparent or translucent.
Further contemplated in playing the game of the present invention would be a cup is launched and a person who catches a cup receives a certain number of points. If the person attempting to catch the cup drops the cup and/or spills the water, points are subtracted.
While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
