The invention relates generally to tabletop games and, more specifically, to tabletop games involving targets and at least one disc which is arranged to be launched or slid through at least one opening in the targets.
Tabletop games are games that are played on the top of a table or some other flat surface, for example, board games, dice games and card games. One such typical tabletop game, known as sharpshooter, involves a single target placed at one edge of a table. The object of the game is for the players to “shoot” or flick a marble using a Popsicle® type stick at the target to earn points. The game is described by the Walt Disney Company through the on-line division called Spoonful®.
Another typical tabletop game involves two soccer goals placed at opposite sides of a table. The object of the game is for each player to “kick” a paper ball across the table toward his/her opponent's goal, using only his/her fingers, to score on their opponent. The game is described by the Walt Disney Company through the on-line division called Spoonful®.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,114,523 (A. H. Revell) describes a tabletop game. The object of the game is to land as many cards as possible within the receptacle by sailing or gliding the cards through the air over a distance. The receptacle is formed by bending a flexible material into a cylindrical form and attaching the ends together. The upper edge of the receptacle is convex or conical such that when the receptacle is set up as a target the rear wall serves as a deflector for the cards thrown to the receptacle. Unfortunately, the game described in the Revell reference does not provide a device for launching projectiles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,703 (Wong) describes a projectile-target game of skill. The Wong reference discloses a tabletop game including a container or cup, a game board, a game piece, and a ball or some other projectile. The game piece is a flexible slat with a central spring and a bail. A ball may be placed into the bail of the game piece so that when the slat is flicked, the ball is propelled toward the upright cup/board assembly. Alternatively, the game piece may be used to swat a ball toward the cup/board assembly on its side. Unfortunately, the container of the game cannot be disassembled and can become easily deformed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,385 (Fitzpatrick et al.) describes a sports board game including a rotatable platform and a plurality of interchangeable game boards. The game also includes game pieces and goals around the perimeter of the game board. The game pieces can be slid or launched. To launch the game pieces, portable slotted ramps are provided. Unfortunately, the game disclosed in Fitzpatrick is complex and bulky.
Therefore, there is a long-felt need for a tabletop game that features targets which are lightweight, easy to maneuver, assemble and disassemble, at least one lightweight disc, and a lightweight device for launching or sliding the at least one lightweight disc into the lightweight targets.
The invention is a tabletop disc game assembly including a first target, the target formed from a sheet of a material, the sheet including a first side edge, a second side edge displaced from and substantially parallel with the first side edge, a fastening means operatively arranged to abut the first side edge against the second side edge, a substantially planar top side edge connecting the first side edge and the second side edge, a substantially planar bottom side edge displaced from and substantially parallel with the top side edge, the bottom side edge including a cut out, a second target substantially similar to the first target, a disc operatively arranged to be received within the first or second targets and a flexible member arranged to direct the disc into the first or second targets. When the targets are fastened and operatively arranged to be positioned upright on a flat surface, the targets are operatively arranged to receive the disc.
The invention also includes a tabletop disc game assembly including at least one target including a sheet of a material, the sheet including a first side edge, a second side edge displaced from and substantially parallel with the first side edge, a fastening means operatively arranged to abut the first side edge against the second side edge, a substantially planar top side edge connecting the first side edge and the second side edge and a substantially planar bottom side edge displaced from and substantially parallel with the top side edge, the bottom side edge including a cut out. When the sheet of material is fastened, the target is operatively arranged to be positioned upright on a flat surface and to receive a projectile.
Additionally, the invention is a method of playing a disc throwing game by a first team and a second team, comprising the steps of (A) assembling at least one target to be positioned upright on a flat surface and to receive a projectile, (B) positioning a player of the first team a distance from the at least one target, (C) sliding the projectile using a flexible member across the flat surface toward the at least one target or launching the projectile using the flexible member toward the at least one target by the player of the first team, (D) positioning a player of the second team a distance from the at least one target, (E) sliding the projectile using the flexible member across the flat surface toward the at least one target or launching the projectile using the flexible member toward the at least one target by the player of the second team and (F) repeating steps (C) through (E) in alternating fashion until the first team or the second team earns a predetermined amount of points.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to have a tabletop game that is lightweight, easy to maneuver, assemble, and disassemble. It is a further object of the invention to have a tabletop game that is easy to package and transport.
Still another object of the invention to have a tabletop game that includes receptacles having an open top and at least one cut out for receiving a projectile or a disc.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in view of the following detailed description in view of the drawings and appended claims.
The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying figures, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspect. The present invention is intended to include various modifications and equivalent arrangements within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Adverting now to the Figures,
As shown in
As shown in
A left side elevational view of target 20 is shown in
Open top 21 is shown in
A perspective view of flexible member 40 is shown in
Disc 60 is shown in
From the top and bottom plan views shown in
It should be appreciated that disc game assembly 10 can be used to play a disc throwing game. An example disc throwing game utilizing disc game assembly 10 can be played by two teams of two. However, it should be appreciated that the game can be played by teams having any number of players. A team wins by earning exactly twenty-one points. Points can be earned as follows. As discussed above, disc 60 or disc 61 can be slid along top surface 2 of table 1 toward an opposing target, for example target 30 as shown in
Also as discussed above, disc 60 or disc 61 can be launched through the air toward an opposing target, for example target 20 as shown in
In an example embodiment of the disc throwing game, each team can designate a single shot during a game as a bonus shot. The designated bonus shot allows the team member to earn double the amount of points if successful. For example, if a team member announces his shot is deemed the bonus shot and he slides a disc into the cut out of the opposing target, instead of earning three points he would earn six points for his or her team. A one point shot would be a two point shot if designated the bonus shot. A two point shot would be a four point shot if designated the bonus shot. An instant win is still possible for a bonus shot. However, if the designated bonus shot is missed and no points are earned, two points are deducted from the team's total score.
In an example embodiment of the disc throwing game, as discussed above, the first team to earn exactly twenty-one points wins. If, when trying to achieve a score of twenty-one, a team earns more than twenty-one points, then that team's score is reduced by the number of points earned in excess of twenty-one. For example, suppose team A has twenty points and only needs one point to reach twenty-one points to win. While intending to slide a disc to hit the opposing target to earn a single point to win, a team member of team A inadvertently slides a disc into the cut out of the opposing target. Since sliding the disc into the cut out of the opposing target earns three points, team A will lose two points for a total of eighteen points. It should be appreciated that the disc throwing game utilizing disc game assembly 10 can incorporate any point scoring scheme.
Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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