BACKGROUND
Toss games are popular among many different age groups. Games like cornhole have come to epitomize configurations for these types of games. These configurations often come in sets that include targets, like boards with one or more openings, and some type of projectile, like bean bags. Game play requires the targets to reside separate from one another. Individuals throw the projectiles at the targets. The objective is to land the projectile on the board or, preferably, have the projectile fall into the opening.
SUMMARY
The subject matter of this disclosure relates to improvements to toss games. Of particular interest are embodiments with a unique target for the projectile. These targets may feature a generally flat landing area that abuts an “upright” or vertical portion with the opening to receive the projectile. A swinging door may cover the opening.
DRAWINGS
This specification refers to the following drawings:
FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a toss game;
FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an example of structure for the toss game of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 depicts an elevation view of the structure of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 depicts a detail, cross-section view of the structure of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 depicts an elevation view of the structure of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 depicts a plan view of the structure of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 depicts an elevation view of the structure of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 8 depicts an elevation view of example of structure of the toss game of FIG. 1.
These drawings and any description herein represent examples that may disclose or explain the invention. The examples include the best mode and enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The drawings are not to scale unless the discussion indicates otherwise. Elements in the examples may appear in one or more of the several views or in combinations of the several views. The drawings may use like reference characters to designate identical or corresponding elements. Methods are exemplary only and may be modified by, for example, reordering, adding, removing, and/or altering individual steps or stages. The specification may identify such stages, as well as any parts, components, elements, or functions, in the singular with the word “a” or “an;” however, this should not exclude plural of any such designation, unless the specification explicitly recites or explains such exclusion. Likewise, any references to “one embodiment” or “one implementation” does not exclude the existence of additional embodiments or implementations that also incorporate the recited features.
DESCRIPTION
The discussion now turns to describe features of the examples shown in the drawings noted above.
FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram for an example of a recreational toss game 100. This example may be configured for individual or group play. These configurations may use designs that mimic certain aspects of life. These designs may take on forms that make light of or mock activities that individuals perform on a daily basis. It's well-known, for example, that individuals often use small bags to clean up after their dogs and deposit these bags into the trash. In one implementation, the design may simulate garbage cans (targets T) and small garbage bags (projectiles P). Game play, in turn, may require individuals to toss the garbage bags P at the garbage cans T, much like they might do if they were out walking a dog or at a dog park with their pet.
FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an example of the target T. This example may have a body 102 with a thin wall 104, preferably made of plastic or light-weight composite material. This construction may facilitate manufacture of the device. The thin wall 104 may form a cylinder that surrounds or encloses a hollow interior space. This cylinder may have a bottom 106 that resides on surface S. When outside, the surface S may be part of a lawn, driveway, parking lot, or the like. Indoor use may leverage any floor or, even, an elevated surface like a table top. The cylinder may also have a top 108, which may be removable from the thin wall 104. Attachments like fasteners or latches may find use to secure the pieces together and facilitate this feature. In one implementation, the top 108 may form a landing area 110 with a flat or planar surface 112. The landing area 110 may take up a majority of the diameter of the cylinder, as shown. The planar surface 112 may abut a receptacle 114 that protrudes upwards from the thin wall 104. The receptacle 114 may have an opening 116, often with a door 118 that can swing open in response to force or load. During the game, the projectile P may contact the door 118 to create this force. The door 118 may include a hinge 120 that allows the degree of freedom to rotate open in response to contact from the projectile P. The hinge 120 may generate a closing load so that the door 118 will return to its closed position to cover the opening 116. This closing load may result from springs or like resilient, return mechanism.
FIG. 3 depicts an elevation view from the front of the target T. The top 108 may incorporate a stepped shoulder 122 with a first part 124 that resides in proximity to the thin wall 104. The first part 124 may have a diameter D1 that extends beyond that of the cylinder. As best shown in the detail of FIG. 4, this feature may allow the thin wall 104 to fit inside of the first part 124, for example, to abut the interior of the stepped shoulder 122. This arrangement supports the top 108 on the thin wall 104. In one implementation, the stepped shoulder 122 may have a second part 126 that extends from the first part 124 to the landing area 110. The second part 126 may have an inward tapper that decreases in diameter from D1 to a diameter D2 for the landing area 110.
FIG. 5 depicts an elevation view from the back of the target T. An aperture 128 may penetrate the thin wall 104 to form an opening that provides access to the hollow interior space. The opening is shown here with a generally oval shape; but other shapes, like rectangular or square, may prevail as well. In use, an end user can access any projectiles that reside inside of the cylinder as a result of game play.
FIGS. 6 and 7 depict other views of the target T. An opening 130 may allow the projectile P to fall downward into the hollow interior of cylinder. The receptacle 114 may have dimension (including heigh “h” and depth “d”) to fully cover the opening 130. However, other arrangements may prevail as well.
FIG. 8 depicts an elevation view from the side of an example of the projectile P. This example may include a bag or pouch 132, preferably made of material robust enough for game play. The pouch 132 may take on a form factor of a tied bag or sack. This form factor may resemble bags that pet owners use to clean up after their dogs. However, this disclosure does not foreclose any specific geometry or theme for purpose of design. In one implementation, the sack may include a carrying portion 134 that, for example, may have sand or other material disposed therein. A knotted portion 136 may resemble the knot in a typically dog-waste bag. The knotted portion 136 may include some type of fastening mechanism to allow releaseable access to fill or refill the carrying portion 134, as necessary. The knotted portion 136 may separate the carrying portion 132 from an open end portion 138, which may look like the loose or open part of the dog-waste bag.
The examples below include certain elements or clauses to describe embodiments contemplated within the scope of this specification. These elements may be combined with other elements and clauses to also describe embodiments. This specification may include and contemplate other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. These other examples fall within the scope of the claims, for example, if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
Patent Application
20240226686
