1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to games, and more specifically to a. tossing game for one or more players which can be played anywhere.
2. Background Information
Tossing and rolling games come in many varieties. There are ball toss games, marker tossing games, coin toss games, bag toss games, dice games, etc. Whether the games involve tossing, throwing, rolling, etc., of objects, there is usually some element of moving a piece in relation to other pieces or targets. Many of the more popular games involve an element of chance combined with a requirement of skill. Games that are easy to learn and which can be played anywhere are particularly. desirable.
Some examples of game inventions for which patents have been granted are found in the following: Boulanger, U.S. Pat. No. 3,231,278; Kanda, U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,669; Dineen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,483; Hiserman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,962; Ascardi, U.S. Pat. No. 3,017,186; Tomoff, U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,023; Hopkins, U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,635; Bradbury, U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,914; and Brown, U.S. Patent Pub. No. U.S. 2002/0079645, Published Jun. 27, 2003.
Further, the game of bocce has entertained people for many years. Bocce balls are spherical and generally have no inbuilt bias so they will roll straight. The game involves use of a smaller ball called a jack that is first thrown. Players attempt to place their respective bocce balls closest to the jack to earn points. The team with the closest ball or balls to the jack is awarded one point for each ball that is closer to the jack than the other side's closest ball. One example of the game and rules of bocce can be found at the web site http://en.wikipeia.org/wiki/Bocce which is incorporated herein by reference.
The foregoing games and inventions are fine for their particular purposes yet none of them provide the type of versatility, entertainment, challenge, uncertainty and game aspects as the present invention. There is a lack of flexibility in the above games as to where or under what conditions they may be played. There is also a lack of uncertainty of the outcome of the game, even for a skilled player who can accurately position an object adjacent a target. Providing a target with a random or uncertain outcome or value adds a variety not present with prior games.
The inventors of the present invention have recognized a need for a game which may be played in most any area or circumstance, that is portable, and that does not require elaborate set-up or any great amount of skill or learning. The inventors further recognize a need for a fun game that includes an element of chance no matter the relative skill of the participants, or even a game that can be configured to allow for handicapping of the game to accommodate for the differences in skill.
The invention is directed to a tossing game having at least one tossable marker, the marker providing at least one outcome determinative indicia; a first tossable object, and at least a second tossable object, wherein an outcome of the game is determined based on a position of the first tossable object and a position of the at least a second tossable object with respect to the marker. The game further includes determining the outcome with reference to the outcome indicia.
A further aspect of the invention includes a game comprising providing a tossable marker, the marker providing at least one outcome determinative indicia; providing a first tossable object and at least a second tossable object; tossing the marker; tossing the first object; tossing the at least a second object; and determining an outcome based upon the position of the first object and the at least a second object with respect to the marker. The game further includes determining the outcome with reference to the outcome indicia.
Yet a further aspect of the invention includes a tossing game comprising providing at least one tossable marker having multiple sides, the marker having multiple outcome determinative indicia; providing a first non-spherical tossable object, providing at least a second tossable object, and determining an outcome based on the relative positions of the first object and the second object with respect to the marker, and further based on at least one of the outcome determinative indicia.
Yet a further aspect of the invention includes a game comprising a marker providing outcome determinative means; a first tossable object, and at least a second tossable object, whereby an outcome of the game is determined based on a position of the first object and a position of the at least a second object with respect to the marker. The game further includes determining the outcome with reference to the outcome indicia.
Yet another aspect includes a game comprising a marker; a first tossable object, and at least a second tossable object, at least one of the marker, the first tossable object, and the second tossable object providing an outcome determinative means; the outcome of the game determined based on a position of the first object and a position of the at least a second object with respect to the marker, and further based on the outcome determinative means.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment, aspect, or every implementation of the present invention. The figures and detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.
The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not necessarily to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention and as defined by the appended claims.
The present invention is directed to a game that can be played in any environment or location. The pieces of the game can be of many different varieties, sizes, shapes and substances. A general aspect of the game includes at least one tossable marker having at least one outcome determinative indicia, a first tossable object, and at least a second tossable object. The outcome of the game is determined based on the position of the first and the second objects with respect to the marker. Typically the object closest to the marker is awarded the outcome as presented by the indicia. The indicia is most often a point or numerical value, but may be other types of indicia. Further aspects of the invention include indicia of an electronic variety. The game is amenable to a variety of rules of play and modification of the pieces, and can be changed to accommodate the desires of the players.
Referring to
Marker 22 is preferably tossable so that players may toss the marker wherever their abilities or imagination allow, or if desired, within a designated or confined area of play. Game 20 may be played indoors or outdoors, or both; it may be played at a park, a field, or at the beach, in the pool, lake, ocean or other water area. It may be played in the woods, forest, mountains, parking lots, or any other areas. It may be played by persons of all ages and abilities, by children, college students, elderly adults, etc. It may be played as an educational game, as recreation, as contests of all varieties. No elaborate effort is required for set-up or take-down of the game 20. Players may opt to set no boundaries whatsoever, or they may elect to define the game to a particular area, perhaps even to the kitchen table, bar, or for play as a general board game, or to the classroom for instruction.
Indicia 24 may include questions with associated point values, such that a correct answer rewards a student (i.e., the student whose object is nearest to the marker must answer the question or act out the command in order to obtain the outcome). Marker 22 may be of any shape, size, weight or configuration, and is not limited to the particular features shown herein.
Marker 22 includes at least one outcome determinative indicia 24. Preferably marker 22 includes multiple indicia 24. Indicia 24 may be of any variety, including numerical values, colors, letters, symbols, images, pictures, clothing items, commands, etc. Preferably indicia 24 comprise point values. Indicia 24 may be etched onto marker 22, or may be affixed, painted, stuck, raised, drawn, burned, or otherwise provided on or in marker 22.
Preferably marker 22 is non-spherical (or even non-balanced) so that it is difficult to control the outcome of the game. Preferably, marker 22 has multiple sides 26, and preferably each side 26 includes indicia 24. While marker 22 may include any number of sides (including, for instance, a standard die having six sides), it is preferably 18-sided. Balance altering elements may also be included within marker 22 to achieve a desired random (or non-random) outcome upon tossing.
One variety of a marker 22 is shown with reference to
While the configuration of marker 22 as shown, in
Game 20 may include a marker 22, a first tossable object 28 and at least a second tossable object 30. One variety of an object 28 is shown in
In a round of play a player tosses marker 22 which eventually (or usually) comes to rest, typically with indicia 24 facing upwards. The players then toss their respective objects (i.e., object 28, 30, 32, etc.) at the marker 22 and attempt to position the objects in contact with the marker 22. The player having his or her object closest to the marker is typically awarded the point value represented by indicia 24 (typically the indicia facing upward on the marker). In a more difficult aspect, a winner of game 20 (or a round of the game 20) may be the player having an object being closest to marker 22 plus having an object indicia 23 (see
It may be appreciated that a tossable marker 22 (and/or objects 28) includes markers and/or objects of the type that may be tossed, which includes, but is not limited to, markers and/or objects that may be rolled, thrown, dropped, lifted, flown, kicked, shot, launched, propelled, etc., or otherwise placed in motion, and preferably placed in motion by an individual person without undue assistance from others or from machinery. Preferably marker 22 comes to a rest at some point during the round. It may also be appreciated, however, that procedures and mechanisms may be established for determining the outcome where a marker is still in motion (for instance, to determine which object is closer at any given time or interval). Such procedures and mechanisms may include use of electronic components and indicia as addressed below. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that a variety of tracking mechanisms may be used.
It may also be appreciated that in another aspect the invention may include a marker and/or objects that are not tossable or repositionable. In such aspect where marker and/or objects are not tossable, it would be preferred that indicia 24 may be varied (i.e., with electronics as mentioned below) such that there is an element of chance or skill associated with obtaining an outcome of the game. In such case either singular or multiple indicia may be contemplated, and preferably the indicia may vary as the case allows (such as, for instance, with the use of a random generator).
Different rules may be established for playing of game 20. One typical but non-limiting set of rules includes the following:
Beginning a game. Determine the starting orddr by having each player 38, 40, roll a die (not shown) or a marker 22 or object 28 with the highest number starting the game and the lowest number going last. If the two high numbers tie, the players shake the die until the tie is broken. The order may be determined by other method such as youngest to oldest or similar method.
The first player 38 begins by throwing marker 22 anywhere within a predetermined area (or anywhere if no predetermined area is established). When marker 22 comes to rest, first player 38 throws or tosses or otherwise places in motion first object 28 (preferably an 18-sided cube) and will attempt to throw object 28 as close to marker 22 as possible. The remaining player or players throw in order of the initial die shake and from the same location as first player 38 who began game 20 or began a round of game 20.
Scoring. All players start with zero points and play until a player achieves 21 points, for instance, to win. There are three ways to score points.
Sequence. The player whose object 28 is closest to marker 22 gets the point value (or other value or command) facing up on marker 22 and also begins the next round by throwing marker 22 and attempting to throw object 28 as close as possible to marker 22. Of the remaining players, the player with the most points goes next until all have thrown.
Options. Score of 21 or Bust. If a player scores over 21 points, they automatically go back to 15 points. An option is to require a player to achieve exactly 21 points to win. Call shots. Before a player throws the die, he or she may call a specific shot. For example, players must throw with the left hand, or between two trees, or must swim in the pool without goggles and drop the object to the bottom, etc.
Advanced Marker or Die. Occasionally when using a multi-sided marker such a an 18-sided marker or other die, it will land with a corner or edge facing upwards. When this happens, that player whose object is closest to the marker is given what is called a “free drop”. Free drop is defined as dropping the ball over the shoulder; and the side that faces up would be the score for that round. Additionally, it may simply be a judgment call as to which side is facing upward. When this happens, the majority rules. Whatever the majority of the players decide is the score for that round. If it is too close to call, a free drop may be the best option.
Advanced Object or Ball. The advanced object ball may be the same shape as marker 22. The game can be played to 21 or any other agreed upon number. The 18 sides may each contain indicia 24, and may be defined, for instance as follows:
In a further aspect of the invention, at least one of the marker 22 or of a tossable object 28 provides an outcome determinative means 25. Here, it may be appreciated that either or both marker 22 and/or object 28 may include indicia 24, indicia 23, and/or outcome determinative means 25.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, means 25 may include, for instance, but is not limited to, indicia 24. Outcome determinative means 25, or indicia 24, may also include and/or produce an electrical signal (which may represent multiple indicia, including outcome indicia). Outcome determinative means 25 may also include an electrical signal generator, an electrical signal transmitter, an electrical signal receiver, a radio frequency component, an RFID tag, an led, an integrated circuit, an integrated circuit device, a memory, a computer, a GPS (Global Positioning System) device, a random signal or random output generator (for producing, for instance, multiple indicia), a speaker, an audible signal indicia, or other similar indicia or other similar electrical device.
A further aspect of the invention includes placement of electrical components within marker 22 or objects 28, and may include use of a determinative means 25 as mentioned above, and further the use of a processor, memory chip, software, program, computer or other or similar device to control, manipulate or calculate the outcome of a game 20. In such case, the electrical components may comprise indicia 23/24, or means 25. For instance, marker 22 may include a computer chip and electrical components to broadcast a signal to be received by a computer (computer not shown). The computer may be a conventional computer or handheld unit which collects or processes information from the marker 22 and objects 28. Such information received by the computer may include relative positions of marker 22 and objects 28, including indicia information. The computer or program may calculate the winner of any round or game, and collect data in memory for future game uses. The computer or other means 25 may be configured to operate a handicap event to accommodate for the relative skill levels of the players (with use of programs with appropriate weighting criteria). Aspects of a computer program product may be implemented by use of any recording medium for machine-readable information, including magnetic media, optical media, or other suitable media. Persons skilled in the art will immediately recognize that any computer system having suitable programming means will be capable of executing the steps of a method of the invention as embodied in a program product. Persons skilled in the art will recognize immediately that, although some aspects described in this specification are oriented to software installed and executing on computer hardware, nevertheless, alternative embodiments implemented as firmware or as hardware are well within the scope of the present invention.
Referring to
While the present invention has been described with reference to several particular example embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
The present application is a continuation application under 35 USC §120 of U.S. Utility patent application, Ser. No. 11/277,015; filed 20 Mar. 2006, hereby abandoned, included by reference herein and for which benefit of the priority date is hereby claimed.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11277015 | Mar 2006 | US |
Child | 12723143 | US |