CORNHOLE AIRMAIL PRACTICE APPARATUS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Non-provisional Utility patent application which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent Application Ser. No. 63/408,707, filed on Sep. 21, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Trademarks used in the disclosure of the invention, and the applicants, make no claim to any trademarks referenced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of cornhole gameplay, and more specifically to airmail boxes for practice of airmail delivery as related to cornhole.

Description of Related Art

The game of “cornhole” has been well-known for many years. The game of cornhole typically involving two or four players divided into two even teams. In general, cornhole involves spaced apart target assemblies that are in the form of gameplay boards (commonly referred to as cornhole boards) of a regulation size and pitch relative to the ground. Each gameplay board has a deck with a gameplay hole (6 inches in diameter) at a given location from the back edge of the gameplay board (centered 9 inches). In this manner, the top (i.e., gameplay) surface of the gameplay board is at a designated angle (11-13 deg.) relative to the ground, the gameplay hole is at a designated distance above the ground (11-11.5″ at the center of the hole) and the gameplay hole is at a designated distance from a player (30 ft).

An organization known as the American Organization (“ACO”) credited with setting the standards for cornhole as a sport. The standards specifically for each game board are as follows. Each cornhole board should have a flat deck (built from Baltic birch plywood ⅝″-¾″ that measures between 23¾″ to 24″ wide, 47¾″ to 48″ long and has a single 6″ diameter circular hole or opening through the deck centered between the sides of the deck and 9″ from the top edge deck. Each cornhole board has legs on the top end of the board when erect the front edge of the cornhole board is raised 2.5″ 3.5″ above the ground and the rear edge of the cornhole board is raised 11.75″ to 12″ above the ground. These dimensions result in the top surface of the cornhole board having an angular pitch of about 10-13 degrees relative to horizontal

In cornhole, players score points by tossing (also referred to as pitching) gameplay bags of granular material (e.g., kernels of corn, resin material or the like) through the air from a designated distance with the objective of achieving a points-scoring play. Gameplay bags are of a uniform size and weight (e.g., about 15-16 ounces measuring nominally 6 inches (^˜15 cm) by 6 inches (^˜15 cm)). Typically, players take alternating turns tossing gameplay bags (e.g., four gameplay bags for each player) one at a time, through an aperture in a deck of the cornhole board. Examples of points-scoring play include, but may not be limited to, a tossed bag landing directly in the gameplay hole, a tossed bag landing on the gameplay surface of the gameplay board, a tossed bag landing on the gameplay surface of the gameplay board and sliding into the gameplay hole and a tossed bag hitting an already-tossed back on top of the gameplay board and causing the already-tossed to slide into the gameplay hole. A player receives a designated number of points for each type of points-scoring play. For example, a player can receive a first number of points when a tossed bag landing directly in the gameplay hole (e.g., 3 points) and a second number of points for any other type of points-scoring play (e.g., 1 point). A player wins by being first to achieve a designated number of points—e.g., 21 points. A tossed bag landing directly in the gameplay hole is commonly referred to as an “airmail”. An airmail is given the same number of points as any other bag that goes into the gameplay hole—i.e., sliding in or being pushed in. The main advantage of learning to airmail a shot is making a shot in the gameplay hole when the gameplay hole is blocked by an opponent's bag, thereby making sliding a bag into the gameplay hole difficult to do without taking the opponent's bag into the gameplay hole with it. A common technique for a player to hone their airmail scoring skills is to practice with an airmail box. The airmail box is an enclosure (or similar structure) having a gameplay hole the same size and position of as that of a cornhole board of regulation configuration and in-use configuration, but with a top surface that is much smaller than that of the cornhole board (e.g., about 1 foot by about 1 foot as opposed to 2 feet wide by 4 feet long). In this manner, a player has a visually smaller surface to target with the airmail box than with a cornhole board. Additionally, the overall size of an airmail box is much smaller than a cornhole board, thus making the airmail box easier and more convenient to the transport for practice.

Conventional airmail boxes are known to suffer from one or more shortcomings. One such shortcoming arises from conventional airmail boxes being lighter than cornhole boards, which generally have a regulation weight of about 15 lbs. to about 20 lbs. A downside of such relative lightweight construction is that the airmail boxes is that the momentum of a tossed gameplay bag can cause a position and/or orientation of the airmail box to shift upon being hit by a tossed gameplay bag. For apparent reasons (e.g., tossing precision to cornhole board gameplay specifications), the placement and orientation of an airmail box is crucial. Placement and orientation of an airmail box should be set-up as and remain the same as that of a cornhole board, even under impingement by tossed gameplay bags. Another such shortcoming arises from conventional airmail boxes not being constructed according to regulation specifications. In particular, the gameplay hole of many conventional airmail boxes is not at a regulation height above the ground, the top surface (i.e., gameplay deck) is not at a regulation pitch relative to the ground, or both. Another shortcoming arises that traditional airmail boxes, although much smaller than full size gameplay boards, still allow a margin of error when using for precision practice. Meaning a tossed bag can land partially in the hole and remain on the gameplay surface. Yet another shortcoming from similar devices is the bulky inconvenient size limiting portability. Although substantially smaller than a full regulation set airmail boxes and attachable boxes are still much too large to throw in a backpack or a carryon per say.

Therefore, airmail boxes configured for training to achieve airmail gameplays adapted to attach to any regulation gameboard, overcoming drawbacks associated with conventional airmail boxes and airmail attachments, would be advantageous, desirable and useful. Airmails are a critical shot required at any level of play but especially in the pro circuit.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for allowing cornhole practice and more specifically the practice of airmail delivery.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to a cornhole airmail practice apparatus for installing in a gameplay hole on a top flat panel of a cornhole board. The cornhole airmail practice apparatus includes an airmail tube. The airmail tube includes a cylindrical tube having a first tube end engageable with the gameplay hole and a second tube end opposite the first tube end. The airmail tube includes male threads disposed adjacent the first tube end and a tube angled opening disposed on the second tube end. The airmail tube includes a tube lip adjacent the male threads wherein the male threads are positioned between the lip and the first tube end. The gameplay hole has a gameplay hole diameter, a portion of the tube lip has a lip diameter larger than the gameplay hole diameter and the male threads are extendable through the gameplay hole. The airmail tube includes a securing ring having a ring outer surface and a ring inner surface having female threads engageable with the cylindrical tube male threads. The securing ring includes a flat top surface extending between top edges of the ring outer surface and top edges of the ring inner ring surface and a securing ring bottom surface extending between bottom edges of the ring outer surface and bottom edges of the ring inner ring surface. The lip is urged against an upper surface of the flat top panel adjacent the gameplay hole and the securing ring flat top surface is urged against a lower surface of the flat top panel when the airmail tube is installed on the enclosure with the securing ring female threads fully engaged with the cylindrical tube male threads. The bottom surface of the securing ring may include a plurality of protrusions extending downward from the securing ring bottom surface. The protrusions allow a user to tighten the securing ring against the lower surface of the flat top panel. The cylindrical tube may include a taper from a first tube diameter at the tube angled opening to a second tube diameter larger than the first tube diameter, the second tube diameter adjacent the tube lip. The cylindrical tube may include a tube wall wherein the cylindrical tube first end is at a right angle to the tube wall and the cylindrical tube second end is at an oblique angle to the tube wall. A portion of the tube wall may extend higher than other portions of the tube wall and the portion of the tube wall that extends higher is disposed toward a rear end of the cornhole board. The cylindrical tube second end may have an angled opening.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of installing a cornhole airmail practice apparatus on an enclosure. The method includes providing the cornhole airmail practice apparatus as described above. The method includes providing an enclosure including a flat top panel having an upper surface, a lower surface and a circular opening extending through the flat top panel. The method includes placing the male threads through the circular opening wherein the lip is disposed adjacent the top surface of the flat top panel and engaging the securing ring female threads with the cylindrical tube male threads; rotating the securing ring whereby the securing ring moves toward the lip. The method includes continuing to rotate the securing ring until the lip is fully urged against the flat top pane upper surface and laying the enclosure on a support surface with the airmail tube angled opening directed in an upward direction, the enclosure top flat panel substantially parallel with the support surface. The protrusions allow a user to tighten the securing ring against the lower surface of the flat top panel and the steps of rotating the securing ring whereby the securing ring moves toward the lip and continuing to rotate the securing ring until the lip is fully urged against the flat top pane upper surface include the user grasping the protrusions to urge rotation of the securing ring.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a cornhole airmail practice apparatus including an enclosure having a flat top panel having an upper surface, a lower surface and a circular opening extending through the flat top panel. The enclosure includes a plurality of side walls extending downward from the top panel. The cornhole airmail practice apparatus includes an airmail tube having a cylindrical tube first tube end engageable with the gameplay hole and a second tube end opposite the first tube end. The airmail tube includes male threads disposed adjacent the first tube end, a tube angled opening disposed on the second tube end and a tube lip adjacent the male threads wherein the male threads are positioned between the lip and the first tube end. The gameplay hole has a gameplay hole diameter, a portion of the tube lip has a lip diameter larger than the gameplay hole diameter and the male threads are extendable through the gameplay hole. The airmail tube includes a securing ring having a ring outer surface and a ring inner surface having female threads engageable with the cylindrical tube male threads. The securing ring includes a flat top surface extending between top edges of the ring outer surface and top edges of the ring inner ring surface and a securing ring bottom surface extending between bottom edges of the ring outer surface and bottom edges of the ring inner ring surface. The lip is urged against an upper surface of the flat top panel adjacent the gameplay hole and the securing ring flat top surface is urged against a lower surface of the flat top panel when the airmail tube is installed on the enclosure with the securing ring female threads fully engaged with the cylindrical tube male threads.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a cornhole airmail practice apparatus for installing in a gameplay hole on a top flat panel of a cornhole board. The cornhole airmail practice apparatus includes a cylindrical tube having a first tube end engageable with the gameplay hole and a second tube end opposite the first tube end. The cylindrical tube is engageable with an upper surface of the flat top panel adjacent the gameplay hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particular embodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to refer to similar components. When reference is made to a reference numeral without specification to an existing sub-label, it is intended to refer to all such multiple similar components.

FIG. 1 is an isometric rendering of a prior art cornhole gameplay board with a cornhole bag approaching the gameplay hole;

FIG. 2 is an isometric rendering of a cornhole gameplay board including the airmail tube with a cornhole bag approaching the airmail tube angled opening;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the airmail tube installed in the opening of a flat top panel of a cornhole gameboard or other enclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a front elevational view of a method of installation of the airmail tube in the opening of a flat top panel of a cornhole gameboard or other enclosure;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the airmail tube according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded side elevational view of the airmail tube shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the airmail tube shown in FIG. 5

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the airmail tube.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to airmail boxes configured for training to achieve airmail gameplays and that are adapted to inhibit unrestricted movement from impingement of tossed gameplay bags. Airmail boxes configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention are preferably adapted to mount on a gameplay surface of a regulation cornhole board that is lying flat on the ground. Such mounting is achieved through engagement of one or more structural elements of the airmail box with the gameplay hole of the cornhole board. Airmail boxes configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention preferably include one or more structures that engage a mating portion of the cornhole board for limiting or preventing unrestricted rotational movement of the airmail box relative to the cornhole board. Preferably, airmail boxes configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention have a gameplay surface that is at a pitch nominally the same as a regulation pitch of a cornhole board and have a gameplay hole in the gameplay surface that is a distance above the ground nominally the same as a regulation gameplay hole position of a cornhole board during gameplay. In these respects, airmail boxes configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention advantageously overcome one or more shortcomings associated with conventional airmail boxes.

One aspect of the present invention is directed to a cornhole airmail practice apparatus for installing in a gameplay hole on a top flat panel of a cornhole board. The cornhole airmail practice apparatus includes an airmail tube having a cylindrical tube with male threads on one end of the cylindrical tube. The male threads have a distal end adjacent the one end of the tube and a proximal end opposite the distal end of the male threads. The cylindrical tube includes a tube angled opening on a second end of the cylindrical tube opposite the one end of the cylindrical tube. The angled opening is for entry of the gameplay bag during airmail practice. The cylindrical tube includes a lip adjacent the proximal end of the male threads, the lip adapted to engage the upper surface of the gameplay board or enclosure wherein the first end of the cylindrical tube is disposed in the flat top panel circular opening, the distal end of the male threads positioned below the flat top panel and the lip is positioned against the flat top panel upper surface adjacent the circular opening wherein the lip is urged against the flat top panel upper surface adjacent the circular opening when the airmail tube is installed on the enclosure. The airmail tube includes a securing ring having a ring outer surface and a ring inner surface having female threads engageable with the cylindrical tube male threads. The securing ring includes a flat top surface extending between top edges of the ring outer surface and top edges of the ring inner ring surface. The securing ring includes a bottom surface extending between bottom edges of the ring outer surface and bottom edges of the ring inner ring surface, the bottom surface including a plurality of protrusions extending downward from the bottom surface. The securing ring female threads are engaged with the cylindrical tube male threads and wherein the securing ring flat top surface is urged against the flat top panel lower surface when the airmail tube is installed on the enclosure.

One aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of installing a cornhole airmail practice apparatus on an enclosure. The method includes providing an enclosure including a flat top panel having an upper surface, a lower surface and a circular opening extending through the flat top panel and providing a cornhole airmail practice apparatus as described above. The method includes placing the male threads through the circular opening wherein the lip is disposed adjacent the top surface of the flat top panel and engaging the securing ring female threads with the cylindrical tube male threads; rotating the securing ring whereby the securing ring moves toward the lip. The method includes continuing to rotate the securing ring until the lip is fully urged against the flat top pane upper surface and laying the enclosure on a support surface with the airmail tube angled opening directed in an upward direction, the enclosure top flat panel substantially parallel with the support surface.

One aspect of the present invention is directed to an airmail box configured for providing cornholing airmail gameplays comprises an enclosure having a plurality of walls defining an interior space and a mounting structure adapted for engagement with a gameplay hole of a cornhole board integral with a bottom wall of the enclosure. A gameplay hole is integral with a top wall of the enclosure. The mounting structure extends downward from a bottom surface of the bottom wall. The mounting structure has a threaded shaft extending past the bottom side of the gameplay surface which is locked into place with a female locking collar, has a shape the same as the gameplay hole of the cornhole board and has a perimeter edge length approximately the same as but not greater than a corresponding interior surface length of the gameplay hole of the cornhole board. Method of using are as follows. In one embodiment of the present invention, an airmail box configured for providing cornholing airmail gameplays comprises an enclosure having a plurality of walls defining an interior space and a mounting structure adapted for engagement with a gameplay hole of a cornhole board integral with a bottom wall of the enclosure. A gameplay hole is integral with a top wall of the enclosure. The mounting structure extends downward from a bottom surface of the bottom wall. The mounting structure has a threaded shaft extending past the bottom side of the gameplay surface which is locked into place with a female locking collar, has a shape the same as the gameplay hole of the cornhole board and has a perimeter edge length approximately the same as but not greater than a corresponding interior surface length of the gameplay hole of the cornhole board.

In a method of use, a first step is performed to lay a cornhole board flat on a support surface with a gameplay surface thereof facing upward. The gameplay surface has a gameplay hole therein. A second step is performed to provide an airmail tube comprising an enclosure having a cylindrical wall defining an interior space and a mounting structure adapted for engagement with the gameplay hole of the cornhole board. A gameplay hole of the airmail box is integral with a top wall of the enclosure. The mounting structure is integral with a bottom wall of the enclosure. The mounting structure extends downward from a bottom surface of the bottom wall. A third step is performed to place the airmail box on the gameplay surface of the cornhole board with the mounting structure engaged within the gameplay hole thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a height of the enclosure is angled to retain a gameplay hole at regulation gameplay height and size of the regulation gameplay boards.

While various aspects and features of certain embodiments have been summarized above, the following detailed description illustrates a few exemplary embodiments in further detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice such embodiments. The described examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art however that other embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. Several embodiments are described herein, and while various features are ascribed to different embodiments, it should be appreciated that the features described with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated with other embodiments as well. By the same token however, no single feature or features of any described embodiment should be considered essential to every embodiment of the invention, as other embodiments of the invention may omit such features.

In this application the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise and use of the terms “and” and “or” is equivalent to “and/or,” also referred to as “non-exclusive or” unless otherwise indicated. Moreover, the use of the term “including,” as well as other forms, such as “includes” and “included,” should be considered non-exclusive. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompass both elements and components including one unit and elements and components that include more than one unit, unless specifically stated otherwise.

Lastly, the terms “or” and “and/or” as used herein are to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” or “A, B and/or C” mean “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C.” An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

As this invention is susceptible to embodiments of many different forms, it is intended that the present disclosure be considered as an example of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described.

Referring now to the drawings FIG. 1-7, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a regulation cornhole gameplay board and a gameplay bag 80 approaching the opening 152 in the gameplay board 90. FIG. 1 is an isometric rendering of a prior art cornhole gameplay board with a cornhole bag approaching the gameplay hole.

FIG. 2 shows the cornhole airmail practice apparatus 10 for installing in a gameplay hole 52 on a top flat panel 50 of a cornhole board. FIG. 2 is an isometric rendering of the cornhole gameplay board or enclosure 92 including the airmail tube 10 with a cornhole bag 80 approaching the airmail tube angled opening 22. FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the airmail tube installed in the opening of a flat top panel of a cornhole gameboard or other enclosure, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the airmail tube 10 according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is an exploded side elevational view of the airmail tube 10 shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the airmail tube 10 shown in FIG. 5.

The cornhole airmail practice apparatus 10 includes an airmail tube having a cylindrical tube 20 with male threads 60 on one end of the cylindrical tube 20. The male threads 60 have a distal end adjacent the one end of the tube and a proximal end opposite the distal end of the male threads 60. The cylindrical tube 20 includes a tube angled opening 22 on a second end of the cylindrical tube 20 opposite the one end of the cylindrical tube 20. The angled opening 22 is for entry of the gameplay bag during airmail practice. The angled opening 22 is at angle X in respect to the ground or support surface on which the enclosure 50 is placed. The gameplay opening 152 in the gameplay board 90 is at the same angle X as the angled opening 22 of the present invention. The height H of the gameplay opening 152 in the gameplay board 90 is at the same angle X as the angled opening 22 of the present invention. The cylindrical tube 20 includes a lip 70 adjacent the proximal end of the male threads 60, the lip 70 adapted to engage the upper surface of the gameplay board or enclosure 92 wherein the first end of the cylindrical tube is disposed in the flat top panel circular opening 52, the distal end of the male threads 60 positioned below the flat top panel 50 and the lip 70 is positioned against the flat top panel upper surface adjacent the circular opening 52 wherein the lip 70 is urged against the flat top panel upper surface adjacent the circular opening 52 when the airmail tube 20 is installed on the enclosure 92. Although the lip 70 is depicted as a bevel extending from a larger diameter portion of the cylindrical tube to a smaller diameter portion adjacent the male threads 60, the lip may alternately form a right angle from the surface of the cylindrical tube whereby the lip lays flat against the upper surface of the flat top panel 50. The airmail tube 20 includes a securing ring 30 having a ring outer surface and a ring inner surface having female threads 34 engageable with the cylindrical tube male threads 60. The securing ring 30 includes a flat top surface extending between top edges of the ring outer surface and top edges of the ring inner ring surface. The securing ring 30 includes a bottom surface extending between bottom edges of the ring outer surface and bottom edges of the ring inner ring surface, the bottom surface including a plurality of protrusions 32 extending downward from the bottom surface. The securing ring female threads 34 are engaged with the cylindrical tube male threads 20 wherein the securing ring flat top surface is urged against the flat top panel lower surface when the airmail tube 10 is installed on the enclosure 92. An alternate airmail tube 110 shown in FIG. 8 may taper from a smaller diameter D2 at the tube angled opening 122 to a larger or standard diameter D1 adjacent the lip 170, giving the player a more challenging shot. An example would be the cylindrical tube being 5″ at the angled opening 122 tapering to a 6″ diameter adjacent the lip 170.

In another embodiment of the present invention there is a method of installing a cornhole airmail practice apparatus on an enclosure. FIG. 4 shows a side elevational view of the method of installation of the airmail tube in the opening of a flat top panel of a cornhole gameboard or other enclosure. The method includes providing an enclosure 92 including a flat top panel 50 having an upper surface, a lower surface and a circular opening 52 extending through the flat top panel 50 and providing a cornhole airmail practice apparatus 10 as described above. The method includes placing the male threads 60 through the circular opening 50 in the direction of arrow 40 wherein the lip 70 is disposed adjacent the top surface of the flat top panel 50 and engaging the securing ring female threads 34 with the cylindrical tube male threads 60 in the direction of arrow 42, rotating the securing ring 30 in the direction of arrow 44 whereby the securing ring 30 moves toward the lip 70. The method includes continuing to rotate the securing ring 30 until the lip 70 is fully urged against the flat top panel upper surface and laying the enclosure 92 on a support surface or on the ground with the airmail tube angled opening 22 directed in an upward direction, the enclosure top flat panel 50 substantially parallel with the support surface.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an airmail box configured for providing cornholing airmail gameplays comprises an enclosure having a plurality of walls defining an interior space and a mounting structure adapted for engagement with a gameplay hole of a cornhole board integral with a bottom wall of the enclosure. A gameplay hole is integral with a top wall of the enclosure. The mounting structure extends downward from a bottom surface of the bottom wall. The mounting structure has a threaded shaft extending past the bottom side of the gameplay surface which is locked into place with a female locking collar, has a shape the same as the gameplay hole of the cornhole board and has a perimeter edge length approximately the same as but not greater than a corresponding interior surface length of the gameplay hole of the cornhole board. Method of using are as follows.

A first step is performed to lay a cornhole board flat on a support surface with a gameplay surface thereof facing upward. The gameplay surface has a gameplay hole therein. A second step is performed to provide an airmail tube comprising an enclosure having a cylindrical wall defining an interior space and a mounting structure adapted for engagement with the gameplay hole of the cornhole board. A gameplay hole of the airmail box is integral with a top wall of the enclosure. The mounting structure is integral with a bottom wall of the enclosure. The mounting structure extends downward from a bottom surface of the bottom wall. A third step is performed to place the airmail box on the gameplay surface of the cornhole board with the mounting structure engaged within the gameplay hole thereof.

In one or more embodiments, a height of the enclosure is angled to retain a gameplay hole at regulation gameplay height and size of the regulation gameplay boards.

Another aspect of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 2-8, is directed to a cornhole airmail practice apparatus 10 for installing in a gameplay hole 52 on a top flat panel 50 of a cornhole board. The cornhole airmail practice apparatus 10 includes an airmail tube 20. The airmail tube 20 includes a cylindrical tube having a first tube end engageable with the gameplay hole and a second tube end opposite the first tube end. The airmail tube 20 includes male threads 60 disposed adjacent the first tube end and a tube angled opening disposed on the second tube end. The airmail tube includes a tube lip adjacent the male threads 60 wherein the male threads 60 are positioned between the lip and the first tube end. The gameplay hole has a gameplay hole diameter, a portion of the tube lip 70 has a lip diameter larger than the gameplay hole diameter and the male threads 60 are extendable through the gameplay hole 52. The airmail tube includes a securing ring having a ring outer surface and a ring inner surface having female threads 52 engageable with the cylindrical tube male threads 60. The securing ring includes a flat top surface extending between top edges of the ring outer surface and top edges of the ring inner ring surface and a securing ring bottom surface extending between bottom edges of the ring outer surface and bottom edges of the ring inner ring surface. The lip 70 is urged against an upper surface of the flat top panel adjacent the gameplay hole and the securing ring flat top surface is urged against a lower surface of the flat top panel when the airmail tube is installed on the enclosure with the securing ring female threads 52 fully engaged with the cylindrical tube male threads 60. The bottom surface of the securing ring may include a plurality of protrusions extending downward from the securing ring bottom surface. The protrusions allow a user to tighten the securing ring against the lower surface of the flat top panel. The cylindrical tube may include a taper from a first tube diameter D2 at the tube angled opening to a second tube diameter D1 larger than the first tube diameter, the second tube diameter adjacent the tube lip. The cylindrical tube may include a tube wall wherein the cylindrical tube first end is at a right angle to the tube wall and the cylindrical tube second end is at an oblique angle to the tube wall. A portion of the tube wall may extend higher than other portions of the tube wall and the portion of the tube wall that extends higher is disposed toward a rear end of the cornhole board. The cylindrical tube second end may have an angled opening 22.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of installing a cornhole airmail practice apparatus on an enclosure. The method includes providing the cornhole airmail practice apparatus as described above. The method includes providing an enclosure including a flat top panel having an upper surface, a lower surface and a circular opening extending through the flat top panel. The method includes placing the male threads 60 through the circular opening wherein the lip is disposed adjacent the top surface of the flat top panel and engaging the securing ring female threads 52 with the cylindrical tube male threads 60; rotating the securing ring whereby the securing ring moves toward the lip. The method includes continuing to rotate the securing ring until the lip is fully urged against the flat top pane upper surface and laying the enclosure on a support surface with the airmail tube angled opening directed in an upward direction, the enclosure top flat panel substantially parallel with the support surface. The protrusions allow a user to tighten the securing ring against the lower surface of the flat top panel and the steps of rotating the securing ring whereby the securing ring moves toward the lip and continuing to rotate the securing ring until the lip is fully urged against the flat top pane upper surface include the user grasping the protrusions to urge rotation of the securing ring.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a cornhole airmail practice apparatus including an enclosure having a flat top panel having an upper surface, a lower surface and a circular opening extending through the flat top panel. The enclosure includes a plurality of side walls extending downward from the top panel. The cornhole airmail practice apparatus includes an airmail tube having a cylindrical tube first tube end engageable with the gameplay hole and a second tube end opposite the first tube end. The airmail tube includes male threads 60 disposed adjacent the first tube end, a tube angled opening disposed on the second tube end and a tube lip adjacent the male threads 60 wherein the male threads 60 are positioned between the lip and the first tube end. The gameplay hole has a gameplay hole diameter, a portion of the tube lip has a lip diameter larger than the gameplay hole diameter and the male threads 60 are extendable through the gameplay hole. The airmail tube includes a securing ring having a ring outer surface and a ring inner surface having female threads 52 engageable with the cylindrical tube male threads 60. The securing ring includes a flat top surface extending between top edges of the ring outer surface and top edges of the ring inner ring surface and a securing ring bottom surface extending between bottom edges of the ring outer surface and bottom edges of the ring inner ring surface. The lip is urged against an upper surface of the flat top panel adjacent the gameplay hole and the securing ring flat top surface is urged against a lower surface of the flat top panel when the airmail tube is installed on the enclosure with the securing ring female threads 52 fully engaged with the cylindrical tube male threads 60.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a cornhole airmail practice apparatus for installing in a gameplay hole on a top flat panel of a cornhole board. The cornhole airmail practice apparatus includes a cylindrical tube having a first tube end engageable with the gameplay hole and a second tube end opposite the first tube end. The cylindrical tube is engageable with an upper surface of the flat top panel adjacent the gameplay hole.

Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it is understood that any of the features presented in the embodiments may be integrated into any of the other embodiments unless explicitly stated otherwise. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

In addition, the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments, it should be noted and understood that various modifications and variations can be crafted by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure should be interpreted as illustrative only and is not to be interpreted in a limiting sense. Further it is intended that any other embodiments of the present invention that result from any changes in application or method of use or operation, method of manufacture, shape, size, or materials which are not specified within the detailed written description or illustrations contained herein are considered within the scope of the present invention.

Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawings disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claims below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.

Although very narrow claims are presented herein, it should be recognized that the scope of this invention is much broader than presented by the claim. It is intended that broader claims will be submitted in an application that claims the benefit of priority from this application.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.