BAG TOSS GAME AND METHOD OF USING SAME

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/597,082, filed Nov. 8, 2023. The entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

The present invention was not developed with the use of any Federal Funds, but was developed independently by the inventors.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to a bag toss game and a method of use, specifically a bag toss game comprising a plurality of steps and having a receptacle associated with each step for receiving tossed bags.

When attending any sort of event, such as, but not limited to, a sporting event, cookout, or graduation, it is common to find various lawn games available for guests to play. One such lawn game is a bag tossing game sometimes referred to as “cornhole,” “bags,” “sack toss,” or “bean bag” which generally features four players, 8 bean bags, and two game boards that are propped up by legs at the top of each board to place the game board at a slightly elevated angle.

Each player takes turns throwing one of the four bean bags on behalf of their team at the opposite game board. Each bag may come to rest off the opposite game board, on the opposite game board, or pass through the hole at the top of the opposite game board. In one version of this popular game, where a bean bag passes through the hole at the top of the board the player receives three points, where the bag lands and comes to rest on the board (having not passed through the hole), the player receives one point, and where the bag comes to rest off of the board, but has not passed through the hole at the top of the board, the player receives no points. After one round of tossing all eight bags, a score is calculated for each team based on the number of points received. In some versions of the game, a player may cancel an opponent's points with their points earned. For example, without limitation, if Team A puts one bag in the hole and two bags on the board that team would normally earn 5 points. If Team B fails to put a bag in the hole and places all four bags on the board, they would normally earn 4 points. However, when tallying up points for that round, Team A would receive only 1 point in this example as Team B landed four of their bags on the board, thereby earning four points which cancelled four of the five points earned by Team A.

Accordingly, it would be useful to provide an improved bag toss game that improves upon the features of existing bag toss games.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the invention relates to a bag toss gaming platform includes one or more steps, one or more risers, and stringers. The steps, the risers, and the stringers are connected to form a staircase shape. An opening is formed in at least one of the risers capable of receiving a game bag. In one form of the invention, the one or more risers comprise at least two risers and the opening is formed in the at least two risers. Each opening may have a different width. Each opening may be provided with an attached container or net for receiving a game bag. A foldable leg may be provided for supporting the gaming platform. Indicia may be located on the one or more steps and the one or more risers.

The invention also relates to a method or playing a bag toss game. The method includes the steps of providing one or more throwable game bags and a pair of playing platforms spaced a preselected distance apart, each playing platform comprising one or more steps having openings located in one or more risers of each step capable of receiving game bags therethrough. A quantity of negative points is assigned to each opening; A quantity of positive points is assigned to a top surface of each step. The game is played by throwing a game bad at one of the gaming platforms and having the bag land on a step or in a container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a bag toss platform in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of the bag toss platform of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view at a different angle of the bag toss platform of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a front elevation view of the bag toss platform of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 of the bag toss platform of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a pair bag toss platforms of FIG. 1 in use in a gaming environment.

FIG. 7 shows a front perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a bag toss platform in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a rear perspective view of the bag toss platform of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows a front elevation view of the bag toss platform of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9 of the bag toss platform of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIGS. 1-5 there is shown a preferred embodiment of a bag toss gaming platform 10 in accordance with the present invention. Also disclosed is a preferred method of using the bag toss gaming platform 10 in the context of a game or amusement.

Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

FIGS. 1-5 show an exemplary embodiment of the bag toss gaming platform 10. The gaming platform 10 comprises a playing surface 12 and one or more side surfaces 14 which extend downwardly from the playing surface 12. In exemplary embodiments, the sides 14 extend about a perimeter of the playing surface 12 such that the gaming platform 10 forms a generally trapezoidal or stepwise shape with the playing surface 12 and the one or more side surfaces 14. The side surfaces 14, thus, take the form of a stringer.

In one exemplary embodiment, the playing surface 12 comprises a plurality of treads 16a-d joined by risers 18a-d, as shown. The playing surface 12 is shown with four such step sections of treads and risers, but the invention contemplates other configurations or step sections that are not so limited. Bottom riser 18a is connected to the bottom tread 16a and the stringers 14 as shown. The lower riser 18b is connected to the bottom tread 16a at its bottom edge, to lower riser 16b at its top edge, and to the stringers 14, as shown. The lower riser 18b is connected to the bottom tread 16a at its bottom edge, to the lower tread 16b at its top edge, and to the stringers 14, as shown. The upper riser 18c is connected to the lower tread 16b at its bottom edge, to the upper tread 16c at its top edge, and to the stringers 14, as shown. Last, the top riser 18d is connected to the upper tread 16c at its bottom edge, to the top tread 16d at its top edge, and to the stringers 14, as shown. In this way the treads, risers, and stringers take the form of a staircase.

One or more foldable vertical supports or legs 20 extends vertically downwardly from each stringer 14 to support the bag toss gaming platform 10, as shown, so as to present an inclined face for the playing surface 12 to the user. The legs 20 may be attached to a distal half of the gaming platform 10. The legs 20 are configured to elevate the playing surface 12 at an angle relative to the ground. The legs 20 may be pivotally or otherwise moveably attached to the gaming platform 10 by means of a pivotable connection 22 if desired. In exemplary embodiments, a leg 20 is pivotably attached to each stringer 14 near an upper distal end of game platform 10, though any number and location of such legs 20 may be utilized.

Openings 24b, 24c, and 24d are located on risers 18b, 18c, and 18d respectively. In the embodiment shown, the openings 24b, 24c, and 24d are configured to have a rectangular shape, as shown, that is centrally located along a centerline on riser risers 18b, 18c, and 18d respectively and transversely along the substantially vertical face of risers 18b, 18c, and 18d respectively. The openings 24b, 24c, and 24d provide an opening which receives a game bag or ball 102 (see FIG. 6) being thrown by the user 100.

Preferably, the rectangular openings 24b, 24c, and 24d are configured to have the smallest opening area located in the lower riser 18b, an intermediate opening area located on the upper riser 18c, and the largest area in the top riser 18d. That is, opening 24b located in lower riser 18b has a smaller area than opening 24c located on the upper riser 18c and opening 24d located on top riser 18d has a smaller area than opening 24c. In the example shown, the size of the area of each opening is accomplished by varying the horizontal length of each opening, but it should be understood that the area can be changed by varying the vertical height of the opening or both the height and the length of each opening. In addition, the openings 24b, 24c, and 24d can have the same area. It should be understood that the openings 24b, 24c, and 24d may be of any size, such as the size of the opening 24d.

The one or more of the openings 24b, 24c, and 24d may have attached containers 26b, 26c, and 26d respectively to catch a bag 102 thrown through the opening. Each container 26b, 26c, and 26d comprises a top wall 31. The top wall is connected to an inclined top back wall 34. The inclined top back wall 34 is connected to an inclined bottom back wall 36. The inclined bottom back wall 36 is connected to a bottom wall 38. The bottom wall 38 is attached to a partial front wall 40 forming an opening 42 between the top lip of the partial front wall 40 and the bottom lip of the top wall 31. Side walls 32 are also provided so that each of containers 26b, 26c, and 26d forms a box. The opening 42 extends to each sidewall 32 and the size of each opening 42 of containers 26b, 26c, and 26d is the same size of its respecting openings 24b, 24c, and 24d formed in risers 18b, 18c, and 18d respectively. In this way a bag 102 (see FIG. 6) tossed at openings 24b, 24c, and 24d will enter the respective container 26b, 26c, and 26d through opening 42.

The inclined back walls 34 and 34 of containers 26b, 26c, and 26d direct bags 102 entering the opening 42 of each respective containers 26b, 26c, and 26d serve to direct the gas 102 into the bottom portion of each container 26b, 26c, and 26d defined as the area between the bottom inclined back wall 36, the bottom wall 38 and the partial front wall 40 where the bag will come to rest. This bottom portion of each container 26b, 26c, and 26d is positioned below its respective opening 24b, 24c, and 24d.

A frame 42 with an attached bag 44, secured to the backside of each riser hole 24b, 24c, 24d, see FIG. 5. The frame 42 is attached to the back of the respective riser with a fastener 46, such as a wingnut. The netting 40a, 40b, and 40c is sized such that the ball would fall into the netting when thrown through one of the openings and be captured within the netting. The frame of these bags will match the respective hole size, see below, give or take a few centimeters. Each bag will preferably hang at about the same height. The netting 40a, 40b, 40c may also be of differing colors.

Indicia 28 may also be applied to each tread 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d as well as riser 18b, 18c, and 18d. The indicia 28 may relate to a score awarded according to the game rules, as described in greater detail below. The indicia 28 may also comprise scoring indicators, trade names, team logos, names, or other insignia may be provided on the gaming platform 10.

Referring now to FIG. 6, in use, the gaming platforms 10 are located a preselected distance away from each other with players 100 standing near one of the platforms and tossing game bags 102 to the far game platform. For example, without limitation, Team A Player 1 may toss a bag 102 which passes through one of the opening 24b, 24c, 24d in the far platform 10 (which may be scored, for example without limitation, as a preestablished number of points corresponding to indicia 28), a bag 102 which lands and come to rest on one of or landing on odd of the treads 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d of the platform 10 (which may be scored, for example without limitation, as a second amount of preestablished points according to indicia 28), and a bag 102 that misses the platform 10 altogether.

The preferred structural dimensions of the game platform 10 may be a height of about 27 inches (on level ground), a width or about 24 inches, and a depth of about 40 inches. The treads 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d are preferably about two (2) feet wide by about ten (10) inches deep. The risers 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d are preferably about two (2) feet wide and about 6¾ inches in height. The risers 18b, 18c, 18d preferably each have openings 24b, 24c, 24d of the same height but of varying widths, as shown.

A layer of grip may be applied to each tread whether it is a slab or a spray-on material for texture and grip. The top tread 16d preferably has no backboard or associated riser (this would be the fourth step in the embodiment shown). It is contemplated that the gaming platform 10 may comprise of up to and including seven step sections.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10 a second preferred embodiment of the gaming platform is shown. In these figures like references numbers refer to like elements in the first embodiment are designated with a prime symbol (′).

The gaming platform 10′ comprises a playing surface 12′ and one or more side surfaces 14′ which extend downwardly from the playing surface 12′. In exemplary embodiments, the sides 14′ extend about a perimeter of the playing surface 12′ such that the gaming platform 10′ forms a generally trapezoidal or stepwise shape with the playing surface 12 and the one or more side surfaces 14′.

In one exemplary embodiment, the playing surface 12′ comprises a plurality of treads 16a′, 16b′, 16c′ and 16d joined by risers 18a′, 18b′, 18c′, and 18d′, as shown. Bottom riser 18a is connected to the bottom tread 16a and the stringers 14′ as shown.

One or more foldable vertical supports or legs 20′ extends vertically downwardly from each stringer 14′ to support the bag toss game platform 10′, as shown, so as to present an inclined face for the playing surface 12′ to the user. The legs 20′ may be attached to a distal half of the gaming platform 10′. The legs 20′ are configured to elevate the playing surface 12′ at an angle relative to the ground.

Openings 24b′, 24c′, and 24d′ are located on risers 18b′, 18c′, and 18d′ respectively. In the embodiment shown, the openings 24b′, 24c′, and 24d′ are configured to have a rectangular shape, as shown, that is centrally located along a centerline on riser risers 18b′, 18c′, and 18d′ respectively and transversely along the substantially vertical face of risers 18b′, 18c′, and 18d′ respectively. The openings 24b′, 24c′, and 24d′ provide an opening which receives a game bag or ball 102 (see FIG. 6) being thrown by the user 100.

Preferably, the rectangular openings 24b′, 24c′, and 24d′ are configured to have the smallest opening area located in the lower riser 18b′, an intermediate opening area located on the upper riser 18c′, and the largest area in the top riser 18d′. That is, opening 24b′ located in lower riser 18b′ has a smaller area than opening 24c′ located on the upper riser 18c′ and opening 24d′ located on top riser 18d′ has a smaller area than opening 24c′. In the example shown, the size of the area of each opening is accomplished by varying the horizontal length of each opening, but it should be understood that the area can be changed by varying the vertical height of the opening or both the height and the length of each opening. In addition, the openings 24b′, 24c′, and 24d′ can have the same area. As above, the openings 24b′, 24c′, and 24d′ may be of any size, such as the size of the opening 24d′.

Each opening 24b′, 24c′, and 24d′ may be provided with attached netting 50b, 50c, 50d respectively to catch a bag 102 thrown through the opening. The netting 50b, 50c, 50d may comprise a frame 52 with an attached bag 54, secured to the backside of each opening 24b′, 24c′, and 24d′ see FIG. 10. The frame 52 is attached to the back of the respective riser with a fastener, such as a wingnut. The netting 50b, 50c, 50d is sized such that the ball would fall into the netting when thrown through one of the openings and be captured within the netting. The frame of these bags will match the respective hole size, see below, give or take a few centimeters. Each bag will preferably hang at about the same height. The netting 50b, 50c, 50d may also be of differing colors.

In one preferred form of the invention, a pair of playing boards 10 are utilized along with up to six bean bags 102 or other similar tossable devices. In one preferred method of using the gaming platform 10 is that players 100 (typically two teams of two players, but other configurations fall within the scope of the present invention) will need both skill and strategy to win the game. The scoring in play comprises both positive and negative pointing, forcing teammates to possibly use both forms of scoring to reach a score to a predetermined total, such as 21 points. It should be understood that the score may exceed the predetermined total and that the use of negative scoring points may be necessary to lower the score to the predetermined target score. Partners typically stand near one of playing platform 10 respectively at the side (the same side) of the gaming platform 10. The players 100 cannot step past the front of each platform defined by the front face of tread 18a (this is the “goal line”). Each team throws six (6) bags 102 at a time (three (3) for each player). It is further contemplated that the platforms 10 may be spaced about 20 feet apart, although other distances fall within the scope of the invention.

To start: Each player 100 throws one (1) bag 102 at the far game platform 10. Whichever team has highest point value goes first. (Repeat until starting team is decided.) Winning teams from previous game can decide to go first. Players can also decide which team is going to throw first; essentially skipping this step.

Each team throws all six (6) bags 102 per turn, alternating between partners (three (3) bags each). The bags 102 are colored differently to identify which teammate threw which bag upon scoring, or to hold place of turn, if order of throws becomes interrupted. Teammates can choose which side of the case they want to throw from, even alternating mid turn. It does not matter what player throws first.

For preferred scoring purposes, each “step” or “tread’ may be assigned a predetermined positive value, while each face of each “riser’ or “backboard,” may be assigned a negative value. From bottom step (first step) to third step; the negative values would increases respective to that step, as well as increases with size.

Each step (“tread”) has a positive scoring value. Each backboard (“riser”) has a hole with a negative value.

For example, the bottom tread 16a is preferably assigned +1 point. The lower tread 16b is preferably assigned +2 points. The upper tread 16c is preferably assigned +3 points. And, the top tread 16d is preferably assigned +7 points due to the lack of a backstop.

Missing the gaming platform 10 is preferably assigned 0 points.

The lower riser opening 24b is preferably assigned −1 point. The lower riser opening 24b is 5¼ inches in height×6 inches wide and is configured so that if a standard sized bean bag 102 was to be placed flat into the face of it, the circumference of that hole would be about a centimeter wider than the bag all around. The upper riser opening 24c is preferably assigned −2 points. The upper riser opening 24c is preferably 5½ inches in height×9½ inches wide. It is 3½ inches wider than the lower riser opening 24b. And, the top riser opening 24d is preferably assigned −3 points. The top riser opening 24d is 5½ inches height×14 inches wide. This the top riser opening 24d is approximately 8 inches wider than the lower riser opening 24b, and 4 1/24 inches wider than the upper riser opening 24c.

Each team starts at 0 points. The point range of the game is preferably −11 to 32. A team typically cannot score lower than −11. (If a team reaches −11, the round that team throws must still be calculated in total, to assure the team is not sacrificing any bags 102 to try to accrue a higher score, negative points will still be accrued for that turn. A team also preferably cannot score higher than 32 points. A Team must preferably reach EXACTLY 21 points using the appropriate math on step case, upon completion of turn.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.