Tailgate Golf

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Field of Invention

The present invention relates a board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf. The game is played by throwing a set number of tossing bags of chipping a foam golf board onto the board or into through-holes disposed on a board situated at a predetermined distance from the player. A player earns a particular point value depending upon whether the tossed bag or foam golf ball lands on the board or passes into a through-hole. The objective of this board tossing game is to achieve the lowest point score. Scoring may be recorded manually or by electronic scoring means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Board tossing games have become increasing widespread in recent years. These board tossing games typically include a board with markings, receptacles or through-holes and involve one or more players throwing a tossing element onto to the board. One very popular board tossing game is commonly called cornhole which comprises a board with a single hole and four bean bags. Indeed, there now are professional cornhole leagues which engage in tournaments.

PRIOR ART

The prior art is replete with games utilizing boards and tossing elements which engage the board in some fashion for scoring points. Many of these games simulate or are inspired by popular sporting events such as football. In some instances, the board and corresponding tossing elements, has become a sport, a familiar example of which is cornhole. Board type games with tossing bags are well known in the art. U.S. Patent Application Publication 2012/0038108 A1 to Mclaughlin, Jr. is directed to a beanbag football game having a board with through-holes for passage a hand tossed football shaped beanbag, the board having the appearance of a football field. U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,346 to Godwin, U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,409 to Godwin and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0062232 A1 to Pavlik et al. relate to other games simulating or inspired by football. Other tossing games are exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,268 B2 to Christianson, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2008/011644 A1 to Knoernschild and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2013/0234394A A1 to Voden. A golf inspired tossing game is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,483 to Dineen et al. which includes a plurality of receptables simulating golf holes distributed on a playing course and a colored tossing bags which are tossed at the receptacles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates to board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf. In one embodiment, the game is played by throwing a set number of tossing bags onto the board or into through-holes disposed on a board situated at a predetermined distance from a player. In another embodiment, the game is played using a chipping wedge and a set of foam golf balls and each of the foam golf balls is chipped (hit) towards the board or into through-holes disposed on the board situated at a predetermined distance from a player. Points are earned in accordance with agreed play rules, with the game winner being the player who has accumulated the fewest points and achieved the lowest score.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present subject matter to provide a board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf.

It is another object of the present subject matter to provide a board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf which is completed in either nine rounds (par 36) or eighteen rounds (par 72).

It is still another object of the present subject matter to provide a board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf comprising a board with a plurality of through-holes labeled with golfing terms and having a specific point value assigned to each through-hole and a plurality of tossing bags.

It is yet another object of the present subject matter to provide a board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf wherein each through-hole is of sufficient size and shape to enable a thrown tossing bag to fall into the through-hole.

It is an additional object of the present subject matter to provide a board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf comprising a board with a plurality of through-holes labeled with golfing terms and having a specific point value assigned to each through-hole and a plurality of foam golf balls which can be chipped towards the board with the objective of falling into one of the plurality of through-holes.

It is a further object of the present subject matter to provide a board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf comprising a board having eleven through-holes disposed therein and four tossing bags per each participating player or playing team.

It is still a further object of the present subject matter to provide a board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf comprising a board having a plurality of through-holes and an extendable leg member pivotally connected to the rear end of the board in such a manner that the board can be angled upwardly into a tilted position.

It is yet another object of the present subject matter to provide a board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf comprising a board having and extendable leg member which can be adjusted in height in such a manner that the upward slope of the board can be angled to differing degrees of difficulty.

It is an additional object of the present subject matter to provide a board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf in which the objective of play is to achieve the lowest score.

These and other objects of the present subject matter are accomplished by providing board tossing game comprising (1) a board member having a top surface, (2) a plurality of through-holes disposed therein, (3) at least one leg member pivotally connected to the rear end of the board such that when the leg member is extended, the rear end of the board is angled upwardly from the second end, thereby creating a downwardly sloped board member from the rear end to the opposite front end, and (4) a plurality of tossing bags of foam golf balls, wherein the top surface of the board and each of the plurality of through-holes is labeled with golfing terms and assigned specific point values. Like the sport of golf, the objective of the board tossing game of the present subject matter is to achieve the lowest score.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the board tossing game of the present subject matter.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the board tossing game of the present subject matter.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the board tossing game of the present subject matter.

FIG. 4 side perspective view of two boards separated by a predetermined length of the board tossing game of the present subject matter.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a set of tossing bags shown with a board member of the board tossing game of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, like reference numbers are used to identify like elements. Furthermore, the drawings are intended to illustrate major features of exemplary embodiments in a diagrammatic manner. The drawings are not intended to depict every feature of every implementation nor relative dimensions of the depicted elements and are not drawn to scale. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to clearly describe various specific embodiments disclosed herein. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the presently claimed invention may be practiced without all the specific details discussed below. In other instances, well known features have not been described so as not to obscure the invention.

It is to be understood that throughout this specification and claims, the terms “tailgate golf”, “board tossing game”, and “board tossing game inspired by the sport of golf”, are interchangeable and each term refers to the board tossing game of the present subject matter. It also is to be understood that the terms “player”, “user” and “playing team” are interchangeable and each term refers to a participant using the board tossing game of the present subject matter.

The present subject matter is directed a board tossing game which is inspired by the sport of golf. In particular, the objective of play of the board tossing game is to earn a score in the same manner as a standard game of golf. However, rather than hitting golf balls in the direction of a golf hole, the board tossing game is played with tossing bags that are thrown towards a board member comprising a plurality of through-holes disposed therein, each through-hole having a point value assigned to it. The object of the game is for the player to accumulate the least number of points. In the sport of golf, play typically occurs over eighteen holes, or sometimes in nine holes. In the tailgate golf of the present subject matter, it is contemplated that eighteen rounds (or turns) will be played, mimicking a par 72 golf course, with each player having four tossing bags to throw in each round or four foam golf balls which can be hit by a golf club, preferably a chipping wedge. Of course, the number of rounds can be modified, for example to nine rounds, mimicking a part 36. The player or team which accumulates the least amounts of points at the end of the eighteen rounds is declared the winner.

Referring now to the Figures, the board toss game 100 of the present subject matter comprises two identical board members 101 and 102. Each board member comprises a plurality of through-holes 110, each through-hole being of sufficient size and shape to enable a tossing bag to pass into the through-hole. Referring now to FIG. 2, a board member 101 is shown having a top target surface 102, a leading front end 103, a rear end 104 distal to the leading front end, and at least one leg member 105 which is pivotally connected to the rear end 104. The board member 101 typically has a rectangular shape with elongated side members 106. The at least one leg member 105 is pivotally connected to the rear end 104 of the board member in such a manner that the leg member 105 is folded and stored under the board member when not in use and can be pivotally extended outwardly during gameplay such that the rear end of the board member is angled upwardly to a tilted position such that the rear end is higher than the front leading edge, thereby creating a downward slope from the rear end 104. In a first embodiment, the leg member 105 is in the form of a single leg member which extends across the rear end 104. In an alternate embodiment, the at least one leg member 105 can be two identical leg members pivotally connected to the opposing corners of the rear end 104. In yet another embodiment, the at least one leg member may be provided with height-adjustment means such that the downward slope can be angled to differing degrees of difficulty.

The board member 101 and the at least one leg member 105 can be of wooden construction as is well known in the prior art. However, other rigid materials such as molded or extruded plastic materials, composites, metal-reinforced plastics, and reinforced wood composites are contemplated to be other suitable and non-limiting examples of rigid materials that can used in the construction of the board member 101 and the at least leg member 105 of the present subject matter.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a plurality of through-holes 110 are disposed in the top target surface 101 of the board member 100. Each of the plurality of through-holes is of sufficient size and shape to permit a tossing bag or foam golf ball to fall into the through-hole. Preferably, each of the through-holes has a diameter of between about four inches (4″) and about six inches (6″). More preferably, the diameter of each through-hole is about five inches (5″). Labeled on the top target surface 101 above each through-hole is a golfing term and labeled below each through-hole is a point value assigned to that individual through-hole.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, eleven (11) through-holes are disposed in the top target surface of the board member. More specifically, the top target surface 102 adjacent to each of the through holes has been labeled with a golfing term label and an assigned point value.

through-hole	golfing term	point value

111	DROP	+1
112	DBL BOGEY	+2
113	BOGEY	+1
114	EAGLE	−2
115	HOLE IN ONE	−2
116	PAR	0
117	WATER HAZARD	+3
118	DBL EAGLE	−3
119	SNOWMAN	+4
120	BIRDIE	−1
121	TRIPLE BOGEY	+3

It is to be understood that while eleven through-holes are shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the plurality of through-holes can be more or less than eleven without departing from the spirit and scope of the board tossing game of the present subject matter.

Referring now to FIG. 3, tailgate golf includes the use of two board members 101 and 201 which are separated from each other at a predetermined distance. In one embodiment, the distance between the leading front end of each board is about twenty-six feet (26′). In other embodiment, the distance between the center through-hole 116 disposed on each board member 101 and 201 is about thirty feet (30′). However, the predetermined distance may be modified and adapted to accommodate players of differing ages and skill levels without departing from the scope and spirit of the present subject matter. During gameplay, a first player or playing team is assigned to board member 101 and a second player or playing team is assigned to board member 201, both the first player and second player are provided with a plurality of tossing bags. In a preferred embodiment, four tossing bags are provided to each player or playing team. In another preferred embodiment, the tossing bags are bean bags. However, as will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art, suitable tossing bags can be composed of any durable or tightly woven fabric filled with a weighted material such as sand, beads, or other weighted particles. Preferably the tossing bags are bean bags. The outer surface of one or both sides of each tossing bag can be provided with a textured or gripping surface.

In another embodiment of the board tossing game of the present subject matter, rather than using tossing bags, each player or playing team is provided with a set of foam golf balls which are to be hit towards one of the board members by a golf club. Preferably a chipping wedge is the golf club and each of the foam golf balls are chipped towards the board member with the objective of falling into one of the plurality of through-holes.

To simulate a game of golf, tailgate golf of the present subject matter includes eighteen (18) rounds, corresponding to a round of 18 holes in the sport of golf. Of course, the number of rounds can be modified without departing from the spirit or scope of the board tossing game of the present subject matter. Each round consists of a first player or playing team throwing each of the four tossing bags towards the opposing board member 101 followed by a second player or playing team throwing each of the four tossing bags to the other board member 201. In another embodiment of the present subject matter, a first player or playing team uses a chipping wedge to chip each of four foam golf balls towards the opposing board member 101 followed by a second player or playing team using a chipping wedge to chip each of four foam golf balls towards the opposing board member 201. In accordance with one embodiment of agreed rules, each tossing bag or foam golf ball must be released before crossing the leading front end 103 of the board member 100 from which the player is throwing or chipping.

In gameplay, the objective of the game is to accumulate the fewest points. In one embodiment, points are accumulated in each round by first using the lowest assigned point value for any tossing bag that has been thrown completely into a through-hole. For each thrown tossing bag that lands on the top target surface but not completely into a through-hole or misses the board and lands off the board, the player or playing team accumulates an additional point, the equivalent of “one stroke” in the sport of golf.

To illustrate this embodiment of point accumulation, the first player has four tossing bags. The first tossing bag is thrown and completely falls into through-hole 108 which is labeled DBL EAGLE with an assigned point value of “−3”. The second thrown tossing bag completely falls into through-hole 117 which is labeled WATER HAZARD with an assigned point value of “+3”. The third thrown tossing bag lands on the top target surface but does not fall into a through-hole, the player accumulating an additional one point (corresponding to one golf stroke). The fourth tossing bag is thrown and completely misses the board member and lands onto an area surrounding the board member, the player accumulating a second additional one point. In this illustration of gameplay, the player first accumulates the lowest point value assigned to any through-hole into which a tossing bag completely passed, which would be DBL EAGLE at “−3” points. However, as the player accumulated two additional points, one for landing on the top target surface and the other for landing onto an area surrounding the board member, two points must be added to that “−3” for a total point accumulation in round 1 of “−1.

Gameplay and agreed rules can be modified. In one embodiment, in rounds 9 and in round 18, if a player throws all four tossing bags into the same through-hole, the round may be scored four (4) times the point value of the hole. In the event of a tie at the end of the 18 rounds of gameplay, additional rounds are played until a winner is determined.

In the embodiment of the board tossing game which uses foam golf balls which are hit towards a board member, for each foam golf ball that misses the board member of does not go into a through-hole, that player will accumulate one additional point (corresponding to a golf stroke).

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the recording of points accumulated is performed manually. However, it is contemplated that each board member can be provided with electronic scoring means.

While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternative embodiments are contemplated and can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.