FLEXIBLE RING BAG TOSS GAME

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/681,500, filed Aug. 9, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/532,656, filed Aug. 14, 2023, is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to games, and more specifically, but not exclusively to, to a lawn game including a flexible ring-like projectile and a portable game board.

BACKGROUND

Lawn games have become increasingly popular in the United States. One exemplary lawn game is cornhole, which is also commonly referred to as bags, beanbag toss, and baggo. Although cornhole is believed to date back to the 1800s, this game has had a recent surge in popularity. Cornhole is no longer merely a “party game” played at gatherings of families and friends but is also a competitive sport with standard rules and equipment.

Cornhole is played with two slightly slanted game boards (e.g., a regulation game board has a rise of approximately 8 inches to a run of 48 inches, yielding a board slope of approximately) 10° which are placed twenty-seven feet apart. See Official Sanctioned Rules, Rev. D., Am. Cornhole Assoc., Rev. D. (last accessed Jun. 24, 2022), https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0074/8512/8777/files/ACARules-105744-RevD.pdf ?v=1627387585&utm. Each cornhole game board is two feet in width and four feet in length and has a hole extending through the game board. See Id.

During play, players stand on opposing sides of one cornhole board and toss small bags toward the game board. The bags have an outer cloth covering that encloses pellets or corn inside the bag. The slope of the board is such that any bags which land upon the board will remain upon the board (e.g., the bags will not slide from the board due to gravity alone). A player is awarded one point for every bag thrown which remains on the game board and is awarded three points for every bag which passes through the hole in the game board.

There are numerous disadvantages with cornhole equipment of the prior art. For example, cornhole boards are difficult to transport. Regulation size cornhole game boards are too large to fit within the passenger compartment or trunk of most passenger cars and SUVs (e.g., typically a large SUV or truck bed is needed to haul two four-foot long by two-foot wide cornhole boards). Cornhole is typically considered a game with very low difficulty; therefore, many players see only de minimis improvement with frequent play. This, as well as the ubiquity of cornhole, is believed to frequently result in payer “burn out”.

Another exemplary lawn game is horseshoes. In horseshoes, two metal stakes are hammered vertically into the ground, often into sand pits, and are spaced approximately forty feet apart. Players stand at the sides of one metal stake and throw horseshoe shaped (e.g., substantially u shaped) metal bars toward the other metal stake. A player is commonly awarded three points if a horseshoe lands such that it completely encompasses a stake. A horseshoe which lands within six inches of the stake (e.g., without fully encompassing the stake) will typically earn the player one point.

There are numerous disadvantages with the game horseshoes. For example, should the stakes be driven into a lawn rather than a sand pit, the metal horseshoe can bounce away from the stake creating a safety hazard. It can take a substantial amount of time to set up due to the need to provide a sand pit for the stakes to be driven into. Additionally, some find the noise during gameplay (e.g., the loud clanking sound created by metal horseshoes contacting a metal stake) to be offensive.

Numerous drawbacks exist with regard to toss and lawn games of the prior art.

Therefore, further technological developments are desirable.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the present application is directed toward a game kit. The kit includes a game board having a frontal face. A plurality of protrusions extends outwardly from the frontal face. A flexible projectile includes a projectile body, and the projectile body includes a beaded filler located internal to an outer covering. The projectile body includes a ring-like form.

The frontal face is configured to be positioned at an angle relative the ground, and the angle includes a sufficiently large magnitude such that the flexible projectile will slide down the frontal face, toward the ground, unless the flexible projectile is retained by a protrusion when tossed by a user during gameplay.

The frontal face of the game board can include a substantially frusto-triangular shape. The angle is between 15° to 90°. Preferably, the angle is between 20° to 80°. The angle can be between 45° to 60°.

The plurality of protrusions can be removably coupled at the frontal face. The game kit can include a support extending downwardly from a rearward face of the game board, and the support is configured to orient the frontal face at the angle.

The beaded filler can comprise resin pellets, and the outer covering can comprise a woven fabric. Each projectile can include an aperture extending through the projectile, and the aperture can include an interior dimension which is larger than an exterior dimension of the protrusions.

The plurality of protrusions can comprise a plurality of pegs. The frontal face can include a plurality of receiving cavities. The pegs can be retained in the receiving cavities by an interference fit.

Another form of the present application includes an apparatus including a flexible projectile body having a ring-like form. An aperture is located in the projectile body. An outer covering defines an outer surface of the body, and a beaded filler is encased by the outer covering. Cooperation between the beaded filler and the outer covering provides structure to the projectile body. The projectile body is configured to be tossed by a user.

The filler can be resin pellets and the outer covering can be a woven fabric. The projectile body can include a rounded outer surface at an outer circumference, a rounded inner surface at the aperture, and the projectile body can include a substantially ovaloid cross section.

The apparatus can include a game board having a frontal face which extends between an upper portion and a lower portion. The frontal face can be located at angle between 20° to 80° relative the ground. A plurality of pegs can be removably coupled at the frontal face, with a distal end of each peg extending outwardly from the frontal face.

The angle can be between 45° to 60°.

Yet a further form of the present application is directed to a game kit, including a game board having a frontal face which extends between an upper portion and a lower portion. The frontal face is located at an angle of between 20° to 90° relative the ground. A plurality of pegs is removably coupled at the frontal face. A distal end of each peg extends outwardly from the frontal face.

A plurality of flexible projectiles each include an aperture extending through the projectile. The aperture includes an interior dimension which is larger than an exterior dimension of the pegs. Each projectile is configured to be received on a protrusion when tossed by a user during gameplay.

The frontal face of the game board can include a substantially frusto-triangular shape. Opposing sides of the game board can taper outwardly between the upper portion and the lower portion.

Each flexible projectile can include a projectile body defined by resin pellets encompassed in an outer covering. Cooperation between the resin pellets and the outer covering can provide structure to the projectile body.

A second game board can include a second plurality of pegs. A support can extend downwardly from a rearward face of the game board, the support can be removably coupled with the rearward face, and the support can orient the frontal face at an angle between 45° to 60°.

Other embodiments include unique game apparatuses, systems, kits, and methods. Further embodiments, inventions, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present application are otherwise set forth or become apparent from the description and drawings included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a ring game system according to a first form of the present application, depicting flexible ring-like projectiles received by pegs of a game board as would occur during gameplay;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the game board of FIG. 1 with the pegs removed from the gameboard;

FIG. 2B is a side view of an exemplary support for the game board, depicted being detached from the game board;

FIG. 3 depicts exemplary pegs configured to couple with the game board of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the game board of FIG. 1, depicting the game board in an upright configuration with the pegs removed therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary ring game kit, shown in a fully disassembled configuration;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of an exemplary flexible ring-like projectile;

FIG. 7 is a photographic view of the flexible ring-like projectile of FIG. 6, depicting the structure imparted by the cooperation of the beaded filler and the outer woven covering, further depicting that the flexible ring-like projectile includes sufficient structure to be self-supporting when positioned upon its side; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary game board in a fully assembled configuration, depicted during gameplay.

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate various forms and features of the present application; however, the present application should not be construed as being limited to those specific embodiments depicted in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary ring game system 100 will now be described. The ring game system 100 includes a game board 102 and a projectile 104. The projectile 104 includes an opening 106. A protrusion 118 extends outwardly from the game board 102. During gameplay, a player tosses the projectile 104 toward the game board 102 with the objective of landing the projectile 104 over a protrusion 118 (e.g., with the protrusion 118 extending through the opening 106 of the projectile 104) so that the projectile 104 is received on the protrusion 118 and retained to the game board 102.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the game board 102 will now be described. The game board 102 is depicted as having a top 108, a bottom 110, a left side 112, and a right side 114. The opposing sides 112, 114 of the game board 102 can have an outward taper 116 between the top 108 and the bottom 110.

The game board 102 can include a substantially frusto-triangular shape 122. As utilized herein, the term frusto-triangular shape is intended to include various substantially triangular shapes which has at least one corner “clipped” (e.g., depicted as having a frustum at the top 108 extending between the opposing sides 112, 114). This frusto-triangular shape 122 may also be referred to as a truncated triangle. However, it is also contemplated that the game board 102 can take a variety of forms (e.g., triangular, pyramidal, rectangular, octagonal, round, ovaloid, etc.) depending upon the desired characteristics of the game board 102 as would be understood by a person of skill.

The game board 102 can be substantially symmetrical about a lengthwise axis 120. To increase the aesthetic appeal of the game board 102, the upper surface 124 of the game board 102 can include a variety of ornamental designs, logos 126, branding/advertisements, and/or colors and finishes. As will be discussed hereinafter, the upper surface 124 (e.g., the frontal face) of the game board 102 is placed at an angle 406 relative the ground.

The angle 406 is preferably of a sufficiently large magnitude such that any projectiles 104 which are not retained by a protrusion 118 (e.g., with the protrusion extending through the opening 106 or with the projectile 104 resting against and being supported by a protrusion 118) will slide off the game board 102. An angle 406 of a sufficiently large magnitude can provide a more vertically oriented upper surface 124, which can also increase the visibility of any logos 126 or designs on the upper surface 124.

A plurality of protrusions 118 (e.g., including protrusions 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109) extend outwardly from an upper surface 124 of the game board 102. The protrusions 118 are depicted as being substantially perpendicular relative the upper surface 124 of the game board 102 (e.g., a lengthwise axis of the protrusions 118 can be disposed approximately 90° relative a plane defined by the upper surface 124). However, the protrusions 118 can take a variety of forms and can be disposed in or at the upper surface 124 in any manner such that the protrusions 118 can support and retain a projectile 104 thereon. Preferably, the protrusion 118 retains the projectile 104 by extending through the opening 106 in the projectile 104. As would be understood to a person of skill, downwardly extending angles (e.g., disposing the protrusions 118 at an angle which extends downwardly relative to a plane defined by surface upon which the game board 102 is positioned) may not be desirable as any projectiles 104 which pass over such a protrusion 118 would likely slide off the protrusion 118.

The protrusions 118 are preferably removably coupled with the game board 102; however, it is contemplated that the protrusions 118 can be fixedly coupled with the game board 102 (e.g., via various fasteners, adhesives, integrally formed therewith, etc.). The ability to selectively couple and decouple protrusions 118 from the game board 102 can serve to reduce a thickness of the game board 102 enabling a smaller overall packaging size during shipping and can decrease the overall “bulk” of the game board 102 during travel (e.g., when moved by an end user from one location to another).

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of several exemplary protrusions 118. Each protrusion 118 extends along the lengthwise axis between a proximal end 302 and a distal end 304. The protrusions 118 are depicted as pegs 118, with each peg 118 having a substantially cylindrical form 301 extending along a lengthwise axis 303. A distal end 304 of the pegs 118 can include a substantially rounded and/or semi-spherical shape 310 to ease the passage of the distal end 304 through the opening 106 the projectile 104 when a user tosses the projectile 104 toward the peg 118. However, the pegs 118 can take a variety of forms and may include a variety of shapes whereby the pegs 118 can extend through the openings 106 of the projectiles 104 and the projectiles 104 may be retained on the pegs 118.

A proximal end 302 of each peg 118 can removably couple with the game board 102 at the upper surface 124 of the game board 102. The plurality of pegs 118 (i.e., including pegs 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109) can removably couple with the game board 102 through a variety of known fastening mechanisms, which include, but are not limited to, interference fits, snap-fits, twist-lock fits, dovetail/channel fits, and other selectively removable fastening mechanisms as would be appreciated by a person of skill.

As is illustrated, the portion of the fastening mechanism 306 located on the peg 118 can take the form of threads 308. The external threads 308 on the proximal end 302 of the peg 118 are configured to threadingly engage with internal threads located in peg receiving cavities 202, shown in FIG. 2A, of the game board 102. Specifically, peg 101 can threadingly engage with receiving cavity 201, peg 103 can threadingly engage with receiving cavity 203, peg 105 can threadingly engage with receiving cavity 205, peg 107 can threadingly engage with receiving cavity 207, and peg 109 can threadingly engage with receiving cavity 209. In this manner, the pegs 118 can be selectively screwed into and out from the game board 102.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2B, the ring game system 100 is depicted as including five pegs 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109. Pegs 101, 103, and 107 are depicted as being equally spaced along the lengthwise axis 120 of the game board 102. Pegs 105 and 109 are depicted as being located toward the bottom 110 of the game board 102 on opposing sides of the lengthwise axis 120. However, depending upon the specific application and desired parameters of the game board 102, pegs 118 can be placed in a wide variety of locations at the upper surface 124 of the game board 124 and various numbers of pegs 118 can be utilized.

As would be appreciated to a person of skill, the pegs 118 should be adequately spaced such that the distance between the pegs 118 can accommodate an outer dimension of the projectiles 104 therebetween. The spacing between the pegs 118 should be great enough such that the projectiles 104 are able to extend over the pegs 118 and hang from the pegs 118 (e.g., if insufficient space is provided between the pegs 118 relative the outer dimension of the projectiles 104, the projectiles 104 will merely contact the distal end 304 of the pegs 118 and bounce off the game board 102).

A support 204, which is depicted as a leg or stand, extends downwardly from a lower surface 206 of the game board 102 to elevate the top 108 of the game board 102 relative the bottom 110 of the game board 102. The support 204 serves to orient the upper surface 124 of the game board 102 at an angle 406 relative a supporting surface 404 (e.g., upon which the game board 102 is placed). The support 204 extends between a proximal end 214 and a distal end 208. The distal end 108 can include an angled surface 210. As would be appreciated to a person of skill in the art, the angled surface 210 enables “flush” contact with the supporting surface 404 when the game board 102 is placed in an upright, standing-type configuration, as is shown in FIG. 4. The angled surface 210 can also be referred to as the ground contacting surface 210.

The upper surface 124 of the game board 102 is depicted as being placed at an angle 406 relative the supporting surface 404. The angle 406 of the upper surface 124 relative the ground 404 can impart unique functionality, as well as an increased level of difficulty, to the ring game 100. During play, users will toss the projectiles 104 toward the upper surface 124 of the game board 102 with the goal of landing the projectiles 104 on the pegs 118, with the projectile 104 extending around and being retained on a peg 118 as has been described herein.

However, should a user toss a projectile 104 that is not retained by the pegs 118, the angle 406 of the upper surface 124 will result in the projectile 104 sliding down the upper surface 124 toward the bottom 110 of the game board 102 and falling from the game board 102 to the ground 404. A projectile 104 can be retained by a peg 118 via the peg 118 extending through the opening 106 of the projectile 104 (e.g., with the projectile 104 surrounding the peg 118) or a projectile 104 can be retained by a peg 118 absent the peg 118 extending through the opening 106 (e.g., with the projectile 104 being supported by the peg 118). For example, a projectile 104 can rest atop or between two pegs 118 which will support the projectile 104 and will prevent the projectile 104 from sliding off the game board 102 (e.g., due to the force of gravity acting on the projectile 104) even if the peg 118 does not extend through the opening 106 of the projectile 104.

In the ring game 100, if a projectile 104 is not retained by a peg 118 the angle 406 of the upper surface 124 can be of a sufficiently large magnitude such that gravity will cause the projectile 104 to slide off the game board 102. This “slide off miss” feature of the ring game 100 is believed to likely require a higher degree of skill and coordination than prior art lawn games and toss games such as cornhole (e.g., where points are awarded for bags atop the board which do not pass through the opening) and horseshoes (e.g., where points are received for being sufficiently close to the stake). This higher degree of skill is believed to reduce user “burn out” and can enable frequent users to further distinguish themselves from novice users while the level of difficulty can enable continued improvement over time.

As will be understood to a person of skill, the material construction of the upper surface 124 and the projectile 104 (e.g., the frictional resistance imparted by the material construction) and the weight of the projectile 104, can impact whether the angle 406 is of a sufficiently large magnitude to result projectile 104 to slide off the game board 102 if not retained by a peg 118. Basic testing utilizing the projectile depicted and described in connection with FIGS. 6-7, and a painted wood upper surface 124, demonstrated that the projectile 104 will being to slide when the upper surface is placed at an angle 406 of approximately 15°.

Exemplary angles 406 of sufficiently large magnitude will now be described. The angle 406 is greater than 15°. The angle 406 can be selected from the range of 15° to 90°. The angle 406 can be selected from the range of 20° to 80°. Preferably, the angle 406 can be selected form the range of 30° to 75°. In one non-limiting form, depicted in FIG. 4, the angle 406 can approximate 50° (e.g., the angle 406 is depicted as 53°).

To reduce the overall packaging size/bulk of the ring game 100, the support 204 can be removably coupled to the lower surface 206 and/or can be hingedly or collapsably coupled to the lower surface 206. In one non-limiting form, the proximal end 214 of the support 204 can be removably inserted into a support receiving cavity 402 disposed in the lower surface 206 of the game board 102. However, as was previously described with regard to pegs 118, the support 204 can be removably coupled with the lower surface 206 utilizing a variety of fastening mechanisms, which include, but are not limited to, interference fits, snap-fits, twist-lock fits, dovetail/channel fits, and other selectively removable fastening mechanisms. The support 204 can couple with the lower surface 206 at an angle which approximates 90°, as is shown in FIG. 4.

The game board 102, pegs 118, and support 204 can be constructed from a variety of material(s) and can take a variety of different forms to provide: 1.) a sufficiently rigid support 204/supporting system should be included to enable the game board 102 to achieve a gameplay configuration (e.g., shown in FIG. 8); 2.) a sufficiently rigid game board 102 to prevent breakage and/or excess flex of the game board 102 as the game board 102 is impacted by the projectiles 104; and 3.) sufficiently rigid pegs 118 to remain outwardly oriented and to provide support for the projectiles 104 to hang thereon.

In one non-limiting form, the game board 102, pegs 118, and support 204 can all be manufactured of wood. Such wooden construction is believed to be cost effective and can easily accommodate a variety of finishes and various attachment mechanisms. The game board 102, pegs 118, and support 204 can alternatively be constructed from a variety of polymers, metals (e.g., especially lightweight metals and alloys, including, but not limited to aluminum), and composites (e.g., such as plywood, OSB, and fiberglass). The game board 102, pegs 118, and support 204 can also be constructed of dissimilar materials. As one non-limiting example, the game board 102 may be constructed of plywood, the pegs 118 may be constructed of a polymer, and the support 204 may be constructed of solid “real” wood.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-7, the flexible projectiles 104 will now be described. As utilized herein, the term “projectile” is intended to encompass a wide variety of objects which may easily be tossed by an average person. The flexible projectiles 104 include an opening 106 which is sufficiently sized such that a peg 118 can easily pass through the opening 106 when the flexible projectile 104 is tossed at a peg 118 on the game board 102.

The flexible projectiles 104 can include a body 604 which extends radially outwardly from an inner diameter 608 to an outer diameter 606. The flexible projectiles 104 are depicted as having a substantially ring-like shape 601, which may also be described as a donut-like shape. However, in further forms the flexible projectiles 104 can take a variety of forms (e.g., triangular, rectangular, octagonal, etc.) that have a sufficiently sized opening or aperture 106 such that a peg 118 can pass through the opening 106 and retain the flexible projectile 104 on the peg 118.

The flexible projectiles 104, which are depicted in FIGS. 6-7 as flexible rings 104, are constructed of a suitable material or combination of materials to impart a flexible characteristic to the projectile 104. It is contemplated that the flexible rings 104 can be constructed of a variety of polymers, higher density foams, and various rubbers to achieve a desirable weight to toss and which will impart the desired flex/flexural characteristics.

The flexible rings 104 preferably include an outer covering 602 that surrounds and encases a filler (not shown) therein. The outer covering 602 can be a woven outer covering 602. The body 604 of the flexible rings 104 can be formed by stitching the woven outer covering 602 at seams 704. The flexible rings 104 can include a rounded outer edge 702 and a rounded inner edge 802. A thickness 706 of the flexible rings 104 can be sufficient for a user to easily grasp with the fingers on a single hand.

The filler can be a beaded filler. Exemplary beaded fillers include a variety of grains such as corn, polymer beads or pellets, rubber pellets, and the like. The fill level of the filler (e.g., the amount of filler included in the outer covering 602) at least partially determines the structural characteristics of the flexible rings 104. For example, should a firmer flexible ring 104 be desired, more filler may be inserted into the flexible ring 104 (e.g., a flexible ring 104 with a reasonably high fill level can have the self-supporting structural characteristics seen in FIG. 7).

In one exemplary non-limiting form, the outer covering 602 can be a heavy-duty woven cotton fabric and the beaded filler can be heavy resin pellets. It is believed that this construction having a heavy-duty woven cotton fabric covering 602 encompassing heavy resin pellets will provide a familiar tactile feel to experienced cornhole users. Movement between the resin pellets within the cotton fabric covering 602 provides a high degree of flex; however, a high level of fill with resin pellets provides structure to the projectile 104.

The weight provided to the flexible rings 104 via the use of heavy resin pellets has been found to be comfortable to toss while being sufficiently heavy to resist in flight course deviations due to wind. A flexible ring 104 weighing approximately 10 ounces was found to provide a comfortable toss; however, it is contemplated that the flexible rings 104 can be produced to have a variety of weights, sizes, and shapes, depending upon the characteristics desired in the flexible ring 104.

The woven covering 602 is believed to be sufficiently textured to easily grip. Additionally, the weight of the heavy resin pellets and the textured woven covering 602 are believed to provide a suitable level of resistance to falling from a peg 118 during gameplay (e.g., due to other flexible rings 104 contacting the game board 102 or wind blowing across the game board 102 should the ring game 100 be played outside).

The flexible rings 104 can be easily flexed by a user. The flexible rings 104 are not stiff or fully rigid; however, the flexible rings 104 can include sufficient structure to be self-supporting (e.g., resulting from a fairly high fill level of resin pellets). The structure imparted to the flexible rings 104 due to the level of fill of the resin pellets is illustrated in FIG. 7. In this figure, a flexible ring 104 is depicted as supporting itself in an upright position 902; however, the ring 104 is flexed/bent in multiple locations such as at 904.

The flexible rings 104 can flex, bend, and rotate during flight. It is believed that the flexibility of the rings 104 can potentially increase the difficulty of the ring game 100 as a user needs to take into consideration the flex and flight characteristics of the flexible rings 104 when tossing the flexible rings 104 during gameplay.

The flexible rings 104 can include distinctive markings or colors, as are shown in FIG. 1. Each user or team can be assigned flexible rings 104 bearing a specific marking or color. During gameplay, a user can readily identify their specific flexible rings 104 via the markings or colors (e.g., for purposes of scoring).

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary ring game kit 500. This exemplary ring game kit 500 includes a game board 102 which is depicted as including five peg receiving cavities 202 and five pegs 118. The upper surface 124 of the game board 102 includes five peg receiving cavities 202, depicted as cavities 201, 203, 205, 207, and 209. The pegs 118 (i.e., pegs 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109) of this kit 500 are threaded, as was described with FIG. 3, and threadingly engage with threads of the peg receiving cavities 202.

The ring game kit 500 includes a support 204. The support 204 of the ring game kit 500 removably inserts into a support receiving cavity 402 located on a lower surface 206 of the game board 102. As has been discussed, the support 204 will be of a sufficient length and will be configured to intersect with the lower surface 206 at a sufficient angle to provide the desired angle to the upper surface 124 of the game board 102 when placed in an assembled and upright configuration.

The ring game kit 500 is depicted as including six flexible rings 104 which each include an inner opening 106. The ring game kit 500 is depicted as being a single game board 102 kit. It is contemplated that the ring game kit 500 may include a second game board 102, a second support 204, ten total pegs 118, and twelve total flexible rings 104. However, it is contemplated that the ring game kit 500 can include any desired number of flexible rings 104, pegs 118, game boards 102, and supports 204, depending upon the desired characteristics of the ring game kit 500.

The ring game kit 500 can be housed in packaging which includes a transparent portion located above a portion of upper surface 124 so that a consumer may easily be able to view any logo on the game board 102 inside the packaging.

An instruction manual, not shown, can be included with the ring game kit 500. The instruction manual can include instructions for assembly, care instructions (e.g., depending upon the materials the components of the kit 500 are manufactured from as well as the finishes applied thereto), as well as instructions for gameplay and scoring.

Referring now to FIG. 8, an exemplary kit 500 is depicted during gameplay. The board 102 is identical to the board 102 described with regard to FIG. 1 except that the outer perimeter 811 of the game board 102 is depicted as chamfered (e.g., rounded, beveled, etc.) and the angle 813 is greater than the angle 406. The game board 102 is shown in a fully assembled configuration 801, with the pegs 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109 inserted into the frontal face 124, and with the support 204 attached thereto.

The support 204 is depicted as being approximately perpendicular relative a rearward surface 807 (e.g., the support 204 extends away from the rearward surface 807 at an angle of approximately) 90°.

The frontal face 124 of the game board 102 is maintained at an angle 813 relative the surface of the ground 809. The angle 813 is preferably equal to or greater 30°. The angle 813 can be selected from the range of 30° to 90° and preferably is selected from the range of 45° to 80°. In one non-limiting form, as depicted in FIG. 8, the angle 813 is selected from the range of 45° to 60°.

As is illustrated in FIG. 8, the flexible rings 104a-104d are identical to projectiles 104 as have been described herein; however, reference numerals 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d are provided to better describe the orientation of a specific projectile 104 relative the game board 102

The two flexible rings 104a and 104b are depicted as being received on pegs 101 and 103 (e.g., each flexible ring 104a, 104b has a peg 101 and 103 extending through its aperture 106, and the flexible rings 104a and 104b are retained to the game board 102 via the pegs 101 and 103 respectively). The flexible ring 104c is retained on the game board 102 by peg 105. Although the peg 105 does not extend through the aperture 106 of the flexible ring 104c, an outer surface 609 of the flexible ring 104c is resting upon the peg 105 (e.g., the peg 105 retains the flexible ring 104c by supporting the flexible ring 104c). The contact between the peg 105 and the flexible ring 104c supports the flexible ring 104c on the game board 102 and can prevent the force of gravity from causing the flexible ring 104c to slide downwardly from the game board 102 onto the ground. Finally, the flexible ring 104d is depicted as being located on the ground 809. Although landing on the game board 102 when tossed, the flexible ring 104d was not received on any of the pegs 101, 103, 105, 107, 109; therefore, the flexible ring 104d slid downwardly across the frontal face 124 of the game board 102 (e.g., as the angle 813 is of a sufficiently large magnitude such that gravity will cause the flexible ring 104d to slide downwardly on the frontal face 124 toward the ground 809).

Exemplary gameplay with the ring game 100 will now be described in connection with FIG. 8. Although the following discussion of gameplay will describe specific scoring techniques, point awards, distances thrown, and other potential rules of the ring game 100, the present application is not to be limited to such and it is contemplated that the ring game 100 can be played in a variety of manner.

Users, who will be referred to as players, will assemble the game board 102. A single game board 102 may be utilized for play; however, it may be desired to utilized two game boards 102 which are preferably identical in design.

The players can attach the pegs 118, including 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109, to the game board 102. The support 204 is inserted into the support receiving cavity 402 at the rearward surface 807 of the game board 102.

The supporting surface 809 is preferably selected to be reasonably flat. Exemplary supporting surfaces 809 can include a lawn, a beach, a driveway, a carpeted interior floor, or any other suitable location where players desire to play the ring game 100. The supporting surface 809 will be referred to hereinafter as the ground 809.

The board 102 is placed in an upright configuration 801, the lower surface 807 of the game board 102 rests upon the ground 809 and the angled surface 210 of the support 204 contacts the ground 809. The support 204 elevates the upper portion 108 and orients the frontal face 124 of the game board 102 at an angle 813 relative the ground 809.

In the case of a singular game board 102, the players can stand approximately twelve feet away from the game board 102. Should two game boards 102 be utilized, the game boards 102 can be placed approximately twelve feet apart with the frontal faces 124 of the two game boards 102 being directed toward one another.

The terms “Team A” and “Team B” will be utilized herein solely as a means of distinguishing between players on separate teams. The ring game 100 can be played with only two players on a single game board 102; however, the ring game 100 will be discussed hereinafter with regard to four players (i.e., two on each team) playing on two game boards 102.

Two players will stand to the side of the first board 102, one player from Team A and one player from Team B. The other two players, one from Team A and one from Team B will stand to the side of the second board 102.

The players can now decide who shall have first toss. Should the Team A player standing beside the first game board 102 have first toss, this player as well as the Team B player on the same side of the ring game 100 (e.g., beside the first game board 102) can each have a plurality of flexible rings 104 near them. The number of flexible rings 104 to be tossed per player per turn can depend upon player preferences as well as the total number of flexible rings 104 included and/or purchased separately with the system 100. In this non-limiting example, each player will toss three flexible rings 104 per turn. As was discussed above, the flexible rings 104 can include distinctive markings or colors to assist in identification and scoring.

The Team A player will now aim the flexible ring 104 at a peg 118 (e.g., 101, 103, 105, 107, 109) on the second game board 102. The Team A player will then toss their first flexible ring 104 toward the peg 118 on the second game board 102 which they desire to hit. Once the Team A player has tossed their first flexible ring 104, the Team B player standing beside the first game board 102 will take aim at a peg 118 on the second game board 102 and will toss their first flexible ring 104. The Team A and Team B players standing beside the first game board 102 will alternate tossing their flexible rings 104 until they have thrown all three of their flexible rings 104.

When the Team A and Team B players standing beside the first game board 102 have ended their turn (e.g., they have thrown all of their flexible rings 104 toward the game board), the total number of points for Team A and Team B can be determined.

In one exemplary non-limiting form, points can be awarded based upon the number of flexible rings 104 that have pegs 118 through the apertures 106 and the number of flexible rings 104 remaining on the game board 102 when the turn ends. For example, a flexible ring 104 which is received on a peg 118 (e.g., in which the peg 118 extends through the aperture 106 of the flexible ring 104) can be awarded two points. Flexible rings 104a and 104b, depicted in FIG. 8, are exemplary flexible rings 104 which would be awarded two points (e.g., with pegs 101 and 103 extending through apertures 106 of the rings 104a and 104b).

A flexible ring 104 which remains on the frontal face 124 of the board 102, but where the peg 118 does not go through the aperture 106, can be awarded one point. Flexible ring 104c is an example of a flexible ring 104 which would be awarded one point. For example, a ring 104 can be supported by a peg 118 (e.g., one or more pegs 118 support the ring 104 and prevent the ring 104 from sliding off the frontal face 124) even though the peg 118 does not extend through the aperture 106. The point total may not be calculated until the end of each turn as such supported rings 104 may be knocked off the game board 102 as additional rings 104 are thrown at the game board 102. No points are awarded for rings 104 that miss the game board 102 or which slide off the game board 102 (e.g., flexible ring 104d).

Once the score is recorded, the Team A and Team B players standing beside the second game board 102, on the opposing side of the ring game 100, can remove the flexible rings 104 from the second game board 102 with each player removing the flexible rings 104 which identify and correspond to their respective Team. The Team B player standing beside the second game board 102 may now take aim at a peg 118 on the first game board 102 and will toss their first flexible ring 104. The Team A and Team B players standing beside the second game board 102 will alternate throws until they have each thrown all of their respective flexible rings 104.

The score for each team can then be determined and recorded as described above, and the Team A and Team B players standing beside the first game board 102 will remove their respective Team's flexible rings from the first game board 102. The ring game 100 will then continue in this alternating fashion (e.g., between the players of Team A and Team B standing beside the first game board 102, then to the players of Team B and Team A standing beside the second game board 102) until the game ends.

The ring game 100 can be designed to end due to a team reaching a specific point value (e.g., the first team to reach 21 points will win the ring game 100 and the game will end). However, it is contemplated that the ring game 100 can end due to various criteria (e.g., will end once a time limit is reached, will end when the point value of one team exceeds the point value of the other team by a set value, etc.). Additionally, the ring game 100 can be scored in a variety of manners with various points awarded, as would be understood to a person of skill.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment(s), but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as permitted under the law.

It should be understood that while the use of the word preferable, preferably, or preferred in the description above indicates that feature so described may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary and any embodiment lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention, that scope being defined by the claims that follow. In reading the claims it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one” and “at least a portion” are used, there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. Further, when the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item may include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.