BEVERAGE PONG GAME

Description

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to beverage games and more particularly pertains to a new beverage game for simulating the game of baseball. The device includes a mat upon which baseball game indicia is applied and a plurality of first balls which are assigned to a group of home team players and a plurality of second balls which are assigned to a group of visiting team players. The device includes a plurality of first cups that are each positionable on respective baseball game indicia and plurality of second cups that are each positionable on respective baseball game indicia. The device includes a plurality of game markers that are assigned to an umpire for tracking the score and progress of the group of home team players and the score and progress of the group of visiting team players.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to beverage games including: a beer pong game which includes a mat upon which football field indica are applied and a plurality of cup retainers integrated into the mat for insertably receiving a plurality of cups; a beverage board game including a game board which has side game indicia applied to the board game which corresponds to popular drinking games undertaken by college students; a basketball inspired game including a mat upon which a pair of basketball hoops are positioned and a pair of cups which are positionable beneath the pair of basketball hoops; a ping pong game kit which includes a pair of paddles and a plurality of cups and pair of ping pong balls; a board game device including a game board that has baseball diamond indicia applied to the game board and a plurality of baseball cards; a portable beverage pong game which includes a circular game board which has a lower lever and an upper level and game indicia applied to the lower level and a plurality of cups which are positionable on the lower level and the upper level.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a mat elongated along a lengthwise axis and baseball game indicia applied to the mat. A plurality of first cups is each positionable upon the mat and a plurality of second cups is each positionable upon the mat. A plurality of first balls is assigned to a respective one of a group of home team players for tossing into a respective one of the plurality of second cups. A plurality of second balls is each assigned to a respective one of a group of visiting team players for tossing into a respective one of the plurality of first cups. A plurality of game markers is assigned to an umpire such that the umpire can monitor the progress and score of the group of home team players and the progress and score of the group of visiting team players.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage pong game according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view a mat of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a mat rolled up for storage.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new beverage game embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the beverage pong game 10 generally comprises a mat 12 that is elongated along a lengthwise axis thereby enabling the mat 12 to be positionable on a banquet table 14. Baseball game indicia 15 are applied to the mat 12 to visually communicate rules of game play to players of a game of beverage pong which simulates the game of baseball. The mat 12 is elongated between a first end 16 of the mat 12 and a second end 18 of the mat 12 and the mat 12 has a first lateral edge 20 and a second lateral edge 22 each extending between the first end 16 and the second end 18. Furthermore, the first lateral edge 20 is oriented parallel to the second lateral edge 22 such that the mat 12 has a rectangular shape. Additionally, the Baseball game indicia 15 are applied to a top surface 24 of the mat 12 such that the Baseball game indicia 15 are visible to the players when a bottom surface of the mat 12 is positioned on the banquet table 14.

The Baseball game indicia 15 includes home points indicia 26 comprising the words “home points” 28 and numbers ranging between zero and nine 30. The home points indicia 26 are distributed along the first lateral edge 20 of the mat 12 and the home points indicia 26 are positioned closer to the first end 16 of the mat 12 than a center line 32 of the mat 12 which extends between the first lateral edge 20 and the second lateral edge 22. The Baseball game indicia 15 includes a set of first batting indicia 34 which comprise a plurality of circles 36 each surrounding a respective “1^st” and “2^nd” and “3^rd” and “HR” 38. The set of first batting indicia 34 are evenly spaced apart and are distributed from a point located adjacent to the first end 16 of the mat 12 toward the center line 32 of the mat 12. Additionally, the set of first batting indicia 34 are centered between the first lateral edge 20 and the second lateral edge 22.

The Baseball game indicia 15 includes a set of first fielding indicia 40 which comprise a plurality of diamonds 42 each surrounding a respective “1^st” and “2^nd” and “3^rd” 44. The set of first fielding indicia 40 are evenly spaced apart and are distributed along the second lateral edge 22 of the mat 12 and the set of first fielding indicia 40 extend between a point located adjacent to the first end 16 of the mat 12 and the center line 32 of the mat 12. The Baseball game indicia 15 includes out indicia 46 which includes the word “out” 48 and numbers ranging between zero and two 50. The out indicia 46 are located adjacent to the first lateral edge 20 of the mat 12 and the out indicia 46 are positioned closer to the center line 32 of the mat 12 than the first end 16 of the mat 12.

The Baseball game indicia 15 includes visitor points indicia 52 comprising the words “visitor points” 54 and numbers ranging between zero and nine 56. The visitor points indicia 52 are distributed along the first lateral edge 20 of the mat 12 and the visitor points indicia 52 are positioned closer to the second end 18 of the mat 12 than the center line 32 of the mat 12. The Baseball game indicia 15 includes a set of second batting indicia 58 which comprise a plurality of circles 60 each surrounding a respective “1^st” and “2^nd” and “3^rd” and “HR” 62. The set of second batting indicia 58 are evenly spaced apart and are distributed from a point located adjacent to the second end 18 of the mat 12 toward the center line 32 of the mat 12. Additionally, the set of second batting indicia 58 are centered between the first lateral edge 20 and the second lateral edge 22.

The Baseball game indicia 15 includes a set of second fielding indicia 64 which comprise a plurality of diamonds 66 each surrounding a respective “1^st” and “2^nd” and “3^rd” 68. The set of second fielding indicia 64 are evenly spaced apart and are distributed along the second lateral edge 22 of the mat 12. Furthermore, the set of second fielding indicia 64 extends between a point located adjacent to the second end 18 of the mat 12 and the center line 32 of the mat 12. The Baseball game indicia 15 includes strike indicia 70 which includes the word “strike” 72 and numbers ranging between zero and two 74. The strike indicia 70 are located adjacent to the first lateral edge 20 of the mat 12 and the strike indicia 70 are positioned closer to the center line 32 of the mat 12 than the second end 18 of the mat 12.

The Baseball game indicia 15 includes baseball diamond indicia 76 which includes a diamond 78 and a plurality of icons 80 representing bases of a baseball diamond. Each icon 80 of the plurality of icons 80 is aligned with a respective one of four corners of the diamond 78 and the baseball diamond indicia 76 are aligned with the center line 32 of the mat 12. The baseball diamond indicia 76 includes the word “inning” 82 which is surrounded by the diamond 78. The baseball diamond indicia 76 includes a first row of numbers 84 ranging between one and nine. Furthermore, the first row of numbers 84 is surrounded by the diamond 78 and the first row of numbers 84 is positioned between the word “inning” 82 and the first lateral edge 20 of the mat 12. Additionally, the baseball diamond indicia 76 includes a second row of numbers 86 ranging between one and nine. The second row of numbers 86 is surrounded by the diamond 78 and the second row of numbers 86 is located between the first row of numbers 84 and the first lateral edge 20 of the mat 12.

The Baseball game indicia 15 includes a pair of images 88 and each image 88 of the pair of images 88 comprises an image of a baseball 90 and a pair of baseball bats 92 crossing each other beneath the image of the baseball 90. Additionally, each image 88 of the pair of images 88 includes the words “Batter up” 94 extending across the image of the baseball 90. Each image 88 of the pair of images 88 is positioned on opposite sides of the baseball diamond indicia 76. Furthermore, each image 88 of the pair of images 88 is positioned closer to the baseball diamond indicia 76 than a respective first end 16 or second end 18 of the mat 12.

A plurality of first cups 96 is provided and each first cup 96 of the plurality of first cups 96 is positionable upon the mat 12 to represent a target for a group of home team players 98. Each first cup 96 of the plurality of first cups 96 is positionable on respective Baseball game indicia 15 to represent respective rules of the game of baseball to the group of home team players 98. Furthermore, respective ones of the plurality of first cups 96 is positionable on a respective one of the first batting indicia 34 and respective ones of the plurality of first cups 96 is positionable on a respective one of the first fielding indicia 40.

A plurality of second cups 100 is provided and each second cup of the plurality of second cups 100 is positionable upon the mat 12 represent a target for a group of visiting team players 102. Additionally, each second cup 100 of the plurality of second cups 100 is positionable on respective Baseball game indicia 15 to represent respective rules of the game of baseball to the group of visiting team players 102. Respective ones of the plurality of second cups 100 is positionable on a respective one of the second batting indicia 58 and respective ones of the plurality of second cups 100 is positionable on a respective one of the second fielding indicia 64. Additionally, the plurality of first cups 96 has a color that is distinct from a color of the plurality of second cups 100.

A plurality of first balls 104 is provided and each first ball of the plurality of first balls 104 is assigned to a respective one of the group of home team players 98. Furthermore, each first ball 104 of the plurality of first balls 104 is tossed by the respective home team player 98 into a respective one of the plurality of second cups 100 during the course of the game of beverage pong. A plurality of second balls 106 is provided and each second ball of the plurality of second balls 106 is assigned to a respective one of the group of visiting team players 102. Additionally, each second ball of the plurality of second balls 106 is tossed by the respective visiting team player 102 into a respective one of the plurality of first cups 96 during the course of the game of beverage pong.

A plurality of game markers 107 is provided and each game marker of the plurality of game markers 107 is assigned to an umpire 108. Furthermore, each game marker 106 of the plurality of game markers 107 is positionable on respective Baseball game indicia 15 by the umpire 108 during the course of the game of beverage pong such that the umpire 108 can monitor the progress and score of the group of home team players 98 and the progress and score of the group of visiting team players 102. Each game marker 106 of the plurality of game markers 107 has image indicia 110 applied to an upper surface 112 of the game markers 107. Additionally, the image indicia 110 associated with the plurality of game markers 107 comprises an image of a baseball.

Respective ones of the plurality of game markers 107 is positionable on a respective one of the plurality of icons 80 of the baseball diamond indicia 76 during the course of the game of beverage pong indicate the progress of either the group of home team players 98 when the group of home team players 98 is at bat or the group of visiting team players 102 when the group of visiting team players 102 is at bat. Additionally, respective ones of the plurality of game markers 107 is positionable on a respective one of the numbers of the home points indicia 26 to indicate the score of the group of home team players 98. Respective ones of the plurality of game markers 107 is positionable on a respective one of the numbers of the visitor points indicia 52 to indicate the score of the group of visiting team players 102. Continuing, respective ones of the plurality of game markers 107 is positionable on a respective one of the numbers of the out indicia 46 to indicate the number of outs associated with either the group of home team players 98 when the group of home team players 98 is at bat or the group of visiting team players 102 when the group of visiting team players 102 is at bat. Respective ones of the plurality of game markers 107 is positionable on a respective one of the numbers of the strike indicia 70 to indicate the number of strikes associated with either the group of home team players 98 when the group of home team players 98 is at bat or the group of visiting team players 102 when the group of visiting team players 102 is at bat.

In use, the mat 12 is laid on the banquet table 14 such that the mat 12 is horizontally oriented. The plurality of first cups 96 are positioned on the first batting indicia 34 and the first fielding indicia 40 and the plurality of second cups 100 are positioned on the second batting indicia 58 and the second fielding indicia 64. Each of the first cups 96 that are positioned on the first batting indicia 34 are filled with water and each of the first cups 96 that are positioned on the first fielding indicia 40 are filled with a beverage, such as beer or other alcoholic beverage or any other beverage that will be consumed by the group of home players. Each of the second cups 100 that are positioned on the second batting indicia 58 are filled with water and each of the second cups 100 that are positioned on the second fielding indicia 64 are filled with a beverage, such as beer or other alcoholic beverage or any other beverage that will be consumed by the group of visiting players.

The players are divided into the group of home team players 98 and the group of visiting team players 102 and an umpire 108. Each of the plurality of first balls 104 is assigned to the group of home team players 98 and each of the plurality of second balls 106 is assigned to the group of visiting team players 102. The group of visiting team players 102 goes first and each member of the group of visiting team players 102 gets three attempts to toss one of the second balls 106 into one of the first cups 96 that is positioned on the first batting indicia 34. If a second ball 106 lands in one of the first cups 96 on the first batting indicia 34 then a battle ensues. The battle involves one of the group of home team players 98 drinking the beverage in the first cup 96 that is positioned on the first fielding indicia 40 which corresponds to the first batting indicia 34 upon which the first cup 96 is positioned that contains the second ball 106. Additionally, the first cup 96 from which the beverage has been consumed in flipped upside down.

The umpire 108 moves a games marker 107 onto one of the icons 80 of the baseball diamond indicia 76 that corresponds to the first batting indicia 34 upon which the respective first cup 96 that contains the second ball 106 is positioned. The umpire 108 calls a strike when the second ball 106 hits a first cup 96 and subsequently bounces away from the first cup 96 and the umpire 108 calls an out when the second ball 106 hits a first cup 96 and one of the members of the group of home team players 98 successfully catches the second ball 106. The umpire 108 calls an out when the second ball 106 completely misses the mat 12 and the throwing player must take a drink from their own personal cup when the throwing player completely misses the mat 12.

The group of home team players 98 goes after the group of visiting team players 102 and each member of the group of home team players 98 gets three attempts to toss one of the first balls 104 into one of the second cups 100 that is positioned on the second batting indicia 58. If a first ball 104 lands in one of the second cups 100 on the second batting indicia 58 then a battle ensues. The battle involves one of the group of visiting team players 102 drinking the beverage in the second cup 100 that is positioned on the second fielding indicia 64 which corresponds to the second batting indicia 58 upon which the second cup 100 is positioned that contains the first ball 104. Additionally, the second cup 100 from which the beverage is consumed is flipped upside down.

The umpire 108 moves a game marker 107 onto one of the icons 80 of the baseball diamond indicia 76 that corresponds to the second batting indicia 58 upon which the respective second cup 100 that contains the first ball 104 is positioned. The umpire 108 calls a strike when the first ball 104 hits a second cup 100 and subsequently bounces away from the second cup 100 and the umpire 108 calls an out when the first ball 104 hits a second cup 100 and one of the members of the group of visiting team players 102 successfully catches the first ball 104. The umpire 108 calls an out when the first ball 104 completely misses the mat 12 and the throwing player must take a drink from their own personal cup when the throwing player completely misses the mat 12.

Bunting is allowed and the throwing player must call out “bunt” prior to making their throw and only one bunt per player is allowed per rotation. The first ball 104 or second ball 106, depending on who is making their throw, can bounce multiple times on the mat 12 in the attempt to land in one of the first cups 96 or one of the second cups 100. The umpire 108 calls safe when the bunt is made and the umpire 108 moves a game marker 107 to the icon 80 of the baseball diamond indicia 76 which represents first base and any other game markers 107 on the icons 80 of the baseball diamond indicia 76 are advanced to the next icon 80. The throwing player is required to take a drink from their personal cup when the throwing player misses the bunt. Whichever of the group of home team players 98 or the group of visiting team players 102 that reaches nine points wins the game or whichever of the group of home team players 98 or the group of visiting team players 102 has the most points at the end of nine innings wins the game.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.