US20050127609A1

US20050127609A1 - Game involving tossing object into box

Info

Publication number: US20050127609A1
Application number: US11/062,412
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald Raslowsky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-22
Filing date: 2005-02-22
Publication date: 2005-06-16

Abstract

First and second devices identical devices are provided. Each of the first device and the second device may have a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface being at an angle with respect to the bottom surface, the top surface having a opening. One or more objects are provided which are small enough to fit in both the opening of the first device and of the second device. The objects may be beanbags. The first and the second device may be placed a distance apart. The one or more objects may be thrown towards the opening of one device while standing behind the other device.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various games are known in the prior art in which an object is tossed so that the object hits a target.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in one or more embodiments provides an apparatus comprising a first device and a second device. The first and second devices may be identical. Each of the first device and the second device may have a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface being at an angle with respect to the bottom surface, the top surface having a opening. The apparatus may also include a first object, which is small enough to fit into both the opening of the first device and of the second device. A plurality of objects identical to the first object may be provided. The objects may be beanbags.
The present invention also includes a method comprising placing the first device and the second device a distance apart. The method may further comprise throwing the first object towards the opening of the second device while standing behind the first device and while standing farther away from the second device than the first device. The method may further include retrieving the first object, and throwing the first object towards the opening of the first device while standing behind the second device and while standing farther away from the first device than the second device. The method may include awarding one or more points in a game to a person who throws the first object into the opening of the first or the second device. A plurality of objects may be thrown into the openings and a person throwing the last object into an opening during a round may be awarded points equal to the total number of objects thrown into the particular opening during the round.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a left side perspective view of a first device for use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 1B shows a right side perspective view of the first device of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1C shows a rear view of the first device of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1D shows a bottom view of the first device of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 2A shows the first device of FIG. 1A and a second device identical to the first device of FIG. 1A, and a person tossing an object into the second device; and
FIG. 2B shows the first device of FIG. 1A and the second device, and the person tossing the object into the first device of FIG. 1A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a left side perspective view of a device 10 for use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B shows a right side perspective view of the device 10. FIG. 1C shows a rear view of the device 10. FIG. 1D shows a bottom view of the device 10.
Referring to FIGS. 1A-D, the device 10 may be comprised of a sloped or slanted top surface 12, a bottom surface 22, a side 14, a side 18, and a rear surface 20. The top surface 12 may have an opening 16, which may have a diameter of D1, which may be six inches. The opening 16 may be spaced D4 inches from the rear surface 20 and D5 inches from a bottom edge 12 a of the top surface 12. D4 may be three inches and D5 may be twenty inches. The opening 16 may be spaced D3 inches from the side 14 and D2 inches from the side 18. D2 and D3 may each be three inches. The height, H1, from an edge 22 a of the bottom surface 22 to an edge 12 b of the top surface 12 may be twelve inches. The top surface 12 may make an angle of A, which may be 30 degrees with respect to the bottom surface 22. The top surface 12 and the bottom surface 22 may be planar surfaces. The device 10 may be a closed container or box with the exception of hole 16. The hole 16 may be large enough for an average adult human hand to reach into the hole 16 to retrieve an object previously thrown into the hole 16. As shown in FIG. 1B, the device 10 may have a length D6, which may be about twenty-six inches.
FIG. 2A shows the device 10 and a device 110 identical to the device 10, and a person 140 tossing an object 150 into the device 110. The device 110 may include top surface 112, sides 114 and 118, rear surface 120 and bottom surface 122, similar to similarly numbered components for apparatus 10. The top surface 112 may include opening 116 placed in a similar or identical location to opening 16 of device 10.
In operation, an individual such as person 140, may space the device 10 and the device 110 apart a certain distance such as D10, as measured from edge 12 a to an edge 112 a of apparatus 10. D10 may be an optional distance depending on the age of the players. A typical distance may be twenty-five to thirty feet. The person 140 may then pick up an object 150, with a hand 146, attached to the lower arm 144, attached to the upper arm 142 of the person 140. The object 150 when first picked up is shown, by dashed lines, at location 150 a in FIG. 2A. The person 140 may then throw or toss the object 150 using one or more of the individual's upper arm 142, lower arm 144, and hand 146. In the example shown in FIG. 2A, the object 150 travels through positions 150 a, 150 b, 150 c, 150 d, and 150 e, and then into opening 116 of the device 110. The person 140 should be standing behind rear surface 20 of device 10 when the throw or toss is made towards the opening 116 of the device 110.
After the person 140 has thrown the object 150 or a plurality of objects like object 150 towards the device 110, the person 140 then walks over to the device 110 and picks up the object 150 or any additional objects like 150. The person 140 may reach into opening 116 to retrieve any objects, which landed inside of the device 110. The person 140 next stands behind the rear surface 120 of the device 110 and then proceeds to throw the object 150 back towards the device 10. In the example of FIG. 2B, the person 140 tosses or throws the object 150 so that it passes through positions 150 f, 150 g, 150 h, 150 i, 150 j, and into opening 16 of device 10.
The object 150 may be a beanbag or hackey sack (trademarked). Ten objects identical to object 150 may be provided. The object 150 may have a heavy cloth enclosure inside of which beans or beads may be located to give lift, weight, and flexibility. The object 150 needs to be able to fit into the opening 16. The object 150 may have a length of about four inches or less, a width of about four inches or less, and a thickness of about one inch or less, allowing the object 150 to easily fit into the typically six inch diameter opening 16.
A game may be played using the device 10 and the device 110 and a plurality of objects, identical to object 150. As an example, one person or player to six players can play. Each player would stand behind the rear surface 20 of the device 10 and take turns trying to toss or throw an object, like object 150, into the hole 116 of the device 110. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the last player or person to throw an object, like object 150 into the hole or opening 116 of the device 110 would receive a number of points equal to the number objects thrown into the opening 116 on that round. For example, if six objects, like object 150, were thrown into the opening 116, the last person to throw an object in would get six points. After all the bags or objects like 150, have been thrown towards the device 110 from behind the device 10, the player or players next moves to the position shown in FIG. 2B and throws the one or more objects, like 150, back at the device 10 from behind the device 110.
Points may be awarded based on how many objects (like object 150) are thrown into an opening (such as opening 16 or 116) or when an object is thrown into an opening. Keep in mind that the last object to end up in the hole (such as opening 16 or 116) of one of the boxes or devices (such as devices 10 and 110) will typically score all the points of as many objects in that particular box or device for that round of toss. For example, if player one throws one bag or object 150 in the hole or opening 16 of the box or device 10, respectively, that player would have one point. If the next player should get a further object (like object 150) in the opening 16 then the first player has zero points and the second player has two points, since there are now two objects or bags that have gone through through opening 16 during this round of toss and now reside in the device 10. If then the first player gets one further bag or object (like 150) in an opening (such as 16) after that, then the first player has three points and the second player has zero points. At this point there would now be three bags or objects (like 150) in the device 10, that have gone through the opening 16. If a round includes four total bags or objects (like 150) thrown, and if all four bags or objects are thrown or tossed through the opening 16 and into the device 10, then that the last player to throw an object in the opening 16 would have a total of four points and the other player would have zero.
Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising

a first device having a first top surface and a first bottom surface, the first top surface being at an angle with respect to the first bottom surface, the first top surface having a first opening;

a second device having a second top surface and a second bottom surface, the second top surface being at an angle with respect to the second bottom surface, the second top surface having a second opening; and

a first object, which is small enough to fit in both the first and the second openings.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first object is a beanbag.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a plurality of further objects identical to the first object.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first opening and the second opening are large enough to allow an average human hand to fit through the first opening and the second opening.

5. A method comprising the steps of

placing a first device and a second device a distance apart,

wherein the first device has a first top surface and a first bottom surface, the first top surface being at an angle with respect to the first bottom surface, the first top surface having a first opening; and

wherein the second device has a second top surface and a second bottom surface, the second top surface being at an angle with respect to the second bottom surface, the second top surface having a second opening;

and further comprising throwing a first object towards the second opening of the second device while standing behind the first device and while standing farther away from the second device than the first device,

and wherein the first object is small enough to fit into the second opening.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising

retrieving the first object;

and throwing the first object towards the first opening of the first device while standing behind the second device and while standing farther away from the first device than the second device,

and wherein the first object is small enough to fit into the first opening.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising

and further comprising throwing a second object towards the second opening of the second device while standing behind the first device and while standing farther away from the second device than the first device,

and wherein the second object is small enough to fit into the second opening.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising

awarding one or more points in a game to a person who throws the first object into the second opening.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising

throwing a second object towards the second opening of the second device while standing behind the first device and while standing farther away from the second device than the first device,

wherein the first object is throw by a first person and the second object is thrown by a second person;

and wherein the second object is small enough to fit into the second opening;

and further comprising awarding one or more points in a game to the first person if the first object was the last to be thrown into the second opening during a round and awarding one or more points in a game to the second person if the second object was the last to be thrown into the second opening during the round.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein

the first opening and the second opening are large enough so that an average human hand can be inserted into the first and the second openings.