US20080157476A1

US20080157476A1 - Portable bag tossing game

Info

Publication number: US20080157476A1
Application number: US11/616,444
Authority: US
Inventors: Steve Striebel; Don Rogers; Frank Ritchie
Original assignee: FDL LLC
Current assignee: Wild Sales LLC; FDL LLC
Priority date: 2006-12-27
Filing date: 2006-12-27
Publication date: 2008-07-03

Abstract

A bag tossing game including a pair of boards each having opposing top and bottom surfaces. Each of the boards has an opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. Each of the boards includes a pair of opposing ends and a pair of opposing sides extending between the opposing ends and formed by a rim projecting from the bottom surface. At least one riser is pivotally coupled to one end of each of the boards. A storage pouch is coupled to the bottom surface of one of the boards. The pouch encloses an interior storage space and has an opening in communication with the interior space. The pouch has a closure mechanism for closing the opening. The game also includes a hook and loop fastener releasably coupling the pair of boards to one another. A handle is coupled to at least one of the opposing sides.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to games played for entertainment and, more particularly, to bag tossing games.
Bag tossing games are a popular item of entertainment at gatherings, parties and tailgate events. Typical bag tossing games include a pair of playing boards with a hole extending therethrough. The playing boards are elevated at one end by legs. Players aim and toss bean filled bags toward the hole in an attempt to get the bag in the hole. Typical playing boards are made of wood and are relatively heavy and cumbersome. In addition, typical bag tossing games have two boards and multiple bean bags making the game difficult to carry and store. Some portable designs have been proposed that use pins, prongs and other male-female couplings to connect the two boards together. However, these designs are somewhat fragile. The pins and prongs may be prone to breaking off. In addition, the inclusion of pins and corresponding opening add significant cost and time to the formation of the boards.
Accordingly, a need remains for a bag tossing game that is relatively cost-efficient to manufacture, and easy to transport, store and set up.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a portable bag tossing game. In one aspect, the bag tossing game includes a pair of rigid playing boards each having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface. Each of the playing boards has at least one opening extending therethrough from the top surface to the bottom surface. At least one riser is pivotally coupled to one end of each of the pair of playing boards. The riser is pivotal between a raising position, wherein the one end of the playing board is elevated relative to ground and an opposite end of the playing board, and a leveling position, wherein the one end of the playing board is level with the opposite end of the playing board. The bag tossing game also includes a bag storage pouch coupled to the bottom surface of one of the pair of playing boards. The bag storage pouch encloses an interior storage space and has an opening in communication with the interior storage space. The bag storage pouch has a closure mechanism for closing the opening. The interior storage space is sized to store the bags. The bag tossing game also includes at least one hook and loop fastener, which releasably couples the pair of playing boards to one another.
In another aspect, the portable bag tossing game includes a pair of rigid playing boards each having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface. Each of the playing boards has at least one opening extending therethrough from the top surface to the bottom surface. Each of the playing boards includes a pair of opposing ends and a pair of opposing sides extending between the opposing ends. The opposing sides and opposing ends are formed at least in part by a rim projecting from the bottom surface and extending about a perimeter of the bottom surface. At least one riser is pivotally coupled to one end of each of the pair of playing boards. The riser is pivotal between a raising position, wherein one end of the playing board is elevated relative to an opposite end of the playing board, and a leveling position, wherein the one end of the playing board is level with the opposite end of the playing board. A bag storage pouch is coupled to the bottom surface of one of the pair of playing boards. The bag storage pouch encloses an interior storage space and has an opening in communication with the interior storage space. The bag storage pouch has a closure mechanism for closing the opening. The interior storage space is sized to store the bags. The bag tossing game also includes at least one hook and loop fastener releasably coupling the pair of playing boards to one another. A handle is coupled to at least one of the opposing sides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a bag tossing game in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the bag tossing game is in the playing position;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the bag tossing game of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag tossing game of FIG. 1, wherein the bag tossing game is in the folded carrying position.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments hereinafter disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following description. Rather the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings.
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, portable bag tossing game 10, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated. Bag tossing game 10 generally includes pair of playing boards 12 a, 12 b, each having top surface 14 and opposing bottom surface 16. Opening 18 extends through each of boards 12 a, 12 b and is sized to receive therethrough a tossing bag (not shown), such as a bean bag, sand bag or other filled playing bag capable of being tossed. Although playing boards 12 a, 12 b are illustrated as having only a single opening, boards 12 a, 12 b may include any number and size of openings. Top surface 14 of playing boards 12 a, 12 b may be formed of any suitable rigid material such as wood, plastic or metal and may be constructed using any known means including molding, machining, stamping, cutting and other means. Top surface 14 of playing boards 12 a, 12 b may include a design, such as a replica of a football playing field and team logo, as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, each of playing boards 12 a, 12 b includes rim 24 protruding from bottom surface 16 and extending about the perimeter of playing boards 12 a, 12 b. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of playing boards 12 a, 12 b includes opposing ends 20 a, 20 b and opposing sides 22, which are formed at least in part by rim 24 and bound the perimeter of playing boards 12 a, 12 b. Each of playing boards 12 a, 12 b includes a riser 28 pivotally coupled to end 20 a and adapted to pivot between a raising position, shown in FIG. 1, and a leveling position, shown in FIG. 2. In the raising position, risers 28 are pivoted away from bottom surface 16 of playing boards 12 a, 12 b and act to raise the end 20 a relative to the ground and end 20 b. In the leveling position, risers 28 are pivoted to and are positioned adjacent bottom surface 16, such that risers 28 are below rim 24. Risers 28 may be pivotally coupled to playing boards 12 a, 12 b in any known manner. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, risers 28 are coupled to rim 24 of playing boards 12 a, 12 b by pivot bolt 30.
Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, bag tossing game 10 also includes a bag storage pouch 32 coupled to bottom surface 16 of playing board 12 a. Bag storage pouch 32 defines interior storage space 34, which is sized to contain the tossing bags (not shown). Bag storage pouch 32 includes closure mechanism 36, which may be in the form of a zipper, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Alternatively, closure mechanism 36 may be in any form suitable for closing interior storage space. For instance, closure mechanism may be a flap with a button, snap, hook and loop or other fastener type adapted to couple the flap to pouch 32. Bag tossing game 10 may include additional storage pouches on either of playing boards 12 a, 12 b.
Referring still to FIGS. 2 and 3, bag tossing game 10 includes hook and loop fasteners adapted to couple playing boards 12 a, 12 b to one another. By way of example, hook and loop fasteners may be in the form of Velcro® brand fasteners available from Velcro USA Inc. of Manchester, N.H. More specifically, hook and loop fasteners include a plurality of hook components 38 a positioned on rim 24 of playing board 12 a, and a plurality of loop components 38 b correspondingly positioned on rim 24 of playing board 12 b. Hook components 38 a and loop components 38 b are adapted to releasably fasten to one another. Each of playing boards 12 a, 12 b also includes handle 40 coupled to one side 22 of playing board 12 a, 12 b. Handle 40 may be in any form. For instance, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in one simple form handle 40 is in the form of a rope having ends 41, which extend through holes 43 in side 22 of playing board 12 a, 12 b. Knots 42 are formed in ends 41 of the rope to secure handle 40 to board 12 a, 12 b.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, operation of bag tossing game 10 will now be described. To transport game 10, game 10 is in the folded, carrying position shown in FIG. 3. Playing boards 12 a, 12 b may be released from one another simply by pulling handles 40 away from one another with enough force to overcome the connecting force of hook and loop fasteners 38 a, 38 b. Once playing boards 12 a, 12 b are separated from one another, risers 28 are moved to the raising position and boards 12 a, 12 b are placed on the ground, as shown in FIG. 1. Bag tossing game 10 is now positioned for play and filled tossing bags may be tossed toward opening 18. When finished with bag tossing game 10, playing boards 12 a, 12 b may be moved to the folded, carrying position, shown in FIG. 3, for easy transport and storage. Risers 28 are pivoted inward toward bottom surface 16 of playing board 12 a, 12 b and tossing bags (not shown) are enclosed within storage pouch 32. Playing boards 12 a, 12 b are then placed atop one another with rims 24 facing one another such that hook components 38 a and loop components 38 b are aligned with and contacting one another. Hook and loop components 38 a, 38 b act to fasten playing boards 12 a, 12 b to one another. Handles 40 may then be used to carry folded game.
While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.

Claims

1. A portable bag tossing game comprising:

a pair of rigid playing boards each having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, each of said playing boards having at least one opening extending therethrough from said top surface to said bottom surface;

at least one riser pivotally coupled to one end of each of said pair of playing boards, said riser pivotal between a raising position, wherein said one end of said playing board is elevated relative to the ground and an opposite end of said playing board, and a leveling position, wherein said one end of said playing board is level with the opposite end of said playing board;

a bag storage pouch coupled to said bottom surface of one of said pair of playing boards, said bag storage pouch enclosing an interior storage space and having an opening in communication with said interior storage space, said bag storage pouch having a closure mechanism for closing said opening, said interior storage space sized to store the bags; and

at least one hook and loop fastener releasably coupling said pair of playing boards to one another.

2. The portable bag tossing game of claim 1 further including a handle.

3. The portable bag tossing game of claim 2 wherein each of said playing boards includes a pair of opposing sides extending between said opposing ends, said handle comprising a flexible rope extending through a pair of holes defined in one of said pair of opposing sides.

4. The portable bag tossing game of claim 3 wherein said handle comprises a flexible rope extending through a pair of holes defined in each of said pair of opposing sides.

5. The portable bag tossing game of claim 1 wherein said closure mechanism is a zipper.

6. The portable bag tossing game of claim 1 wherein each of said playing boards includes a pair of opposing sides extending between said opposing ends, said opposing sides and opposing ends are formed at least in part by a rim projecting from said bottom surface and extending about a perimeter of said bottom surface.

7. The portable bag tossing game of claim 1 wherein said at least one hook and loop fastener includes multiple hook and loop fastener components affixed to said rim.

8. The portable bag tossing game of claim 1 wherein said at least one riser is pivotally coupled to said rim.

9. A portable bag tossing game comprising:

a pair of rigid playing boards each having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, each of said playing boards having at least one opening extending therethrough from said top surface to said bottom surface, each of said playing boards includes a pair of opposing ends and a pair of opposing sides extending between said opposing ends, said opposing sides and opposing ends are formed at least in part by a rim projecting from said bottom surface and extending about a perimeter of said bottom surface;

at least one riser pivotally coupled to of said pair of opposing ende of each of said pair of playing boards, said riser pivotal between a raising position, wherein said one end of said playing board is elevated relative to the opposite end of said playing board, and a leveling position, wherein said one end of said playing board is level with the opposite end of said playing board;

at least one fastener releasably coupling said pair of playing boards to one another; and

a handle coupled to at least one of said opposing sides.

10. The portable bag tossing game of claim 9 wherein said handle comprises a flexible rope extending through a pair of holes defined in one of said pair of opposing sides.

11. The portable bag tossing game of claim 9 wherein said at least one fastener is a hook and loop fastener including multiple hook and loop fastener components affixed to said rim.

12. The portable bag tossing game of claim 1 wherein said at least one riser is pivotally coupled to said rim.

13. A portable bag tossing game comprising:

a handle comprising a flexible rope extending through a pair of holes defined in one of said pair of opposing sides.

14. The portable bag tossing game of claim 13 further including a bag storage pouch coupled to said bottom surface of one of said pair of playing boards, said bag storage pouch enclosing an interior storage space and having an opening in communication with said interior storage space, said bag storage pouch having a closure mechanism for closing said opening, said interior storage space sized to store the bags.

15. The portable bag tossing game of claim 13 wherein said at least one fastener is a hook and loop fastener.