US20110291357A1

US20110291357A1 - Slider game

Info

Publication number: US20110291357A1
Application number: US13/151,256
Authority: US
Inventors: Tom Boyle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-01
Filing date: 2011-06-01
Publication date: 2011-12-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a slider type game for entertainment that can be played indoors or outdoors where the object of the game is to toss a game piece (rounder) that slides on the game surface into one of three holes formed in a game board in order to score points, where the game board is made from plastic or acrylic and the game pieces are made of plastic or powder coated metal, and to play the game a player stands along the side of one of the game boards and tosses the rounders, one at a time, towards the second game board and where points are scored by putting the rounder into a hole on the game board surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a board game that is typically played outside, but may be played indoors as well. Particularly it relates to a game that includes a board with several holes and rounders that are tossed at the board and then points are scored when the rounders go into the holes. Board games have been around for a long time and differing varieties and orientations of this particular game have also been around for some time. The main idea of this particular type of game is to provide an easy to learn, easy to play, easy to build, inexpensive to manufacture, fun and enjoyable recreational activity.
2. Description of the Related Art
As mentioned above, board games have been around for a long time and differing varieties and orientations of this particular game have also been around for some time. There are numerous games that are played much the same way as the present invention, such as:

- 1) Three hole collegiate washer board
- 2) Three hole washer board
- 3) Bombat washer board
- 4) Holey Board
- 5) Washer boards
- 6) Washer pitching game
- 7) Washer toss game
- 8) Original washers
- 9) Wood washer game
- 10) Carpeted Washer Game set
- 11) Stained Washer game set
- 12) Blongo washer toss
- 13) Three hole washer toss

There are also many similar games, such as:

- 1) Three hole bean bag toss
- 2) Tailgate gear light up bean bag toss
- 3) Franklin CHUX washers
- 4) Baggo bag toss game

Historically, the games have been made out of wood and occasionally this wood surface is carpeted to provide a different type of game “action”. Also, you generally stand on top of the board. The tossing object is generally a metal washer or a bean bag of sorts and typically the action is bouncing or rolling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slider type game for entertainment that can be played indoors or outdoors. The object is to toss a game piece (rounder) that slides on the game surface into one of three holes to score. There is a choice of one or two game slider boards that are used. The game boards are placed approximately six feet apart. A player stands along the side of one of the game boards and tosses the rounders, one at a time, towards the second game board. Each player is allowed a number of game rounders, typically three or four, and the rounders are tossed onto the slider board surface at the opposite end. After one player completes his throws then the opponent tosses his rounders individually onto the slider board at his opposite end. After the game parts are thrown by both players the score is tallied up and the players pick up the rounders. The game is played until an exact score of 21 is attained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the game board of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a game board of the present invention;

FIG. 3 with designated holes 3A, 3B, 3C are individual holes view of a game board of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is one side view out of four of a game board of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is second side view out of four of a game board of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is third side view out of four of a game board of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is fourth side view out of four of a game board of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is three dimensional view of a game board of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is top view of the rounder of the present invention after powder coating;

FIG. 10 is zinc metal surface top view of the rounder of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is zinc metal surface bottom view of the rounder of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is zinc metal surface side view with the powder coating of the rounder of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is zinc metal surface top view with powder coating of the rounder of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is detail of zinc metal surface top view with powder coating of the rounder of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is enlarged detail of zinc metal surface top view with powder coating of the rounder of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is game layout for playing with one game board of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is game layout for playing with two game boards of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a board game 10 that may be played inside or outside. The structure of the game is relatively simple. The game consists of a game board 10 and game pieces 15, or rounders. FIG. 1 is a top view of a game board 10 piece. Typically the game board itself is approximately three feet in length and approximately 1 foot in width. The thickness ranges from 0.060 to 0.070 inches. The height of the game is 2 inches from the underside to the top of the game. The material for the game board utilized in thermal molding is high impact Polystyrene. On the game board itself there are typically three holes 11, 12 and 13 positioned equidistance from each other with hole spacing being approximately eight inches on center. The number of holes is typically three per game board. The gaming pieces 15, also called rounders, are generally round, coin shaped pieces but they can also be shaped like washers or other types of throwing pieces. Obviously these dimensions, number of holes, number of rounders, can be modified without substantially affecting how the game is played.
The game boards 10 are placed lengthwise on the ground, not sideways, as shown in the FIGS. 16 & 17, such that they are approximately six feet apart from the front of one game board to the front of the second game board. As can be seen from the Figures, the game boards are not lined up linearly, but rather, they are offset so that players may stand next to the board in order to play. When one game board is only used the players line up six feet away in front of the game board as shown in FIG. 16.
To play the game a player 20 stands next to the opponents scoring board piece. In previous games the player would stand on his opponent's game board. The player 20 then picks up a rounder 15 and tosses the rounder 15 in the direction of his scoring board piece 10 in an attempt to have his rounder 15 go through one of the holes, 11, 12 or 13 in his board piece 10. The hole 11 closest to the player is worth 1 point, the middle hole 12 is worth 2 points and the hole furthest from the player 13 is worth 3 points. Again, the holes can have different point structures, however, the point structure is designed so that the holes that are easiest to get rounders 15 in have the lowest points and the holes that are harder and hardest to get rounders 15 through have points that increase incrementally in accordance with their difficulty.
To determine who will “pitch” first to start the game each player 20 will toss one rounder 15 toward the opposite board and whomever gets closest to the highest point hole will be the first to throw. After the game has started the person or team who scored last throws first.
Player A will pitch his rounders 15 one at a time toward the opposite board 10 followed by Player B. Scoring is determined after both players have pitched all of their rounders 15. Only one player 20 may score per round but can score points for all rounders 15 that are closer than their opponents. A round is when each player 20 has thrown all rounders 15. The winner is the first team to reach exactly 21 points. A “Slug” can be called when the lead is 11-0. A “Sunny day” is called when one player at one turn places the rounders in holes 11, 12, 13. That team automatically wins. A “Rainy day” is called when over 21 points are scored and the players go back to 11 points.
Historically the board pieces were constructed of wood and often they were also carpeted. However, in the present invention the game boards 10 are fashioned from an acrylic or plastic material. This is important because in the currently existing games the game rounders tend to bounce on the board. Alternatively, the rounder might have rolled on the board. In the present invention, however, the rounders 15 tend to slide or glide across the game board face rather than bounce and this creates an entirely different playing feel and also adds a new dimension to previous games. The process for making the current board game is called “Thermal molding”.
Additionally, the throwing game pieces of the present invention are called rounders. They may be a solid material, either metal or plastic, or some other sold material that facilitates play. The rounders can be made through a process called “injection molding” for material made out of total plastic. Another process is powder coating each side of a solid zinc or other metal.
In the preferred embodiment it is important that the board be made from acrylic or plastic. The thermal molding process uses high impact styrene material for the game board. The rounders are made of zinc metal with a powder coating of vinyl paint. Another process for a rounder can be injection mold with plastic material. The metal and plastic rounders act differently when interacting with acrylic or plastic. When they interact with wood or other materials they tend to bounce or roll. However, when the game board is constructed from acrylic or plastic the rounders tend to slide or glide across the surface. In the preferred embodiment the rounder is 2.5″ in diameter and has a thickness that ranges from ⅛″ to ¼″. The rounder weight ranges from 2 to 3 ounces. These sizes, dimensions, shapes and weights are only suggestions and other sizes, dimensions, shapes and weights may be used without deviating from the scope of the invention.
additionally, the acrylic or plastic surface gives the game board a clean, more contemporary look that is inviting to users. Also, it may be see-through or solid in color and it is lighter than wood and thus easier to pack and carry. Carrying handles can also be added to the board, again making it easier to transport.
It is readily apparent that the above-described embodiments have the advantage of wide commercial utility. It should be understood that the specific form of the invention hereinabove described is intended to be representative only, as certain modifications within the scope of these teachings will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A game to be played by players comprising:

a game board with at least one hole inserted therein;

a plurality of slideable game pieces where said player throws said slideable game piece at said game board and where said game piece slides on or across said game board.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein the game board is made of plastic.

3. The game of claim 1 wherein the game board is made of acrylic.

4. The game of claim 1 wherein the game pieces are made of plastic.

5. The game of claim 1 wherein the game pieces are made of zinc.

6. The game pieces of claim 5 wherein the game pieces are powder coated.

7. The game of claim 2 wherein the game board is see-through.

8. The game of claim 3 wherein the game board is see-through.

9. The game of claim 1 wherein the game board has carrying handles.

10. The game of claim 1 wherein the game board is formed using a thermal molding process.

11. The game of claim 10 wherein the game board material is high impact Polystyrene.