US20200346101A1

US20200346101A1 - Game Mat

Info

Publication number: US20200346101A1
Application number: US16/862,925
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Everett Connor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-05-02
Filing date: 2020-04-30
Publication date: 2020-11-05

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to a game mat. In one embodiment, the game mat has a first cup section and a second cup section. Each cup section includes a set of cup apertures arranged to hold cups for the game of beer pong. The game mat is made from a material that causes the cup apertures in the first set and the second set to lock cups into place. In this manner, the cups are stabilized thereby preventing spills during game play.

Description

CROSS RELATION TO OTHER APPLICATION

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/841,970 filed on May 2, 2019.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to a game mat.

BACKGROUND

Beer pong has become a popular drinking game, particularly in college campuses. Often, beer pong is played on a table with two teams. A group of cups is set up on each side of a table, wherein each of the cups has been filled with an alcoholic beverage, typically beer. Each team will take turns trying to throw ping-pong balls into the other team's cups. When a ping-pong ball falls into the other team's cup, that cup is eliminated and a member of the team whose cup was eliminated must drink its contents. When all of the other team's cups have been eliminated, the team with the remaining cups wins.
The problem with beer pong however is that these cups are often arranged into a tight configuration where the cups often abut one another. During the game, one or more cups may slip, or a person may accidentally bump into one of the cups. Furthermore, if a player does not put the ball in the cup, the ball may hit the cup with a high degree of force thereby knocking the cup over. As a result, beer pong often results in spills.
What is needed are systems and techniques of preventing spills when playing a game such as beer pong.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates generally to a game mat for beer pong. In one embodiment, the game mat has a first cup section and a second cup section. Each cup section includes a set of cup apertures arranged to hold cups for the game of beer pong. The game mat is made from a material that causes the cup apertures in the first set and the second set to lock the cups into place. In this manner, the cups are stabilized thereby preventing spills during game play.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the present disclosure and realize additional aspects thereof after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in association with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a game mat for the game of beer pong.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up view of one embodiment of a cup section in the game mat shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the game mat shown in FIG. 1 with solo cups being locked into placed by the cup apertures of the game mat.

FIG. 4 illustrates the game mat rolled up.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a game mat for the game of beer pong that includes graphic art.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the game mat shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and illustrate the best mode of practicing the disclosure. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.
FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a game mat 100. In this embodiment, the game mat 100 is designed for the game of beer pong. The game mat 100 includes a pair of cup sections 102, 104 where the cup sections 102, 104 are placed near opposite ends 106, 108 of the game mat 100. Each of the cup sections 102, 104 face one another so that the cup sections 102, 104 appear the same to a user standing at either end 106, 108 of the game mat 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the game mat 100 also has an uncut and solid section 110 between the cup sections 102, 104.
With regards to the cup section 102, the cup section 102 defines a plurality of cup apertures 107 (not all labeled for the sake of clarity) that are arranged in a particular shape. In this embodiment, the cup section 102 is triangular since the cup apertures 102 are arranged to fill the shape of a triangle. However, in other embodiments, other shapes may be used such as circle, square, diamond, rhombus, or some other polynomial. This may depend on the particular cup game that a game mat has been designed for. Each of the cup apertures 107 has been designed to fit the bottom of a cup tightly. In this case, the cup apertures 107 are designed for round cups where the diameter of the bottom of the cup (herein after the “bottom diameter”) is smaller than the diameter at the top of the cup (hereinafter the “top diameter”). Accordingly, the cup apertures 107 are round. However, the game mat 100 may be designed for cups of any shape.
To use the game mat 100 to play beer pong, the bottom of each cup would be placed within a different one of the cup apertures 107 in the cup section 102. The spacing between the cup apertures 107 is selected based on the top diameter of the cups. More specifically, the distance between the center of one of the cup apertures 107 to the center of any adjacent cup aperture 107 is approximately equal to the top diameter of the cups. As such, the cups are packed tightly (either with the rim of adjacent cups touching one another or nearly touching one another) when the bottom of the cups are placed in the cup apertures 107 of the cup section 102.
Similarly, the cup section 104 defines a plurality of cup apertures 109 (not all labeled for the sake of clarity) that are arranged in a particular shape. In this embodiment, the cup section 104 is triangular since the cup apertures 104 are arranged to fill the shape of a triangle. However, in other embodiments, other shapes may be used such as circle, square, diamond, rhombus, or some other polynomial. This may depend on the particular cup game that the game mat has been designed for. Each of the cup apertures 109 has been designed to fit the bottom of a cup tightly. In this case, the cup apertures 109 are designed for round cups that have a bottom diameter that is smaller than the top diameter of the cup. Accordingly, the cup apertures 109 are round. However, the game mat 100 may be designed for cups of any shape.
To use the game mat 100 to play beer pong, the bottom of each cup would be placed within a different one of the cup apertures 109 in the cup section 104. The spacing between the cup apertures 109 is selected based on the top diameter of the cups. More specifically, the distance between the center of one of the cup apertures 109 to the center of any adjacent cup aperture 109 is approximately equal to the top diameter of the cups. As such, the cups are packed tightly (either with the rim of adjacent cups touching one another or nearly touching one another) when the bottom of the cups are placed in the cup apertures 109 of the cup section 104.
In this embodiment, both of the cup sections 102, 104 have cup apertures 107, 109 designed to fit the same size cups. More specifically, the cup apertures 107, 109 are each sized and spaced for round cups having a bottom diameter of approximately 2½ inches and a top diameter of approximately 3½ inches. Accordingly, each of the cup apertures 107, 109 has a diameter of approximately 2½ inches or slightly under 2½ inches so that the cup apertures 107,108 fit tightly around the bottom of each of the cups. The distance between the centers of adjacent cup apertures 107,108 in each of the cup sections 102, 104 is approximately 3½ inches or just slightly over 3½ inches.
It should be noted that different embodiments might have different arrangements. For example, in some embodiments, the cup sections may have cup apertures for differently dimensioned cups. Some cup sections may have cup apertures within the cup section itself for different sized cups. In addition, in some embodiments, the cup apertures may not be for round cups but for cups of different shapes. Alternative embodiments may be designed for round cups that have the equal sized bottom and top diameters. Finally, embodiments of the game mat 100 may be designed with cup apertures of any dimension not just those specifically described herein.
In this embodiment, the game mat 100 is rectangular and has an overall length of approximately 8 feet and an overall width of approximately 2 feet. Some alternative rectangular embodiments have an overall length of approximately 6 feet and an overall width of approximately 2 feet while still other alternative rectangular embodiments have an overall length of approximately 4 feet and an overall width of approximately 2 feet. It should be noted that alternative rectangular embodiments with other dimensions may be provided. Furthermore, other alternative embodiments may not be rectangular but may be of other shapes, such as square, circular, or triangular.
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a cup section 200, which may be either of the cup sections 102, 104 described above. As shown in FIG. 2, the cup section 200 is arranged so that the most proximal row 202 of the cup section has a single cup aperture 204 and the next row 206 adjacent to the row 202 has two cup apertures 204. If we define an x-axis as parallel to the width of the game mat 100 and a y-axis as parallel to length of the game mat 100, the row 206 is placed more distal to the center of the game mat 100 with respect to the y-axis. With respect to the x-axis, the center of the single cup aperture 204 in the row 202 is at the midpoint between the center of the two cup apertures 204 in the row 206. Furthermore, the two cup apertures 204 in the row 206 are aligned with respect to the x-axis and at the same position with respect to the y-axis.
The next row 208 is more distal to the center of the game mat 100 than the row 206 with respect to the y-axis. The row 208 includes three cup apertures 204, each aligned with respect to the x-axis and at the same position with respect to the y-axis. With respect to the x-axis, the center of the left most cup aperture 204 in the row 206 is at the midpoint between the center of the left most cup aperture 204 and the center of the center cup aperture 204 in the row 208. In addition, with respect to the x-axis, the center of the right most cup aperture 204 in the row 206 is at the midpoint between the center of the center cup aperture 204 in the row 208 and the center of the right most cup aperture 204 in the row 208. Again, with respect to the x-axis, the center of the center cup aperture 204 in row 208 is aligned with the center of the cup aperture 204 in row 202.
The next row 210 is more distal to the center of the game mat 100 than the row 208 with respect to the y-axis. The row 210 includes four cup apertures 204, each aligned with respect to the x-axis and at the same y-axis position. With respect to the x-axis, the center of the left most cup aperture 204 in the row 208 is at the midpoint between the center of the left most cup aperture 204 and the center of the left center cup aperture 204 in the row 210. With respect to the x-axis, the center of the center cup aperture 204 in the row 208 is at the midpoint between the center of the left center cup aperture 204 and the center of the center right cup aperture 204 in the row 210. In addition, with respect to the x-axis, the center of the right most cup aperture 204 in the row 208 is at the midpoint between the center of the right center cup aperture 204 in the row 210 and the center of the right most cup aperture 204 in the row 210. Again, with respect to the x-axis, the center of the left center cup aperture in row 210 is aligned with the center of the left most cup aperture 204 in row 206. Additionally, with respect to the x-axis, the center of the right center cup aperture 204 in row 210 is aligned with the center of the right most cup aperture 204 in row 206.
As such, there are a total of ten cup apertures 204 in the cup section 200. As one progresses distally with respect to the y-axis, each of the rows 202, 206, 208, 210, increase in number of cup apertures 204 by one. Each of the cup apertures 204 in the cup section 200 has a diameter approximately equal to the bottom diameter of a cup or just slightly under the top diameter of a cup. The centers of adjacent cup apertures 204 (whether in the same row 206, 208, 210 or in adjacent rows 202, 206, 208, 210) is approximately equal to the top diameter of a cup.
Referring now to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, FIG. 3 illustrates the game mat 100 laid across a table 300 with solo cups 302 (not all labeled for the sake of clarity) placed within the cup apertures 107, 109 (See FIG. 1) in cup sections 102, 104. The game mat 100 can be made from flexible material that is thick enough and elastic enough to hold a cup 302 firmly so as to prevent the cups 302 from spilling or tipping over while the game (e.g. beer pong) is being played. The cup apertures 107, 109 are designed to fit snug around the bottom of the solo cups 302 to prevent the solo cups 302 from being knocked over and spilling liquid on the table 300 or on the floor. In one embodiment, the game mat 100 is made from the same material as a yoga mat (e.g. vinyl). In other embodiments, the game mat 100 may be made from a rubber material approximately 3 mm thick. Other materials include jute, organic or natural cotton with synthetic finishes, PVC, thermoplastic elastomers, and/or the like. Because of the materials used to form the body of the game mat 100, the solo ups 302 are locked into place by the cup apertures 107, 109 while still allowing a ball to bounce once the game mat 100 is resting on the table 300. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the game mat 100 can be rolled up and transported to any location by a person.
Furthermore, the game mat 100 may have other features that can be provided in the game mat 100 for convenience or for aesthetic reasons. Referring again to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the game mat 100 may include cup apertures 400 (See FIG. 1), which are not utilized in the game but rather are used to hold cups 402. The cups 402 are for the player's drinks or for a water cup that allows the player to wash debris off of the ball since the ball may hit the ground or floor. In addition, some embodiments, may include ball apertures 404 (See FIG. 3) for holding a ball (ping-pong ball) firmly within the game mat 100.
Referring now to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a game mat 500. The game mat 500 is the same as the game mat 100 described above except that graphic art 502 has been provided on the top surface 504 of the game mat 500. The graphic art 502 can be custom designed depending on a purchaser's preferences.
Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modification to the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A game mat comprising:

a. a first cup section including a first set of cup apertures each aperture having a top and a bottom;

b. a second cup section facing the first cup section, wherein the second cup section includes a second set of cup apertures each aperture a top and bottom; and

wherein the first and second sets of cup apertures have a first and second diameter and wherein the first diameter is located at the top of the first and second sets of cup apertures and the second diameter is located at the bottom of the first and second sets of cup apertures and further wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

2. The game mat of claim 1 wherein apertures within the first and second sets of cup apertures each comprise a center point and the distance from center point to center point of adjacent apertures is approximately equal to the diameter of a cup to be placed in the aperture.

3. The game mat of claim 2 wherein the first and second sets of cup apertures are arranged as mirror images of one another.

4. The game mat of claim 3 wherein the first and second sets of cup apertures are arranged in a triangular shape.

5. The game mat of claim 2 wherein the distance from center point to center point of adjacent apertures is approximately 3.5 inches.

6. The game mat of claim 5 wherein the apertures have a first diameter of approximately 2.5 inches.

7. A game mat comprising opposing cup sections, wherein each opposing cup section comprises a plurality of cup apertures further comprising a first diameter and a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

8. The game mat of claim 7 wherein the cup apertures further comprise a top and a bottom.

9. The game mat of claim 8 wherein the first diameter is located at the top of the cup apertures.

10. The game mat of claim 9 wherein the second diameter is located at the bottom of the cup apertures.

11. The game mat of claim 10 wherein apertures each comprise a center point and the distance from center point to center point of adjacent apertures is approximately equal to the diameter of a cup to be placed in the aperture.

12. The game mat of claim 11 wherein the opposing cup sections are arranged in a triangular shape.

13. The game mat of claim 12 wherein the distance from center point to center point of adjacent apertures is approximately 3.5 inches.

14. The game mat of claim 13 wherein the apertures have a first diameter of approximately 2.5 inches.

15. A beer pong mat comprising:

a. a first cup section including a first set of cup apertures arranged to hold cups for beer pong;

b. a second cup section facing the first cup section, wherein the second cup section includes a second set of cup apertures arranged to hold cups for the game of beer pong; and

wherein the game mat is made from a material that causes the cup apertures in the first set and the second set to lock cups into place.

16. The beer pong mat of claim 15 wherein the first and second sets of cup apertures have a first and second diameter, wherein the first diameter is located at the top of the first and second sets of cup apertures and the second diameter is located at the bottom of the first and second sets of cup apertures and further wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

17. The game mat of claim 16 wherein apertures within the first and second sets of cup apertures each comprise a center point and the distance from center point to center point of adjacent apertures is approximately equal to the diameter of a cup to be placed in the aperture.

18. The game mat of claim 17 wherein the first and second sets of cup apertures are arranged as mirror images of one another.

19. The game mat of claim 18 wherein the first and second sets of cup apertures are arranged in a triangular shape.

20. The game mat of claim 19 wherein the apertures have a first diameter of approximately 2.5 inches.