US20240131408A1

US20240131408A1 - McCormick's Floor Ball ("Mic's Ball")

Info

Publication number: US20240131408A1
Application number: US17/803,210
Authority: US
Inventors: Colin Andrew McCormick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Filing date: 2022-03-16
Publication date: 2024-04-25

Abstract

A kick ball game is described in which a number of balls are kicked from a prescribed distance toward a number of dimensioned holes/target areas in a horizontal box positioned between upright side supports members which are retained in perpendicular angularity to the overlying and underlying support surface members. Each of the dimensioned holes/target areas in the horizontal box are set in a vertical direction along the side supports member and secured in the desired position inside the horizontal box[es]. In this fashion the distance between the dimensioned holes/target areas are fixed and cannot be altered. Alternative embodiments of the game are also contemplated where the distance between the horizontal box[es] is varied to increase or decrease the level of difficulty.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/207,750, filed 2021 Mar. 19.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention resides in the field of games involving the kicking of an article toward an object in order to score points by having the article rest inside or pass through one or more target areas of the object. The basic concept of kicking or tossing an article toward an object is the game of horseshoes, or a later modification, quoits. The present invention relies upon the use of balls being kicked at a horizontal box with a series of dimensioned holes or target areas with scoring being gauged upon the skill difficulty of kicking the balls into or through a particularly dimensioned hole or target area in the horizontal box. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a series of dimensioned holes or target areas in the horizontal box having set space between each of the dimensioned holes or target areas such that one or more balls can be kicked into or through the horizontal box.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

McCormick's Floor Ball (“Mic's Ball”) is an indoor/outdoor yard game which consists of one (1) or two (2) Mic's board(s) (“Boards”) and three (3) to six (6) balls. The court consists of one (1) to two (2) players lanes with two (2) teams of one (1) to two (2) persons. The Board is either placed in the middle between the two (2) teams [see, FIG. 2 .], or if using two (2) Boards, the Boards are staggered and positioned six (6) to eight (8) feet apart from the teams. [See, FIG. 1B.]
Object of the Invention: Each opposing team takes turns shooting the three (3) balls into the Board(s), by kicking the ball with their foot. In order to count as a point, the ball shall enter and stay in the target area/dimensioned hole, or travel through the target area/dimensioned hole to the other side. The center target area/dimensioned hole in the Board is worth three (3) points, and is called a “Holy Roller”. The two (2) target areas/dimensioned holes flanking the center hole are worth one (1) point and are called an “Outside Ball”. The game shall be played to a pre-determined number of eleven (11) or twenty-one (21) points. The first team to reach, or exceed the pre-determined amount is the winner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the board of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of the interconnection between the top, bottom and the upright supports members being connected in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of the kick ball game system of the present invention used with two boards.

FIG. 2 depicts the layout of the game when using one board.

FIG. 3 depicts the final look and structure of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

McCormick's Floor Ball System 10 is a system for use as an indoor/outdoor yard game which comprises one or two Mic's Board(s) 12 (also referred to herein as board 12) and three to six balls 14, as shown in FIG. 3 . As shown in FIGS. 3, 1A, and 1B, the board 12 may comprise an overlying support member 16, an underlying support member 18, and a plurality of side support members 20 perpendicular to the overlying support member 16 and the underlying support member 18, forming a box having at least three holes 22 (which may be referred to as target areas 22) at predetermined points inside the formed box.
The board 12 is made using a 1″×8″×10′ wood, plastic, or recycled material which are cut into two (2) three (3) foot lengths to form the overlying support member 16 and the underlying support member 18. In some implementations the side support members may comprise end pieces 20 a and middle pieces 20 b. The overlying support member 16 and the underlying support member 18 are then fashioned together by wood glue and/or nails using two (2) of the side support members 20, such as the end pieces 20 a (10(¾)″ inches in height), and two (2) of the side support members 20, such as the middle pieces 20 b (9(½)″ inches in height). The end pieces 20 a may be placed on the outside of the overlying support member 16 and the underlying support member 18.
The board(s) 12, when complete, form three (3) boxes, or holes 22, for scoring. The two (2) middle pieces 20 b of the board 12 are placed at the 13^thand 23^rdinch along the three (3) foot length board 12 and create a smaller center hole 22 a of the holes 22, in the center of the board 12. The middle pieces 20 b of the board 12 may be spaced ten inches apart from each other. There are three (3) holes 22 in total on each board 12.
Each opposing team lays the board 12 flat as depicted in FIG. 2 , and takes turns shooting the three (3) balls 14 (roughly 8-8 (½) inches in diameter) into the board(s) 12, by kicking the ball 14 with their foot. In order to count as a point, the ball 14 shall enter and stay in the target area 22 of the board 12, or travel through the target area 22 of the board 12 to the other side. The center hole 22 a in the Board is worth three (3) points, and is called a “Holy Roller”. The two (2) holes 22 flanking the center hole 22 a are worth one (1) point and are called an “Outside Ball”.
The game shall be played to a pre-determined number of eleven (11) or twenty-one (21) points. The first team to reach, or exceed the pre-determined amount is the winner.
In some implementations, a method of use of the McCormick's Floor Ball System 10 is a kick ball game involving the kicking of an article, such as the ball 14, toward an object in order to score points by having the article rest inside or pass through one or more target areas of the object comprising: a. A singular or pair of horizontal box[es] (the board 12 positioned so that its length is substantially horizontal) made of side support members 20 perpendicular to the overlying support member 16 and the underlying support member 18 which creates a series of not less than three (3) dimensioned holes/target areas 22 at predetermined points inside the board(s) 12 (the horizontal box[es]); and, b. a number of the balls 14, in a series of dimensioned size, whereby the number of balls 14 are kicked from one or more prescribed distances at the board(s) 12 (the horizontal box[es]) in order to rest or pass through the said dimensioned holes/target areas 22 scoring points for those balls 14 passing through the dimensioned holes/target areas 22 or resting inside said dimensioned holes/target areas 22 at the end of a series of kicks by a number of players.
The distance between the boards 12 (the horizontal box[es]) may be varied to increase or decrease the level of difficulty and skill in passing the balls 14 through, or resting the balls 14 inside the dimensioned holes/target areas 22 in the board 12 (the horizontal box[es]).
In some implementations, a method of use of the McCormick's Floor Ball System 10 is for a kick ball game in which a number of balls 14 are kicked from a prescribed distance toward a number of dimensioned holes/target areas 22 in the board 12 (which may be positioned as a horizontal box), the target areas 22 positioned between the side supports members 20 which are retained in perpendicular angularity to overlying support member 16 and the underlying support member 18. Each of the dimensioned holes/target areas 22 in the board 12 (the horizontal box) are set in a vertical direction along the side supports member 20 and secured in the desired position inside the board 12 (the horizontal box[es]). In this fashion the distance between the dimensioned holes/target areas 22 are fixed and cannot be altered.
In use, the board 12 is either placed in the middle between the two (2) teams [see, FIG. 2 .], or if using two (2) boards 12, the boards 12 are staggered and positioned six (6) to eight (8) feet apart from the teams. [See, FIG. 1B.]
Each opposing team takes turns shooting the three (3) balls 14 into the board(s) 12, by kicking the ball 14 with their foot. In order to count as a point, the ball 14 shall enter and stay in the target area/dimensioned hole 22, or travel through the target area/dimensioned hole 22 to the other side. The center target area/dimensioned hole 22 a in the board 12 is worth three (3) points, and is called a “Holy Roller”. The two (2) target areas/dimensioned holes 22 flanking the center hole 22 a are worth one (1) point and are called an “Outside Ball”. The game shall be played to a pre-determined number of eleven (11) or twenty-one (21) points. The first team to reach, or exceed the pre-determined amount is the winner.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim, rather than the foregoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the invention as well as all modifications which may fall within a range of equivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

I claim:

1. I, Colin Andrew McCormick, claim McCormick's Floor Ball (Mic's Ball) as a kick ball game involving the kicking of an article toward an object in order to score points by having the article rest inside or pass through one or more target areas of the object comprising;

a. A singular or pair of horizontal box[es] made of side support members perpendicular to an overlying support member and underlying support member which creates a series of not less than three (3) dimensioned holes/target areas at predetermined points inside the horizontal box[es]; and

b. A number of balls, in a series of dimensioned size, whereby the number of balls are kicked from one or more prescribed distances at the horizontal box[es] in order to rest or pass through the said dimensioned holes/target areas scoring points for those balls passing through the dimensioned holes/target areas or resting inside said dimensioned holes/target areas at the end of a series of kicks by a number of players.

2. The kick ball game of claim 1, wherein the distance between the horizontal box[es] may be varied to increase or decrease the level of difficulty and skill in passing the balls through, or resting the balls inside the dimensioned holes/target areas in the horizontal box[es].