OUTDOOR GAME BOARD

Abstract

An apparatus and method of playing a lawn game uses washer-shaped projectiles which are tossed by players towards target receptacles on a portable game board placed on the ground. The target receptacle game board lays on the ground with either face up. The receptacle board targets may also be of different positions so that the further the target whole lies the greater the target values.

Description

PREVIOUS APPLICATION

This application emanates from a previous application; Garbo's Ultimate Washer Board; provisional application No. 61/098,181

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a lawn game where players toss projectiles towards target receptacles placed on a portable board. The projectiles are in the shape of washers and the target receptacles include round cups shaped to receive the washers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several types of lawn games have been developed in the prior art. Many of these games are, in some fashion, a variation on the ancient game of horseshoes. In horseshoes, of course, a projectile in the shape of a horseshoe is directed to a stake placed in the ground some distance from the tosser. Points are accumulated based upon whether the horseshoe-shaped projectile rings the stake or lands within a prescribed distance from the stake. One variation on this theme uses darts which are tossed towards a ring placed on the ground, with the object being to land the dart point-down in the ground inside the ring. Still other variations include rings which are tossed towards a stake with the object being to place the ring around the stake. Other similar games employ balls which are tossed with the objective of landing near a target with points scored according to the proximity to the target. None of these games provide any type of “handicapping” ability so that players of varying degrees of skill can compete with each other on an equal footing.

Consequently, the need exists for a projectile toss game which uses multiple targets on a portable board which require varying degrees of skill so that players of differing abilities can compete fairly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for playing a lawn game where relatively flat, annularly or ring-shaped washers are tossed toward a portable target placed on the ground at a specific distance from the players. The target is formed of a receptacle having a plurality of circular, cup-like receivers or cups of different sizes attached together. The cups are held rigidly in place by a plurality of spikes, normally with one spike per cup, which are inserted through apertures in the center of the bottom of each cup and driven into the ground.

The cups are preferably of different sizes and different heights. This allows the taller of the cups to be used as a “backboard” for the shorter cup(s) so the tossed washers may be bounced off one or more of the taller cups into the shorter cup(s). Alternatively, the cups may be oriented such that the taller cup partially hides the shorter cup(s) and acts as a barrier, making it more difficult to toss a washer into the shorter cup(s).

The cups are preferably formed of molded plastic and each circular cup has a plurality of protuberances or nodes formed on the bottom to support a washer tossed therein in spaced relationship relative to the bottom of the cup so as to allow a player to manipulate the player's fingers beneath a washer in the cup and thereby facilitate removal of such a washer from the cup.

The washers are also preferably formed of molded plastic and can be of varying sizes as well to provide an additional “handicapping” system. The washers are constructed so that the bore in the center of each washer permits a player to easily insert a finger and remove it from the cups. Therefore, the washer bores are not proportional to the size of the washer, but rather, all sizes of washers have bores shaped to receive the player's finger.

Official Outdoor Game Board Game Rules

• 1. The game begins with two teams of two players per team.
• 2. The OUTDOOR BOARD GAME game board lies flat on the ground with either side facing up.
• 3. The players stand 6 feet directly back from the OUTDOOR BOARD GAME board with one player from each team playing from either side.
• 4. Each round consists of one player from each team (playing from the same side) throwing 4 washers onto the OUTDOOR BOARD GAME board and sliding them into the holes for points.
• 5. The team who throws first, Team A, throws all four washers. Once team A has thrown all 4 washers, team B throws their washers.
• 6. DO NOT pick up washers until the entire round is finished. All 8 washers must be tossed before the round is over.
• 7. The point value for each hole corresponds to its position on the board according to which side the player is throwing from. The side with 4 holes directly down the center, has a point system where:
  • Hole 1=1 point
  • Hole 2=2 points
  • Hole 3=3 points
  • Hole 4=5 points

The side with 9 holes and a total of 5 rows has a point system where each hole is worth the exact amount of points equal to the corresponding row it is in:

• • Row 1=1 point
  • Row 2=2 points
  • Row 3=3 points
  • Row 4=4 points
  • Row 5=5 points
• 8. If a washer is leaning into a hole, but is not laying flat across the bottom, it is a LEANER and worth only one point, no matter which hole it is leaning into.
• 9. The game is over when one team has reached 21 points after the completion of the round.
• 10. All 8 washers must have been thrown to finish the game.
• 11. If one team goes over 21 points it is a BUST, and that team goes back to 13 points, automatically loosing the round.
• 12. The team that throws first each round is determined according to the ‘Honors’ system, which means that whichever team scores the most points in the current round, without busting, throws first the following round.
• 13. Players must shag their partner's washers from the current round to continue into the next round.
• 14. If a player makes all 4 washers in one round they receive an extra ‘bonus toss’. This rule does not apply to Leaners.
• 15. The washer must be laying FLAT across the bottom of the hole to receive its full point value. Otherwise it is considered a Leaner. If multiple washers lay on top of each other, all leaning into the hole, they are ALL worth 1 point each.
• 16. If one player from each team tosses a washer into the same hole in the same round, both washers are cancelled and no points are awarded. This rule applies on a washer by washer basis, so if Team A throws 2 washers into a hole and Team B tosses 1 washer into the same hole in the same round, the points for Team B's washer is cancelled along with 1 washer from team A. Team A still gets to keep the points for the one washer still remaining. If team B then tosses another washer into the same hole, in the same round, all four washers would be cancelled and no points awarded for any. If team B then tosses a third washer into the same hole in the same round, team B then collects the standard points for that hole. The ‘cancel’ rule does not apply to leaners.
• 17. If a washer misses the board or slides/rolls off, 1 point is deducted from that team's score.
• 18. Teams can not go below 0 points.
• 19. Team B can attempt to knock off washers left on the board from Team A, causing team A to lose 1 point.
• 20. Any washer left on the board can be knocked into any hole by any other washer and the points will be awarded to whichever team the washer in the hole belongs to.

Detailed overview of all material and elements comprising the OUTDOOR BOARD GAME game board:

1) FRAME—the frame (central core) consists of 2″×2″ pine lumber assembled with screws into a 6′ long×2′ wide×1½″ high frame, with two (2) support pieces (2″×2″×2′ lumber) across the middle (widthwise) at 18″ from each end.

• • A. two (2) pieces of 2×2-6′ pine lumber
  • B. four (4) pieces of 2×2-2′ pine lumber
    2) STYROFOAM LAYER—the first layer, placed over top of both sides of the frame is ½″ thick Styrofoam. The Styrofoam layer perfectly matches the size of the frame: 6′ long by 2′ wide.
  • A. two (2) pieces of ½″ thick×2′ wide×6′ long Styrofoam, one (1) piece on both sides of the frame.
    3) MASONITE LAYER—The final, exposed layer, placed over top of the Styrofoam, is ⅛″ thick masonite (hardboard). Again, it will match the dimensions of the frame & Styrofoam layers at 6′ long×2′ wide.
  • A. two (2) pieces of ⅛″×6′×2′ masonite, one (1) piece on both sides of the apparatus.
    4) SIDE CORNER TRIM—¾″×6′ long wood corner trim runs along the length of the game board on all four of the 6′ sides.
  • A. four (4) pieces of ¾″×6′ wood corner trim
    5) END CORNER TRIM—½″×2′ long vinyl corner trim runs along the width of the game board on all four corners of the 2′ sides.
  • A. four (4) pieces of ½″×2′ vinyl corner trim
    6) HOLE LINING—Each hole is lined with colored GAME FOAM. The lining for each hole consists of two (2) pieces of the foam. One piece is ⅛″ thick×⅝″ wide×11″ long and runs along the inside edges of the holes. The other piece is 4″×4″ and runs along the entire bottom of each hole to catch the washers as they fall in.
  • A. thirteen (13) pieces of inside edge lining game foam, nine on one side and four on the other side
  • B. thirteen (13) pieces of bottom lining game foam, nine on one side and four on the other side
    7) EDGE TRIM—All four edges (2 sides & 2 ends) are trimmed with ⅛″ thick×2¾″ wide masonite.
  • A. two (2) pieces of ⅛″ thick×2¾″wide×6′ long masonite
  • B. two (2) pieces of ⅛″ thick×2¾″wide×2′ long masonite
    8) HANDLES—Each game has two (2) metal handles on one side for carrying.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the objects of the invention are: to provide a lawn game where players toss washer-shaped projectiles at a portable target placed on the ground; to provide such a game where the target is a receptacle having multiple circular targets of varying locations to permit players of different skill levels to compete fairly; to provide such a game where the targets are also of different values.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the playable sides of the game, showing the target board, 4 scoring receptacles, and one set of tossing rings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reverse playable side of the apparatus, showing the target board and 9 scoring receptacles.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the target game board showing the detailed layers of the completed apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows one playable side of the apparatus 10, with four scoring receptacles placed symmetrically in a row down the center-line of the board's length, each hole lined with game foam 14. It shows the top masonite layer 13, side masonite trim 17, wood edge trim 11, corner vinyl trim 12, carrying handles 15, and five tossing rings 16.

FIG. 2 shows the other (reverse) playable side of the apparatus 18, with nine scoring receptacles placed symmetrically according to five separate rows down the center-line of the length of the board as well as symmetrically across the width of the board, again lined with game foam 20. It shows the top masonite layer 19, side masonite trim 24, wood edge trim, 21, carrying handles 22, and vinyl corner trim 23.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the game board apparatus, exposing the internal materials 25. The core (frame) of the apparatus is 2×2 pine lumber 27, directly on the top and bottom of the core is a layer of ½″ Styrofoam 26, followed on both faces and both sides by a layer of ⅛″ masonite 29. Finally, covering all four corners is wood edge trim 28.

Detailed overview of all material and elements comprising the OUTDOOR BOARD GAME game board:

1) FRAME—the frame (central core) consists of 2″×2″ pine lumber assembled with screws into a 6′ long×2′ wide×1½″ high frame, with two (2) support pieces (2″×2″×2′ lumber) across the middle (widthwise) at 18″ from each end.

• • A. two (2) pieces of 2×2-6′ pine lumber
  • B. four (4) pieces of 2×2-2′ pine lumber
    2) STYROFOAM LAYER—the first layer, placed over top of both sides of the frame is ½″ thick Styrofoam. The Styrofoam layer perfectly matches the size of the frame: 6′ long by 2′ wide.
  • A. two (2) pieces of ½″ thick×2′ wide×6′ long Styrofoam, one (1) piece on both sides of the frame.
    3) MASONITE LAYER—The final, exposed layer, placed over top of the Styrofoam, is ⅛″ thick masonite (hardboard). Again, it will match the dimensions of the frame & Styrofoam layers at 6′ long×2′ wide.
  • A. two (2) pieces of ⅛″×6′×2′ masonite, one (1) piece on both sides of the apparatus.
    4) SIDE CORNER TRIM—¾″×6′ long wood corner trim runs along the length of the game board on all four of the 6′ sides.
  • A. four (4) pieces of ¾″×6′ wood corner trim
    5) END CORNER TRIM—½″×2′ long vinyl corner trim runs along the width of the game board on all four corners of the 2′ sides.
  • A. four (4) pieces of ½″×2′ vinyl corner trim
    6) HOLE LINING—Each hole is lined with colored GAME FOAM. The lining for each hole consists of two (2) pieces of the foam. One piece is ⅛″ thick×⅝″ wide×11″ long and runs along the inside edges of the holes. The other piece is 4″×4″ and runs along the entire bottom of each hole to catch the washers as they fall in.
  • A. thirteen (13) pieces of inside edge lining game foam, nine on one side and four on the other side
  • B. thirteen (13) pieces of bottom lining game foam, nine on one side and four on the other side
    7) EDGE TRIM—All four edges (2 sides & 2 ends) are trimmed with ⅛″ thick×2¾″ wide masonite.
  • A. two (2) pieces of ⅛″ thick×2¾″ wide×6′ long masonite
  • B. two (2) pieces of ⅛″ thick×2¾″ wide×2′ long masonite
    8) HANDLES Each game has two (2) metal handles on one side for carrying.

Claims

1) The OUTDOOR BOARD GAME apparatus is reversible in that it has two sides, one side with four holes and one side with nine holes. This attribute allows for different levels of playing skill and multiple strategies of game play.

2) The specific structural design of the OUTDOOR BOARD GAME apparatus creates a plethora of dynamic functionalities. The arrangement of multiple Styrofoam and masonite layers gives the apparatus a “cushioning” affect which allows for the unique functionality of “cradling” the projectiles when they land on the board. This attribute allows the washers to land and slide across the surface smoothly and accurately, rather than bouncing or deflecting arbitrarily in random directions. In addition, the masonite surface creates a magnified degree of precision game play and overall durability, while the Styrofoam layers, coupled with the built-in handles makes the game board light and easy to carry.

3) Compared to other lawn games which consist of two target apparatuses, one for each team; OUTDOOR BOARD GAME consists of only one target apparatus, which both teams play on. This creates a unique playing system which integrates complex defensive, or “blocking” strategies in addition to new, enhanced offensive “scoring” strategies. Also, this feature creates more dynamic cooperative team playing tactics, and new, enhanced playing rules.

4) The colorful Game Foam, which lines the inside and bottom of the target cups, creates a higher demand for precision when tossing the washers as this makes it easy for the washers to bounce out of the cups. It also creates an attractive appearance which gives the apparatus an appealing game design.