Ringer golf

Abstract

A game piece is struck by a golf club, and is propelled through the air in order to target a vertical pole in the ground similar to the action in the game of horseshoes. The game piece consists of a spherical object simulating a golf ball having a pair of arms. The game, while providing a novel experience sought by many persons, also tends to aid players in properly striking a golf ball in the game of golf. If the spherical object which can be an actual golf ball is properly struck at its center without a club induced slice, the game piece will turn over and over in an orderly fashion without wobbling from side-to-side. If it is not properly struck, it will wobble in its flight through the air which indicates that the player has not hit the spherical object properly.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61/063,170 filed Feb. 1, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of recreational games.

The nature of the game of golf is well known so that there is no need to describe it further. Likewise with respect to the game of horseshoes.

In the game of golf, the ball should not be struck in a manner to “slice” or “hook” the ball which causes it to diverge from a desired “strait-ahead” path. There are devices in the prior art for measuring the degree of improper slicing of the ball by the player and using this measurement to aid in the correction of this undesirable tendency. As a result, the player tends to strike the ball at its center in the “correct” manner to cause the ball to follow the “strait-ahead” path at the desired target area.

In the game of horseshoes, when the horseshoe is properly grasped and launched from the hand to travel at the vertical pole that constitutes the target, it will turn over and over in the air in an orderly manner, without chaotically wobbling from side-to-side.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A game piece is struck by a golf club, and is propelled through the air in order to target a vertical pole in the ground similar to the action in the game of horseshoes. The game piece comprises a spherical object having substantially the size of a golf ball. A first arm member is coupled to one side of the spherical object and a second arm member is coupled to an opposite side of the spherical object. The spherical object is supported off the ground by an adjustable height golf tee such as the tee disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,060 to Spoto. A conventional golf iron, swung by the player, strikes the spherical object to launch it at the target pole. If the spherical object is properly struck at its center, the game piece will turn over and over in an orderly fashion without wobbling from side-to-side. If it is not properly struck, it will wobble in its flight through the air which clearly shows the player that he or she has not hit the spherical object properly.

A novel game is thus provided to give pleasure to people who enjoy experiencing something truly new and out of the ordinary. In addition, the “Ringer-Golf” game of the invention tends to aid players in properly striking a golf ball in the game of golf and at the same time can even aid players in improving his or her performance in tossing horseshoes as they become more conscience of eliminating undesirable side by side wobble.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the detailed description and the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 discloses the overall arrangement of components used in the game including a first game piece 1;

FIG. 2 illustrates a second type of game piece currently considered to have the preferred configuration;

FIG. 3 illustrates a third type of game piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, the game piece 1 consists of a spherical object 2 preferably the size of a golf ball, or even an actual golf ball, affixed to and between a first arm 3 and a second arm.

Game piece 1 is propelled through the air along path 8 and is directed at a target pole 9 in the ground 1A. One goal of the game is to cause the game piece to encircle the target pole as shown in FIG. 1 or at least to land in the vicinity of the pole. This is effected by placing the spherical object 2 upon a tee 5 which can be an adjustable height tee to accommodate various players heights, stance and habits. The forwardly positioned tips of the arm members can rest upon the ground as schematically indicated in FIG. 1. Player 6 then strikes the spherical object 2 of the game-piece by means of a golf club preferably a sand wedge. The sloped club head induces the desired spin in the game piece as it is propelled through the air toward the target.

A second goal of the game is to have the player strike the spherical object at its center without slicing it, to thereby cause the horseshoe-like game piece to turn over and over in an orderly manner during its flight toward the target pole 9 which indicates that the swing of the golf club upon striking the spherical object at its center was of proper form.

During actual tests of prototypes constructed by the inventor, he observed numerous flights of the game piece whereby it wobbles chaotically from side to side, indicating an improper striking of the golf ball. Such wobbling was reduced upon properly striking the ball.

The best results were produced by the game piece shown in FIG. 2, that is not to scale, wherein a first arm member has a first shoulder portion 11 extending from spherical object 2 in a first direction and the second arm member has a second shoulder portion 12 extending from the spherical object in a second direction opposite to the first direction and wherein the first arm member includes a first extension member 13 affixed to the first shoulder portion and wherein the second arm member includes a second extension member 14 affixed to the second shoulder portion and is substantially parallel to said first extension member. This is currently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.

The game also tends to aid a player if and when he tosses horseshoes in the conventional horseshoe game because he is constantly reminded that an even direct for asserted against the central portion of the horseshoe will produce an orderly over and under motion of the horseshoe in flight whereas a slight wobbling of the wrist will cause the horseshoe to wobble chaotically from side to side in its flight toward the target.

In my experiments I have found that the aforesaid orderly over and under motion without substantial sideways wobble was obtained by striking the game piece with a sand wedge club.

FIG. 3 illustrates a third type of game piece wherein a first arm member and a second arm member are curved and meet in space away from the spherical object. This game piece has not been tested but is believed to be functional.

While the invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, the description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated by the language of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A game piece configured to be struck by a golf club comprising:

(a) a spherical object;

(b) a first arm member coupled to one side of said spherical object and a second arm member coupled to an opposite side of said spherical object.

2. The game piece of claim 1

(a) wherein said first arm member has a first shoulder portion extending from said spherical object in a first direction and said second arm member has a second shoulder portion extending from said spherical object in a second direction opposite to said first direction and

(b) wherein said first arm member includes a first extension member affixed to said first shoulder portion and wherein said second arm member includes a second extension member affixed to said second shoulder portion and is substantially parallel to said first extension member.

3. The game piece of claim 1 wherein said spherical object is substantially the size of a golf ball.

4. The game piece of claim 2 wherein said spherical object is substantially the size of a golf ball.

5. The game piece of claim 1 wherein said first arm member and said second arm member are curved and meet in space away from said spherical object.

6. The game piece of claim 5 wherein said spherical object is substantially the size of a golf ball.

7. A method of conducting a recreational game comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a game piece having (a-1) a spherical object; (a-2) a first arm member coupled to one side of said spherical object and a second arm member coupled to an opposite side of said spherical object; and

(b) striking said spherical object with a golf club in order to propel said game piece through the air.

8. The method of claim 7 including striking said spherical object with a pitching wedge golf club.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said spherical object is substantially the size of a golf ball.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said spherical object is having substantially the size of a golf ball.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said game piece is launched by a player at a target comprising a ground supported vertical pole, thereby to simulate a game of horseshoes.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said game piece is launched by a player at a target comprising a ground supported vertical pole, thereby to simulate a game of horseshoes.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said game piece is launched by a player at a target comprising a ground supported vertical pole, thereby to simulate a game of horseshoes.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said game piece is launched by a player at a target comprising a ground supported vertical pole, thereby to simulate a game of horseshoes.

15. A method of conducting a recreational game comprising the steps of

(a) providing a game piece having (a-1) a spherical object; (a-2) a first arm member coupled to one side of said spherical object and a second arm member coupled to an opposite side of said spherical object; and (a-3) wherein said first arm member has a first shoulder portion extending from said spherical object in a first direction and said second arm member has a second shoulder portion extending from said spherical object in a second direction opposite to said first direction; and (a-4) wherein said first arm member includes a first extension member affixed to said first shoulder portion and wherein said second arm member includes a second extension member affixed to said second shoulder portion and is substantially parallel to said first extension member; and (b) striking said spherical object with a golf club in order to propel said game piece through the air.

16. The method of claim 15 including striking said spherical object with a pitching wedge golf club.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said spherical object is substantially the size of a golf ball.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said spherical object is substantially the size of a golf ball.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said game piece is launched by a player at a target comprising a ground supported vertical pole, thereby to simulate a game of horseshoes.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said game piece is launched by a player at a target comprising a ground supported vertical pole, thereby to simulate a game of horseshoes.