RECREATIONAL AMUSEMENT
A recreational amusement (20) takes the form a cooler (21) having a toss-type game board (28) integrated with the cooler's lid (26). The toss-type game board (28) includes one or more cavities (29) in the top (27) of the lid (26). Provision is made for orienting the top (27) of the lid (26) in a sloping position for play of the game enabled by the game board (28). The cooler (21) retains all conventional features of a beverage type cooler.
This application claims any and all available priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/895,282 entitled RECREATIONAL AMUSEMENT filed Aug. 23, 2008, of which prior application this present application is a continuation-in-part. By this reference, the full disclosure, including the claims and drawings, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/895,282 is incorporated herein as though now set forth in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to recreation. More particularly, the invention relates to a recreational amusement specifically adapted to enable convenient transport of a game by integrating elements of the game into a cooler such as would be expected to be brought along to a recreational outing.
BACKGROUND ARTFew things are as rejuvenating as going on a recreational outing with family or friends. Unfortunately, some of the fun of such outings is often dampened for those assigned the tasks of packing up and transporting food and beverages, picnic wares, sporting equipment and the like. Often, due to a limited space for transportation of such items, those assigned the tasks are often force to make difficult decisions regarding what to take and what to leave behind, often to the disappointment of at least some others.
It is therefore an overriding object of the present invention to eliminate at least a part of the resulting frustration by providing a recreational amusement that is highly integrated with an otherwise conventional food and beverage cooler, which, of course, is an item rarely omitted from the outing. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide such a recreational amusement that may be utilized in a number of manners, thereby ensuring that those who are fortunate enough to often embark on recreational outings do not quickly bore of the amusement. Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a recreational amusement that is economical to manufacture and easy to play, thereby ensuring the benefit by those of virtually any economic means or age.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention—a recreational amusement—generally comprises a cooler having a toss-type game board integrated with the lid thereof. The toss-type game board generally includes one or more cavities provided in the top of the lid of the cooler. Additionally, provision is made in the recreational amusement of the present invention for orienting the top of the lid in a sloping position for play of the game enabled by the game board.
Many other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, especially in light of the foregoing discussions and the following drawings, exemplary detailed description and appended claims.
Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with illustrative figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components, and wherein:
Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.
Referring now to the figures, the recreational amusement 20 of the present invention generally comprises a cooler 21 having a toss-type game board 28 integrated with the lid 26 thereof. As shown in figures, the toss-type game board 28 generally comprises one or more cavities 29 provided in the top 27 of the lid 26 of the cooler 21. Additionally, provision is made in the recreational amusement 20 of the present invention for orienting the top 27 of the lid 26 in a sloping position for play of the game enabled by the game board 28.
In a first preferred embodiment of the recreational amusement 20, as particularly shown in
As particularly shown in
Regardless of implementation for the sloping aspect of the game board 28, the one or more cavities 29 are disposed in and, if desired or necessary in a particular implementation, through the top 27 of the lid 26 for a cooler 21, forming in the top 27 of the lid 26 one or more repositories for receiving therein a ball, toss-bag or the like in play of the enabled game. As shown in
As particularly shown in
As particularly shown in
The utility of the recreational amusement 20 of the present invention may also be extended by providing the cavity 29 with a reversible-lid 30 as shown in
As particularly shown in
As shown in various figures, and particularly in
For play of the implemented game in a pool or other body of water, the lid 26 of the cooler 21 may be fully removable from the body 22 and, if necessary or desired, may be provided with internal ballast 77, as shown in
It should be noted that Applicant contemplates that in at least one embodiment of the recreational amusement 20 of the present invention, the combination comprises one lid 26 having no legs, which first lid is meant to remain in place atop the cooler body 22, and an additional lid 26 provided with legs, which second lid is easily transported with the recreational amusement 20 by affixation in an upside down position atop the first lid by any conventional means. Upon reaching a recreational destination, the second lid may be separated from the first, enabling the game of choice to be played in back-and-forth fashion.
While the foregoing description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize the many variations, alterations, modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible, especially in light of this description, the accompanying drawings and the claims drawn hereto. For example, it is to be expected that the cooler 21 may be provided with any conventional features such as carrying handles 59 wheels 60, a hingedly attached pulling handle 61 or protective reinforcement 62. Likewise, in implementations comprising an integrated lid 26, the lid 26 may be provided with conventional hinges 28. Still further, one or more general storage compartments 76, which compartments 76 may be made watertight, are preferably provided in the available interior space of the lid 26 as shown in
The present invention is applicable to recreation.
Claims
1. A recreational amusement, said recreational amusement comprising:
- a cooler, said cooler comprising a body and lid, said lid having a top surface;
- a game board formed in the top surface of said lid; and
- wherein said top surface of said lid comprises sloping horizontal profile when positioned in place on said body.
2. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 1, wherein said game board comprises a cavity formed in said lid.
3. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 1, wherein said game board comprises a plurality of cavities formed in said lid.
4. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 3, wherein:
- said body comprises a top edge; and
- said top edge of said body comprises a sloping profile.
5. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 2, wherein:
- said body comprises a top edge, said top edge of said body comprising a horizontal profile; and
- said lid comprises a bottom surface, said bottom surface comprising a sloping edge profile.
6. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 2, said recreational amusement further comprising an insert for said cavity, said insert comprising embedded lighting.
7. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 6, wherein said said insert for said cavity comprises:
- a power source; and
- a switch, said switch being adapted to selectively convey power from said power source to said embedded lighting.
8. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 2, wherein said top surface of said lid is provided with mounting holes for removably affixing an attachment to said lid.
9. The recreation amusement as recited in claim 8, said recreational amusement further comprising an attachment for play of a game.
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 9, wherein said attachment comprises a ladder.
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 1, wherein said cooler comprises an integrated audio speaker.
18. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 17, wherein said audio speaker is integrated into said lid.
19. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 18, wherein said cooler further comprises a solar panel hingedly attached to said lid, said solar panel being adapted to provide power to said audio speaker.
20. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 17, wherein said cooler further comprises an interface port adapted for interconnection of a portable audio device to said audio speaker.
21. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 17, wherein said cooler further comprises a battery pack for providing power to said audio speaker.
22. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 21, wherein said battery pack comprises a charging port.
23. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 1, wherein said lid comprises an internal ballast adapted to stabilize said lid when floating in water.
24. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 1, wherein said lid is provided with removable legs.
25. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 1, wherein said lid is provided with folding legs.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 23, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 4, 2010
Inventors: Kevin Edward Manner (Boerne, TX), Brooks Christopher Bennett (Baltimore, MD)
Application Number: 12/733,323
International Classification: F25D 3/08 (20060101); A63F 3/00 (20060101);