Floating toss game

Abstract

A pair of Styrofoam floating asymmetric targets are advantageously selectively tethered to either a side of the swimming pool or to the bottom of the swimming pool to maintain their spacing and alignment, facilitating a tossing game such as “cornhole” or “toss across” that are generally known for use on land.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Pat. Appln Ser. No. 60/675,364 of the same title filed on 27 Apr. 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to amusement devices used in swimming pools, and more particularly to tossing games that involve a floating goal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games played in swimming pools have long been popular. Some of these require an elaborate goal that is placed upon a hard surface or diving board adjacent to the swimming pool, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,715,599 and 4,220,337. However, it is often inconvenient or undesirable to retrieve a ball or other thrown object from outside of the swimming pool. Some swimming pool games (e.g., water polo) avoid this difficulty by including a goal that is in the water, yet supported by the side of the pool, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,975. Yet other games sit upon the bottom of the pool, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,822. In addition, other games include a horizontally symmetric goal that floats freely, typically a horizontal ring supported upon three spaced support legs that attach a larger base ring that supports foam floats.

A popular game that is not played in a swimming pool is a “cornhole” game, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,796, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, wherein an angled deck with a through hole serves as a target for bean bags, traditionally filled with dried corn kernels. Such games generally require that a pair of such goals remain aligned toward each other at a nominal spacing. This may be inconvenient for a portable game used in swimming pools or bodies of water of varying dimensions.

Consequently, a significant need exists for a swimming pool tossing game wherein a floating target goal may be easily tethered for alignment with a player.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention overcomes the above-noted and other deficiencies of the prior art by providing a floating target having an angled deck that floats. An aperture in the angled deck, as well as the deck itself, serve as a means for scoring tossed objects thrown at the floating target. A tether maintains the target in position. Thereby the target goal may be temporarily anchored and aligned at a desired position in a body of water, such as a swimming pool. Thereby, an amusing game may be played without the target floating away, rotating away from an optimum alignment, or necessarily requiring support from the side of the swimming pool.

In one aspect of the invention, a game apparatus and method use a pair of targets with two sets of buoyant tossing objects to play the game.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective environmental view of a swimming pool partially cut away wherein a pair of asymmetric floating targets consistent with aspects of the invention are spaced apart and aligned with each other for playing a tossing game, one target being temporarily anchored to a side of the swimming pool and the other to a position away from the opposite side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the target of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-2, a pair of asymmetric targets 10 each include an angled deck 12 supported by a vertical rectangular rear wall 14 and two vertical triangular lateral sides 16. A target through hole 18 in the angled deck is laterally centered and placed closer to a higher end 20. A top surface 22 of the angled deck 12 may advantageously include a texture that, in combination with a choice of tossed object (e.g., water resistant bean bag) 24, provides a desired friction so that the tossed object may have a desired tendency to come to rest on the angled deck 12 yet be capable of sliding off.

In an illustrative version, each target is formed of Styrofoam or other floating, water resistant board-like materials of about 1.5 inches in thickness. The angled deck 12 is 24 inches wide by 30 inches long sloped upward at approximately 12 degrees. The target through hole 18 is 5 inches in diameter and about 10 inches from the back (top) edge. The pieces 12, 14, 16 may be integrally molded or assembled and affixed or fastened together. In addition, the rear wall 14 and lateral walls 16 may be detachable (e.g., Velcro) so as to pack in a small volume. The top surface 22 may be a thin Styrofoam of denser compensation for wearability and friction as compared to the more buoyant other portions. The top surface 22 also lends itself to being readily printed with aesthetic colors and/or designs.

In addition, illustrative tossing objects 24 are “bags” filled with plastic pellets approximately 3 inches by 3 inches and flattened to about ¾ inches thickness. The material of the “bags” would be suitable for water play, and sewn around all four edges. Each game set would consist of 8 bags—4 of one color and 4 of another color.

Each asymmetric target 10 includes a pair of anchors, comprising a left and right tether cord 26, 28 tied to back left and right apertures 30 formed in each lateral side 16 with the other end attached to a respective left and right weight 32, 34. In FIG. 1, it will be noted that one asymmetric target 10 is tethered to a side 38 of a swimming pool 40 whereas the other target 10′ is appropriately aligned and spaced away by tethering to a bottom 42 of the swimming pool 40. Alternatively, the pair of targets 10, 10′ may be allowed to float free. An adjustment spool 43 may be incorporated into each tether cord 26, 28 to provide a desired length so that the target 10 stays in a desired location. The adjustment spool 43 may advantageously comprise a spring biased spool that tends to reel in slack, drawing the target 10 toward the side wall of the pool 40 or automatically adjusting to the water level when the weights 32, 34 are placed on the bottom 42 of the swimming pool 40.

The most common way the game is played is that either two individuals 44, 44′ throw against each other, or two teams of two throw back and forth to team members at opposite asymmetric targets 10, 10′. Turns at throwing are usually alternated between players, with points awarded for “splashing” (throwing into the target hole) and for landing the bags on the game board. Games are scored to 21, with only one team scoring per turn by using the cancellation method (if “red” team lands 4 bags on the board, and “blue” teams lands 3 bags on the board, the “red” team would score 1 point). The team that most recently scored, starts throwing in the next round. This is done until one team reaches 21 or more.

While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications may readily appear to those skilled in the art. For example, Although this game is designed for water applications, it can also be used equally as well in “dry” areas. This game would be equally as entertaining alongside the pool, in backyards, driveways, the beach, recreation areas and even indoors.

For example, rather than using weights 32, 34 to maintain the target 10 in position, often swimming pools 40 include floating lane lines upon which the target 10 may straddle to maintain position.

It should be appreciated that other configurations of materials may be used, including nonbuoyant portions. Further, the asymmetric targets may be of varying dimensions. Similarly, different objects can be used to toss at the target board. The “bags” can be substituted with sponges or other soft, water friendly objects. Further, rather than having a single target hole, the target may comprise a plurality of spinning target members (e.g., three-side blank-X-O Tic-Tac-Toe targets) or a labeled target (e.g., dartboard).

It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

It should be appreciated that a version of the game may be played with only one target.

It should be further appreciated that a plurality of tether lines attached to two or more spaced portions of a target may converge upon a single weight, perhaps at spaced corners thereof, such that one weight may sit upon the floor of the swimming pool and keep the target in position and correctly oriented.

It should be further appreciated that other rules of game play may be employed and that various orientations, sizes and numbers of target holes may be incorporated consistent with aspects of the present invention. For instance, a skeeball or miniature golf target may be incorporated. Further, the type of thrown object (e.g., ball, bean bag) may be projected toward the target with use of a game instrument (e.g., bat, club, Jai-Alai glove, etc.).

Claims

1. A device for placement in a body of water for playing a tossing game, comprising:

a target deck;

a support portion comprised of a plurality of sides attached beneath the target deck to raise the target deck above water and including a buoyant portion; and

a tether attached to the support portion.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the tether further comprises:

a pair of tether lines attached to laterally spaced portions of the support portion; and

a pair of weights attached to respective tether lines to temporarily position the device at a desired position in the body of water.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the support portion comprises a buoyant plastic foam.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the support portion comprises an angled support portion.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the target deck comprises a rectangular portion formed of a buoyant plastic foam.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the target deck further comprises a dense foam plastic wear surface.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a length adjustment member attached to each tether line.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the length adjustment member comprises a spool spring biased to retract slack in the respective tether.

9. A game apparatus for playing a tossing game, comprising:

a first and second set of tossing objects; and

a first and second target, each target comprising: a target deck, a support portion comprised of a plurality of sides attached beneath the target deck to raise the target deck above water and including a buoyant portion, and a tether attached to the support portion.

10. The game apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tether of each target further comprises:

a pair of tether lines attached to laterally spaced portions of the support portion; and

a pair of weights attached to respective tether lines to temporarily position the device at a desired position in the body of water.

11. The game apparatus of claim 9, wherein the support portion of each target comprises a buoyant plastic foam.

12. The game apparatus of claim 9, wherein the support portion comprises an angled support portion.

13. The game apparatus of claim 12, wherein the target deck of each target comprises a rectangular portion formed of a buoyant plastic foam.

14. The game apparatus of claim 13, wherein the target deck of each target further comprises a dense foam plastic wear surface.

15. The game apparatus of claim 9, wherein each target further comprises a length adjustment member attached to each tether line.

16. The game apparatus of claim 15, wherein the length adjustment member comprises a spool spring biased to retract slack in the respective tether.

17. The game apparatus of claim 9, wherein each set of the first and second sets of tossing objects comprises a plurality of water resistant fabric bags encompassing a plurality of buoyant, water resistant pellets.

18. A method of playing a game, comprising:

tethering a pair of buoyant targets in a body of water, each target comprising an angled deck having an aperture formed therein, each target spaced apart from the other and ramped away from the other;

having two teams of two participants, one from each team positioned proximate to a respective target;

providing a first set of a plurality of buoyant tossing objects of one ornamentation to one participant at a selected target and a providing a second set of a plurality of buoyant tossing objects of another ornamentation to the other participant at the selected target;

alternating throwing one from each set toward the other target until each set is exhausted;

scoring by counting tossing objects remaining on the other target and counting tossing objects that passed through the aperture in other target; and

performing the same procedure if a winning score is not reached by having the other participants throw their respective sets in alternating fashion back toward the selected target.