Adjustable target ring
A companion toy device for flying objects, and more specifically, an adjustable target ring through which objects such as flying discs may be thrown.
The present disclosure relates generally to a companion device for flying objects, and more specifically to an adjustable target ring through which objects such as flying discs may be thrown.
BACKGROUNDA variety of games are known that include throwing some sort of object, such as a football, a disc, horse shoes, etc. Some of these games are played competitively, but players also may benefit from practicing throwing between competitions, for example to improve throwing accuracy. Therefore, devices have been created for this purpose, and some of the devices have developed into games themselves, where individuals can compete through a scoring system or the like. For example, a game of disc golf has been developed, in which players compete by aiming discs at a target, and keeping track of the total number of throws (or “strokes”) required to throw their disc to, or through, the target starting from some initial starting point.
However, existing devices may not be sufficiently adjustable to provide a desired range of target positions, sizes, and stability. For example, it may be desirable to change the vertical position, horizontal position, rotation angle, and/or effective size of the target device, in some cases all without moving the base of the device or compromising its stability. Therefore a need exists for a stable, adjustable target device, the position of which may be selectively varied to provide a variety of target positions and cross sections, while the device maintains stability with respect to a mounting surface such as the ground.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The present disclosure describes a ring adapted for use with a holder in various configurations. The ring holder may, for example, take the form of a stand and a substantially planar base adapted for indoor or outdoor play, or it may include an implantable base generally suited for outdoor play. In some embodiments, the ring and holder may be capable of rotation and/or other adjustment in multiple directions to accommodate variations in play. The ring and holder may be used for practice or play involving passing flying objects through the ring, and may be used with flying discs or with any other suitable flying objects, including balls.
In the embodiment depicted in
A filler (not shown) may be disposed within some or all of the pipe sections forming the base, to increase the stability of the base. This filler may take the form, for example, of one or more substantially solid inserts constructed from a metal, vinyl, plastic, or rubber material, or it may take the form of a granular material such as sand or gravel. Regardless of the precise form of the filler, its presence within the base increases the mass of the base, increasing the inertia of the base and thereby making the base more resistant to unwanted tipping, sliding, rotating, or other inadvertent motions.
As
Also as depicted in
Referring again to
Connector 30 may, for example, be a hollow cylindrical segment that fits snugly around both members 28 and 32, allowing them to be connected in a stable manner. The connector and the extension member may be installed to provide a target having a relatively greater height, and may be removed to provide a target having a relatively lesser height. Similarly, in some embodiments, additional connectors and extension members may be included to provide targets having various heights. Furthermore, a plurality of primary longitudinal members having various heights may be provided. All of the stand members may be easily interchangeable by a user, making it convenient to adjust the height of the stand.
An end cap 34 may be installed at the end of the extension member or, if no extension member is used, at the end of the primary longitudinal member. The end cap may be hollow, and may be configured to fit snugly at the end of any of the longitudinal members of the stand. Typically the end cap is open at one end and closed (or capped) at the other end. Although the end cap is depicted as having a substantially flat surface at its closed end, in general the closed end may have any desired shape, such as a convex arcuate shape, to facilitate rotation of ring 16 relative to stand 14 as described in greater detail below. Furthermore, also as described below in more detail, the end cap may have a hole drilled through its closed end to facilitate rotational connection of ring 16 to stand 14.
Also as indicated in
To attach the ring to the stand in the depicted embodiment, screw 48 is inserted through washer 52, apertures 46 and 50, washer 54, and nut 56. The screw then may be tightened against the nut to a desired degree, and the end cap may be installed at one end of stand 14 as described previously. The connection may be made such that ring 16 is rotatable relative to end cap 34, and thus relative to stand 14. The rotatable nature of the ring may facilitate a relatively wider variety of games or activities using target 10, for example by allowing a user to adjust the target's rotational orientation without moving the base of the target.
The connection between the ring and the stand may be made in an analogous manner in embodiments where an alternate fastener such as a pin is used, where one or more of the washers are omitted, or where additional washers or connecting hardware are provided. In any case, to facilitate the connection and to allow any suitable compressive force to be applied to plug 40 and ring 16, the plug may be constructed from an appropriately sturdy, incompressible material. For example, in some embodiments, the plug may be constructed from a solid section of relatively incompressible plastic. Alternatively, the plug may be constructed from a solid section of metal, wood, or any other suitable material. Furthermore, the provided plug may in some cases be hollow or partially hollow.
An insert or filler (not shown) may be provided within connector 64 and/or end caps 66, 68. One purpose of the filler is to increase the weight of base 12′, and thus to increase the stability of the base when tip 60 is implanted into the ground. Another possible purpose of the filler is to provide a secure attachment point for longitudinal body member 58. For example, body member 58 may be threaded at the end opposite tip 60, and screwed into apertures provided in both end cap 66 and the filler within the end cap. One or both of these apertures may be internally threaded in a complementary manner to the external threading of the body member, allowing the body member to be securely attached to the remainder of the base.
The provided filler, if any, may take the form of one or more substantially solid plugs constructed, for example, from nylon, plastic, rubber, or metal, and inserted into connector 64 and/or end caps 66, 68. Alternatively, the filler may take the form of granular material such as sand or gravel. In the latter case, longitudinal body member 58 may be attached to the remainder of base 12′ using hardware such as, for example, washers or nuts disposed within end cap 66 and securely attached to the end of member 58 opposite tip 60.
As illustrated in
It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Applicant reserves the right to submit claims directed to certain combinations and sub-combinations that are directed to one of the disclosed inventions and are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in various combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed in a related application. Such claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to any original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. An adjustable target for flying objects, comprising:
- a base for stabilizing the target;
- an elongate stand connected to the base and having an adjustable orientation; and
- a ring rotatably connected to the stand and configured to allow flying objects to pass through.
2. The adjustable target of claim 1, wherein the ring is configured to rotate around a rotation axis substantially coincident with a longitudinal axis of the stand.
3. The adjustable target of claim 1, wherein the base defines a base plane and is configured to rest on a substantially horizontal surface.
4. The adjustable target of claim 3, wherein the base and the stand are constructed from hollow plastic pipe sections, and wherein the base includes a rotatable T-shaped connector for receiving the stand and providing the adjustable orientation.
5. The adjustable target of claim 1, wherein the ring is formed from a section of substantially hollow tubing having first and second ends, and further comprising a plug disposed partially within the first end of the tubing and partially within the second end of the tubing and connecting the first and second ends.
6. The adjustable target of claim 5, wherein the plug includes a plurality of notches, and wherein each end of the tubing is crimped into one of the notches.
7. The adjustable target of claim 1, wherein the base includes a longitudinal body member having an implantable pointed tip, and a foot stomp disposed substantially orthogonal to the body member for assisting in implanting the tip.
8. The adjustable target of claim 7, wherein the body member is hollow, and a filler configured to increase the stability of the base when the tip is implanted is disposed within the body member.
9. The adjustable target of claim 8, wherein the filler is selected from the set of materials consisting of nylon, plastic, rubber, or metal.
10. The adjustable target of claim 1, wherein the stand includes an extension member configured to selectively increase the length of the stand.
11. An adjustable target for flying objects, comprising:
- a stabilizing base defining a base plane;
- an elongate stand having a first end rotatably connected to the base such that the stand has an adjustable orientation within a plane orthogonal to the base plane; and
- a ring constructed from flexible tubing bent into a substantially circular shape and having two ends joined together by a plug, the ring rotatably connected to a second end of the stand such that the ring may be rotated about a rotation axis substantially coincident with a longitudinal axis of the stand;
- wherein the base and the stand are formed from sections of substantially rigid cylindrical pipe.
12. The adjustable target of claim 11, wherein the sections of cylindrical pipe forming the base are joined together with T-shaped connectors.
13. The adjustable target of claim 11, wherein the stand is connected to the base with a T-shaped connector.
14. The adjustable target of claim 11, wherein the sections of cylindrical pipe are constructed from a polyvinylchloride material.
15. The adjustable target of claim 11, wherein the plug is substantially cylindrical and includes at least two notches, and wherein the ends of the ring are joined together by crimping each end of the ring into at least one of the notches.
16. The adjustable target of claim 11, wherein the second end of the stand includes an end cap, and wherein the ring is connected to the second end of the stand with a fastener extending through the plug and the end cap.
17. The adjustable target of claim 16, wherein the fastener extends exterior to the ends of the ring, and has a head configured to compress the ends of the ring against the plug.
18. A flying object target kit, comprising:
- a plurality of flying objects; and
- a plurality of adjustable targets for the flying objects, one or more of the adjustable targets including: a stabilizing base; an elongate stand connected to the base and having an adjustable orientation; and a ring rotatably connected to the stand and defining an aperture configured to allow passage of the flying objects.
19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the flying objects are flying discs.
20. The kit of claim 18, further including at least one extension member for longitudinally extending the elongate stand.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 8, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 8, 2007
Inventor: Randall Cottrell (Prineville, OR)
Application Number: 11/223,163
International Classification: A63B 63/00 (20060101);