FLOATING WASHERS GAME

Abstract

A floatable device for use in a body of water having an open-topped washer box with a cylindrical cup therein. A tether is attached to the washer box at one end and a weight at the other. A plurality of washers are also provided. The washer box has buoyant exterior walls. The buoyant exterior walls are adapted to keep a top of the washer box above a water line of the body of water. The cylindrical cup within the buoyant exterior walls is mounted to a floor of the washer box. The length of the tether is sufficient to allow the weight to contact a surface beneath the body of water.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to games. More specifically, the invention relates to a washers game playable in a swimming pool or body of water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the United States, swimming pools are very popular, particularly in the mid- to southern United States. Additionally, pools are quite popular throughout other temperate regions of the world. As a result, a large market exists for pool toys and games, and there appears to be no limit to people's desire for new and interesting games to play in a swimming pool.

Moreover, people also enjoy the game of washers. Although there are variations of the game of washers, one variation uses two open-topped square boxes generally about 12 inches by 12 inches and 3.5 inches deep. Inside the box, a cylinder, generally a coffee can or length of PVC pipe, having an inside diameter of about 4 inched is used and is mounted with its top near flush with the top of the box. Players separate the boxes so that the centers of the cylinders are 25 feet apart. Using a common washer, players take turns throwing three washers to attempt to get them in the box for 1 point or the cup for 3 points. Generally, two players throw at each cup and one player on a side is teamed with a player on the other side. When one team scores a point, the member of the other team throws at the same cup. The second players points are first used to deduct the other team's points before being scored for the second team. The first team to score 21 points wins the game. More on the game of washers and its variations can found at the website of the International Association of Washer Players, 2953 Donita Drive, Birmingham, Ala. 35243 and at http://www.washers.org.

Because people enjoy washers and also enjoy pool games and toys, there exists a need in the art for an apparatus for playing a variation of the game of washers in a pool or other body of water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a floatable device for use in a body of water comprising an open-topped washer box with a cylindrical cup therein. A tether is attached to the washer box at one end and a weight at the other. A plurality of washers are also provided. The washer box has buoyant exterior walls. The buoyant exterior walls are adapted to keep a top of the washer box above a water line of the body of water. The cylindrical cup within the buoyant exterior walls is mounted to a floor of the washer box. The length of the tether is sufficient to allow the weight to contact a surface beneath the body of water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washer box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a washer box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a washer box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a washer box according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a washer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The present invention comprises a washers game capable of play in a pool or other body of water. The game allows players to stand in the pool adjacent two floating washer boxes spaced apart by a distance. Inside the floating washer box is a cup. The players may then throw washers, either a floating or sinking type, at the opposite washer box to score points similar to a land-based washers game.

In that regard and referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a water-based washer box 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The washer box 10 comprises an outer wall 12 and a bottom floor 14. The outer wall 12 comprises a tube 16 that provides sufficient buoyancy for the washer box 10 to allow it to float on the surface of water. Preferably, more than a single tube 16 is provided, such as the pair of tubes 16 shown in FIGS. 1-4. The bottom floor 14 may comprises a single sheet of polymeric or foam material. The bottom floor 14 may be flexible, but may also comprise a rigid material such that washers landing in the washer box will have some bounce when rigid washers are also used.

The tubes 16 are preferably made from a floating foam material. Alternatively, the tubes 16 may be inflatable tubes made from polyvinyl ethylene. When the tubes 16 are inflatable, a rigid member 18 is used and inserted within the washer box 10 to maintain the square shape of the washer box 10.

Within the center of the washer box and mounted to the floor 14 is a cup 20. The cup 20 comprises a cylinder made from a buoyant foam or, alternatively, an inflatable cylinder.

Extending from the floor 14 is a tether 22 having a weight 24 attached to an end thereof. The tether 22 is attached or associated with the floor 14 such that the tether 22 and the washer box 10 are inseparable. The tether 22 is preferably of sufficient length to allow the weight to touch the floor beneath the body of water.

Washers 26 are also provided which preferably comprise disks having an open center 28. The washers 26 may either common washers made from a metal alloy, preferably a non-oxidating metal alloy, or buoyant washers made from a foam material.

The above examples show that the invention, as defined by the claims, has far ranging application and should not be limited merely to the embodiments shown and described in detail. Instead the invention should be limited only to the explicit words of the claims, and the claims should not be arbitrarily limited to embodiments shown in the specification. The scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims, and the Examiner should examine the claims on that basis.

Claims

1. A floatable device for use in a body of water comprising:

an open-topped washer box comprising buoyant exterior walls, the buoyant exterior walls adapted to keep a top of the washer box above a water line of the body of water;

a cylindrical cup within the buoyant exterior walls mounted to a floor of the washer box;

a tether associated with the washer box at one end and a weight attached to the tether at the other end, the length of the tether being sufficient to allow the weight to contact a surface beneath the body of water; and

a plurality of washers.

2. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the buoyant exterior walls comprises a buoyant foam material.

3. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the buoyant exterior walls comprises an inflatable tube.

4. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the buoyant exterior wall comprises a plurality of tubular walls stacked upon one another.

5. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the cup comprises a flexible material.

6. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the cup comprises a rigid material.

7. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the floor comprises a flexible sheet of material.

8. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the floor comprises a buoyant foam material.

9. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the floor comprises a rigid material.

10. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the floor comprises a buoyant foam material.

11. A floatable device for use in a body of water comprising:

an open-topped washer box comprising a buoyant washer box having exterior walls, the buoyant washer box adapted to keep a top of the washer box above a water line of the body of water;

a cylindrical cup within the buoyant washer box mounted to a rigid floor of the washer box;

a tether associated with the washer box at one end and a weight attached to the tether at the other end, the length of the tether being sufficient to allow the weight to contact a surface beneath the body of water; and

a plurality of washers.

12. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the exterior walls comprise a buoyant foam material.

13. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the exterior walls comprise an inflatable tube.

14. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the exterior walls comprises a plurality of buoyant walls stacked upon one another.

15. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the cup comprises a flexible material.

16. The floatable device of claim 1 wherein the cup comprises a rigid material.

17. A floatable device for use in a body of water comprising:

an open-topped washer box comprising a buoyant washer box having exterior walls, the buoyant washer box adapted to keep a top of the washer box above a water line of the body of water, the exterior walls comprising a pair of exterior walls stacked upon one another and comprising a buoyant foam material;

a rigid cylindrical cup within the buoyant washer box mounted to a rigid floor of the washer box;

a tether associated with the washer box at one end and a weight attached to the tether at the other end, the length of the tether being sufficient to allow the weight to contact a surface beneath the body of water; and

a plurality of washers.