Recreational amusement
A recreational amusement takes the form a cooler having a toss-type game board integrated with the cooler's lid. The toss-type game board includes one or more cavities in the top of the lid. Provision is made for orienting the top of the lid in a sloping position for play of the game enabled by the game board. The cooler retains all conventional features of a beverage type cooler.
The 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 OF THE INVENTIONFew 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 lease 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.
SUMMARY OF TH E INVENTIONIn accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention—a recreational amtisement—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.
Finally, 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
Regardless of implementation for the sloping aspect of the game board 28, the one or more cavities 29 are disposed in and 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
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 claims drawn thereto. 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. In any case, because the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, the foregoing detailed description should not be construed as a limitation of the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A recreational amusement, said recreational amusement comprising:
- a cooler, said cooler comprising a box and lid, said lid having a top surface; and
- a game board formed in the top surface of said lid.
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 1, wherein said top surface of said lid comprises sloping horizontal profile when positioned in place on said box.
5. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 4, wherein said game board comprises a cavity formed in said lid.
6. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 4, wherein said game board comprises a plurality of cavities formed in said lid.
7. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 5, wherein:
- said box comprises a top edge; and
- said top edge of said box comprises a sloping profile.
8. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 5, wherein:
- said box comprises a top edge, said top edge of said box comprising a horizontal profile; and
- said lid comprises a bottom surface, said bottom surface comprising a sloping edge profile.
9. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 5, wherein said top surface of said lid is provided with appliqué for play of a game.
10. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 9, wherein said appliqué comprises luminescent material.
11. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 5, wherein said top surface of said lid is provided with mounting holes for removably affixing an attachment to said lid.
12. The recreation amusement as recited in claim 11, said recreational amusement further comprising an attachment for play of a game.
13. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 12, wherein said attachment comprises a backboard.
14. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 13, wherein said backboard comprises a ring affixed thereto.
15. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 14, wherein said backboard further comprises a net affixed to said ring.
16. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 5, said recreational amusement further comprising a covering for said cavity.
17. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 16, wherein said covering comprises a plug for insertion into said cavity.
18. The recreational amusement as recited in claim 16, wherein said covering comprises a peg affixed thereto.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 23, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 26, 2009
Inventors: Kevin Edward Manner (Boerne, TX), Brooks Christopher Bennett (Baltimore, MD)
Application Number: 11/895,282
International Classification: F25D 3/08 (20060101); A63B 67/00 (20060101);