Interactive and dynamic multi-target toss game

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for playing toss game. The toss games of the present invention only use projectiles as targets. A playing surface is divided into two areas: a standing area and a target area Players stand in said standing area and throw projectiles onto said target area. In some methods, the object is to be the first to gain enough points to win a game by targeting projectiles on the target area. The points are calculated according to a predetermined scoring method. In the other methods, the object is to be the first to complete a predetermined wining pattern by throwing projectiles to proper locations on the target area. The apparatus of the present invention consists of plurality of projectiles or consists of means for marking a standing area and plurality of projectiles. The toss games of the present invention are very dynamic and challenging yet easy to learn and fun to play.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/001,113, filed on Dec. 10, 2007 and published on Jul. 31, 2008 with Publication No. US-2008-0179834-A1, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/897,995, filed on Jan. 29, 2007 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/997,299, filed on Oct. 1, 2007.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to games; more particularly, the present invention relates to multi-target toss games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tossing games are well known and have been popular for many years. Basically, the games consist of a player tossing an item, such as a ring, a horse shoe or a bean bag, toward a fixed target and scoring points if the item encircles the target, hits the target or lands near the target. The popular toss games include ring toss game, Horseshoe, Corn Hole, Washer Toss game and Ladder Golf. There are also many patented toss games. All the existing toss games before the present invention have two things in common. They all include at least one projectile and at least one thing used for target. Ring toss game uses rings as projectiles and pegs as targets. Horseshoe uses horse shoes as projectiles and two stakes as targets. Washer Toss game uses washers as projectiles and two box shaped structures as targets. Corn Hole uses bean bags as projectiles and two target boards with a hole on each as targets. Ladder Golf uses bolas as projectiles and a ladder shaped stand with two or more horizontal bars as target. The targets are fixed without changing during playing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for playing toss games. The toss games do not use anything as a fixed target, and instead uses projectiles as targets. These toss games are perfect for playing on backyards, parks, beaches and indoor.

A playing surface is divided into two areas. One of these two areas is referred as a standing area and the other area is referred as target area. While playing, players stand on the standing area and throw projectiles onto the target area. Some playing methods use “touched pairs” to calculate points. A touched pair is two projectiles that touched each other. The other playing methods use “linked cluster” and patterns to determine winner. A linked cluster is a group of projectiles that are linked through touching.

In accordance with the present invention First method of playing toss game for at least two teams comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing two or more groups of projectiles, any projectile in any one of said groups looks different from any projectile in the other groups; each team obtains one group of projectiles,

(c) determining a playing order,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a projectile from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) scoring points according to a predetermined scoring method,

(g) taking back all the touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) determining whether current turn ends according to a predetermined condition of ending a turn, if current turn ends then passing the turn to the next player according to said playing order, otherwise the player on current turn keeps his turn,

(i) taking back a player's team's one or more projectiles from the target area according to a predetermined retrieving rule specifying how many projectiles may or must be taken back if this player is on his turn and all his team's projectiles are on the target area without touched pairs,

(j) repeating (e) through (i) until a predetermined condition of ending a game is satisfied, the winner or winners are the teams with the highest points.

In accordance with the present invention Second method of playing toss game for at least two teams comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing plurality of projectiles, all players share said projectiles,

(c) determining a playing order,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a projectile from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) scoring points according a predetermined scoring method,

(g) taking back all the touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) determining whether current turn ends according to a predetermined condition of ending a turn, if current turn ends then passing the turn to the next player according to said playing order, otherwise the player on current turn keeps his turn,

(i) taking back one or more projectiles from the target area according to a predetermined retrieving rule specifying how many projectiles may or must be taken back if all the projectiles are on the target area without touched pairs,

(j) repeating (e) through (i) until a predetermined condition of ending a game is satisfied, the winner or winners are the teams with the highest points.

In accordance with the present invention Third method of playing toss game for at least two teams comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing two or more groups of projectiles, any projectile in any one of said groups looks different from any projectile in the other groups; each team obtains one group of projectiles,

(c) determining a playing order,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a projectile from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) taking back all linked clusters each of which consists of different team's projectiles,

(g) determining whether current turn ends according to a predetermined condition of ending a turn, if current turn ends then passing the turn to the next player according to said playing order, otherwise the player on current turn keeps his turn,

(h) taking back a player's team's one or more projectiles from the target area according to a predetermined retrieving rule specifying how many projectiles may or must be taken back if this player is on his turn and all his team's projectiles are on the target area,

(i) repeating (e) through (h) until a team completes a predetermined wining pattern, the winner is the team who first completes a predetermined wining pattern.

Each of the methods described above may further provide means for marking the standing area.

In accordance with the present invention, First apparatus of toss game consists of plurality of projectiles. Whereby players can play toss game according to the Second method of playing toss game or other similar methods. The projectiles of this apparatus can be further divided into two or more groups. Any projectile in any one of said groups looks different from any projectile in the other groups. Whereby players can play toss game according to the First, Second or Third method of playing toss game or other similar methods.

In accordance with the present invention, Second apparatus of toss game consists of plurality of projectiles and means for marking a standing area Whereby players can play toss game according to the Second method of playing toss game or other similar methods. The projectiles of this apparatus can be further divided into two or more groups. Any projectile in any one of said groups looks different from any projectile in the other groups. Whereby players can play toss game according to the First, Second or Third method of playing toss game or other similar methods.

Advantages

After you read the above summary and the following “description” section, you can easily see that a big difference between my toss games and the other toss games is that my toss games do not include anything that serves as a fixed target from the beginning to the end of a game. Instead, my toss games use projectiles as targets. This difference make my toss games interactive and dynamic multi-target games, and leads to a lot of other differences, and gives my toss games a number of advantages.

(a) The toss game of present invention is very dynamic. The number of targets changes all the time. You may have up to N-1 targets if the game apparatus includes N projectiles. Sometimes, you don't have any target. During play, some existing targets are removed and new targets are added. New targets usually have different locations and different distances. The targets form different patterns while playing. The pattern changes all the time. Two or more targets often lie very closely. In this situation, the player on the turn often gets excited because he gets a chance to target two or more targets with a single throw. This feature makes this game more addictive than other toss games.

(b) The toss game of present invention is very interactive. For the First or Second method of playing toss game, if a player doesn't earn any point on his turn then he has already added one target, which may make the next player earn points easily or earn more points. For example, if a projectile just thrown are close to one or more other projectiles on the target area then next player gets a chance to target two or more projectiles with one throw. If the projectile just thrown is close to the standing area then it is easier for the next player to target it. If a player earns some points on his turn then he has already taken back some projectiles from the target area, which may make the next player harder to earn points or even impossible to earn points. For the Third method of playing toss game, a player tries to build his own wining pattern and at same time he has to destroy the wining pattern his opponent is building by targeting his opponent's projectiles on the target area. When the winning pattern his opponent is building has been destroyed his opponent must build it again, which takes more effort. His opponent can also destroy the winning pattern he is building. Each player's play directly impacts the next player's play. In one word, the games are very interactive.

(c) The toss game of present invention is a game of “freedom”. If there are no targets, you can freely throw your projectile in any direction and with any distance. But, choosing a proper throwing distance is a challenge. If you throw a projectile too far, it is harder to target it for winning points or building a wining pattern. If you throw a projectile too close to the standing area, your opponent can target it easily. If there are some targets there, you can freely choose your targets. Choosing targets is also a challenge. Right choice may make you win more, and wrong choice may make you lose more.

(d) The toss game of present invention is very convenient toss game. You don't need to set up any target. You don't need to measure the distance between a target and a foul line. You can complete the game set up within just two seconds Oust determining a standing area or dropping a marking object on a playing surface to mark a standing area). The game rules are very simple.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Not applicable.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for playing toss games. The toss games do not use anything as a fixed target, and instead uses projectiles as targets. These toss games are perfect for playing on backyards, parks, beaches and indoor.

A playing surface is divided into two areas. One of these two areas is referred as a standing area and the other area is referred as target area. While playing, players stand on the standing area and throw projectiles onto the target area. Some playing methods use “touched pairs” to calculate points. A touched pair is two projectiles that touched each other. The other playing methods use “linked cluster” and patterns to determine winner. A linked cluster is a group of projectiles that are linked through touching. In another word, a group of projectiles are called a linked cluster if for any pair of projectiles A and Z in this group, A links Z in this way: A touches Z, or A touches projectile B and B touches Z, or A touches projectile B and B touches projectile C and C touches Z, etc., where B, C, etc are also in this group. A touched pair is also a linked cluster. If four tossing rings A, B, C and D lie on a playing surface like this: A touches B, C and D then these four rings form a linked cluster; if A touches B, B touches C and C touches D then they also form a linked cluster.

EMBODIMENTS

The present invention has unlimited number of embodiments. The following are just some preferred embodiments.

In section “summary of the invention”, First and Second methods need a predetermined scoring method, a predetermined condition of ending a turn, a predetermined retrieving rule, and a predetermined condition of ending a game. Third method needs a predetermined condition of ending a turn, a predetermined retrieving rule, and a predetermined wining pattern. The following are only some of them.

First scoring method: (1) determining the number of touched pairs on a target area; one projectile can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other projectiles; for example, if first projectile touches second projectile and third projectile, and second projectile and third projectile don't touch each other then they are counted as two touched pairs (first projectile is used two times), (2) a touched pair is given one point if two projectiles of this touched pair belong to different teams; a touched pair is given two points if two projectiles of this touched pair belong to the same team, (3) adding the points of all the touched pairs.

Second scoring method: this scoring method is the First scoring method plus one more rule: if the first throw of a turn results only one touched pair consisting of two projectiles belonging to different teams then no points are given.

Third scoring method: (1) determining the number of touched pairs in the same way as the First scoring method, (2) if there are N touched pairs in the target area then the points is N times 2 minus 1.

Fourth scoring method: this scoring method is the Third scoring method plus one more rule: if the first throw of a turn results only one touched pair then no points are given.

Fifth scoring method: (1) determining the number of touched pairs in the same way as the First scoring method, (2) one touched pair counts as one point, but if the first throw of a turn results only one touched pair then no points are given.

Sixth scoring method: if the projectile thrown by a player when he is on his turn touches or intersects N other projectiles on a target area then he gain N points.

First condition of ending a turn: a turn ends after one throw.

Second condition of ending a turn: a turn ends only if a throw results no touched pairs.

Third condition of ending a turn: If a throw results at least one touched pair consisting of projectiles belonging to different teams then the player on the current turn continues to play, otherwise the current turn ends.

First retrieving rule: taking back a player's team's all projectiles from the target area.

Second retrieving rule: taking back all the projectiles from the target area.

Third retrieving rule: a player takes back all his team's isolated projectiles from the target area. An isolated projectile is one that doesn't touch any other projectiles.

First condition of ending a game: a team's points reach or exceed predetermined score value such as 21 points.

Second condition of ending a game: a team's all projectiles have been thrown onto the target area without touched pairs.

Third condition of ending a game: all projectiles have been thrown onto the target area without touched pairs.

Fourth condition of ending a game: playing time reaches a predetermined time limit such as 30 minutes.

Fifth condition of ending a game: a team's points reach or exceed predetermined score value and are at least two more points higher than any other team's points.

One may use the combinations of First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth conditions of ending a game to specify other conditions of ending a game. The following are only some of them.

Sixth condition of ending a game: playing time reaches a predetermined time limit or a team's points reach or exceed predetermined score value.

Seventh condition of ending a game: a team's points reach or exceed predetermined score value or all projectiles have been thrown onto the target area without touched pairs.

Eighth condition of ending a game: a team's points reach or exceed predetermined score value or a team's all projectiles have been thrown onto the target area without touched pairs.

First winning pattern of a team: a linked cluster of a team's four projectiles.

Second winning pattern of a team: a linked cluster of a team's five projectiles.

Third winning pattern of a team: a linked cluster of two projectiles and a linked cluster of three projectiles, where the projectiles form these two linked clusters belong to a same team.

In section “summary of the invention”, if each team in First method of playing toss game has only one player, the projectiles are rings, the scoring method is First scoring method, the condition of ending a turn is First condition of ending a turn, and the retrieving rule is First retrieving rule, the condition of ending a game is First condition of ending a game, then I have the following embodiment.

First way of playing toss game for at least two players comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing two or more groups of rings, all rings in any one of said groups have the same color and different groups have different colors, each player obtains one group of rings,

(c) determining a playing order by drawing lots or tossing a coin or other methods,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a ring from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) scoring points if at least two rings on the target area touch each other, (1) determining the number of touched pairs; one ring can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other rings; for example, if first ring touches second ring and third ring, and second ring and third ring don't touch each other then they are counted as two touched pairs (first ring is used two times), (2) a touched pair is given one point if two rings of this touched pair have different colors; a touched pair is given two points if two rings of this touched pair have the same color, (3) adding the points of all the touched pairs,

(g) taking back all the touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) passing the turn to the next player according to said playing order,

(i) taking back a player's all rings from the target area if this player is on his turn and all his rings are on the target area without touched pairs,

(j) repeating (e) through (i) until a player reaches or exceeds 21 points, the winner is the player who first reaches or exceeds 21 points.

In section “summary of the invention”, if each team in First method of playing toss game has only one player, the projectiles are rings, the scoring method is Second scoring method, the condition of ending a turn is Second condition of ending a turn, and the retrieving rule is First retrieving rule, the condition of ending a game is First condition of ending a game, then I have the following embodiment.

Second way of playing toss game for at least two players comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing two or more groups of rings, all rings in any one of said groups have the same color and different groups have different colors, each player obtains one group of rings,

(c) determining a playing order by drawing lots or tossing a coin or other methods,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a ring from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) scoring points if at least two rings on the target area touch each other, (1) determining the number of touched pairs; one ring can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other rings; for example, if first ring touches second ring and third ring, and second ring and third ring don't touch each other then they are counted as two touched pairs (first ring is used two times), (2) a touched pair is given one point if two rings of this touched pair have different colors; a touched pair is given two points if two rings of this touched pair have the same color; but if the first throw of a turn results only one touched pair with different colors then no points are given, (3) adding the points of all the touched pairs,

(g) taking back all the touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) if the throw just performed by the player on current turn results at least one touched pair on the target area then this player keeps his turn, otherwise passes the turn to the next player according to said playing order,

(i) if a player is on his turn and all his rings is lying on the target area without touched pairs then take all his rings back,

(j) repeating (e) through (i) until a player reaches or exceeds 21 points, the winner is the player who first reaches or exceeds 21 points.

In section “summary of the invention”, if each team in First method of playing toss game has only one player, the projectiles are rings, the scoring method is First scoring method, and the condition of ending a turn is First condition of ending a turn, the condition of ending a game is Eighth condition of ending a game, then I have the following embodiment.

Third way of playing toss game for at least two players comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing two or more groups of rings, all rings in any one of said groups have the same color and different groups have different colors, each player obtains one group of rings,

(c) determining a playing order by drawing lots or tossing a coin or other methods,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a ring from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) scoring points if at least two rings on the target area touch each other, (1) determining the number of touched pairs; one ring can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other rings; for example, if first ring touches second ring and third ring, and second ring and third ring don't touch each other then they are counted as two touched pairs (first ring is used two times), (2) a touched pair is given one point if two rings of this touched pair have different colors; a touched pair is given two points if two rings of this touched pair have the same color, (3) adding the points of all the touched pairs,

(g) taking back all the touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) passing the turn to the next player according to said playing order,

(i) repeating (e) through (h) until a player reaches or exceeds 21 points or the player on current turn has thrown all his rings onto the target area without touched pairs, the winner or winners are the players who have the highest points.

In section “summary of the invention”, if each team in First method of playing toss game has only one player, the projectiles are rings, the scoring method is Second scoring method, and the condition of ending a turn is Second condition of ending a turn, the condition of ending a game is Eighth condition of ending a game, then I have the following embodiment.

Fourth way of playing toss game for at least two players comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing two or more groups of rings, all rings in any one of said groups have the same color and different groups have different colors, each player obtains one group of rings,

(c) determining a playing order by drawing lots or tossing a coin or other methods,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a ring from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) scoring points if at least two rings on the target area touch each other, (1) determining the number of touched pairs; one ring can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other rings; for example, if first ring touches second ring and third ring, and second ring and third ring don't touch each other then they are counted as two touched pairs (first ring is used two times), (2) a touched pair is given one point if two rings of this touched pair have different colors; a touched pair is given two points if two rings of this touched pair have the same color; but if the first throw of a turn results only one touched pair having different colors then no points are given, (3) adding the points of all the touched pairs,

(g) taking back all the touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) if the throw just performed by the player on current turn results at least one touched pair on the target area then this player keeps his turn, otherwise passes the turn to the next player according to said playing order,

(i) repeating (e) through (h) until a player reaches or exceeds 21 points or the player on current turn has thrown all his rings onto the target area without touched pairs, the winner or winners are the players who have the highest points.

Note that the scoring method in First, Second, Third or Fourth way of playing toss game can be replaced with Third scoring method.

In section “summary of the invention”, if each team in Second method of playing toss game has only one player, the projectiles are rings, the scoring method is Third scoring method, the condition of ending a turn is First condition of ending a turn, the retrieving rule is Second retrieving rule, and the condition of ending a game is First condition of ending a game, then I have the following embodiment.

Fifth way of playing toss game for at least two players comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing plurality of rings, all players share said rings,

(c) determining a playing order by drawing lots or tossing a coin or other methods,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a ring from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) scoring points if at least two ring on the target area touch each other, (1) determining the number of touched pairs; one ring can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other rings; for example, if first ring touches second ring and third ring, and second ring and third ring don't touch each other then they are counted as two touched pairs (first ring is used two times), (2) using formula: the number of touched pairs times 2 minus 1 to calculate points,

(g) taking all the touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) passing the turn to the next player according to said playing order,

(i) taking back all the rings from the target area if all the rings are on the target area without touched pairs,

(j) repeating (e) through (i) until a player reaches or exceeds 21 points, the winner is the player who first reaches or exceeds 21 points.

In section “summary of the invention”, if each team in Second method of playing toss game has only one player, the projectiles are rings, the scoring method is Fourth scoring method, the condition of ending a turn is Second condition of ending a turn, the retrieving rule is Second retrieving rule, and the condition of ending a game is First condition of ending a game, then I have the following embodiment.

Sixth way of playing toss game for at least two players comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing plurality of rings, all players share said rings,

(c) determining a playing order by drawing lots or tossing a coin or other methods,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a ring from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) scoring points if at least two ring on the target area touch each other, (1) determining the number of touched pairs; one ring can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other rings; for example, if first ring touches second ring and third ring, and second ring and third ring don't touch each other then they are counted as two touched pairs (first ring is used two times), (2) using formula: the number of touched pairs times 2 minus 1 to calculate points, but if the first throw of a turn results only one touched pair then no points are given.

(g) taking all the touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) if the throw just performed by the player on current turn results at least one touched pair on the target area then this player keeps his turn, otherwise passes the turn to the next player according to said playing order,

(i) taking back all the rings from the target area if all the rings are on the target area without touched pairs,

(j) repeating (e) through (i) until a player reaches or exceeds 21 points, the winner is the player who first reaches or exceeds 21 points.

In section “summary of the invention”, if each team in Second method of playing toss game has only one player, the projectiles are rings, the scoring method is Third scoring method, the condition of ending a turn is First condition of ending a turn, and the condition of ending a game is Seventh condition of ending a game, then I have the following embodiment.

Seventh way of playing toss game for at least two players comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing plurality of rings, all players share said rings,

(c) determining a playing order by drawing lots or tossing a coin or other methods,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a ring from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) scoring points if at least two ring on the target area touch each other, (1) determining the number of touched pairs; one ring can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other rings; for example, if first ring touches second ring and third ring, and second ring and third ring don't touch each other then they are counted as two touched pairs (first ring is used two times), (2) using formula: the number of touched pairs times 2 minus 1 to calculate points,

(g) taking back all the touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) passing the turn to the next player according to said playing order,

(i) repeating (e) through (h) until a player reaches or exceeds 21 points or all the rings are on the target area without touched pairs, the winner or winners are the players with the highest points.

In section “summary of the invention”, if each team in Second method of playing toss game has only one player, the projectiles are rings, the scoring method is Fourth scoring method, the condition of ending a turn is Second condition of ending a turn, and the condition of ending a game is Seventh condition of ending a game, then I have the following embodiment.

Eighth way of playing toss game for at least two players comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing plurality of rings, all players share said rings,

(c) determining a playing order by drawing lots or tossing a coin or other methods,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a ring from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) scoring points if at least two ring on the target area touch each other, (1) determining the number of touched pairs; one ring can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other rings; for example, if first ring touches second ring and third ring, and second ring and third ring don't touch each other then they are counted as two touched pairs (first ring is used two times), (2) using formula: the number of touched pairs times 2 minus 1 to calculate points, but if the first throw results only one touched pair then no points are given.

(g) taking back all the touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) if the throw just performed by the player on current turn results at least one touched pair on the target area then this player keeps his turn, otherwise passes the turn to the next player according to said playing order,

(i) repeating (e) through (h) until a player reaches or exceeds 21 points or all the rings are on the target area without touched pairs, the winner or winners are the players with the highest points.

In section “summary of the invention”, if each team in Second method of playing toss game has only one player, the projectiles are rings, the scoring method is Fifth scoring method, the condition of ending a turn is Second condition of ending a turn, the retrieving rule is Second retrieving rule, and the condition of ending a game is First condition of ending a game, then I have the following embodiment.

Ninth way of playing toss game for at least two players comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing plurality of rings, all players share said rings,

(c) determining a playing order by drawing lots or tossing a coin or other methods,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a ring from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) scoring points if at least two ring on the target area touch each other, (1) determining the number of touched pairs; one ring can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other rings; for example, if first ring touches second ring and third ring, and second ring and third ring don't touch each other then they are counted as two touched pairs (first ring is used two times), (2) one touched pair counts as one point, but if the first throw of a turn results only one touched pair then no points are given,

(g) taking all the touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) if the throw just performed by the player on current turn results at least one touched pair on the target area then this player keeps his turn, otherwise passes the turn to the next player according to said playing order,

(i) taking back all the rings from the target area if all the rings are on the target area without touched pairs,

(j) repeating (e) through (i) until a player reaches or exceeds 7 points, the winner is the player who first reaches or exceeds 7 points.

In section “summary of the invention”, if each team in Third method of playing toss has only one player, the projectiles are rings, the condition of ending a turn is First condition of ending a turn, and the retrieving rule is Third retrieving rule, and the winning pattern is First, Second or Third winning pattern, then I have the following embodiment.

Tenth way of playing toss game for at least two players comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing two or more groups of rings, each of said groups contains 5 rings; all rings in the same group have the same color and rings in different groups have different colors; each player obtains one group of rings,

(c) determining a playing order,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a ring from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) taking back all linked clusters each of which contains rings with different colors,

(g) passing the turn to the next player,

(h) a player on his turn takes back all his isolated rings from the target area before his throw if all his rings are on the target area,

(i) repeating (e) through (h) until a player completes his winning pattern, which is one of the following: (1) a linked cluster of four his rings, (2) a linked cluster of five his rings, (3) a linked cluster of two his rings and a linked cluster of three his rings. The winner is the player who first completes his wining pattern.

For this game, a player tries to build his winning pattern by throwing rings onto proper locations, and at the same time Step (f) allows him to “destroy” the winning pattern his opponent is building by throwing rings to target his opponent's linked clusters. His opponent can also destroy the winning pattern he is building. They “fight” each other while playing. This game is a very interesting and challenging.

Combining the Tenth way of playing toss game and the First, Second, Third or Fourth way of playing toss game, you may have many other different ways to play toss game. The following is one of them.

Eleventh way of playing toss game for two players comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing two groups of rings, each of said groups contains 5 rings; all rings in the same group have the same color and rings in different groups have different colors; each player obtains one group of rings,

(c) determining a playing order,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a ring from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) Scoring points in this way: a linked cluster of three rings with the same color is counted as one point, a linked cluster of four rings with the same color is counted as two points, and a linked cluster of five rings with the same color is counted as three points,

(g) taking back the linked clusters each of which contains rings with different colors, and the linked clusters each of which has at least three rings.

(h) passing the turn to the next player,

(i) a player on his turn takes back all his isolated rings from the target area if all his rings are on the target area,

(j) repeating (e) through (i) until a player's points reach or exceeds 5. The winner is the player with higher points.

In each of the ways of playing toss game described above, the rings taken back from the target area can be thrown again.

Each of the ways of playing toss game described above may further provide means for marking the standing area. Said means can be a large enough ring that allows any normal person to put at least one of his feet inside said large enough ring when this large enough ring lies on the playing surface. A player puts one of his feet inside the large enough ring before throwing projectiles. The means can be a mat. A player puts one of his feet on said mat before throwing projectiles. The means can be a line. Players stand on one side of this line and throw projectiles onto the other side. The means can be natural things such as the edge of a lawn. Players stand outside of the lawn and throw projectiles onto the lawn. The means can be anything else, which can mark the standing area.

Each of the ways of playing toss game described above can apply to teams. For example, there are two teams and each team has two players. Suppose team A has players A1 and A2, and team B has players B2 and B2. They can play in this order: A1, B1, A2, B2, A1, B1, A2, B2, A1, and so on without changing other rules.

In section “summary of the invention”, if the projectiles of First apparatus of toss game and Second apparatus of toss game are rings and the means is a mat then I have the following embodiments.

An apparatus of toss game consists of plurality of rings. Whereby players can play toss game according to Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth or Ninth way of playing toss game or other similar ways. Said rings can be further divided into two or more groups, the rings in the same group have the same color and different groups have different colors. Whereby players can play toss game according to First, Second, Third, Fourth, Tenth or Eleventh way of playing toss game or other similar ways.

An apparatus of toss game consists of plurality of rings and a mat, a player puts at least one of his feet on said mat before throwing a ring. Whereby players can play toss game according to Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth or Ninth way of playing toss game or other similar ways. Said rings can be further divided into two or more groups, the rings in the same group have the same color and different groups have different colors. Whereby players can play toss game according to First, Second, Third, Fourth, Tenth or Eleventh way of playing toss game or other similar ways.

Ramification and Scope

The description above should not be treated as limiting the scope of the present invention but as merely providing illustrations of some preferred embodiments of the present invention. The rings described above can be replaced with other projectiles such as discs, triangles, or other objects that can be used as projectiles. The colors are used to distinguish the rings used by different players. The rings can also be distinguished in other ways such as patterns on the rings. For First, Second, Third, Fourth, Tenth or Eleventh way of playing toss game, if the rings are replaced with other projectiles then any projectile in any one of the groups should look different from the projectiles in the other groups. Each of the scoring methods described above can be replaced with any scoring method that makes sense. For First, Second, Fifth, Sixth or Ninth way of playing toss game, it is not necessary to take back all the player's projectiles or all the projectiles from a target area if all the player's projectiles or all the projectiles are on the target area without touched pairs, and a rule can be defined to specify how many projectiles may or must be taken back. A condition of ending a game can be anything that makes sense. The general description of the present invention is given in section “summary of the invention” and in the following claims.

Claims

1. A method of playing toss game for at least two teams comprising, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing plurality of groups of projectiles, any projectile in any one of said groups looks different from any projectile in the other groups; each team obtains one group of the projectiles,

(c) determining a playing order,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area,

(e) throwing a projectile from said standing area onto the target area that is the area of the playing surface excluding the standing area,

(f) scoring points according to a predetermined scoring method,

(g) taking back all touched pairs from the target area,

(h) determining whether current turn ends according to a predetermined condition of ending a turn, if current turn ends then passing the turn to the next player according to said playing order, otherwise the player on current turn keeps his turn,

(i) taking back a player's team's projectiles from the target area according to a predetermined retrieving rule specifying how many projectiles may or must be taken back if this player is on his turn and all his team's projectiles are on the target area without touched pairs,

(j) repeating (e) through (i) until a predetermined condition of ending a game is satisfied, the winner or winners are the teams with the highest points.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said teams has only one player, and each of the groups contains at least two projectiles, and said scoring method includes (1) determining the number of touched pairs; one projectile can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other projectiles, (2) a touched pair is given one point if the two projectiles of said touched pair are from different groups; a touched pair is given two points if the two projectiles of said touched pair are from the same group; but if the first throw of a turn results only one touched pair consisting of projectiles from different groups then no points are given, (3) adding the points of all the touched pairs, and said condition of ending a turn is that current turn ends only if a throw results no touched pairs, and said retrieving rule is that a player takes back all his projectiles from the target area, and said condition of ending a game is that a player's points reach or exceed 21, and all the projectiles are rings; all the rings in the same group have the same color; the rings from different groups have different colors.

3. The method of claim 1, further providing marking means for marking the standing area.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said marking means is a mat, a player puts at least one of his feet on said mat before throwing a projectile.

5. A method of playing toss game for at least two teams comprising, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing plurality of projectiles, all players share said projectiles,

(c) determining a playing order,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area,

(e) throwing a projectile from said standing area onto the target area that is the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area,

(f) scoring points according to a predetermined scoring method,

(g) taking back all touched pairs from the target area if any,

(h) determining whether current turn ends according to a predetermined condition of ending a turn, if current turn ends then passing the turn to the next player according to said playing order, otherwise the player on current turn keeps his turn,

(i) taking back projectiles from the target area according to a predetermined retrieving rule specifying how many projectiles may or must be taken back if all the projectiles are on the target area without touched pairs,

(j) repeating (e) through (i) until a predetermined condition of ending a game is satisfied, the winner or winners are the teams with the highest points.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of said teams has only one player, and said scoring method includes (1) determining the number of touched pairs; one projectile can be used N times for counting the number of touched pairs if it touches N other projectiles, (2) the number of points equals the number of the touched pairs, but if the first throw of a turn results only one touched pair then no points are given, and said condition of ending a turn is that current turn ends only if a throw results no touched pairs, and said retrieving rule is that all projectiles must be taken back and said condition of ending a game is that a player's points reach or exceed 7, and all the projectiles are rings.

7. The method of claim 5, further providing marking means for marking the standing area.

8. The method of claim 7, said marking means is a mat, a player puts at least one of his feet on said mat before throwing a projectile.

9. A method of playing toss game for at least two teams comprises, but not necessarily in the order shown below:

(a) choosing a playing surface,

(b) providing plurality of groups of projectiles, any projectile in any one of said groups looks different from any projectile in the other groups; each team obtains one group of projectiles,

(c) determining a playing order,

(d) determining an area on said playing surface as standing area, the area of the playing surface excluding said standing area is target area,

(e) throwing a projectile from the standing area onto said target area,

(f) taking back all linked clusters each of which contains different team's projectiles,

(g) determining whether current turn ends according to a predetermined condition of ending a turn, if current turn ends then passing the turn to the next player according to said playing order, otherwise the player on current turn keeps his turn,

(h) taking back a player's team's one or more projectiles from the target area according to a predetermined retrieving rule specifying how many projectiles may or must be taken back if this player is on his turn and all his team's projectiles are on the target area,

(i) repeating (e) through (h) until a team completes a predetermined wining pattern, the winner is the team who first completes a predetermined wining pattern.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each of said teams has only one player, and each of the groups contains 5 projectiles, and said condition of ending a turn is that a turn ends after one throw, and said retrieving rule is that a player takes back all his isolated projectiles from the target area, and said winning pattern is one of the following (1) a linked cluster of four projectiles, (2) a linked cluster of five projectiles, (3) a linked cluster of two projectiles and a linked cluster of three projectiles, but for a player, his wining pattern consists of only his projectiles, and all the projectiles are rings, all the rings in the same group have the same color; the rings from different groups have different colors.

11. The method of claim 9, further providing marking means for marking the standing area.

12. The method of claim 11, said marking means is a mat, a player puts at least one of his feet on said mat before throwing a projectile.

13. An apparatus of toss game consists of plurality of projectiles. Whereby players can play toss game according to the method of claim 5 or 6, or other similar methods.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein all projectiles are rings.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said projectiles are further divided into plurality of groups, any projectile in any one of said groups looks different from any projectile in the other groups. Whereby players can play toss game according to the method of claim 1, 2, 9 or 10, or other similar methods.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein all projectiles are rings, the rings in the same group have the same color; the rings from different groups have different colors.

17. An apparatus of toss game consists of plurality of projectiles and means for marking a area where players stand and throw projectiles. Whereby players can play toss game according to the method of claim 7 or 8, or other similar methods.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein all projectiles are rings and said means is a mat, a player puts at least one of his feet on said mat before throwing a projectile.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said projectiles are further divided into plurality of groups, any projectile in any one of said groups looks different from any projectile in the other groups. Whereby players can play toss game according to the method of claim 3, 4, 11, or 12 or other similar methods.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein all projectiles are rings, the rings in the same group have the same color, the rings from different groups have different colors, and said means is a mat, a player puts at least one of his feet on said mat before throwing a projectile.