PROJECTILE AND TARGET GAME

Abstract

A game of skill is disclosed where two teams of one or more players take turns trying to bounce disc-shaped projectiles through an opening in the top wall of the opposing side's generally wedge-shaped target. Points are scored when a projectile lands on the top wall of the target or goes through the opening in the top wall and lands within the target.

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/288,265 filed Dec. 18, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to games of skill, in particular games involving hitting targets with projectiles launched by hand where the object of the game is land the projectile on the target or in an opening in the target.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A game of skill is disclosed where two teams of one or more players take turns trying to bounce disc-shaped projectiles through an opening in the top wall of the opposing side's generally wedge-shaped target. These wedge-shaped targets have a rectangular base and have either a triangular or rhomboid cross-section, as determined by the inclusion or omission of a front wall along the front short edge of the rectangular base. The top wall is inclined and runs from a back wall rising from one of the short edges of the rectangular base to either a shorter front wall or directly to the short front edge of the rectangular base.

These wedge-shaped targets include an aperture that is preferably circular in the top wall where the aperture is wider than the disc-shaped projectiles. The wedge shaped targets may be hollow with walls defined by every surface of the target or may have an opening defined by the rectangular base or rear wall.

The game of skill is preferably sold as a kit comprising 2 targets and 8 or more projectiles and is particularly well-adapted for tabletop play as two sides of one or more players take turns trying to bounce disc-shaped projectiles through an opening in the top wall of the opposing side's target. Points are scored when a projectile lands on the top wall of the target or goes through the opening in the top wall and lands within the target.

The projectiles and or the top wall may have surface treatments to likelihood that a projectile will “stick” to the top wall of the target and not bounce off.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the game target;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the game target;

FIG. 3 is a bottom offset view of an embodiment of the game target;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the game target;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the disc-shaped projectiles used in the game; and

FIG. 6 is an elevated offset view of a preferred embodiment of the game target.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the game of skill disclosed by this application, each side has at least one projectile 10 and one target 100. Preferably each side has more than one projectile 10. In the preferred embodiment the game is played between two sides each having one target 100 and four projectiles 10.

Turning first to FIG. 5, each projectile 10 is preferably disc-shaped and may be made of plastic, wood, metal or any suitable material. The two surfaces 20 of projectile 10 may either be smooth or may have surface treatments such as gnurling, dimpling, or the like. In the preferred embodiment, the projectiles are made from plastic. These surface treatments could also include addition of another material designed to increase the “grip” of the projectile such as rubber or similar materials.

As shown in a first embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 3, target 100 is generally wedge-shaped and has a top wall 110 and two side walls 120. Target 100 also has a base wall 130 and back wall 140. Base wall 130 rests on the table surface. The borders of top wall 110 are defined by front edge 170, back edge 180, and left side edge 190 and right side edge 195. Top wall 110 has an aperture 150 that is preferably equidistant between left side edge 190 and right side edge 195 and set closer to back edge 180 than front edge 170. Aperture 150 is wider than the diameter of projectile 10 and provides access to a space within the target defined by base wall 130, back wall 140, side walls 120 and top wall 110.

The target may have either a triangular or rhomboid cross-section as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, target 200 is defined by top wall 210, side walls 220, base wall 230, back wall 240 and front wall 260. The height of the front wall 260, as measured by the distance between base wall 230 and top wall 210 along front wall 260, is considerably shorter than the height of the back wall 240, as measured by the distance between base wall 230 and top wall 210 along back wall 240. As a result of this height differential, top wall 210 slopes downward back wall 240 to front wall 260.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the front wall is omitted entirely and top wall 110 slopes downward at an angle from the top of back wall 140 until it connects to the base wall 130 at front edge 170.

Top wall 110 or 210 may be smooth or alternatively may be textured to prevent projectiles from bouncing off top wall 110 or 210 during game play. Target 100 or 200 is preferably molded from plastic, although it can be made of any suitable material. Target 100 or 200 could also be made with an open wall, that is back wall 140 or 240 or bottom wall 130 or 230 could be omitted entirely.

As showing in FIGS. 4 and 5, aperture 150 or 250 is circular and is larger than the diameter of projectile 10. Preferably, the diameter of aperture 150 or 250 is at least 20% greater than the diameter of projectile 10.

Preferably the center of aperture 150 or 250 is located approximately one-third of the distance between top edge 180 and bottom edge 170.

In the preferred embodiment, the game is played by two sides each having one target 200 and four projectiles 10. A side may have one or more players.

In the preferred embodiment, a projectile 10 is bounced or flipped off of the table surface a predetermined distance away from front wall 260 of the target 200. Alternatively, projectile 10 could be lobbed from a predetermined distance away from target 100 or 200.

In the preferred embodiment, each side take turns bouncing a projectile 10 towards its opponent's target 200. The objective of the game is to bounce the projectile off of the table surface (not shown) from a predetermined distance away so that it travels through the aperture 250 and lands within target 200. Points are also scored when a projectile comes to rest on the top wall 210 of the other team's target 200. In the preferred embodiment, projectile 10 must be bounced off of a surface at least 5 inches away from front wall 260.

One point is awarded when a projectile 10 comes to rest on the top wall 110 or 210 of the opposing side's target. Three points are awarded when a side successfully bouncing a projectile 10 through the aperture 150 or 250 so that the projectile lands within target 100 or 200.

At the conclusion of each round of four projectile throws for each side, the points are tallied and then offset such that only one side scores points and the other side scores zero. For example, if the first side scores six points and the second side scores four points, the first side would receive two points total. The object of the game is to be the first side to score 21 points.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the top wall 210 is approximately 7 inches long from the back wall 240 to front wall 260 and the lateral distance across top wall 210 (the distance between side walls 220) is 3½ inches. In the preferred embodiment, aperture 250 is approximately 1¼ inches in diameter and is centered equidistantly between side walls 220 and the top edge of aperture 250 is located approximately 1½ inches from the intersection of top wall 210 and back wall 240. In the preferred embodiment, back wall 240 is approximately 1¾ inches in height from base wall 230, front wall 260 is approximately ¼ inch in height from base wall 230, and projectile 10 is approximately 1 inch in diameter. In the preferred embodiment, the game is sold in a kit comprising 2 targets 200 and 8 projectiles 10.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be subject to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A game kit for a projectile and target game comprising at least one generally wedge-shaped target, said target having a rectangular base and an aperture in an inclined top wall defined by parallel long edges of the generally wedge-shaped targets' sides and at least one generally disc-shaped projectile whose diameter is smaller than the aperture in the inclined top wall.

2. The game kit of claim 1 where the target has a back wall and a front wall rising perpendicularly from the short edges of the rectangular base, the back wall being taller than the front wall, the top wall running at an downward incline from the back wall to the front wall, and having side walls with a rhomboid appearance defined by the rectangular base, top wall, front wall and back wall.

3. The game kit of claim 1 where the target has a back wall rising from one short edge of the rectangular base, the top wall running at an downward incline from the back wall to the other edge of the rectangular base, and having side walls with a triangular appearance defined by the rectangular base, top wall, and back wall.

4. The game kit of claim 2 where the aperture is circular in shape.

5. The game kit of claim 3 where the aperture is circular in shape.

6. The game kit of claim 4 where the rectangular base defines a bottom wall.

7. The game kit of claim 5 where the rectangular base defines a bottom wall.

8. The game kit of claim 2 where at least one of the projectile or target top wall has a surface treatment.

9. The game kit of claim 3 where at least one of the projectile or target top wall has a surface treatment.

10. The game kit of claim 6 where the kit includes at least two targets and at least 8 projectiles.

11. The game kit of claim 7 where the kit includes at least two targets and at least 8 projectiles.

12. A projectile and target game comprising at least one generally wedge-shaped target having a rectangular base having an aperture in an inclined top wall of the target and at least one generally disc-shaped projectile whose diameter is smaller than the aperture in the inclined top wall where the players take turns attempting to bounce said projectile into the aperture.

13. The projectile and target game of claim 12 where each side has its own target.

14. The projectile and target game of claim 13 where each side has at least two projectiles.

15. The projectile and target game of claim 14 where points are awarded if the projectile comes to rest on the top wall or falls through the aperture into the target.

16. The projectile and target game of claim 15 where more points are awarded for bouncing a projectile through the aperture than landing a projectile on the target.

17. The projectile and target game of claim 16, where each player has 4 projectiles to bounce at their respective targets.