KIT AND METHOD FOR AN INTERCHANGEABLE GRAPHIC FOR GAME EQUIPMENT, AND EQUIPMENT PROVIDED THEREWITH

Abstract

A kit for providing interchangeable graphics on the playing surface of game equipment includes a magnetizable layer having an adhesive on a surface thereof, and a removable graphic sheet assembly adapted to be magnetically attached to the magnetizable layer. The removable graphic sheet assembly comprises a magnetic layer and a graphic that is visible on a surface of the magnetic layer. The game equipment may include a box having a surface and a hole defined in the surface, and the kit installed on the surface of the box. Methods of installing the kit on the surface of game equipment may include adhering the magnetizable layer to the surface of the box, and then magnetically attaching the graphic sheet assembly to the magnetizable layer.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/191,756, filed Jul. 13, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to game equipment. The invention particularly relates to providing interchangeable graphics on the surface of game equipment, a particular example of which is the playing surface of a cornhole game.

Cornhole, also known as tailgate and bean bag toss, is a well known and popular game in which players take turns tossing weighted bags (e.g., filed with sand or corn) at an inclined box or platform in which a hole is present, typically located near one end of the platform. The size of the platform can vary, but is commonly 2×4 feet. The hole is commonly about six inches in diameter and centered about nine inches from the end of the platform. Points are scored for each tossed bag that remains on the surface of the platform and for each bag that drops through the hole in the platform, with the latter normally being worth more points. Participants are typically required to toss the bags from some distance from the platform, such that the condition of the playing surface surrounding the hole is important, as is the condition of the edge defined by the hole in the playing surface.

Cornhole platforms are often manufactured to have some type of image or graphic on its playing surface, for example, logos of sports teams, to enhance their visual appearance. For this purpose, the playing surface may be painted or equipped with a printed decal or film. Decorating or resurfacing the playing surface with paint is often performed by hand with the aid of a stencil, and the painted surface is often top-coated with a clear coating to protect the underlying artwork as well as achieve a smoother playing surface. Films used to decorate or resurface the playing surface of a cornhole platform are often adhered to the platform surface with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Such films may be applied to an existing cornhole platform with a retrofit kit, for example, a decal or film applied directly to the existing surface of the platform on a semipermanent or permanent basis.

Drawbacks of painted graphics include the fact that the graphic is permanent until either physically removed or over-coated, and the graphic may be of lower quality as compared to a graphic printed on a film. On the other hand, drawbacks of films include the difficulty of applying the film without wrinkles and/or bubbles. In addition, films of the types applied to cornhole platforms are typically semi-permanent, cannot be reused once removed from the cornhole platform, and often lack a protective coating or laminate film to protect the printed graphic.

In view of the above, it can be appreciated that there are certain problems, shortcomings or disadvantages associated with the prior art, and that it would be desirable if methods were available for providing interchangeable graphics on the playing surface of game equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a kit and method for providing interchangeable graphics on the playing surface of game equipment, and game equipment having a playing surface equipped with such interchangeable graphics.

According to one aspect of the invention, a kit for providing an interchangeable magnetic graphic system on a playing surface of game equipment includes a magnetizable layer having an adhesive on a surface thereof, and a removable graphic sheet assembly adapted to be magnetically attached to the magnetizable layer. The removable graphic sheet assembly comprises a magnetic layer and a graphic that is visible on a surface of the magnetic layer.

Another aspect of the invention is a platform for a cornhole game. The platform includes a box having a surface and a hole defined in the surface, and an interchangeable magnetic graphic system on the surface of the box. The interchangeable magnetic graphic system includes a magnetizable layer adhered to the surface of the box and a removable graphic sheet assembly magnetically attached to the magnetizable layer. The removable graphic sheet assembly includes a magnetic layer and a graphic that is visible on a surface of the magnetic layer.

Other aspects of the invention include methods of installing the kit described above on a playing surface of game equipment. A particular but nonlimiting example is a method of installing the interchangeable magnetic graphic system on the surface of a box of a cornhole game. The method includes adhering the magnetizable layer to the surface of the box, and then magnetically attaching the graphic sheet assembly to the magnetizable layer.

Technical effects of the kit and method described above preferably include the ability to utilize the magnetic layer and its associated graphic to define a removable playing surface that can be temporarily affixed to game equipment, for example, the platform of a cornhole game, and subsequently removed if so desired to install a different magnetic layer and graphic.

Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a platform for a cornhole game, wherein the playing surface of the platform is provided with an interchangeable magnetic graphic system in accordance with a nonlimiting embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the platform of FIG. 1, and schematically represents discrete layers of the interchangeable magnetic graphic system.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the interchangeable magnetic graphic system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 3 represent a platform 10 suitable for use in playing cornhole. As represented, the platform 10 generally comprises a box 12 that has an upper surface 16 that is inclined as a result of one end of the box 12 being supported by one or more legs 14. A hole 18 is disposed in the upper surface 16 of the platform 10 near the end of the box 12 supported by the legs 14. The dimensions of the box 12 and its various features can be consistent with conventional cornhole play, though it is foreseeable that the dimensions of the box 12 could widely differ. As such, it should be noted that the drawings are drawn for purposes of clarity when viewed in combination with the following description, and therefore are not necessarily to scale. In addition, to facilitate the description of the illustrated embodiments of the platform 10 provided below, relative terms, including but not limited to, “vertical,” “horizontal,” “lateral,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “forward,” “rearward,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “right,” “left,” etc., may be used in reference to the orientation of the platform 10 in FIGS. 2 and 3, and are relative terms that indicate the orientation of the platform 10 during its use and therefore help to define the scope of the invention. Finally, while aspects of the invention will be described in reference to the cornhole platform 10 shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention may also pertain to other game equipment.

The upper surface 16 of the platform 10 defines the playing surface of the platform 10, and therefore will be referred to as such in the following discussion. Because points are scored for each tossed bag that remains on the playing surface 16 and for each bag that drops through the hole 18, the surface condition of the playing surface 16 is important, as is the condition of the edge defined by the hole 18 in the playing surface 16.

The present invention provides an interchangeable magnetic graphic system 20 and a method for manufacturing and installing the interchangeable magnetic graphic system 20 as a kit that can be used to resurface a new or existing platform. As represented in the figures, the system 20 is adapted to be applied to an existing surface 32 of the box 12. The system 20 includes, but is not limited to, an adhesive layer 22, a magnetizable layer 24, a magnetic layer 26 having a graphic 28 (for example, on one of its surfaces), and an optional transparent or translucent topcoat layer 30. If present, the topcoat layer 30 defines the playing surface 16 of the platform 10, and in its absence the magnetic layer 26 will typically define the playing surface 16.

The adhesive layer 22 is preferably a double-sided adhesive layer that serves to directly adhere the magnetizable layer 24 to the surface 32 of the box 12, and as such the adhesive and magnetizable layers 22 and 24 may be viewed as permanent or semipermanent components of the box 12. Various adhesive materials and pressure-sensitive tape materials known in the art can be used as the adhesive layer 22. As permanent or semipermanent components of the box 12, the adhesive and magnetizable layers 22 and 24 are preferably prefabricated to have a predefined hole 34 corresponding in size and location to the hole 18 in the surface 32 of the box 12. The magnetizable layer 24 is formed of or formed to contain a magnetizable material, for example, a ferromagnetic metal such as cobalt, nickel. etc. The magnetizable layer 24 is preferably a precisely fabricated continuous sheet that closely corresponds to the surface 32 of the box 12, including an outer peripheral size and shape that corresponds to the outer peripheral size and shape of the surface 32, in addition to the location and size of its predefined hole 34 that corresponds in size and location to the hole 18 in the surface 32 of the box 12. Such embodiment allows for all of the layers 22, 24, 26, and 30 to be pliable or semi-rigid while providing for the upper surface 16 to sufficiently rigid for use as the playing surface due to the support from the surface 32 of the box 12. Alternatively, it is foreseeable that the magnetizable layer 24 could be a fabricated sheet having dimensions that are less than the dimensions of the surface 32 of the box 12 and/or could comprise two or more separate fabricated sheets located at various locations on the surface 32 of the box 12. Since the upper surface 16 is preferably smooth for use as a playing surface, such alternative embodiment preferably includes the upper layers 26 and 30 as being rigid.

The magnetic layer 26 is formed of or formed to contain any suitable magnetic material. The magnetic layer 26 is sufficiently magnetically attracted to the magnetizable layer 24 to ensure that the magnetic layer 26 will remain in place during use of the platform 10, yet be able to be selectively removed from the magnetizable layer 24 when desired.

The graphic 28 is visible when viewing the upper surface of the magnetic layer 26. The graphic 28 can be formed in the magnetic layer 26 or its upper surface by any process suitable for the material of the magnetic layer 26. Alternatively, the graphic 28 can be formed in or by a separate layer that is directly or indirectly applied to the upper surface of the magnetic layer 26. In either case, the graphic 28 is preferably a permanent feature visible at the outer surface of the magnetic layer 26. If present, the topcoat layer 30 serves to protect and preserve the graphic 28 during use of the platform 10. Various materials are well known and suitable for use as the topcoat layer 30, for example, laminating PVC materials that are commercially available. The magnetic layer 26, graphic 28, and (if present) topcoat layer 30 are preferably permanently adhered to each other to define a prefabricated and removable graphic sheet assembly 36 (FIG. 3) that has been precisely cut to the desired dimensions corresponding to those of the surface 32 and hole 18 of the box 12.

A kit manufactured to install the interchangeable magnetic graphic system 20 preferably includes each of the layers 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30. In preferred embodiments, the adhesive layer 22 is pre-applied and permanently adhered to the magnetizable layer 24, and the graphic sheet assembly 36 is prefabricated to comprise the magnetic layer 26 and graphic 28. If present within the graphic sheet assembly 36, the topcoat layer 30 is preferably pre-applied over the graphic 28 on the magnetic layer 26. In either case, the graphic sheet assembly 36 is fabricated to define the playing surface 16, and as such the surface 16 of the assembly 36 should be manufactured or otherwise produced to be smooth and have a relatively low coefficient of friction to promote slip characteristics that may be required by the particular game, for example, as specified by the American Cornhole Association (ACA). As noted above, each layer 22, 24, 26 28, and 30 is also preferably manufactured to have a predefined hole 34 corresponding in size and location to the hole 18 in the surface 32 of the box 12. Care should be taken during the fabrication of the graphic sheet assembly 36 to ensure that the edge of the playing surface 16 defining the hole 34 in the graphic sheet assembly 36 is free of burrs. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the surface 16 defined by the graphic sheet assembly 36 and the edge of the hole 34 therein are sufficiently smooth and precisely formed to provide a suitable and durable playing surface for use in a cornhole game.

If installing the system 20 as a kit, installation generally entails carefully positioning and adhering the magnetizable layer 24 to the surface 32 of the box 12 to ensure that the holes 34 in the adhesive and magnetizable layers 22 and 24 are aligned with the hole 18 in the box 12. After adhering the magnetizable layer 24 to the box surface 32, the graphic sheet assembly 36 can be positioned on the magnetizable layer 24 so that the magnetic layer 26 is magnetically retained with the magnetizable layer 24 and the hole 34 in the sheet assembly 36 is aligned with the hole 34 in the magnetizable layer 24 and, consequently, the hole 18 in the box 12. Thereafter, the magnetic layer 26 remains magnetically retained on the upper surface of the magnetizable layer 24. At any time, the graphic sheet assembly 36 can be removed from the magnetizable layer 24 to allow the installation of a different graphic sheet assembly 36, which may bear a graphic 28 of the same or different image, for example, a different logo.

Although the magnetizable layer 24 has been described herein as being secured to game equipment with an adhesive layer 22, it is foreseeable and within the scope of the invention that the magnetizable layer 24 could be secured with fasteners, preferably in a manner that provides the magnetizable layer 24 to provide a relatively smooth surface when secured to the surface 32 of the box 12.

While the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the physical configuration of the platform 10 or kit (including its layers 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30) could differ from that shown, and materials and processes/methods other than those noted could be used. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A kit for providing an interchangeable magnetic graphic system on a surface of game equipment, the kit comprising:

a magnetizable layer having an adhesive on a surface thereof; and

a removable graphic sheet assembly adapted to be magnetically attached to the magnetizable layer, the removable graphic sheet assembly comprising a magnetic layer and a graphic that is visible at a surface of the magnetic layer.

2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the graphic is defined by a layer that is permanently adhered to the magnetic layer.

3. The kit according to claim 2, further comprising a transparent or translucent topcoat that protectively overlies the graphic on the magnetic layer.

4. The kit according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer permanently adhered to the magnetizable layer.

5. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the magnetizable layer and the removable graphic sheet assembly each have a hole predefined therein.

6. A method of installing the interchangeable magnetic graphic system of claim 1 on the surface of the game equipment, the method comprising:

adhering the magnetizable layer to the surface of the game equipment; and

removably magnetically attaching the graphic sheet assembly to the magnetizable layer.

7. The method according to claim 6, the method further comprising removing the graphic sheet assembly from the magnetizable layer and installing a different graphic sheet assembly on the magnetizable layer.

8. A platform for a cornhole game, the platform comprising:

a box having a surface and a hole defined in the surface; and

an interchangeable magnetic graphic system on the surface of the box, the interchangeable magnetic graphic system comprising a magnetizable layer adhered to the surface of the box and a removable graphic sheet assembly magnetically attached to the magnetizable layer, the removable graphic sheet assembly comprising a magnetic layer and a graphic that is visible on a surface of the magnetic layer.

9. The platform according to claim 8, wherein the graphic is defined by a layer that is permanently adhered to the magnetic layer.

10. The platform according to claim 9, further comprising a transparent or translucent topcoat that protectively overlies the graphic on the magnetic layer.

11. The platform according to claim 8, further comprising an adhesive layer permanently adhered to the magnetizable layer and adhering the magnetizable layer to the surface of the box.

12. The platform according to claim 8, wherein the magnetizable layer and the removable graphic sheet assembly each have a hole predefined therein and corresponding in size and location to the hole in the surface of the box.

13. A method of installing the interchangeable magnetic graphic system of claim 8 on the surface of the box, the method comprising:

adhering the magnetizable layer to the surface of the box; and

removably magnetically attaching the graphic sheet assembly to the magnetizable layer.

14. The method according to claim 13, the method further comprising removing the graphic sheet assembly from the magnetizable layer and installing a different graphic sheet assembly on the magnetizable layer.

15. A removable graphic sheet assembly for use with an interchangeable magnetic graphic system on a surface of game equipment, the removable graphic sheet assembly comprising:

a magnetic layer adapted to be magnetically attached to a magnetizable layer of the interchangeable magnetic graphic system;

a graphic that is visible at a surface of the magnetic layer; and

a transparent or translucent topcoat that protectively overlies the graphic on the magnetic layer.