INFLATABLE PITCH BOARD GAME

Abstract

A pitch board game includes a board made of drop stitch inflatable material. The board, prior to inflation, is light weight, compact and easily carried from location to location. When inflated, the board is comparable in strength and hardness to solid wooden board. The game itself is played like the game “cornhole,” as bean bags are tossed by players onto the upper surface of the board, which is propped up at an acute angle. Bags landing on the surface count one point, and bags landing in a hole in the board count three points.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pitch board games, and more specifically, to games that use inflatable pitch boards as a way of reducing weight and storage space. Preferably, the pitch boards are made of inflatable, drop stitch fabric which allows for high inflation pressures which lead to structures that are as rigid and strong as wood, but can be stowed in small spaces, carried easily, and deployed by inflation at the place of use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

“Cornhole” is a lawn game in which players take turns throwing bags of corn kernels, typically weighing sixteen (16) ounces, at a raised platform or board with a hole in the far end, relative to the direction of pitch. The board is slightly inclined by a leg or brace which gives the board a slight incline towards the direction of the hole. The incline is designed to slow the bag once it hits the board, as it slides towards the hole. In some regions, the game is called “bags,” “stack toss,” or “bean bag,” but given that the game has been around for a long time, other regional names are given for a game which has similar structure and rules. Generally, a bag tossed into the hole results in a score of three (3) points, while one landing on the board counts one (1) point. Play continues until a team or player reaches or exceeds the score of twenty-one (21).

Cornhole matches are typically played with two sets of bags, two boards and two to eight players. Each set has four (4) bags, although other numbers of bags can be used. Each set of bags has a distinguishing feature, such as color, so the sets can be identified. There exists an American Cornhole League with rules that state for the bags to be made of double seamed fabric measuring six (6) inches by six (6) inches (or 150 mm by 150 mm), and to weight between 15.5 and 16.5 ounces (440 to 479 grams). Although corn kernels were used in the past to fill the bags, hence the name “cornhole,” nowadays the bags are filled with plastic resin beads or other material that will maintain a consistent weight and shape. Bags are usually dual sided, with each side of the bag being a different material that reacts faster or slower on the board. Faster bags are preferred in humid conditions where bags will not slide as readily. Additionally, professional players may use different materials depending on their personal throwing styles. Players with a lower, harder throw use more rotation and a slower bag material. Players with a higher, softer throws may throw with less rotation and prefer a more reactive bag.

Each board, of regulation size and shape, is typically two (2) feet wide by four (4) feet long (or 0.61 meter by 1.22 meters). The hole is six (6) inches (150 mm) in diameter and centered nine (9) inches (230 mm) from the top, or far end of the board (relative to the direction of the thrower). The far end of the board is elevated so that the playing surface is about twelve (12) inches (300 mm) above the ground, while the playing surface at the near end is three or four (3 or 4) inches (76 mm-102 mm) above the ground.

A court is set up by placing two boards apart so that the holes are thirty-three (33) feet (10 meters) apart, or twenty-seven (27) feet (8.2 meters) between the bottoms of the boards. The boards themselves provide platforms for receiving tossed bags. Shorter distances can be used when younger players are participating or there is not sufficient room. The participants stand in a pitcher's box when throwing or tossing bags. The box is a rectangular space directing to the left or right of a board. And, the bottom of each platform provides a foul line.

Although official rules of play exist, more often than not the game is played in informal settings such as outdoor gatherings and parties, such as football game tailgating. In those environments, rules are less important than fun—distances between boards are not important, other than to keep the game challenging, and standing position before throwing can be virtually anywhere, but often behind the board if not to the side as rules require.

One problem with playing the game at outside events is that the boards are typically made of wood, and are thus heavy, bulky and difficult to transport from a vehicle to a place of play. For example, in typical tailgating situations, one person may have a parking spot in the tailgating area, and others attending the party have to carry coolers, chairs, other games (footballs, frisbees, etc.), grills, and food, leaving little or no room or capacity to carry a relatively large wooden board.

Thus, a need exists to make cornhole games easier to transport, lighter and more compact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a game includes a board having a rectangular shape, an upper playing surface, a first end, a second, opposite end, and a hole form through the board near the first end. A leg is connected to the board at the first end to support the board at an acute angle relative to a substantially horizontal plane of a ground upon which the board is positioned. At least one throwing object is sized and shaped to approximately fit within the hole when tossed at or onto the playing surface. The board and leg are made of an inflatable, drop stitch fabric.

Preferably, the game includes an inflation valve on a reverse side of the board, and is used to inflate the board and leg, which preferably are in fluid communication with each other so that they can be inflated through a single valve. Inflation pressures preferably range from between four p.s.i. and twenty p.s.i.

The board is preferably and approximately four (4) feet long and two (2) feet wide, and the leg extends substantially across the width of the board.

The game includes a plurality of throwing objects which are sized and shaped to fall through the hole when thrown by a player, either when a toss or throw by the player results in the throwing object hitting the board and sliding into the hole, or when a toss or throw by the player results in the throwing object entering the hole on the fly. The throwing objects are preferably six inches by six inches, and consist of two sheets of fabric sewn together along overlapping edges, with a loose, granular material contained inside. In traditional cornhole games, the loose granular material would be hard, dried corn kernels, but other materials could be used so long as a desired weight and consistency is achieved.

The throwing objects preferably are provided in two sets, each set having a distinguishing feature which distinguishes throwing objects from one set from throwing objects 26 from the other set. One distinguishing feature is color, so that all throwing objects from one set will be of one color, while the throwing objects of the other set are of a different color. Another distinguishing feature, particularly appropriate for football tailgating, would have a first set having a team identifier, logo or name on one set, and a second set bearing the team identifier, logo or name of the other team's opponent, e.g., an Auburn University set and a University of Alabama set, where those two teams may be playing on a given day.

In setting up the game, it is preferable to find a flat area of ground. A board of the type described herein is inflated, preferably on site so it can otherwise be easily carried to a preferred site. Players can take turns throwing objects at the board from a predetermined position and distance from the board. Competing players can use different colored objects to throw to distinguish one player's results from another's. When placed on flat ground, the leg of the board will prop the board at a slight, or acute angle, preferably in the range of 10-15 degrees. The thrown objects are like bean bags, meaning soft, pliable, and conforming.

When a bag hits the playing surface of the board, which has a low frictional coefficient, the bag will slide on the playing surface. A bag that hits the board in line with the hole, but in front of the hole, the bag will slide towards and into the hole, so long as the speed of the bag is not too great or too slow. In theory, a bag could be thrown into the hole without sliding, but most often, the players will gauge speed and angle of toss with point on impact on the playing surface so that the bag passes through the hole. Under traditional cornhole rules, a bag that passes through the hole accounts for three points, while a bag that lands on the playing surface accounts for one point.

One aspect of the invention is to provide a method of playing a game which includes forming a first inflatable board from drop stitch fabric and having a first flat playing surface and a second opposite surface, a first end and a second, opposite end, a hole extending through the first board near the first end of the board, and a support leg disposed near the first end on the opposite surface of the first board, locating a substantially flat area of ground, inflating the first board and leg and placing the first board on the ground with the leg resting on the ground and propping the first board up at an inclined, acute angle, and providing a plurality of throwing objects, each sized, shaped and weighted to be thrown by a player towards the first board from a predetermined distance and position, wherein the first board is sloped upwardly relative to the player throwing objects at the first board.

The method preferably includes forming a second inflatable board from drop stitch fabric and having a first flat playing surface and a second opposite surface, a first end and a second, opposite end, a hole extending through the second board near the first end of the second board, and a support leg disposed near the first end on the opposite surface of the second board, inflating the second board and leg and placing the second board on the ground with the leg resting on the ground and propping the second board up at an inclined, acute angle, and axially aligning the first and second boards and spacing the first and second boards at a predetermined distance from each other, wherein the boards are sloped downwardly towards each other, and upwardly relative to the position of players throwing the throwing objects.

While other sizes and shapes of pitch boards can be envisioned, all embodiments of the present invention employ inflatable drop stitch fabric material. These materials can be inflated to higher pressures without distortion of shape, and result in panel like structures that are as hard and strong as comparably sized wooden panels or boards, yet by being inflatable, the boards according to the present invention will be easily transportable, stowed, and deployed in situ.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an inflatable pitch board game according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the inflatable pitch board game of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the inflatable pitch board game of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a reverse, or underside, view of the inflatable pitch board game of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a transverse, sectional view of the inflatable pitch board game of FIG. 1, taken along line V-V of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, sectional view of a portion of the inflatable pitch board game of the present invention, showing details of the drop stitch fabric used to construct the board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a game 10 includes a board 12 having a rectangular shape, an upper playing surface 14, a first end 16, a second, opposite end 18, and a hole 20 formed through the board 12 near the first end 16.

A leg 22 is connected to the board 12 at the first end 16, and supports the board 12 at an acute angle relative to a substantially horizontal plane 24 of a ground upon which the board 12 is positioned, At least one throwing object 26 is sized and shaped to approximately fit within the hole 20 when tossed at or onto the playing surface 14.

A key aspect of the present invention is that at least the board 12, and preferably the leg 22, are made of inflatable drop stitch fabric. As seen in FIG. 6, a typical construction for inflatable drop stitch fabric includes an inner PVC layer 28, 30 and an outer PVC layer 32, 34, and a plurality of nylon drop stitches 36 adhesively or otherwise bonded to the inner PVC layer 28, 30. An inflation valve 38, shown in FIG. 4 on the reverse side of the board 12, is used to inflate the board 12 and leg 22, which preferably are in fluid communication so that they can be inflated through a single valve. Although the inflation valve is located on the reverse side of the board 12, any location other than the playing surface 14 can be used. The leg 22 extends substantially across the width of the board 12.

Prior to inflation, the board 12 and leg 22 are easily stowed in a folded, compact space, so it can be easily carried in a bag, backpack, or similar devices, so it can be moved from place to place easily. A battery operated portable electric pump (not shown), which is also easily carried, can be used once the game is placed in a desired location. Likewise, a non-electric pump could be used, such as a bicycle or ball pump, so long as the pump is capable of generating pressures in the range of 4 to 20 p.s.i. A particularly preferred inflation pressure is 10 p.s.i. give or take slight variations, for a board having the dimensions of four feet long by two feet wide, by three inches thick. The thickness of the board 12 is primarily a function of cost and aesthetics, so while three inches is preferred, the preferred thickness could range between two and six inches.

The game 10 includes a plurality of throwing objects 26 which are sized and shaped to fall through the hole 20 when thrown by a player, either when a toss or throw by the player results in the throwing object hitting the board and sliding into the hole, or when a toss or throw by the player results in the throwing object 26 entering the hole 20 on the fly.

The throwing objects 26 preferably are provided in two sets, each set having a distinguishing feature which distinguishes throwing objects 26 from one set from throwing objects 26 from the other set. One distinguishing feature is color, so that all throwing objects 26 from one set will be of one color, while the throwing objects 26 of the other set are of a different color. Another distinguishing feature, particularly appropriate for football tailgating, would have a first set having a team identifier, logo or name on one set, and a second set bearing the team identifier, logo or name of the other team's opponent, e.g., an Auburn University set and a University of Alabama set, where those two teams may be playing on a given day.

A method of playing the game of the present invention is described as follows. In setting up the game, it is preferable to find a flat area of ground. A board 12 is inflated, preferably on site so it can otherwise be easily carried to a preferred site. Players can take turns throwing objects 26 at the board 12 from a predetermined position and distance from the board. Competing players can use different colored objects 26 to throw so as to distinguish one player's results from another's. When placed on flat ground, the leg 22 of the board 12 will prop the board at a slight, or acute angle, preferably in the range of 10-15 degrees. The thrown objects 26 are like bean bags, meaning soft, pliable, and conforming, while sized and shaped to fit through the hole 20 if tossed accurately.

When a bag 26 hits the playing surface 14 of the board 12, which has a low frictional coefficient, the bag 26 will slide on the playing surface 14. A bag 26 that hits the playing surface 14 in line with the hole 20, but in front of the hole 20, the bag 26 will slide towards and into the hole 20, so long as the speed of the bag 20 is not too great or too slow. In practice, a bag 26 could be thrown into the hole 20 without sliding, but most often, the players will gauge speed and angle of toss with point of impact on the playing surface 14 so that the bag 26 passes through the hole 20 when tossed accurately at the right speed. Under traditional cornhole rules, a bag 26 that passes through the hole 20 accounts for three points, while a bag 26 that lands on the playing surface 14 accounts for one point.

Multiple players can use a single board in a more informal set up of the game. A distance and location from which players throw the bags at the board can be a function of what space or section of ground is available. Crowded tailgate areas, for example, may necessitate a shorter than desirable throwing distance. If regulation distances are desired, a section of ground ten meters long will be required. Preferably the ground is flat or substantially horizontally planar, so that when the leg of a board is placed on the ground, the board is propped up at an angle relative to the players throwing objects. Playing with teams or more than one player, it is preferable to set up two boards at a distance spaced apart from each other and axially aligned. Competing players stand behind or to the side of the board which the opposite team or competing player is throwing towards.

The use of drop stitch fabric allows for boards to be portable, stowable and deployable on site, rather than wooden or solid material boards which are bulky, heavy and difficult to transport to events like ball games, picnics, or other outdoor social gatherings. When inflated, the boards take on the hardness and strength of solid materials. Drop stitch fabric is generally known and several suppliers are commercially available. The same materials has been described in my prior patent applications for inflatable stand up paddleboards (SUPs).

Claims

1. A game comprising:

a first board having a rectangular shape, an upper playing surface, a first end, a second, opposite end, and a hole formed through the first board near the first end;

a leg connected to the first board at the first end, and supporting the first board at an acute angle relative to a substantially horizontal plane of a ground upon which the first board is positioned;

at least one throwing object, sized and shaped to approximately fit within the hole when tossed at or onto the playing surface of the first board,

wherein the first board and leg are made of an inflatable drop stitch fabric.

2. The game of claim 1, wherein the leg and the first board are in fluid communication with each other, and the game further comprises an inflation valve disposed on one of the leg and the first board.

3. The game of claim 2, wherein the leg and the first board are inflatable to a pressure of between 4 and 20 p.s.i.

4. The game of claim 1, wherein the first board has a length of approximately four feet, and a width of approximately two feet.

5. The game of claim 1, wherein the leg extends substantially across the width of the first board.

6. The game of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of throwing objects, shaped and sized to fall through the hole in the first board when thrown by a player.

7. The game of claim 1, further comprising two sets of throwing objects, each set having a distinguishing feature which distinguishes throwing objects from one set from throwing objects from the other set.

8. The game of claim 6, wherein each throwing object is approximately six inches by six inches, and contains a loose, granular material sufficient to provide an overall weight of approximately one pound.

9. The game of claim 1, further comprising a second board, of substantially the same construction, size, shape and material as the first board, and having a rectangular shape, an upper playing surface, a first end, a second, opposite end, and a hole formed through the second board near the first end, a leg connected to the second board at the first end, and supporting the second board at an acute angle relative to a substantially horizontal plane of a ground upon which the second board is positioned, wherein the at least one throwing object includes a plurality of throwing objects comprising two distinct sets, wherein one set is used by a first player and the second set is used by a second player.

10. The game of claim 9, wherein the first and second boards are arranged in substantial axial alignment, and spaced apart by a predetermined distance with the playing surface of each board sloping upwardly relative to a direction of throw of a throwing object, wherein a throwing position for two competing players is defined by an area of ground to a side or behind each of the first and second boards.

11. The game of claim 3, wherein the leg and the first board are inflatable to a pressure of 10 p.s.i.

12. A method of playing a game comprising:

forming a first inflatable board from drop stitch fabric and having a first flat playing surface and a second opposite surface, a first end and a second, opposite end, a hole extending through the first board near the first end of the board, and a support leg disposed near the first end on the opposite surface of the first board;

locating a substantially flat area of ground;

inflating the first board and leg and placing the first board on the ground with the leg resting on the ground and propping the first board up at an include, acute angle; and

providing a plurality of throwing objects, each sized, shaped and weighted to be thrown by a player towards the first board from a predetermined distance and position,

wherein the first board is sloped upwardly relative to the player throwing objects at the first board.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the inflating step comprises inflating the first board and leg to a pressure of between 4 and 20 p.s.i.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising

forming a second inflatable board from drop stitch fabric and having a first flat playing surface and a second opposite surface, a first end and a second, opposite end, a hole extending through the second board near the first end of the second board, and a support leg disposed near the first end on the opposite surface of the second board;

inflating the second board and leg and placing the second board on the ground with the leg resting on the ground and propping the second bard up at an inclined, acute angle;

axially aligning the first and second boards and spacing the first and second boards at a predetermined distance from each other, wherein the boards are sloped downwardly towards each other, and upwardly relative to the position of players throwing the throwing objects.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a plurality of throwing objects includes providing two sets of throwing objects, each set being visually distinguishable from the other set while having the same size, shape and weight.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the inflating step comprises inflating the first board and the leg to a pressure of 10 p.s.i.

17. A game of claim 1, wherein the first board includes an upper layer of plastic material, a lower layer of plastic material, and a plurality of stitches extending between the upper and lower layers of plastic material.

18. A method of claim 12, wherein the first board includes an upper layer of plastic material, a lower layer of plastic material, and a plurality of stitches extending between the upper and lower layers of plastic material.