Game with play structure and projectile

• US 20050077682A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ergode, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Richard Trecartin
• Inventors: Trecartin, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,134,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/343
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2009/006 Playground structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/00 Sporting games or accessories therefor, not provided for in groups A63B1/00 - A63B65/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0079 Balls tethered to a line or cord A63B43/007 takes precedence; other games using tethered balls A63B67/10; games using a bat or racket with a ball tethered thereto A63B67/20

Abstract

A gaming apparatus, gaming kit and gaming method is provided, which involves throwing projectiles to hang off of, or wrap around, one or more support members of a target structure. A projectile is also provided, which includes two weights at either end of a rope member. The rules of play define points that awarded for throwing one or more projectiles to hang off of, or wrap around, one or more particular support members, or particular portions of such one or more particular support members. A self-supporting target structure is provided, as well as a target structure that can be mounted on a wall

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

(a) At least one projectile including an elongate, flexible member;

(b) A target structure including at least one support member, the support member being disposed to support the at least one projectile by the at least one projectile;

(i) Hanging from the support member and/or

(ii) Wrapping around the support member;

Wherein, during play, the at least one projectile and the target structure are operable to permit a player to throw the at least one projectile to either hang off of and/or wrap around the at least one support member, thereby scoring a one or more points based on a plurality of predetermined play rules.

3. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target structure includes a plurality of support bars or bar assemblies disposed so as to enable the at least one projectile to be thrown from a starting point to the target structure so as to cause the at least one projectile to either (a) hang from one of the plurality of support bars or bar assemblies, or (b) wrap around one of the plurality of support bars or bar assemblies.

4. The gaming system as claimed in claim 3, wherein a game value is assigned to each of the at least one support bars or sections of the at least one support bars, the game value determining the number of points assigned during play to the at least one projectile either (a) hanging from or (b) wrapping around a particular one of the plurality of support bars, or a particular section of such particular one of the plurality of support bars.

5. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target structure consists of a self-supporting structure, the self-supporting structure including:

at least two frame members, at least one support member being connected to the at least two frame members, the frame members being operable to support the at least one support member in a generally upright horizontal position.

6. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target structure consists of a self-supporting structure, the self-supporting structure including:

two frame members and three support members being connected to the two frame members, the frame members thereby supporting the three support members in a generally upright horizontal position.

7. The gaming system as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the support members includes:

(a) A first portion disposed between each of the two frame members;

(b) A second portion disposed at one side of one of the two frame members opposite to the first portion; and

(c) A third portion disposed at one side of the other of the two frame members opposite to the first portion.

8. The gaming system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a game value is assigned for each first portion of the three support members, and another game value is assigned for each second portion and third portion of the three support members.

9. The gaming system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least two frame members include at one end thereof a wedge, such that the at least two frame members are operable to be driven into the ground by directing manual force to the at least two frame members.

10. The gaming system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the target structure further includes a stabilizing means connected to one or more of the at least two frame members, the stabilizing means being operable to stabilize the target structure to maintain same in a generally upright position.

11. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1, including three frame members connected to the at least one support member to define a tripod like structure.

12. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target structure consists of at least one support member connected to a wall assembly, the wall assembly consisting of a frame member that is operable to be mounted on a wall.

13. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target structure includes a self-supporting structure, the self-supporting structure including one or more frame members, one or more of such frame members including:

(a) A substantially vertical upper portion for connection to the at least one support member; and

(b) A substantially horizontal lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion being operable to support the upper portion in a substantially vertical position.

2. The gaming system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one projectile consists of:

(a) A rope member; and

(b) A weight member disposed at either end of the rope member.

14. A multi-player gaming method using a target structure, the target structure including at least one support member, the support member being disposed to support at least one projectile by the at least one projectile hanging from the support member and/or wrapping around the support member, the projectile consisting of a rope member and a weight member disposed at either end of the rope member, wherein, during play, the projectile and the target structure are operable to permit a user to throw the at least one projectile to either hang off of and/or wrap around the at least one support member, the gaming method comprising the steps of:

(a) Each player, in sequence, throwing from a predetermined area defining a distance between each player and the target structure, one or more projectiles to attempt to place the one or more projectiles on the target structure such that the projectile hangs off of and/or wraps around the at least one support member; and

(b) Determining the score of each player by adding the score achieved by each player placing the one or more projectiles on the target structure such that the projectile hangs off of and/or wraps around the at least one support member, based on a location of each of the one or more projectiles so placed on the target structure and a predetermined game value for each such location, the sum of such predetermined game values for such one or more placed projectiles defining the score for each player.

15. The method claimed in claim 14, comprising the further step of determining by chance the order in which the plurality of players will throw the one or more projectiles.

16. The method claimed in claim 15, comprising the further step of each player throwing an equal number of projectiles during a round by taking turns in the order determined by throwing the one or more projectiles.

17. The method claimed in claim 16, whereby the scores of each of the plurality of players are tallied at the end of the round based on the number of projectiles of each of the plurality of players that are still hanging off of and/or wrapped around the at least one support member.

18. The method claimed in claim 17, comprising the further step of throwing one or more projectiles to remove one or more of the projectiles of an opposing player.

19. The method claimed in claim 14, whereby one player challenges a second player until one of such players reaches a predetermined score.

20. A projectile for playing a game that uses a target structure, the target structure including at least one support member, the support member being disposed to support the at least one projectile by the at least one projectile hanging from the support member and/or Wrapping around the support member, the projectile comprising:

(a) A rope member; and

(b) A weight member disposed at either end of the rope member.

Wherein, during play, the projectile and the target structure are operable to permit a user to throw the at least one projectile to either hang off of and/or wrap around the at least one support member, thereby scoring one or more points based on a plurality of predetermined play rules.