Portable party system and method

• US 20070045964A1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ABC Party Games, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ABC Party Games, Inc.
• Inventors: Petras, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US10/605,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20070045964A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/317
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/02 for large-room or outdoor sporting games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/023 Supports, e.g. poles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/007 with another ball game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/3659 convertible into a suitcase
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0012 the other object being a container or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0612 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0616 Football or soccer
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2238 to be placed on the ground Christmas tree stands A47G33/12

Abstract

A portable party system and associated method for providing entertainment and amusement at parties, such as birthday parties and other parties for children, teenagers, and adults, includes one or more portable storage containers containing various different target assemblies and projectiles for use in the play of games. A cover of the container also functions as a supporting base adapted for the removable attachment of a target support assembly. Various diverse target assemblies including a basketball target, a milk bottle target, a rectangular target, a soccer net, a goalpost target, a knock-down target, a receptacle target, and a tiered coin toss target, allow participants to compete in projectile tossing and throwing games using the various different target assemblies and diverse projectiles such as footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, beanbags and soft throwing disks, in contests to win coupons or tickets which may be exchanged for arcade-type prizes, such as toys, candy, balls, pencils, erasers, figurines, stuffed animals and the like.

Claims

1. A portable party system, comprising:

a container including an open top portion;

a removable cover dimensioned to selectively close said open top portion of said container;

cooperating latch and catch members on said cover and said container for selectively securing said cover to said container;

a target attachment assembly including a base member;

at least one fastener for removably securing said base member of said target attachment assembly to said cover;

at least one target assembly;

said target attachment assembly and said target assembly including cooperating connectors for selectively and removably securing said target assembly to said target attachment assembly; and

said target attachment assembly and said target assembly dimensioned and configured for storage in said container when not in use to facilitate transportation and storage of said portable party system.

2. The portable party system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of different interchangeable target assemblies for securement to said target attachment assembly.

3. The portable party system of claim 2, wherein said interchangeable target assemblies are selected from the group consisting of a basketball hoop target assembly, a rectangular target assembly, a goal post target assembly, a knock down target assembly, a receptacle target assembly, a milk bottle target assembly, a tiered coin toss target assembly, and a rectangular net target assembly.

4. The portable party system of claim 1, wherein said cooperating connectors comprise threaded connectors.

5. The portable party system of claim 1, wherein said at least one fastener comprises a cooperating threaded stud and wing nut.

6. The portable party system of claim 1, further comprising a second target attachment assembly dimensioned and configured for interchangeable attachment to said cover in place of said target attachment assembly, said second target attachment assembly dimensioned and configured for selective connection of at least one second target assembly.

7. A portable party system, comprising:

a container including an open top portion;

a removable cover dimensioned to selectively close said open top portion of said container;

cooperating latch and catch members on said cover and said container for selectively securing said cover to said container;

a first target attachment assembly;

a second target attachment assembly;

at least one fastener for removably securing one of said first or second target attachment assemblies to said cover;

a first group of interchangeable target assemblies including a first fastener for selective connection with said first target attachment assembly;

a second group of interchangeable target assemblies including a second fastener for selective connection with said second target attachment assembly; and

said target attachment assemblies and said target assemblies dimensioned and configured for storage in said container when not in use to facilitate transportation and storage of said portable party system.

8. The portable party system of claim 7, wherein said first group of interchangeable target assemblies are selected from the group consisting of a basketball hoop target assembly, a rectangular target assembly, a goal post target assembly, a receptacle target assembly, a milk bottle target assembly, a tiered coin toss target assembly, and a rectangular net target assembly.

9. The portable party system of claim 7, wherein said second group of interchangeable target assemblies are selected from the group consisting of a knock down target assembly and a receptacle target assembly.

10. The portable party system of claim 7, wherein said first target attachment assembly comprises:

a base member;

at least one fastener for removably securing said base member of said first target attachment assembly to said cover;

an upstanding support member attached to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom;

a substantially vertical tubular standard supported by said upstanding support member, said vertical tubular standard terminating at a distal end portion in a first threaded connector; and

a vertical extension member terminating at a lower end in a cooperating second threaded connector dimensioned for engagement with said first threaded connector of said vertical tubular standard and terminating at an opposite upper end in a third threaded connector dimensioned for engagement with said first fastener of one of said first group of interchangeable target assemblies.

11. The portable party system of claim 7, wherein said second target attachment assembly comprises:

a support plate;

at least one fastener for removably securing said support plate of said second target attachment assembly to said cover;

a support column upstanding substantially centrally and vertically from said support plate; and

a platform substantially perpendicularly connected at an upper end of said support column, said platform provided with at least one aperture dimensioned for engagement with said second fastener of one of said second group of interchangeable target assemblies.

12. The portable party system of claim 7, wherein said first target attachment assembly comprises:

a base member;

at least one fastener for removably securing said base member of said first target attachment assembly to said cover;

an upstanding support member attached to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom;

a substantially vertical tubular standard supported by said upstanding support member, said vertical tubular standard terminating at a distal end portion in a first threaded connector; and

a vertical extension member terminating at a lower end in a cooperating second threaded connector dimensioned for engagement with said first threaded connector of said vertical tubular standard and terminating at an opposite upper end in a third threaded connector dimensioned for engagement with said first fastener of one of said first group of interchangeable target assemblies; and

said second target attachment assembly comprises;

a support plate;

at least one fastener for removably securing said support plate of said second target attachment assembly to said cover;

a support column upstanding substantially centrally and vertically from said support plate; and

a platform substantially perpendicularly connected at an upper end of said support column, said platform provided with at least one aperture dimensioned for engagement with said second fastener of one of said second group of interchangeable target assemblies.

13. The portable party system of claim 12, wherein said first group of interchangeable target assemblies are selected from the group consisting of a basketball hoop target assembly, a rectangular target assembly, a goal post target assembly, a receptacle target assembly, a milk bottle target assembly, a tiered coin toss target assembly, and a rectangular net target assembly.

14. The portable party system of claim 12, wherein said second group of interchangeable target assemblies are selected from the group consisting of a knock down target assembly and a receptacle target assembly.

15. The portable party system of claim 7, further comprising at least one projectile for a participant to throw, toss, or kick at said target assemblies.

16. The portable party system of claim 15, wherein said at least one projectile comprises a mask adapted to be both thrown or tossed at said target assemblies and worn by a participant.

17. The portable party system of claim 7, further comprising at least one projectile for a participant to throw, toss, or kick at said target assemblies, said projectile selected from the group consisting of a throwing disk, football, baseball, softball, wiffle ball, soccer ball, beanbag, and mask.

18. The portable party system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of different projectiles for a participant to throw, toss, or kick at said target assemblies, said projectiles including at least one of each of a throwing disk, a football, a baseball, a softball, a wiffle ball, a soccer ball, beanbag, and mask.

19. The portable party system of claim 7, further comprising a projectile storage box and a plurality of different types of projectiles dimensioned for storage in said projectile storage box and adapted to be thrown, tossed, or kicked at said target assemblies, said projectile storage box dimensioned for reception in said container for storage and transportation.

20. A method of providing entertainment for parties, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a portable party system comprising;

a container including an open top portion;

a removable cover dimensioned to selectively close said open top portion of said container;

cooperating latch and catch members on said cover and said container for selectively securing said cover to said container;

a target attachment assembly including a base member;

at least one fastener for removably securing said base member of said target attachment assembly to said cover;

at least one target assembly;

at least one projectile;

said target attachment assembly and said target assembly including cooperating connectors for selectively and removably securing said target assembly to said target attachment assembly; and

said target attachment assembly and said target assembly dimensioned and configured for storage in said container when not in use to facilitate transportation and storage of said portable party system;

(b) transporting said portable party system to an intended party site;

(c) attaching said target attachment assembly to said cover;

(d) attaching said target assembly to said target attachment assembly;

(e) conducting at least one game in which participants attending the party compete by throwing, tossing, or kicking said projectile at said target assembly; and

(f) awarding at least one prize to at least one of the participants attending the party based upon results of said game.