Game with play structure and projectile

• US 7,134,661 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ergode, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Richard Trecartin
• Inventors: Trecartin, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US10/944,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20050077682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 273/348, 273/331, 273/343, 273/336
• 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; and

(b) a target structure;

at least two frame members and at least one support bar or bar assembly connected to the frame members and disposed between the frame members, the frame members being operable to support the support bar or bar assembly in a generally upright horizontal position, the frame members and support bar or bar assembly defining;

(i) at least one middle section of the support bar or bar assembly disposed between the frame members; and

(ii) an end section of the support bar or bar assembly extending beyond the frame members;

each support bar or bar assembly being 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 hang from or wrap around the middle lie section(s) or end sections, thereby scoring points as determined based on a plurality of predetermined play rules.

2. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one projectile consists of:

(c) a rope member; and

(d) a weight member disposed at either end of the rope member.

3. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target structure includes a plurality of support bars or bar assemblies, and wherein a game value is assigned to the middle sections and end sections of each support bar or bar assembly, the game value determining the number of points assigned during play to the at least one projectile either hanging from or wrapping around a particular one of the middle sections or end sections of the plurality of support bars or bar assemblies.

4. The gaining 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 bars or bar assemblies being connected to the two frame members, the frame members thereby supporting the three support bars or bar assemblies in a generally upright horizontal position.

5. The gaming system as claimed in claim 4, 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.

6. The gaming system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the target structure further includes a stabilizing means connected to one or more of the at least two frame member, the stabilizing means being operable to stabilize the target:

structure to maintain same in a generally upright position.

7. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1, including;

three frame members connected to the at least one support bar or bar assembly to define a tripod like structure.

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

9. 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 bar or bar assembly; 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.

10. A multi-player gaming method using a target structure, the target structure including at least two frame members and at least one support bar or bar assembly connected to the frame members and disposed between the frame members, the frame members being operable to support the support bar or bar assembly in a generally upright horizontal position, the frame members and the support bar or bar assembly defining at least one middle section of the support bar or bar assembly disposed between the frame members;

and an end section of the support bar or bar assembly extending beyond the frame members;

the support bar or bar assembly being 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 hang from or wrap around the middle section(s) or the end sections of the support bar or bar assembly, thereby scoring points as determined based on a plurality of predetermined play rules, the method comprising the steps of;

(a) each player, in sequence, throwing from a predetermined area defining a distance between each player and to 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 bar or bar assembly; and

(b) determining the score of each player by calculating the sum of values achieved by each player depending on the middle section(s) or end section(s) on which the player placed the one or more projectiles on the target structure, 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 of;

such one or more placed projectiles defining the score for each player.

11. The method claimed in claim 10, comprising the further step of determining by chance the order in which the plurality of players will throw the one or more projectiles.

12. The method claimed in claim 11, 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.

13. The method claimed in claim 12, 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 bar or bar assembly.

14. The method claimed in claim 13, comprising the further step of throwing one or more projectiles to remove one or more of the projectiles of an opposing player.

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