Abstract:
A system and method for playing a game, comprising one or more players tossing balls with the object of having the balls stop in a scoring zone of a playing surface. The system comprises: a playing surface with a scoring zone, balls, backstops for each end of the playing surface, a game carry bag, and rules. The method of playing comprises: one or more players tossing a predetermined number of balls with the object of having the balls stop in the scoring zone of the playing surface; designating point amounts corresponding areas of the scoring zone; designating a winning point amount corresponding to the number of points required to win the game; and having the one ore more players continue to toss the ball until one player reaches the designated winning point amount.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Application Ser. No. 29/160,574 filed May 13, 2002. The entirety of that application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to a game of accuracy played with a playing surface and balls and a method of playing thereof. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0004]    [0004]FIGS. 1A-1I illustrate components of a game kit for use in play of the game, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a singles version of play of the game, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a doubles version of play of the game, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a “cut throat” version of play of the game, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate an example of two players playing the game, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]    The present invention relates to a game of accuracy played with a playing surface and balls and a method of playing thereof. The game is referred to as “the zone game” in one embodiment, although any other name may be used. Three embodiments of the invention include a singles version (one-on-one), a doubles version (two-on-two), and a cut throat version (three or more players).  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1A illustrates components of a game kit for use in play of the game, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The components include a playing surface  105  and zone game balls  115 . In addition, the game components can also include at least one of the following: zone game backstops  110  (illustrated in FIG. 1E), a zone game carry bag  120 , and a list of zone game rules. FIGS. 1B and 1C are other figures illustrating the zone game playing surface, which, in one embodiment, is made of a light weight, structurally strong and flexible material (e.g., closed cell polyethylene foam) of a rectangular size (e.g., measuring 14′0″×30″×¼″). In additional embodiments, the playing surface can have at least one of the following features: cost effective, light weight, structurally strong, flexible, long life expectancy, 100% recyclable and reusable, high impact retention, tolerates extreme loading with quick compression recovery, absorbs shock and vibration, impervious to most chemicals, decay and mold resistant, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly.  
         [0011]    The playing surface can be for inside or outside. In one embodiment, the playing surface includes graphics in one or more colors, which can include the game logo, shooting line, and score zones. In one embodiment, the playing surface is green, although other colors may be used. The playing surface allows for the zone balls to be rolled and/or bounced down the length of the playing surface, until the balls stop. In one embodiment, the playing surface lays flat on the ground, is resistant to wind, and has optional anchoring mechanisms. The playing surface is portable in one embodiment, and can be rolled up and put in a carry bag when not in use.  
         [0012]    As illustrated in FIG. 1C, in one embodiment, the playing surface contains a shooting line  125 , a scoring zone  130 , and a backstop  110  at each end. In one embodiment, the scoring zone is divided into areas with different point values. In a further embodiment, the scoring zone is divided into six 10″ squares and one 10″×30″ area with different point values (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 5, 0, −1,). The playing surface can be rolled up, as illustrated in FIG. 1D.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1E illustrates a side view of a zone game backstop  110 . In one embodiment, there are two backstops measuring 3″×3″×25″ which fasten onto each end of the playing surface. The zone game backstops are made, in one embodiment, of high density plastic, wood, rubber, or polyethylene foam. In another embodiment, the backstops are made of extruded plastic polypropylene or similar material. The backstops measure 2″×4″×36″ in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the backstops measure 0.1″ thickness, 25″ length, 3″ height, 3″ width. Other materials and sizes may be used for the backstops.  
         [0014]    The balls, in one embodiment, are one-piece molded balls, as illustrated in FIGS. 1F and 1G. In one embodiment, the balls are similar to golf balls. Six balls are included in one embodiment of the game, although other amounts of balls may be included. The balls may be of the same color or different colors. In one embodiment, each player has a different colored set of balls. In addition, although the present invention is described in terms of playing with a ball, those experienced in the art will see that many other objects that can be thrown can be used in place of the balls.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1H illustrates a game carry bag, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The game carry bag is made, in one embodiment, of synthetic material with a shoulder strap. Other materials may be used.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 11 illustrates a set of rules, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2A is a flow diagram  200  of a singles version (two teams, each comprised of one player) of play of the game, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    In  205 , the playing surface is unrolled and placed on a flat area. In  210 , both players stand at the same end of the playing surface. In  215 , a first player tosses two balls one at a time trying to get the balls to land in the scoring zone at the opposite end of the playing surface. In  220 , a second player tosses two balls one at a time trying to get them to land in the scoring zone at the opposite end of the playing surface. In  225 , points are not added until both players have thrown all of their balls. In  230 , the player scoring the most points in the previous round shoots first the following round. In  235 , the players repeat  210 - 230  until the game is complete. In  240 , the game is played to a designated winning point (e.g., 15 points, 21 points, 33 points). The winner must win by two or more points. Those experienced in the art will see that one player, playing alone, can also play the game. In this case,  215 ,  225 ,  235 , and  240  are followed. In one embodiment, a player(s) can play against a clock, throwing all of the balls in a predetermined amount of time.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2B illustrates the playing surface and players of the singes version of the game, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3A is a flow diagram of a doubles version of play of the game, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]    In  305 , the playing surface is unrolled and placed on a flat area. In  310 , both teams have one player at each end of the playing surface. In  315 , a player from a first team tosses two balls one at a time trying to get them to land in the scoring zone at the opposite end of the playing surface. In  320 , a player from a second team tosses two balls one at a time trying to get them to land in the scoring zone at the opposite end of the playing surface. In  325 , points are not added until players from both teams have thrown all of their balls. In  330 , the player scoring the most points in the previous round shoots first the following round. In  335 , the players repeat  310 - 330  until the game is complete. In  340 , the game is played to a designated winning point (e.g., 15 points, 21 points, 33 points). The winner must win by two or more points.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3B illustrates the playing surface and players of a doubles version of the game, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4A is a flow diagram of a “cut throat” version of play of the game, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]    In  405 , the playing surface is unrolled and placed on a flat area. In  410 , all players stand at the same end of the playing surface. In  415 , a first player tosses two balls one at a time trying to get them to land in the scoring zone at the opposite end of the playing surface. In  420 , a second players toss two balls one at a time trying to get them to land in the scoring zone at the opposite end of the playing surface. In  425 , any additional players each toss two balls one at a time trying to get them to land in the scoring zone at the opposite end of the playing surface. In  430 , points are not added until players from both teams have thrown all of their balls. In  435 , the player scoring the most points in the previous round shoots first the following round, the player scoring the next most points in the previous round shoots second in the following round, and so on, until the player scoring the least amount of points in the previous round shoots last in the following round. In  440 , the players repeat  410 - 440  until the game is complete. In  445 , the game is played to a designated winning point (e.g., 15 points, 21 points, 33 points). The winner must win by two or more points.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4B illustrates the playing surface and players of a “cut throat” version of the game, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]    The object of the game is to outscore any opponents. The goal is to try to get the ball to land in one of the scoring zones at the end of the surface. The first player or team to score a predetermined amount of points wins.  
         [0027]    The game can also include any of the following features and rules:  
         [0028]    Positioning the playing surface on a flat area with the scoring zone placed flush against a wall or backboard.  
         [0029]    Having the players stand behind the shooting line which is opposite the scoring zone.  
         [0030]    The ball should cross the foul line (5 feel) before touching the playing surface (i.e., players are not allowed to roll the ball).  
         [0031]    The ball is allowed to bounce off the backstop.  
         [0032]    Once the ball lands past the foul line, wherever it stops determines the point value.  
         [0033]    Each throw is worth a total of 5, 3, 2, 1, 0, or 1 points (a maximum of 10 points per turn) based on where in the scoring zone the ball lands.  
         [0034]    If a ball rolls off of the playing surface, or does not reach the scoring zone, it is worth 0 points.  
         [0035]    Whichever scoring zone the majority of the ball lies in determines the point value.  
         [0036]    After the first player completes two throws, the player&#39;s balls are to remain on the playing surface until the next player shoots.  
         [0037]    The second player then shoots, having the advantage of knocking the other player&#39;s balls out of the scoring zone.  
         [0038]    Points are totaled after both players have thrown two balls.  
         [0039]    Whichever player scores the most points per inning, shoots first the next inning.  
         [0040]    Games must be won by a total of at least two points.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate an example of two players playing the game, according to one embodiment of the invention. First, the game is removed from the carry bag and the playing surface is unrolled. In FIG. 5A, it is determined which player shoots first, which color balls each player is shooting, and what score constitutes a winning score. Players Magpie and Mike are playing up to the winning score of 33 in this example. Magpie shoots her two red balls, one at a time, as illustrated in FIG. 5A. In FIG. 5B, after Magpie shoots both her red balls, Mike then shoots his two yellow balls, one at a time. Mike, as the second player, has the ability to knock the first player&#39;s (Magpie&#39;s) red balls out of Magpie&#39;s original scoring position. After each player has completed their turns, both players walk down to the scoring zone. In FIG. 5C, the score for each player is totaled based upon where the balls have rested. Magpie scores two 5 point shots totaling 10 points, while Mike scores 3 points and 5 points totaling 8 points. The score after round 1 is Magpie 10, Mike 8. Magpie, the player scoring the most points in the previous round, shoots first in the next round. The players continue to play rounds until one player hits 33, with 2 points more than the other player. If there are not 2 points between the players when one player reaches 33, the players continue to play rounds until, at the end of a round, there is a 2 point difference between the players. The player with the highest amount of points then wins the game.  
         [0042]    Example embodiments of the present invention have now been described in accordance with the above features. It will be appreciated that these examples are merely illustrative of the invention. Many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.