Abstract:
A board game device is defined by a rectangular or circular raised edge placed on a flat surface. Within the borders of the raised edge, a plurality of game pieces, such as mounds, rings or goals are deployed in a random or symmetrical pattern as desired by the participants. Participants propel target balls at the game pieces using paddles or air devices to urge the target balls in the desired directions. Optionally an octagon may be superimposed on the flat surface with a plurality of brightly colored segments to visually separate the playing area into distinct smaller areas.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to board games, and more particularly to board games having targets, goals, balls and accessories that can be used for various games.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A number of board games are well known for simulating contests such as billiards, baseball, disc hockey, and the like. The instant invention provides a new game, in which the rules of the game are not predefined. The players can enjoy creating their own set of rules or games, and are able to redefine games using different configurations of the game pieces.  
           [0003]    A panoply of multi-colored balls and table tennis balls, wooden paddles and finger paddles, hand pumps and blow pipes are provided, along with center rings and “volcano” chaped pieces to create various target shooting games. Game pieces may be arranged on a colorfully designed planar rectangular board. Alternatively, game pieces may be used on another flat surface, such as a floor or grassy surface. The permutations of game choices is intended to maximize the entertainment options for consumers, by providing more flexibility than traditionally preconceived board games.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention fulfills a need in the art by providing a target ball board game of skill, including a perimeter ring defining a two-dimensional area. At least one ball is used by a player or players, with at least one receptacle defining a passage way into which said at least one ball may be propelled. A means of propulsion, such as a paddle or a finger paddle is provided for moving said the ball or balls about the two-dimensional area and directing said the ball or balls into a desired positions within said two-dimensional area. The perimeter ring has a generally rectangular shape and is positioned upon a board. The flat board has depicted thereon an octagon, divided in eight equal triangular sectors and having a center point common to all eight of said equal size triangular areas. The balls may be table tennis balls or hollow plastic balls. One of the receptacles for defining a passageway may comprise a partial semi-circular hump having a hemispheric depression, cooperative to retain a ball propelled into position above said concave depression, with an appropriate amount of force so that a ball will come to rest within the concave depression. The disclosed invention also has a goal portion formed by a bracket having a rectangular shape open at one end defining a pair of legs connected by a transverse top portion and also having a flat projection extending outwardly from the distal end of each said leg to support said goal in a free standing manner.  
           [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a game comprising a variety of different game pieces in order to encourage creativity and imagination by allowing players to develop new games as often as they like.  
           [0006]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a colorful game board with targets to test the relative skill of players while providing enjoyable entertainment.  
           [0007]    Another object of the present invention to provide a versatile game board format to invite children and adults to create various scoring methods.  
           [0008]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a versatile and portable game apparatus with a plurality of interchangeable and variable game pieces.  
           [0009]    Still another object is to provide a detachable ring to define a playing area apart from the board game, such as no a floor.  
           [0010]    Another object of the invention is to provide another means for development of hand eye coordination and improvement thereof. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the game pieces arranged about a perimeter ring defining the playing field;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an alternate configuration with the game pieces arranged on a rectangular playing board;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is yet another plan view of the board game illustrating an arrangement using goals at various locations on the board&#39;s surface;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 illustrates a method of propulsion of a target ball in which a player blows into a pipe directing a stream of air at a target ball;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate means of propulsion of a target ball with air compressed by a hand pump directed at a ball; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the board game set up on a table top. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a perimeter ring  11  defining a circular playing field  13  within the interior of the circle  11 , is shown. Mounds  16  having dimples  18  are placed about the field  13 , either randomly or in a symmetrical pattern as desired by the participants. A center ring  22  is placed approximately at the center of the circle. Center ring  22  also has a dimple  24  or depression, center ring  22  is distinguishable from individual mounds  16 , in that center ring  22  is visibly larger than mounds  16 . The purpose of the larger center ring  22  is to distinguish it and set it apart from mounds  16  in order to define a main objective or goal for the players. A plurality of table tennis balls  14  are shown in FIG. 1, scattered in various points within and without the playing field. As illustrated in FIG. 1, those balls within the defined playing field are indicative of balls which have been expended or used by the players in attempts to position the balls into a mound  16  or center ring dimple  18 , or  24 . Those target balls  14  positioned outside the perimeter of the raised ring  11 , are indicative of balls yet to be used by the participants. In other words according to rules as agreed between the players, it is anticipated that each player will receive a number of balls with which to attempt to score points.  
         [0018]    A plurality of finger paddles  26  are also shown in FIG. 1. These finger paddles  26  represent one of the means by which players may strike the balls in order to propel them towards the intended targets. The intended targets refer to mounds  16  and center ring  22 . Dimples  18  in mound  16  and the dimple  24  in center ring  22  are formed in a concave depression at the top of the semi-spherical mound. The concavity of dimples  18  is intended to cooperate with the spherical shape of balls  14  such that the balls will be retained in position when a player properly rolls or otherwise propels the ball into the dimple  18 . Dimple  24  may be optionally sized somewhat larger than a target ball in order to make the seating of the ball in the center ring  22  easier to accomplish than say the placement of a ball into the dimple  18  of a mound  16 . Alternately, the dimple or depression  24  in center ring  22  may be large enough even to accommodate several of the target balls if desired.  
         [0019]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a two-dimensional board panel generally designated as No.  10  is defined by a rectangular raised edge  12 . The rectangular area of board panel  10  is further circumscribed by superimposing an octagon  36 . Spoke segments  34  define eight separate symmetrical triangular areas. Spokes  34  extend from center point  35  to the intersection of the eight equal octagon perimeter segments  36 , thereby describing a symmetrical pattern of triangles about the vertical and horizontal axis. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the intersection of each octagon segment  36  is used to define the points for placement of mounds  16 . In the center of the octagon a center ring  22  having center hole  24  is shown. The portion  37  of the board surface outside of octagon  32  is indicated as a border area. As the invention is directed towards leisure and sports activity, to be played by youths or adults, the board is optionally decorated using bright contrasting colors to further set off adjacent segments of the pattern. The bright colors ideally will be attractive to young children, adolescents and adults alike and entice them to want to play the game.  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternate arrangement of board  10  is illustrated. Goal brackets  30  are disposed at adjacent four corners of the rectangular playing area, defined by perimeter raised edge  12 . Spokes  34  and perimeter segments  36  define  8  symmetrical triangular portions of an octagon, having center point  35 . Border areas  37  define the individual player&#39;s corners and goal areas and area for storage of balls which have been accumulated for points, or held in reserve for use in competition. Goals  30  are shown in FIG. 3 in plan view. These goals  30  are also illustrated isometrically in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, goals  30  illustrate the horseshoe shape arrangement of the goal  30  having outwardly extending projections at the distal end of the horseshoe shape, for stabilizing the goal  30  and permitting it to set in a free standing position.  
         [0021]    Referring next to FIG. 4 a side view of a player is shown. The player has a tube  38  inserted at one end into the player&#39;s mouth. Player blows into one end of tube  38  to force air out from the opposite end and direct it towards a target ball  20 , in order to propel it towards and through the horseshoe shaped goal  30 . The object of this is obviously to test the relative skills of players for accuracy and skill in the ability to “score” goals by repeated successful penetrations of target balls  20  through the goal  30 .  
         [0022]    Similarly, in FIG. 5, a hand pump generally designated as  41 , includes handle  42 , rod portion  44  and blower tip  46 . Rod  44  and grip  42  are used to apply forward pressure to a disk (not shown) integral blower tip  46 , thus compressing the air within tip  46  and directing it out of nozzle  47 . The force of the compressed air stream designated as  49  when applied against target ball  20  in turn causes target ball  20  to roll towards and desirably into the opening defined by goal  30 .  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 6, a table  40  is provided on which to deploy the game components including board  10 , having perimeter raised edge  12 , octagon FIG. 32 and goals  30 . This particular configuration of the board game also illustrates a center circle drawn coaxially with the octagon figure, presumably describing another target area to which competitors may assign value. Wooden paddles  48  are shown in various positions on the board. Wooden paddles  48  are intended as another method by which players may strike the target balls  20  in the desired direction towards the goal or mounds or center ring as the players have chosen to employ. It is noteworthy that the board game while including colorful designs and geometrically defined areas to which players may assign points, there are no prescribed set of rules by which the invention is to be used. In other words, players are free to determine among themselves in which configuration they will deploy the game pieces, in what combination they may desire to use the game pieces, and what point value or other scoring method the players might use in order to determine a victor. It is also evident that the plurality of pieces may be used interchangeably and any set of permutations, including variable number of players, variable number of goals, variable number of target balls, thus leaving it to the player&#39;s imagination to find an interesting and competitive combination of rules.  
         [0024]    According to the provisions of patent statutes, I have explained the principle, preferred construction and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiments. However, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.