Abstract:
The invention provides a multi-tiered toss target game. The multi-tiered toss target game may include a plurality of vertically extending tiers having a face surface, wherein the face surface of one or more of the plurality of tiers may be sloped; a plurality of tier front faces, wherein the tier front faces may be disposed between the plurality of tiers; a plurality of target openings arranged in the face surfaces of the plurality of tiers; a base structure including walls configured to support the plurality of tiers; and wherein the walls of the base structure and the tier front faces are sloped.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/033,531, filed on Aug. 5, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a game of skill. In particular, the present invention provides a multi-holed multi-tiered toss type target game. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Currently there are a number of popular toss type target games that use ping pong balls, bean bags, and the like. Such games have many different names and rule variations (e.g., pong, beer pong, Beirut, bean bag toss, bags, tailgate toss, cornhole). For example, the game of pong has many variations with the most common being a game using ping pong balls and six cups or ten cups. Pong is very popular and the rules of play and setup are generally determined by the group playing the game. The circumstances defining the setup make for many variations on the game of pong. This presents a different scenario for each game of pong being played. Many of these games can be heavy, require a lot of space, difficult to set up, and have a large number of required parts making them difficult to use, set-up, and/or transport. Pong, for example, uses an arrangement of freestanding plastic cups into which ping pong balls are tossed, it is often difficult to get/maintain consistent cup spacing, and also the cups are often spilled or knocked over during the course of play. Further still, such traditional toss type games, such as pong and cornhole, can get overplayed and become somewhat mundane. 
         [0004]    Thus, there is a need for a toss type target game that is durable, light weight, easily transportable, takes up minimal space, and has structural integrity. There is also a need for a toss type target game that adds a new spin on the traditional toss type games, is easy to use, easy to play, easy to set up, has a minimum of parts, and can maintain position of the parts during play. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one embodiment the invention provides a multi-tiered toss target game. The multi-tiered toss target game may include a plurality of vertically extending tiers having a face surface, wherein the face surface of one or more of the plurality of tiers may be sloped; a plurality of tier front faces, wherein the tier front faces may be disposed between the plurality of tiers; a plurality of target openings arranged in the face surfaces of the plurality of tiers; a base structure including walls configured to support the plurality of tiers; and wherein the walls of the base structure and the tier front faces are sloped. The walls of the base structure and tier front faces may be sloped at an angle to facilitate stacking of multiple multi-tiered toss target games. The walls of the base structure and tier front faces may be sloped at an angle in the range of about seven (7) degrees from vertical. The sloped face surfaces of the one or more of the plurality of tiers may be sloped at an angle in the range of about thirty (30) degrees downward. The target openings may be substantially circular and may have a diameter in the range of about 3 ⅝ inches. The base structure walls may further include a rear wall portion having an opening. The opening may be substantially circular and may have a diameter in the range of about six (6) inches. The face surface of at least one of the one or more of the plurality of tiers may be substantially horizontal. The multi-tiered toss target game may include a first, second, third, and fourth vertically extending tiers. The first vertically extending tier may be substantially horizontal and the second, third, and fourth vertically extending tiers may include a sloped face. The multi-tiered toss target game may include a first, second, and third vertically extending tiers. The first vertically extending tier may be substantially horizontal and the second and third vertically extending tiers may include a sloped face. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment a multi-tiered toss target game system is provided. The multi-tiered toss target game system may include a plurality of multi-tiered toss target games. Teach of the multi-tiered toss target games may include a plurality of vertically extending tiers having a face surface, wherein the face surface of one or more of the plurality of tiers may include a sloped face surface; a plurality of tier front faces, wherein the tier front faces may be disposed between the plurality of tiers; a plurality of target openings arranged in the face surfaces of the plurality of tiers; a base structure including walls configured to support the plurality of tiers; and wherein the walls of the base structure and the tier front faces are sloped. The multi-tiered toss target game system may further include one or more objects suitable for tossing into the target openings. The one or more objects may include one or more of ping pong balls and bean bags. The multi-tiered toss target games may be stackable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Having thus described the presently disclosed subject matter in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying Drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top down view of a multi-tiered toss target game in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front end view of a multi-tiered toss target game in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear end view of a multi-tiered toss target game in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a multi-tiered toss target game in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a multi-tiered toss target game in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of a pair of multi-tiered toss target game set up for play in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of a pair of multi-tiered toss target game being stacked in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top down view of a multi-tiered toss target game in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  illustrates a front end view of a multi-tiered toss target game in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  illustrates a rear end view of a multi-tiered toss target game in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  illustrates a side view of a multi-tiered toss target game in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective view of a multi-tiered toss target game in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  illustrates a side view of a pair of multi-tiered toss target game set up for play in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  illustrates a side view of a pair of multi-tiered toss target game being stacked in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The presently disclosed subject matter now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The presently disclosed subject matter may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated Drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the presently disclosed subject matter is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0023]    The invention provides multi-holed, multi-tiered toss target game devices. In one example, the toss target game device is a 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device. In another example, the toss game device is a 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device. However, the invention is not limited to these specific configurations. The presently disclosed multi-holed, multi-tiered toss target game devices can include any number of holes (or openings) and/or any number of tiers. The multi-holed, multi-tiered toss target game devices can be used, for example, for playing various types of toss games, e.g., a toss game called pong, beer pong, and/or Beirut (hereafter call pong); and (2) a toss game called bag toss, bags, tailgate toss, and/or cornhole (hereafter called cornhole). Both pong and cornhole have widely ranging rule variations that can be played using the presently disclosed multi-holed, multi-tiered toss target game devices. 
         [0024]    When playing a toss game, at least one, or preferably a pair of multi-holed, multi-tiered toss target game devices, e.g., a 12-hole, 4-tier toss game devices or 6-hole, 3-tier toss game devices are provided. An aspect of the multi-holed, multi-tiered toss target game devices is that they are easily stackable and transportable. More details of an example of the 12-hole, 4-tier toss target game devices is shown and described hereinbelow with reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7 . More details of an example of the 6-hole, 3-tier toss target game devices is shown and described hereinbelow with reference to  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 14 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7 , various views of an example of a 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  are provided. For example,  FIG. 1  shows a top down view,  FIG. 2  shows a front end view,  FIG. 3  shows a rear end view,  FIG. 4  shows a side view, and  FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100 .  FIG. 6  shows a pair of 12-hole, 4-tier toss game devices  100  when in use.  FIG. 7  shows a pair of 12-hole, 4-tier toss game devices  100  being stacked. 
         [0026]    From front to back (in relation to the player), the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  includes a first and lowest tier, followed by a second and slightly higher tier, followed by a third and yet slightly higher tier, followed by a fourth and highest tier. In one example, the height of the first tier is in the range of about 5 inches, the second tier is in the range of about a 1-inch step up from the first tier, the third tier is in the range of about a 1-inch step up from the second tier, and the fourth tier is in the range of about a 2-inch step up from the third tier. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  shows that the first tier has a substantially horizontal face  2  in which multiple target openings  1  are arranged. For example, the horizontal face  2  of the first tier includes six openings  1 ; namely, one opening  1 , followed by two openings  1 , followed by three openings  1  as shown. The second tier has a sloped face  3  that includes three openings  1  arranged crossway in a line. The second tier has a front face  11 . The third tier has a sloped face  5  that includes two openings  1  arranged side-by-side. The third tier also has a front face  12 . The fourth tier has a sloped face  7  that includes one opening  1 . The fourth tier also has a front face  13 . The sloped face  5  of the third tier and a portion of the fourth tier is flanked by a pair of sloped side faces  4 . The sloped face  7  of the fourth tier is flanked by a pair of sloped side faces  6 . The rearmost portion (i.e., behind the fourth tier) of the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  includes a pedestal portion. This pedestal portion includes a substantially horizontal face  9  that is flanked by a pair of sloped side faces  8 . The pedestal portion also has a front face  14 . The pedestal portion is about a 1-inch step up from the fourth tier. 
         [0028]    In one example, the openings  1  are sized to hold any standard plastic cup. In one example, the diameter of the openings  1  is in the range of about 3 ⅝ inches and the openings  1  are spaced in the range of about ¼ inches apart. 
         [0029]    The four tiers are supported by a side surround wall  10  (see  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 ), which forms a substantially hollow structure that may be fully open at the bottom and has the openings  1  arranged upward. Other features are visible in  FIG. 3 . For example, the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  may include a rear wall  17  that is flanked by a pair of stepped rear walls  15  and a pair of side walls  18 . An opening  16  may be provided in the rear wall  17 . By reaching into opening  16 , a player may retrieve items (e.g., bean bags, balls) that have fallen through openings  1  during play. The diameter of opening  16  can vary. However, in one example, the diameter of opening  16  is in the range of about 6 inches. 
         [0030]    Referring again to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7 , the dimensions of the features of the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  can vary. In one example, the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  has an overall width in the range of about 12 inches and overall height in the range of about 16 1/16 inches. In one example, the first tier has a length in the range of about 10 3/16 inches deep, the second tier is in the range of about 4 3/16 inches deep, the third tier is about 4 3/16 inches deep, the fourth tier is in the range of about 4 3/16 inches deep, and the pedestal portion is in the range of about 2 inches deep; making an overall length of the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  in the range of about 24 ¾ inches. Further, the width of the horizontal face  2  of the first tier is in the range of about 11 ⅞ inches, the width of the sloped face  3  of the second tier is in the range of about 11 ⅞ inches, the width of the sloped face  5  of the third tier is in the range of about 8 inches, the width of the sloped face  7  of the fourth tier is in the range of about 4 ⅛ inches, and the width of the horizontal face  9  of the pedestal portion is in the range of about 2 3/16 inches. Further, the height of the first tier is in the range of about 5 inches. 
         [0031]    The angle of the sloped face  3  of the second tier, the sloped face  5  of the third tier, and the sloped face  7  of the fourth tier can vary. However, in one example, the sloped face  3  of the second tier, the sloped face  5  of the third tier, and the sloped face  7  of the fourth tier can be sloped at an angle in the range of about 30 degrees. 
         [0032]    The side surround wall  10 , the front face  11  of the second tier, the front face  12  of the third tier, the front face  13  of the fourth tier, the front face  14  of the pedestal portion, the stepped rear walls  15 , the rear wall  17 , and the side walls  18  are sloped at an angle that allows multiple 12-hole, 4-tier toss game devices  100  to be stacked (see  FIG. 7 ). In one example, the side surround wall  10 , the front face  11  of the second tier, the front face  12  of the third tier, the front face  13  of the fourth tier, the front face  14  of the pedestal portion, the stepped rear walls  15 , the rear wall  17 , and the side walls  18  can be sloped at an angle in the range of about 7 degrees. The presence of the sloped members allows the large open bottom of a first 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  to be fitted down and over the top of a second 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0033]    In one example, the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  is formed of ABS plastic (of any color) using a standard injection molding process. The thickness of the plastic walls/members forming the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  can be, for example, in the range of about 0.178 inches. However, any other suitable material, manufacturing processes, and/or thicknesses may be used. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 6  is a side view of a pair of 12-hole, 4-tier toss game devices  100  when in use. The two 12-hole, 4-tier toss game devices  100  face one another and serve as goals for opposing teams. In one example, the front edges of the two 12-hole, 4-tier toss game devices 100 are placed in the range of about 8 feet apart on a table. In another example, the two 12-hole, 4-tier toss game devices  100  are placed on the ground. A plastic cup, for example, may then be placed in each of the twelve openings  1  in each of the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game devices  100 . Some small amount of liquid, such as water, can be placed in each of the cups to help hold them into the openings  1  during play. 
         [0035]    In one example of a pong game, taking turns, each team tries to toss ping pong balls, or other similar type balls, into the cups of the opposing team&#39;s 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100 . When a ball lands in one of the cups, the cup is removed from the opposing team&#39;s 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100 . Going back and forth, the team that is first able to toss a ball into all of the opposing team&#39;s cups wins the game. During play, the ping pong balls can be retrieved through the opening  16  in the rear wall  17 . 
         [0036]    In a more difficult variation of the pong game, the teams must throw the balls into the cups of (in order) the first tier, then the second tier, then the third tier, and then the fourth tier of the opposing team&#39;s 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100 . The first team to do so is the winner. 
         [0037]    Any variations of the rules of the game are possible. For example, if a player tosses a ball into the top (fourth tier) cup at any time, then his/her team is an instant winner. 
         [0038]    With regard to using the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  to play cornhole, the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  is set up without cups in the openings  1  and bean bags are used. Standard cornhole rules or any other variations thereof may be used. During play, the bean bags can be retrieved through the opening  16  in the rear wall  17 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 14 , various views of an example of a 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device  200  are provided. For example,  FIG. 8  shows a top down view,  FIG. 9  shows a front end view,  FIG. 10  shows a rear end view,  FIG. 11  shows a side view, and  FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device  200 .  FIG. 13  shows a pair of 6-hole, 3-tier toss game devices  200  when in use.  FIG. 14  shows a pair of 6-hole, 3-tier toss game devices  200  being stacked. 
         [0040]    The 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device  200  is substantially the same 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  except the it includes three tiers only instead of four. Further, the size and dimensions have been adjusted for six opens  1  rather than twelve openings  1 . For example, the first tier of the 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device  200  includes substantially the same members as the first tier of the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100 , but with three openings  1  only rather than six. The second tier of the 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device  200  includes substantially the same members as the second tier of the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100 , but with two openings  1  only rather than three. The third tier of the 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device  200  includes substantially the same members as the fourth tier of the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100  and has the one opening  1 . The pedestal portion of the 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device  200  is substantially the same as the pedestal portion of the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100 . 
         [0041]    Again, the openings  1  are sized to hold any standard plastic cup. In one example, the diameter of the openings  1  is in the range of about 3 ⅝ inches and the openings  1  are spaced in the range of about ¼ inches apart. 
         [0042]    In the 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device  200 , the height of the first tier is in the range of about 5 inches, the second tier is in the range of about a 1-inch step up from the first tier, the third tier is in the range of about a 2-inch step up from the second tier, and the pedestal portion is in the range of about a 1-inch step up from the third tier. 
         [0043]    Accordingly, the 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device  200  has an overall width of in the range of about 8 inches, an overall height in the range of about 13 1/16 inches, and an overall length in the range of about 16 ½ inches. Again, the angle of the sloped face  3  of the second tier and the sloped face  7  of the third tier can vary. However, in one example, the sloped face  3  of the second tier and the sloped face  7  of the third tier can be sloped at an angle in the range of about 30 degrees. Again, to support stackability (see  FIG. 14 ), the side surround wall  10 , the front face  11  of the second tier, the front face  13  of the third tier, the front face  14  of the pedestal portion, and the rear wall  17  can be sloped at an angle in the range of about 7 degrees. 
         [0044]    Again, the 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device  200  can be formed of ABS plastic (of any color) using a standard injection molding process. The thickness of the plastic walls/members forming the 6-hole, 3-tier toss game device  200  can be, for example, in the range of about 0.178 inches. However, any other suitable material, manufacturing processes, and/or thicknesses may be used. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 13  is a side view of a pair of 6-hole, 3-tier toss game devices  200  when in use. The two 6-hole, 3-tier toss game devices  200  face one another and serve as goals for opposing teams. In one example, the front edges of the two 6-hole, 3-tier toss game devices  200  are placed in the range of about 8 feet apart on a table. In another example, the two 6-hole, 3-tier toss game devices  200  are placed on the ground. A plastic cup is then placed in each of the six openings  1  in each of the two 6-hole, 3-tier toss game devices  200 . Some small amount of liquid, such as water, can be placed in each of the cups to help hold them into the openings  1  during play. The 6-hole, 3-tier toss game devices  200  can be used to play pong or cornhole, such as described above with reference to the 12-hole, 4-tier toss game device  100 . 
         [0046]    Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in this application, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a subject” includes a plurality of subjects, unless the context clearly is to the contrary (e.g., a plurality of subjects), and so forth. 
         [0047]    Throughout this specification and the claims, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and “comprising” are used in a non-exclusive sense, except where the context requires otherwise. Likewise, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items. 
         [0048]    For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, sizes, dimensions, proportions, shapes, formulations, parameters, percentages, quantities, characteristics, and other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” even though the term “about” may not expressly appear with the value, amount or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter. For example, the term “about,” when referring to a value can be meant to encompass variations of, in some embodiments, ±100% in some embodiments ±50%, in some embodiments ±20%, in some embodiments ±10%, in some embodiments ±5%, in some embodiments ±1%, in some embodiments ±0.5%, and in some embodiments ±0.1% from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate to perform the disclosed methods or employ the disclosed compositions. 
         [0049]    Further, the term “about” when used in connection with one or more numbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to refer to all such numbers, including all numbers in a range and modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers, e.g., whole integers, including fractions thereof, subsumed within that range (for example, the recitation of 1 to 5 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, as well as fractions thereof, e.g., 1.5, 2.25, 3.75, 4.1, and the like) and any range within that range. 
         [0050]    Although the foregoing subject matter has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.