Abstract:
A sports game for providing players with a fun and dynamic activity. The sports game is played using a pair of hitting elements, a pair of bases, a ball, and a plurality of stacking elements. The game is played by two opposing teams in which one team pitches the ball in an attempt to knock over stacking elements disposed behind each of the bases and the other team attempts to hit the ball as it is pitched in order to prevent the ball from hitting the stacking elements. After hitting the ball, the hitter runs between the bases in order to accumulate points.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/048,860 filed on Sep. 11, 2014. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to game devices. More specifically, the present invention provides a sports game method of play which uses a plurality of stacking elements and pair of bases, wherein the bases are separated from one another by a predetermined distance so as to serve as a marker for the placement of the stacking elements and one or more players. The sports game further uses a pair of hitting elements and a ball, wherein a pair of players on a first team stand across from one another and pitch the ball in an attempt to knock over the stacking elements disposed behind each base. A pair of players on an opposing team attempt to hit the ball with the hitting elements in order to prevent the ball from reaching and knocking over the stacking elements. 
         [0003]    Many individuals often engage in various activities in order to get in shape, stay healthy, socialize, and have fun. However, many children often lose interest in physical sports and become bored easily. Having a sedentary lifestyle can lead to childhood obesity and other related health issues. Furthermore, conventional outdoor games geared towards adults and older children are not easily modified in order to be played by younger children. Therefore, there exists a need in the prior art for a game that can be played by users of all ages while incorporating entertaining components in order to motivate children and adults to be active. 
         [0004]    Devices and methods have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to game devices and methods. These include devices and methods that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices and methods generally relate to hitting a ball with a mallet or paddle, such as U.S. Pat. No. 8,409,035, U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2013/0337946, and U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2007/0010352. Another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,722, generally relates to a method for playing a game consisting of two bases, six cans, a ball, and a bat, wherein a player attempts to hit the cans with batted ball. 
         [0005]    These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. The prior art devices and methods comprise a hitting element, such as a bat, paddle, or mallet, used to hit a ball, wherein a player earns points by knocking over a can or a tower-type device. However, the prior art fails to disclose a two-team game, wherein a first team attempts to hit a ball in order to prevent a second team from knocking over a set of stacking elements. 
         [0006]    In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing sports games. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of sports games now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new sports game wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when modifying a sports game to be played by people of all ages. 
         [0008]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved sports game that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a sports game that is played using a pair of bases, a pair of bats, a ball, and a plurality of stacking elements, wherein the bases are adapted to be separated by a predetermined distance. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a sports game wherein a first set of stacking elements are positioned behind a first base and a second set of stacking elements are positioned behind a second base. 
         [0011]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sports game wherein stacking elements are stacked one on top of another in order to increase the level of difficulty. 
         [0012]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sports game method of play wherein four players are divided into two teams such that one team can bat and the other team can pitch the ball, wherein the hitters can swing at the ball using the hitting elements and attempt to hit the ball in order to prevent the pitcher from knocking over the stacked elements disposed behind each base. 
         [0013]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sports game method of play wherein a pair of hitters run between the two bases and contact them in order to accumulate points once a hitter hits the ball, while the pitching team attempts to retrieve the ball in order to continue pitching to knock down the stacking elements. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a sports game that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability. 
         [0015]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the components used to play the sports game. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the sports game in play. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart for a method of play of the sports game. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the sports game. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for modifying a sports game to be played by people of all ages. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of the components used to play the sports game. The sports game  11  is played using a pair of bases  12 , wherein the bases  12  are positioned apart from one another at a predetermined distance. In play, the bases  12  are used to mark the positioning of where one or more players are required to stand. The sports game  11  further uses a ball  14  and a pair of hitting elements  13 . The ball  14  is spherical in shape and adapted to make contact with the bats  13  and stacking elements  15 . Any suitable ball  15  can be used, such as a baseball, tennis ball, and whiffle ball, among others. Each hitting element  13  includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is held by a user and the second end is used to strike the ball  14 . Any suitable hitting element  13  can be used, including a racquet, a stick, and a paddle, among others. 
         [0022]    A plurality of stacking elements  15  serve as targets to be knocked over by the ball  14 . A first stacking element  15  can be stacked on a second stacking element  15 , wherein one or more additional stacking elements  15  can be placed on the second stacking element  15 . Preferably, each stacking element  15  comprises the same size as one another. Preferably, the stacking elements comprise can-like structures. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , there is shown a perspective view of the sports game in play and a flowchart for a method of play of the sports game, respectively. The method of play of the sports game comprises a first team (team A) and a second team (team B), wherein the first team includes a first hitter  16  and a second hitter  24  and the second team includes a first pitcher  17  and a second pitcher  17 . The method further comprises separating the first base  12  and second base  12  from one another by a predetermined distance in order to serve as markers for the positioning of each of the teams. In the illustrated embodiment, the first pitcher  17  stands behind or adjacent to the rear edge of the first base  12  and a second pitcher  23  stands behind or adjacent to the rear edge of the second base  12 . Whereas the first hitter  16  stands on or next to the lateral edge of the second base  12  and the second hitter  24  stands on or next to the lateral edge of the first base  12 . These are the starting positions for each player  16 ,  17 ,  23 ,  24  and team. 
         [0024]    The bases  12  further indicate the positioning of the stacking elements  15 . In the illustrated embodiment, a first set of stacking elements  15  are positioned adjacent to a rear edge of the first base  12  and a second set of stacking elements  15  are positioned adjacent to a rear edge of the second base  12 , wherein the positioning mirrors one another. The stacking elements  15  and players are positioned in this way relative to the bases  12  in order to allow adequate space between the hitters  16  and the pitchers  16  so as to avoid hitting one another with a ball  14  or hitting elements  13 . Each pitcher  17 ,  23  takes a turn throwing the ball  14  in an attempt to knock over a set of stacking elements  15 , whereas each hitter  16 ,  24  attempts to prevent the ball  14  from hitting the stacking elements  15  by hitting the ball  14  with the hitting element  13  before it reaches the stacking elements  15 . 
         [0025]    The stacking elements  15  are positioned in a two by two formation, meaning two stacking elements  15  are positioned side by side and each having another stacking element  15  on top thereof. However, in alternate embodiments, the stacking elements  15  may be disposed in any number of formations. Thus, the various formations allow for more challenging or less challenging games. The larger the formation, the larger the target provided, thus making the game easier for younger children with less developed hand eye coordination. The smaller the formation, the smaller the target to be hit, thus making the game more challenging. 
         [0026]    In play, the first pitcher  17  throws the ball  14  towards the second base  12  in an attempt to knock over the first set of stacking elements  15 . If the first pitcher  17  knocks over the stacking elements  15 , the first team is “out,” meaning the teams switch positions so as to allow the pitchers  17 ,  23  to become the hitters  16 ,  24  and the hitters  16 ,  24  to become the pitchers  17 ,  23 . All the stacking elements  15  in a set are required to be knocked down with a single throw of the ball  14 , however, in alternate embodiments, only one or more stacking elements  15  need to be knocked over by the first or second pitcher  17 ,  23 . 
         [0027]    The objective of the pitchers  17 ,  23  is to become the hitters  16 ,  24  because, in the illustrated embodiment, points are accumulated by the hitters  16 ,  24  once the ball  14  is hit thereby. Once the ball  14  is hit, the hitters  16 ,  24  run between the each base  12  and contact the bases  12  with a foot or the bat  13 . Each time a hitter  16 ,  24  contacts a first or second base  12 , points are accumulated. During the turn of the first pitcher  17  and first hitter  16 , the second pitcher  23  is awaiting his or her turn to pitch and is responsible for retrieving the ball  14 , along with the first pitcher  17 , if hit by the first hitter  16 . The second hitter  24  is awaiting his or her turn to hit the ball  14 , as well as preparing to run between the bases  12  in the event that the first hitter  16  hits the ball  14 . 
         [0028]    However, the first hitter  16  is able to prevent the ball  14  from reaching the stacking elements  15  by hitting the ball  14  with the hitting element  13  as the ball  14  passes over the second base  12 . The first and second hitter  16 ,  24  are able to earn and accumulate points if the first or second hitter  16 ,  24  hits the ball  14 . Once a hitter  16 ,  24  hits the ball  14  with the hitting element  13 , each hitter  16 ,  24  runs between the first base  12  and second base  12  while each of the pitchers  17 ,  23  retrieve the ball  14 . A predetermined point value is earned each time a first hitter  16  or a second hitter  24  run to and touch the first base  12  or the second base  12 . The hitters  16 ,  24  are able to accumulate points until the pitchers  17 ,  23  are able to retrieve the ball  14  and knock over either the first set or the second set of the stacking elements  15  while throwing from the starting position. In this way, the hitters  16 ,  24  are “out” once the stacking elements  15  are knocked over. 
         [0029]    Alternatively, the second pitcher  23  then throws the ball towards the first set of stacking elements if the first pitcher  17  is unable to knock over the stacking elements  15  and the first hitter  16  is unable to hit the ball  14 . The second hitter  24  then has the opportunity to prevent the ball  14  from reaching the first set of stacking elements  15  by hitting the ball  14  with his or her hitting element  13 . The players continue to alternate turns until the first or second pitcher  17 ,  23  knocks over their respective stacking elements  15  in order to get the first and second hitter  16 ,  24  “out.” The team that accumulates a predetermined score first wins the game. 
         [0030]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0031]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.