Abstract:
An object tossing game includes a portable receiving board and a container. The container defines a reservoir containing a volume of water. The board is positioned within the container and floats atop the water. The board is constructed out of a buoyant material and includes at least one (1) receiving aperture. The board also includes a catch pocket positioned below the receiving aperture to catch and hold game pieces received by the aperture. The water provides a force dampener when the thrown game piece impacts a surface of the board.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/064,210 filed Oct. 15, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an object tossing game including tossing projectiles at a portable target receiving board floating within a container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Older people often remember with great fondness the games of their youth. Neighborhood children would often play tag, board games, baseball, badminton, horseshoes, and darts. While some of those games are still popular they are not as popular as they once were. 
     One (1) reason for the decline in popularity of these older games is that today&#39;s children, and even some adults, are more influenced by fast action computer games, movies, and other such activities that incorporate sound and light effects. However, some of the older games combined elements of both competition and skill that are difficult to replicate on a computer and if given a try would compete well with today&#39;s modern games. 
     One (1) such game incorporates tossing a projectile towards a receiving board that floats on a volume of water within a container. A successful toss, when the projectile passes into the target, results in a score. There are many different ways to determine who wins such a game and can be implemented as follows: high score, first to a score, or first to accumulate a given score are some of the possibilities. 
     The challenge of simply tossing a projectile towards a target should not be underrated. It can be remarkably challenging and fun, and if a player becomes too skilled the difficulty can be increased simply by moving the game further away from the player(s), establishing a boundary, or other rules geared towards increasing the game&#39;s difficulty. Accordingly, there exists a need for a game which incorporates tossing a projectile towards a receiving board in a manner which is simple while challenging, adaptable with respect to difficulty and most importantly fun. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for an object tossing game that comprises tossing projectiles at a portable target receiving board floating within a container. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a game, comprising at least one (1) target. Each target comprising a container, a board assembly residing within the container and at least one (1) game piece. Each game piece is adapted to be tossed towards the target. The container further comprises a reservoir having a rim around an upper perimeter and tapering sidewalls to a bottom wall. The board assembly comprises a laminated structure including buoyant layers affixed to a rigid frame layer, a target aperture extending through each of the buoyant layers and the frame layer, and a pocket affixed to a bottom of the board assembly and aligned with the target aperture. The target aperture is sized slightly larger than a diameter of each game piece. The buoyant layers include an upper padded layer, a lower padded layer affixed to a bottom surface of the upper padded layer and affixed to an upper surface of the frame layer, and a hydrodynamic dampening foam layer affixed to a bottom surface of the frame layer. The reservoir has at least one handle integrally molded into the rim. The target aperture is circular in cross-section. Each container may also be adapted to receive a volume of water therein. Each individual board assembly may also be adapted to be placed within the container and float on the volume of water therein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an object tossing game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2 a    is a perspective view of the object tossing game  10  depicting removal of upper padded layer  62  and lower padded layer  63  portions, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2 b    is a sectional view of the object tossing game  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 3 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 3  is an environmental view of the object tossing game  10  depicting an in-use state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  object tossing game 
               20  container 
               22  reservoir 
               24  rim 
               26  handle 
               30  water 
               60  board assembly 
               61  target aperture 
               62  upper padded layer 
               63  lower padded layer 
               64  frame layer 
               66  foam layer 
               68  fabric pocket 
               70  fastener 
               75  gap 
               80  game piece 
               100  player 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an object tossing game (herein described as the “game”)  10 , which provides a means for improved control of a thrown game piece  80  upon landing upon a game board  60  via the utilization of a hydrodynamic shock-absorbing construction. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2   a , and  2   b , perspective and sectional views of the game  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The game  10  includes a pair of containers  20 , a pair of board assemblies  60 , and a plurality of washer-shaped game pieces  80 . 
     The containers  20  and board assemblies  60  are positioned at a distance from each other as players  100  toss the washer-shaped game pieces  80  onto an opposing board assembly  60  in a similar manner as the game of “washers”. 
     The board assembly  60  is made up of a buoyant laminated structure including buoyant layers which are affixed to a rigid frame layer  64  made of wood, plastic, or equivalent rigid buoyant material using fasteners  70  such as staples, screws, rivets, or the like. A preferred embodiment of the board assembly  60  is approximately sixteen inches (16 in.) width and approximately twenty-two inches (22 in.) in length; however, it is understood that various models of the game  10  may be introduced having actual sizes and shapes based upon a skill level of a player  100  and other user preferences, and as such should not be interpreted as a limitation of scope. The board assembly  60  includes an upper padded layer  62 , a lower padded layer  63  affixed to a bottom surface of the upper padded layer  62  and affixed to an upper surface of the frame layer  64 , and a hydrodynamic dampening foam layer  66  affixed to a bottom surface of the frame layer  64 . The upper padded layer  62  and a lower padded layer  63  portions, are made using materials such as but not limited to, sections of carpeting, attached to an upper surface of the frame layer  64 , and a hydrodynamic dampening foam layer  66  affixed to a bottom surface and made using a material such as polystyrene, urethane foam, or other hydraulic dampening material, also affixed using fasteners  70 . 
     The board assembly  60  further includes a target aperture  61  having a circular cross-section approximately three inches (3 in.) in diameter, which extends entirely through the board assembly  60  into which the player  100  attempts to throw the game piece  80  into during play. The target aperture  61  is centrally located within the board assembly  60 . The target aperture  61  is to be sized slightly larger than the game piece  80 , thereby allowing the game piece to descend through the target aperture  61  and be received into a subjacent fabric pocket  68  being affixed to a bottom surface of the board assembly  60  using additional fasteners  70 . The fabric pocket  68  is to be centered upon a bottom opening portion of the target aperture  61 . 
     The container  20  provides a shallow rectangular reservoir  22  having rounded corner portions and being approximately three inches (3 in.) in depth. The reservoir  22  is preferably made of a plastic material and having integrally-molded rim  24  and handle  26  portions likewise being integrally-molded into rim  24 . Additionally, the reservoir  22  is preferably tapered to allow for compact stacked storage of the reservoirs  22  when the game  10  is not in use. The container  20  provides an open top portion being sized and shaped to receive the board assembly  60  within, so as to result in a small gap  75  of approximately one-quarter on an inch (¼ in.) all around between the container  20  and board assembly  60  which is in turn covered over by the lower padded layer  63  which extends outwardly, and is draped over the rim portion  24  of the reservoir  22 . 
       FIG. 2 a    provides a view of the apparatus  10  having the upper padded layer  62  and lower padded layer  63  portions removed to better illustrate the relationship between the container  20  and the frame layer  64 . 
     During preparation for play, the container  20  receives a volume of water  30  approximately one inch (1 in.) deep. The board assembly  60  is then inserted into the open top of the container  20  so as to float upon the water  30 . The game  10  provides a dampened landing of the game piece  80  due to the dampening effect caused by the construction of the board assembly  60  and the water  30 . The dampened landing of the game pieces  80  prevents uncontrolled bouncing of the game pieces  80  during play, thereby providing a more enjoyable experience. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an environmental view of the game  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The game  10  is envisioned to be played using similar rules as popular tossing games such as “washers”, “horseshoes”, or the like. The containers  20  are envisioned being spaced apart approximately twenty-one feet (21 ft.), having a player  100  or players  100  positioned adjacent to one (1) container  20  and pitching the game pieces  80  at a distant board assembly  60 . The scoring of the game  10  is envisioned to vary based upon particular game rules and may include scoring based upon game events such as, but not limited to: a game piece  80  entering the target aperture  61 , a game piece  80  partially covering the target aperture  61 , and so on. It is further envisioned that the game  10  would continue until a player obtains a previously agreed upon number of points required to win the game. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the game  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     The method of installing and preparing the game  10  for play may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring the game  10 ; filling the reservoir  22  of each container  20  with approximately one inch (1 in.) of water  30 ; placing respective board assemblies  60  into the open top portions of each container  20 ; allowing the board assemblies  60  to float upon the water  30 ; draping the lower padded layer  63  up and over the rim portion  24  of the reservoir  22 ; and, placing the containers  20  upon a ground surface being spaced apart approximately twenty-one feet (21 ft.). The game  10  is now ready for play. 
     It is also envisioned that the board assemblies  60  may be submerged into the water  30  by a user  100  prior to play or submerged periodically during play to provide “swamping” of the upper padded layer  62  to produce a desired dampening effect. 
     The playing of the game  10  may be performed by the following steps: positioning a player  100 , or team of players  100 , adjacent to one (1) or both containers  20 ; pitching the game pieces  80  at the distant board assembly  60 ; counting accumulated scoring for each player  100  or team based upon game events such as, but not limited to: a game piece  80  entering the target aperture  61 , a game piece  80  partially covering the target aperture  61 , and so on; allowing the combined hydrodynamic effect of the board assembly  60  and the water  30  to dampen the contact of the game piece  80  upon contacting the board assembly  60 ; continuing to remove game pieces  80  from the board assembly  60  and/or fabric pocket  68  as needed; alternating a direction of pitching the game pieces  80 ; repeating the previously described pitching of the game pieces  80  until a player  100  or team obtains a previously agreed upon number of points required to win the game  10 ; and, benefiting from the dampened landing of the game pieces  80 , thus preventing uncontrolled bouncing of the game pieces  80 , thereby providing a user  100  of the present invention  10  a more enjoyable experience afforded a user  100  of the present invention  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.