Abstract:
A method of playing a scoring bag tossing game that utilizes a plurality of geometrically shaped appendages arranged in a unique array across and extending outward from a scoring board. The scoring of the game being gauged upon the skill of difficulty in tossing a scoring bag onto a designated geometrically-shaped appendage or through an appropriately sized aperture. The tossing game is designed for two, three, four, five or six players; with varying numbers of players and teams of the same or different numbers of players, all playing against one another. The game can be played with one or more scoring boards and has differing rules creating varying levels of difficulty of play.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention resides in the field of games involving the tossing of a game piece toward a backboard in order to score points by having the game piece engage one or more appendages or supports on the backboard, or traverse an opening in the backboard, to be awarded points. 
         [0002]    A number of different types of competitive toss or throw games have been described and played over the years. Game pieces of numerous shapes and sizes, including balls, horseshoes, bean bags, or weighted objects tied at the end of a short cord, have been tossed or thrown at various ‘targets’. A common example is the game of horseshoes, where an object resembling a horseshoe is thrown at a metal post target. Another example of a toss game is bocce ball. In this game, the first player throws a smaller target ball and the other players throw or roll larger balls to attempt to come as close as possible to the target ball. Both horseshoes and bocci ball are generally played outdoors as they may damage indoor surfaces. 
         [0003]    Bean bag games are another type of throw and toss games. These games utilize bags of cloth or other flexible material filled with granular matter, such as rice, beans or sand. These bags may be thrown at different types of targets, including markings on the ground to container-like targets having opening or apertures into which the bag is thrown. One advantage of bean bag games is that they can be played indoors or outdoors. However, most bean bag games utilize simple targets and scoring schemes, and thus tend to create a lack of competitiveness. Additionally, the games often provide each player or team with only four or less bags to be used per throwing round, providing for shorter rounds. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,314,420 [Konstant] discloses a bean bag throwing game where each team throws a total of four bean bags per round at a ‘target’ bean bag. The score is determined by the proximity of the tossed bean bags to the ‘markings’ on the ‘target’ bean bag. This game format lacks the target complexity and the time of play per round, and may therefore lack competitiveness. Moreover, many bean bag games require that the bag be placed exclusively within an opening on the target or near the aperture in order to gain points. This scenario creates a one dimensional game with respect to scoring, i.e. providing for only one scoring position. 
         [0004]    The present invention comprises a method of play that combines the practicality of utilizing a bean bag with a multi-dimensional target and a complex scoring scheme to foster a longer and a more competitive bean bag tossing game. The method of play relies on the use of weighted bags for tossing at a plurality of shelf-like appendages arranged on a supporting board and extending outward toward the game player. Additionally, there is a center aperture that is large enough to permit the weighted bags to pass through. 
         [0005]    The support boards of the present invention also include a unique built-in scoring system which can indicate both the total game score at the end of each round, as well as the point score during a particular round. Different scoring methods and rules of play create a unique and competitive bag toss game for adults. 
         [0006]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a game board including a plurality of shelf-like projections for catching and retaining one or more weighted bags thereon and a centrally located aperture for permitting the passage of a weighted bag creating seven scoring positions, with each scoring position designated to receive a predetermined point value. It is a further object of this invention to create a unique scoring system that produces the game score at the end of each round while also tracking player points earned during the play of a particular round. Moreover, it is the object of this invention to utilize at least seven bags per team; creating longer and more competitive rounds. It is also an object of this invention to provide a bag tossing game that can be played with fourteen to twenty-four bags, depending on the level of the game being played, and preferably with eight bags per team. It is another object of the present invention that the game is designed for multiple players acting individually or as a team, and preferably for two, three, four, five or six players. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a game that is easy for unskilled or young players and yet still be extremely challenging for advanced or skilled players. 
         [0007]    Other objects will appear hereinafter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention comprises a method of playing a scoring bag tossing game that utilizes a unique game board including a plurality of differently shaped shelf-like projections arranged around a central aperture on the scoring board. The preferred throwing projectile is a bean bag-like scoring bag, which may contain rice, corn or any loose material that will fill the scoring bags. The scoring of the game is gauged upon the skill or difficulty in tossing a scoring bag onto a designated shelf-like projection or through the aperture. The central aperture permits the passage of a scoring bag for various levels of game play. The scoring positions are arranged on the game board so that some of the positions are more difficult to achieve than others. 
         [0009]    The scoring board is a flat planar area that can take on any common geometric shape such as a square, circle, oval or triangle. The dimensional length of the longer bifurcating line of these geometric shapes is at least 36 inches in length. The scoring board consists of seven scoring positions with each scoring position having a designated point value. The seven scoring positions comprise an array of six concave outwardly extending shelves with the concavity facing upward and a round hole in the middle of the scoring board, which allows a tossed item to pass through it, as the seventh position. It is not necessary that the seventh scoring position be in the middle of the board. The seven scoring positions can be any type of shelf, hole, peg, pin or combinations of the same, which is capable of holding or retaining in place a tossed item. Moreover, the scoring board is positioned at an angle of less than ninety degrees from the ground to allow the bags to slide down the scoring board and fall onto the designated scoring shelves or pass through the center hole. The scoring board can be made to work completely vertical or horizontal depending on the type of scoring area construction used and the type of items being tossed. The scoring boards may also have folding shelves to hold bags or beverages, etc. 
         [0010]    The game play is conceived for two to six players, e.g., two players may compete against each other, a team consisting of two players may compete against another team of two players, three players may individually compete against each of the other two players, three teams of two players may play against each other, or three teams comprising two players on two of the teams and one player on the third team may play against each other, or any other combination of team player membership that may be possible. The game may be played with one or two scoring boards. In the case of a single scoring board, that board is placed at a designated distance from a throwing line. When two scoring boards are used, the scoring boards are placed apart at the designated distance with each of the scoring boards facing the other board. 
         [0011]    The game consists of fourteen to twenty-four bags of equal size and weight, with at least seven bags for each team. The game may be played with a different number of bags depending on the level of competition desired, however, sixteen is the ideal amount, with eight bags per player or team. Each team has bags of a different color than the other team. Of the eight bags per team, seven of the scoring bags are plain and one is a score-negating bag that is specially marked so to be differentiated from the other scoring bags. 
         [0012]    The object of the game is to earn exactly seventy-one points before the other team. Teams toss the bags from a position directly in front of one scoring board toward the other board, alternating throws. Opposite color bags on same shelf cancel each other out. Furthermore, bonus points can be earned for controlling a shelf. The center hole in the scoring board is played like traditional bean bag games. The score-negating bag cancels all points on or in any scoring position it lands. The score-negating bag can cancel out another score-negating bag of the other team and the original points for that position will return. The game can be played on three levels of competition: level one or beginner, level two and level three. Other variations of the game will be described more fully hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the scoring bag toss game of the present invention showing the support board, the scoring pegs on the top of the board, and scoring board slide outs. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the present invention showing the scoring board support mechanism and the folding shelf located on the back of the scoring board to hold bags or beverages. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the scoring board showing the peg scoring system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a first alternate embodiment of another geometric shape for the scoring shelf as an inverted parallelogram. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a second alternate embodiment of another geometric shape for the scoring shelf as an inverted triangle. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a third alternate embodiment of another geometric shape for the scoring shelf as a straight planar shelf. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the scoring bag toss game support board showing the board support leg, the folding shelves and the storage locking mechanism all in the closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not intended in a limiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         [0022]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals refer to like parts or elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a scoring bag toss game  10  of the present invention. The game  10  may be manufactured out of a variety of materials, e.g., wood, metal, or plastics. Additionally, the game  10  comprises a scoring board  12 , six bag catching shelves  14 , a center scoring aperture  16 , a pair of scoring board slide outs  18 , at least two scoring pegs  20  and a plurality of scoring bags  13 . The scoring board  12  is a flat planar area that can be constructed in the shape of common geometric shapes, such as a square, circle, oval or triangle. The dimensional length of the longer bifurcating line of the scoring board  12  is desired to be at least  36  inches in length. Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 2 , there is attached to the back of the scoring board  12  a board support leg  24  that locks to two folding shelves  22  at a particular angle. Folding shelves  22  can be used to hold the scoring bags  13 , food or beverages, etc.  FIG. 2  also shows an adjustable exterior chain  28  to limit the extension of the support leg  24 , and position the scoring board  12  at the desired angle. 
         [0023]    The scoring board  12  is desired to be positioned at an angle of less than ninety degrees from perpendicular to the ground to allow the bags to slide down the scoring board and fall into the designated scoring shelves or pass through the center hole. The bag catching shelves  14  are arrayed across the scoring board  12  in a pyramidal formation with the scoring aperture  16  located at the approximate center of the scoring board  12 . The bag catching shelves  14  and the scoring aperture  16  comprise the scoring positions of the game  10  and are arranged in strategic positions for a more challenging game. 
         [0024]    There are at least seven scoring bags  13  per team, for a total of at least fourteen bags and the competing players alternate turns tossing the scoring bags  13  at the scoring board  12 , in an attempt to place the scoring bags  13  on the bag catching shelves  14 , or alternatively into and through the scoring aperture  16 . The scoring bags  13  may contain rice, corn or any loose material that will produce sufficient weight for throwing and fill the scoring bags  13 . 
         [0025]    To keep track of the total score at the end of each throwing round, scoring board slide outs  18 , which are located on the upper portion of the scoring board  12 , keep track of the score as the scoring bags  13  are retained on the catching shelves  14 . In the case of three individual players or three teams an additional scoring board slide out (not shown), located on one side or the other, such that the additional scoring board slide out operates in the same manner as the other two slide-outs  18 . The top of the scoring board  12  has a game scoring system  30  that comprises numbered holes  32  that hold colored scoring pegs  20  that are color coded to the colors of the scoring bags  13 . The game scoring system  30  may be configured as a pair of parallel numbered holes  32  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), or may be a single line of numbered holes such that a tie score would be indicated by mounting two differently colored scoring pegs  20  atop one another. The color-coded pegs  20  are placed in the numbered holes corresponding to the total score at the end of each throwing round as the individual or team score is totaled to indicate a total score from the earlier round or rounds and the round just ended. 
         [0026]    The scoring board slide outs  18  exit from the left or the right side of the scoring board  12 , and allow the players to track the point score after every throw during a particular round. The scoring board slide outs  18 , having a right and left aperture  15  (see  FIG. 2 ), respectively, are also color coded to match the color of the throwing bags  13 . The scoring board slide outs  18  may use a hole, peg, pin, or slot in order to keep track of the scoring during a particular round, or may rest at the extended length with the scoring numbers just outside of the side of scoring board  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]    In one preferred embodiment, the seven scoring positions comprise six concave bag catching shelves  14  with the concavity facing upwards and the scoring aperture  16  in the approximate middle of the scoring board  12 , which allows a tossed bag to pass through it, as the seventh position. The aperture  16  has a diameter of at least four inches, with a painted circle around the aperture  16  with a diameter of at least seven inches. The scoring positions can be any type of shelf, hole, peg, pin or combinations of the same, which is capable of holding or containing more than one tossed bag. The bag catching shelf  14  has a desired width of at least six inches and a depth that is at least three inches, to allow more than one scoring bag  13  to rest on or within the confines of the shelf  14 . The distance from the upper portion of the board  12  to the bottom of the uppermost bag support shelf  14  is at least seven inches, as the size of the scoring board  12  may vary, this distance remains unchanged. Each bag catching shelf  14 , because of its placement in the scoring board  12 , has a different degree of difficulty. The bag catching shelf  14  may be selected from any common geometrical shape, which is capable of holding or retaining a tossed item on the shelf  14 . Some of the various shelf shapes are shown in  FIGS. 4 through 6 . Alternate shapes of the bag catching shelf  14  include an inverted parallelogram, an inverted triangle, a straight planar shelf, or combinations of these shapes, which are just a few examples of possible alternate shapes. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown the rear of the scoring board  12  where board support leg  24  for holding the scoring board in the open game-playing position. Alternatively, the board support leg  24  can be placed in a closed position for storage by the use of lock  26  to secure board support leg  24  to the back of scoring board  12 . The folding shelves  22  can be secured to the board support leg  24  by the use of pins  23 . Additionally, the board support leg  24  may be connected to the back of scoring board  12  by the use of various connecting devices  34 .  FIG. 7  depicts a standard hinge as the connecting device for the board support leg  24  and the back of scoring board  12 . 
         [0029]    The present invention is rooted in a method of playing three different levels of a scoring bag toss game  10 . Level one competition is recommended for beginners. For this level, a total of seven bags  13  are used per team or player, where said seven bags  13  have the same color, and each team has a unique color, and are tossed towards a scoring board  12 . Two scoring boards  12 , each comprising seven scoring positions  14  and  16 , are used in this level and are separated by twenty-one feet front to front. Players must have one foot completely within twenty-four inches of the front or side of scoring board  12 , or the distance measured throwing line if only one scoring board  12  is being used, when tossing a scoring bag  13 . 
         [0030]    Both players throwing all fourteen bags from one scoring board to the other scoring board is considered a throwing or scoring round. A flip of a coin can determine who goes first to start game, from that point on the team or player with most points scored in last round throws first next round, if no points scored or a tie in points same team repeats going first. The last throw per round is called the hammer. 
         [0031]    A round is played when either teams or players throw all the scoring bags  13  from one scoring board  12  to the other. The first team or player to earn exactly seventy-one points, without exceeding seventy-one points, wins the game. All scoring bags  13  in a round must be thrown. For example, if one team attains sixty-nine points, they need two more points to win, if they receive five points at the end of the round, that team is still at sixty-nine points because they went over the seventy-one needed to win. If they get one point they will have seventy and will need to earn one more point to win. The team with the most points earned in each round, initiates the throwing in the subsequent round. If no points are earned in the round, or the points scored are equal, then the same player or team that won the previous round is first to throw in the subsequent round. If the round ends up in a tie seventy-one to seventy-one, the next round is a tie breaking round in which the team reaching seventy-one first, will have the last throw at the scoring board  12 . Teams are permitted to choose the player who will throw the bag  13  in the tie breaking round. The team throwing first will decide which scoring board  12  is used for the tie breaking round. The greatest number of total points in the tie breaking round wins the game. If the tie breaking round is a tie, the throwing rounds continue in exactly the same manner until a winner prevails. 
         [0032]    The point allocation for the first or beginner level, level 1, is divided as follows: the center scoring aperture  16  is worth five points and is played according to the standard bean bag rules, where the last bag  13  in the aperture  16  acquires all the points already in the aperture  16  including the last bag  13  thrown. For example, four bags  13  in the aperture  16  awards twenty points to the last scoring bag  13  in the aperture  16 . Each bag support shelf  14  is worth the points designated below the shelf for example, 1, 2, 3 or 4. The first bag  13  on the bag support shelf  14  acquires the designated points of that particular shelf  14 . The second same color bag  13  on the same shelf  14  allows that team a total of twice the designated points of that particular shelf  14  and this repeats up to the total number of same color bags  13  on the shelf  14 . Opposite color scoring bags  13  on the same shelf  14  cancel each other out and no points are received. 
         [0033]    The method for playing the second level of game  10  is intended for very competitive players. The same score board  12  and the same rules of play are utilized for this level of play as described for the aforementioned level one method of play. This level differs from the previous level in the number of bags tossed, and introduction of bonus points for controlling a scoring shelf. Eight bags  13  of the same color per player or team, consisting of seven scoring bags  13  and a score-negating bag  13 , are utilized in playing this level of the tossing game. As described earlier, the seven scoring bags  13  are the same color, and that color is unique to a team. The score-negating bag  13  differs from those bags in that it displays an indicia of skull and cross bones on both sides of the bag. The scoring rules described in level one play also apply to this level of play. However, the following additional rules are added to this level. 
         [0034]    A player or team may acquire bonus points for having three or more of the same color scoring bags  13  on the same shelf  14  without the opponents scoring bag  13  on the same shelf  14 . The player or team will earn the same number of bonus points as there are scoring bags  13  of the same color on a particular shelf, provided that none of the opponents scoring bags  13  are on that particular shelf. For example, the player or team will earn three bonus points for having three of the same color scoring bags  13  on a specific scoring shelf  14 . As previously stated, each scoring bag  13  of a different color on that shelf  14  cancels the other out. For example, two dark colored scoring bags  13  and one light colored scoring bag  13  on the same shelf  14  gives one dark scoring bag  13  the designated points of that particular shelf  14 . Therefore, the rules for bonus points remain in effect only after cancelled scoring bags  13  are taken out of the scoring process. For example, two light scoring bags and five dark scoring bags  13  on the same shelf  14  gives the dark bags  13  three times the designated points of that particular shelf  14  plus three bonus points for having three of the same color scoring bags  13  on the same shelf  14 . The rules for bonus points only take effect after the cancellation bags  13  are taken out of scoring process for that shelf  14 . 
         [0035]    A score-negating bag  13  nullifies all points in the scoring position it lands on or in, independent of where they land and which team&#39;s colored scoring bags  13  occupy that space. Once a score-negating bag  13  lands on a shelf  14  or in the aperture  16 , any subsequent scoring bags  13  that land there will have no point value. The score-negating bag  13  can be thrown at any time during the turn of a player. A score-negating bag  13  cancels out another score-negating bag  13 , and thus, the scoring position reverts back to the scoring position that the player had prior to the presence of the score-negating bag  13 , and consequently the previous points are returned. 
         [0036]    Adding to the competition of this level of play is what is referred to as ‘The Sucker Punch’ and ‘The Knock Out Punch’. The Sucker Punch results in an automatic victory occurring when a player or team lands one of the same color scoring bags  13  in all seven scoring positions without an opponent&#39;s score negating bag  13  offsetting the result. The Knock Out Punch is attained if at the end of a round, one team or player leads 21 to 0, resulting in an automatic win. 
         [0037]    The third level of playing the game  10  is referred to as ‘Kut-Throat’, and is potentially the most competitive of the three levels of play, due to the inclusion of a third player or team. It can be played with three to six players, whereby three people can compete against each other or three teams of two people can compete against each other. The rules of this level of play are partly based on the rules discussed earlier for level one and level two play. Additional rules for level three play follow below. 
         [0038]    The first player or team to earn seventy-one points or to have the highest score over seventy-one at the end of a throwing round wins. A player does not have to attain seventy-one points exactly. In case of a tie, the players involved in the tie will play a tie breaking round with the highest score that round winning the game. A coin toss can determine who throws first in the tie-breaking round; the winner of the coin toss has the choice of throwing a bag  13  first or last. There are seven plain colored scoring bags  13  plus one score-negating bag  13 . Furthermore, there will be three different colors of bags  13 , eight of each color for each player or team. The player scoring the highest points per round goes first in the next round; the player with the lowest points throws last and the middle score goes second. 
         [0039]    The scoring for the scoring aperture  16  is the same as level two. The shelf scoring and bonus points are the same as level two. Only two different color bags  13  are allowed on the same scoring shelf  14 , opposite color bags  13  cancel each other out just like level two rules. If a third player&#39;s different color bag  13  lands on a scoring shelf  14 , it is removed and considered a wasted throw, in which no points are awarded. As in the first level of the game the center scoring aperture  16  accepts all colors, the last color bag  13  in the aperture  16  gets all the points in the scoring aperture  16 . The score negating bags  13  can only cancel the points on a scoring shelf  14  that contains that score negating bag&#39;s  13  color. Any color score-negating bag  13  can cancel any points earned within the scoring aperture  16 . A score-negating bag  13  can cancel out another score-negating bag  13  and the previously cancelled points will return, but it must be of the same two colors that are on that scoring shelf  14 . Any color score-negating bag  13  can cancel, un-cancel, and re-cancel the earned points within the scoring aperture  16 . If a shelf  14  is un-cancelled it becomes fair game for continued scoring but only for the original two scoring bag  13  colors on that shelf  14 . 
         [0040]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the invention as well as all modifications which may fall within a range of equivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein.