Abstract:
A multiplayer party gameboard having the ability to be assembled and disassembled for traveling while also having the ability to be played with multiple players. A planar member including one or more walls dividing a central portion and a peripheral portion. The central portion includes a plurality of concentric rings and one or more apertures within the plurality of concentric rings. The peripheral portion includes one or more ends and one or more apertures. One or more apertures are for supporting a cup therein.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/307,721 filed on Mar. 14, 2016. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to party games. More specifically, the present invention includes a central portion including a plurality of concentric rings and a first set of one or more apertures. A peripheral portion including one or more ends and a second set of one or more apertures. The central portion and the peripheral portion are divided by one or more walls. 
         [0003]    People enjoy playing games in a group at a party, picnic, tailgate, or other event. “Beer Pong” is a popular game in which players take turns throwing a ping pong ball across a large rectangular table into one of several cups set up in a triangle position at the opposite end. The game typically consists of a team of two at each end where both players on one team shoot followed by both players on the other team. While beer pong can be entertaining, only a small number of people can play at the same time. This results in other people having to wait for a turn and may cause those people to feel left out or bored. In addition, the large rectangular table consumes substantial space and is not easily transported. Thus, an improved game for entertaining people in a group is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of party games now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new multiplayer party gameboard wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when traveling with a party game and having multiple players. 
         [0005]    The present system comprises a planar member including one or more walls dividing a central portion and a peripheral portion. The central portion includes a first set of one or more apertures arranged at intervals within the plurality of concentric rings about an origin of the planar member. The peripheral portion includes one or more ends, each of the one or more ends including a second set of one or more apertures. Each aperture of the first set and the second set are configured to support a cup therein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    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. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of the multiplayer party gameboard. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the multiplayer party gameboard. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a bottom view of the multiplayer party gameboard. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4A  shows a top view of the multiplayer party gameboard without the parts assembled. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4B  shows a perspective view of a wall of the multiplayer party gameboard. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4C  shows a perspective view of a leg of the multiplayer party gameboard. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4D  shows a perspective view of two arms of the multiplayer party gameboard. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the multiplayer party gameboard. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the multiplayer party gameboard. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the multiplayer party gameboard. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the multiplayer party game. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a front perspective view of the multiplayer party gameboard. The multiplayer party gameboard  11  provides a game that can be utilized by multiple users to play various drinking games. The size of the multiplayer party gameboard  11  can vary such that it can be used on tables or surfaces of various sizes. In one use, two to eight players may participate at one time. However, in alternate embodiments, there can be more than eight players at one time. 
         [0019]    The multiplayer party gameboard  11  includes a planar member  12 . The planar member  12  includes a first surface  13  and a second surface  14  (as seen in  FIG. 3 ) wherein the first surface  13  and the second surface  14  are parallel to each other thereby creating a thickness to the planar member  12 . However, in alternate embodiments, the planar member  12  is tapered from the center to one or more ends  16  or is a different configuration. 
         [0020]    The planar member  12  is symmetrical to create equal playing areas for the users, wherein symmetry is defined about a line parallel to the planar member  12  and disposed through an origin, wherein the line bisects the one or more ends  16 . The origin referring to the center of an inner most circular region  20 . The first surface  13  contains one or more base slots  36  (as seen in  FIG. 4A ) for receiving one or more walls  32 . 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a top view of the multiplayer party gameboard. In the illustrated embodiment, the planar member  12  has an octagonal shape  15  with the one or more ends  16  positioned on the eight sides of the octagon creating an octagram with curved vertices, from this point forward referred to as the one or more ends  16 . However, in alternate embodiments, the octagonal shape  15  of the planar member  12  is any shape such as oval, circular, polygonal, or any similar shape. 
         [0022]    The planar member  12  further includes a central portion  17 . In the illustrated embodiment, the central portion  17  begins at the inner most circular region  20  and extends to an outer most circular region  21 . The central portion  17  is within the one or more walls  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, the central portion  17  includes a plurality of concentric rings  19 . However, in alternate embodiments, the central portion  17  includes a plurality of rows and columns or a single row or column. The central portion  17  includes a first set of one or more apertures  23  arranged within the plurality of concentric rings  19 , wherein the first set of one or more apertures  23  are adapted to support a cup therein for adding a liquid such as water. 
         [0023]    The first set of one or more apertures  23  are arranged at intervals in the plurality of concentric rings  19  about the origin of the planar member  12 . The first set of one or more apertures  23  are equidistantly positioned between adjacent apertures localized to each ring throughout a first zone  24 , a second zone  25 , a third zone  26 , and a fourth zone  27 . 
         [0024]    In the illustrated embodiment, the first set of one or more apertures  23  in the third zone  26 , are staggered and the first set of one or more apertures  23  in the first, the second, the fourth zones  24 ,  25 ,  27 , respectively, are orderly. However, in alternate embodiments, the first set of one or more apertures  23  in the third zone  26  are orderly and the first set of one or more apertures  23  in the first, the second, the fourth zones  24 ,  25 ,  27 , respectively, are staggered. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the first zone  24 , the second zone  25 , the third zone  26 , and the fourth zone  27  are staggered or orderly in any combination. In the illustrated embodiment, there is the first zone  24 , the second zone  25 , the third zone  26 , and the fourth zone  27 . However, in alternate embodiments, there is the first zone  24 , the second zone  25 , and the third zone  26  and no fourth zone  27 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that there can be multiple zones. 
         [0025]    The planar member  12  further includes a peripheral portion  18  includes the one or more ends  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral portion  18  begins at the outer most circular region  21  and extends to the one or more ends  16 , wherein the one or more ends  16  begin at the perimeter  22  of the octagonal shape  15  and extend to the curved portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more ends  16  have the curved portion. However, in alternate embodiments, the one or more ends  16  are straight, pointed, or any similar feature. 
         [0026]    The one or more ends  16  each comprise a second set of one or more apertures  28 , wherein the second set of one or more apertures  28  are adapted to support the cup therein for adding a liquid such as alcohol. In the illustrated embodiment, the second set of one or more apertures  28  are disposed adjacent to a vertex  29  of the octagonal shape  15 . The one or more ends  16  further include a circular region  30  adapted to bounce a ball thereon into the cup which is in the first set of one or more apertures  23  when one or more arms  31  are not assembled. The circular region  30  is disposed between the one or more walls  32  and an edge of the one or more ends  16 , wherein the circular region  30  is closer to the edge of the one or more ends  16 . However, in alternate embodiments, the second set of one or more apertures  28  and the circular region  30  are positioned anywhere on the one or more ends  16  except for overlapping each other. 
         [0027]    In the illustrated embodiment, the central portion  17  and the peripheral portion  18  are divided by the one or more walls  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more walls  32  are within the perimeter  22  of the octagonal shape  15 . However, in alternate embodiments, the one or more walls  32  are disposed on the perimeter  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more walls  32  are upstanding on the planar member  12  and fastened to the one or more base slots  36  (as seen in  FIG. 4 ) to create a barrier to prevent the ball from rolling off the planar member  12 . However, in alternate embodiments, the one or more walls  32  are perpendicular or angled. In another alternate embodiment, the one or more walls  32  are not fastened to the one or more base slots to create the barrier. 
         [0028]    The one or more walls  32  further include the one or more arms  31 , wherein the one or more arms  31  protrude from a top slot  38  (as seen in  FIG. 4 ) on the one or more walls  32 . However, in alternate embodiments, the one or more arms  31  are not placed in the top slot of the one or more walls  32  in order to provide space to bounce the ball onto the circular region  30 . However, in alternate embodiments, the one or more walls  32  do not have the top slot and the one or more arms  31 . In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more walls  32  are removable. However, in alternate embodiments, the one or more walls  32  are permanently fixed. 
         [0029]    The one or more arms  31  include a fixed end  33  and a free end  34  which contains a small disk  37 . The fixed end  33  is fastened to the one or more walls  32 . The small disk  37  is fastened to the free end  34  in order to hold the ball thereon. The one or more arms  31  extend out above the one or more ends  16  in order for the free end  34  to be plucked. Plucked refers to the action of pulling or pushing down the free end  34  of the one or more arms  31  and releasing, to toss the ball into the cup in the first set of one or more apertures  23 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a bottom view of the multiplayer party gameboard. The second surface  14  includes the one or more base slots  36  for receiving one or more legs  35 . The one or more base slots  36  are disposed along the outer most circular region  21 . 
         [0031]    The one or more legs  35  are fastened to the one or more base slots  36  to elevate the planar member  12 , which allows the first and the second set of one or more apertures  23 ,  28 , respectively, to receive the cups. In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more legs  35  are perpendicular to the second surface  14 . However, in alternate embodiments, the one or more legs  35  are angled or any position other than perpendicular. In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more legs  35  are removable. However, in alternate embodiments, the one or more legs  35  are permanently fixed. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4D , there are shown perspective views of the components of the multiplayer party gameboard. In the illustrated embodiment, the planar member  12 , the one or more walls  32 , the one or more arms  31  with the small disks  37 , and the one or more legs  35  are easily assembled and disassembled for storage, transportation, and allowing the multiplayer party gameboard  11  to be taken to various events. However, in alternate embodiments, the planar member  12 , the one or more walls  32 , the one or more arms  31  with the small disks  37 , and the one or more legs  35  are one whole piece wherein the multiplayer party gameboard  11  is not assembled and disassembled. In the illustrated embodiment, the planar member  12  is a continuous piece of wood with the first and second set of one or more apertures  23 ,  28 , respectively, and the one or more base slots  36  positioned throughout. 
         [0033]    In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more walls  32  are rectangular in shape with a convex side including the top slot  38  and a straight side including a tab  39  on the opposite side. The one or more legs  35  are rectangular in shape with a concave section on one side and a straight section including a tab  39  on the opposite side. However, in alternate embodiments, the one or more walls  32  and the one or more legs  35  are any shape such as a full rectangle without the convex side or the concave side. 
         [0034]    In the illustrated embodiment, referring to the one or more arms  31 , the fixed end  33  is rounded and the free end  34  is curved with a point while the adjacent ends are concave and opposite each other. However, in alternate embodiments, the one or more arms  31  are any shape such as rectangular. The one or more arms  31  have a nub  40  disposed on the free end  34  in which the small disk  37  is fastened to. A slot  41  on the fixed end  33  of the one or more arms  31  is then fastened to the top slot  38  on the one or more walls  32 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown an alternate embodiment of the multiplayer party gameboard. In the illustrated embodiment, the planar member  12  has a square shape  42  with the one or more ends  16  on the two sides of the square creating an ovular shape  43 . The central portion  17  includes the first set of one or more apertures  23  equidistantly positioned between adjacent apertures localized to each ring throughout a first zone  24  and a second zone  25  arranged within the plurality of concentric rings  19 . The one or more ends  16  each comprise the second set of one or more apertures  28  adapted to support the cup therein. The one or more ends  16  further include a circular region  30  adapted to bounce a ball thereon into the cup in the first set of one or more apertures  23 . The central portion  17  and the peripheral portion  18  are divided by the one or more walls  32  which are fastened to the one or more base slots  36 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown an alternate embodiment of the multiplayer party gameboard. In the illustrated embodiment, the planar member  12  has the square shape  42  with the one or more ends  16  on the four sides of the square creating a rosette shape  44 . The central portion  17  includes the first set of one or more apertures  23  equidistantly positioned between adjacent apertures localized to each ring throughout the first zone  24  and the second zone  25  arranged within the plurality of concentric rings  19 . The one or more ends  16  include the circular region  30  adapted to bounce a ball thereon into the cup in the first set of one or more apertures  23 . In an alternate embodiment, the one or more ends  16  each comprise the second set of one or more apertures adapted to support the cup therein. The central portion  17  and the peripheral portion  18  are divided by the one or more walls  32  which are fastened to the one or more base slots  36 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown an alternate embodiment of the multiplayer party gameboard. In the illustrated embodiment, the planar member  12  has the square shape  42  with the one or more ends  16  on the four sides of the square creating a larger square shape  45 . The central portion  17  includes the first set of one or more apertures  23  equidistantly positioned between adjacent apertures localized to each ring throughout the first zone  24 , the second zone  25 , and the third zone  26  arranged within the plurality of concentric rings  19  wherein the first set of one or more apertures  23  in the third zone  26  are staggered. The one or more ends  16  include a circular region  30  adapted to bounce a ball thereon into the cup in the first set of one or more apertures  23 . In an alternate embodiment, the one or more ends  16  each comprise the second set of one or more apertures adapted to support the cup therein. The central portion  17  and the peripheral portion  18  are divided by the one or more walls  32  which are fastened to the one or more base slots  36 . 
         [0038]    The multiplayer party gameboard  11  can be easily assembled and disassembled for storage, transportation, and allowing the multiplayer party gameboard  11  to be taken to various events such as picnics and tailgates. In the illustrated embodiment, the multiplayer party gameboard  11  is constructed from wood. However, in alternate embodiments, the multiplayer party gameboard  11  is constructed from plastic, particle-board, metal, or any similar material. 
         [0039]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various 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. 
         [0040]    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.