Washers game

An apparatus and method of playing a lawn game uses washer-shaped projectiles which are tossed by players towards target receptacles placed on the ground. The target receptacles are held in place by a nail or spike driven into the ground and each include two or more cups attached together, the cups being of different diameters for presenting different degrees of difficulty. The cups may also be of different heights so that the taller cup can act as a "backboard" for deflecting a tossed washer into the shorter cup, or, depending upon the orientation of the target receptacle, the taller cup can partially shield the shorter cup and, thereby, increase the difficulty of hitting the shorter cup. Each of the cups has a plurality of raised nodes on the bottom thereof to support a washer tossed therein and to act as an aid in removal of the washer by spacing the washer from the bottom of the cup. The nodes permit the player to insert a finger through the bore in the washer and easily remove the washer from the cup. The varying sizes of the cups make the game more versatile, since they can be given different scoring values commensurate with the degree of difficulty, or the rules can be modified to permit players of differing skill levels to compete fairly with each other by assigning different cups as targets to different players.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention generally relates to a lawn game where players toss 
projectiles towards target receptacles placed on the lawn. The projectiles 
are in the shape of washers and the target receptacles include round cups 
shaped to receive the washers. 
Numerous types of lawn games have been developed in the prior art. Many of 
these games are, in some fashion, a variation on the ancient game of 
horseshoes. In horseshoes, of course, a projectile in the shape of a 
horseshoe is directed to a stake placed in the ground some distance from 
the tosser. Points are accumulated based upon whether the horseshoe-shaped 
projectile rings the stake or lands within a prescribed distance from the 
stake. One variation on this theme uses darts which are tossed towards a 
ring placed on the ground, with the object being to land the dart 
point-down in the ground inside the ring. Still other variations include 
rings which are tossed towards a stake with the object being to place the 
ring around the stake. Other similar games employ balls which are tossed 
with the objective of landing near a target with points scored according 
to the proximity to the target. None of these games provide any type of 
"handicapping" ability so that players of varying degrees of skill can 
compete with each other on an equal footing. 
Consequently, the need exists for a projectile toss game which uses 
multiple targets which require varying degrees of skill so that players of 
differing abilities can compete fairly. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for playing a lawn 
game where relatively flat, annularly or ring-shaped washers are tossed 
toward a target placed on the ground at a specific distance from the 
players. The target is formed of a receptacle having a plurality of 
circular, cup-like receivers or cups of different sizes attached together. 
The cups are held rigidly in place by a plurality of spikes, normally with 
one spike per cup, which are inserted through apertures in the center of 
the bottom of each cup and driven into the ground. 
The cups are preferably of different sizes and different heights. This 
allows the taller of the cups to be used as a "backboard" for the shorter 
cup(s) so the tossed washers may be bounced off one or more of the taller 
cups into the shorter cup(s). Alternatively, the cups may be oriented such 
that the taller cup partially hides the shorter cup(s) and acts as a 
barrier, making it more difficult to toss a washer into the shorter 
cup(s). 
The cups are preferably formed of molded plastic and each circular cup has 
a plurality of protuberances or nodes formed on the bottom to support a 
washer tossed therein in spaced relationship relative to the bottom of the 
cup so as to allow a player to manipulate the player's fingers beneath a 
washer in the cup and thereby facilitate removal of such a washer from the 
cup. 
The washers are also preferably formed of molded plastic and can be of 
varying sizes as well to provide an additional "handicapping" system. The 
washers are constructed so that the bore in the center of each washer 
permits a player to easily insert a finger and remove it from the cups. 
Therefore, the washer bores are not proportional to the size of the 
washer, but rather, all sizes of washers have bores shaped to receive the 
player's finger. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, the objects of the invention are: to provide a lawn game where 
players toss washer-shaped projectiles at a target placed on the ground; 
to provide such a game where the target is a receptacle having multiple 
circular cups of varying sizes to permit players of different skill levels 
to compete fairly; to provide such a game where the cups are also of 
different heights so that the taller cup can alternatively be used as a 
"backboard" for the shorter cup(s), or as a partial shield therefor; to 
provide such a game where raised projections or nodes are formed on the 
bottom of the cups to facilitate removal of washers therefrom; to provide 
such a game where spikes are inserted through apertures in the bottoms of 
the cups and into the ground to hold the receptacle in place; to provide 
such a game which is challenging but simple; to provide such a game which 
is versatile and will tend to keep the interest of players over a long 
period of time; and to provide such a game that is relatively easy to 
construct, inexpensive and particularly well adapted for the intended 
usage thereof. 
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from 
the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying 
drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, 
certain embodiments of this invention. 
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary 
embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and 
features thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed 
herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are 
merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. 
Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are 
not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims 
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to 
variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately 
detailed structure. 
Referring to the drawings in more detail, FIG. 1 shows a player in the 
process of playing a game. In the game, a ring-shaped or annular 
projectile, preferably shaped like a washer 1, is tossed towards a target 
receptacle 2 placed on a surface at some distance from the player 3. The 
receptacle 2 comprises a pair of cups 5 and 6. The washer 1 and receptacle 
2 together form an apparatus 4 according to the present invention for 
playing the game. The object of the game is for the player to toss the 
washer 1 such that the washer 1 lands inside one of the cups 5 and 6. The 
target receptacle 2 is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a 
top elevational view of cups 5 and 6, more of which can be utilized in 
certain embodiments of the game. As shown in FIG. 2, cup 5 is of a larger 
diameter than cup 6. Thus, cup 5 provides an easier target for the player 
to hit than does cup 6. This difference can be utilized in different ways. 
One variation, where the competing players are of fairly equal ability, 
would be to place a greater scoring value on the washer 1 landing in cup 6 
as compared to landing in cup 5. Another variation, which permits players 
of different skill levels to compete fairly, is to assign the smaller 
target to the player of greater skill, and the larger target to the player 
of lesser skill. 
FIGS. 2 and 3 also illustrate some of the construction details of the 
target receptacle 2. Target receptacle 2 is preferably formed of rugged, 
high-impact resistant, molded plastic which can be of any desired color. 
Preferably the color of target receptacle 2 and washers 1 will be 
different and the washers 1 of competing players will be of different 
colors as well. 
One of the washers 1 is best illustrated in FIG. 4. The washers 1 are also 
preferably formed of high-impact resistant, molded plastic and have a bore 
12 in the middle which is sized to readily accommodate the finger of a 
player to facilitate removal of the washer 1 from the target receptacle 
cups 5 or 6. Each cup 5 and 6 in the target receptacle 2 has a plurality 
of nodes 9 formed on the bottom thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 3, these 
nodes 9 act to support the washer 1 and to provide a space beneath the 
washer 2 so that the player can insert his finger through the bore 12 in 
the center of the washer 1 and get a secure grip to easily remove same 
from the cup 5 or 6. 
During the molding process, each cup 5 and 6 in the target receptacle 2 is 
provided with an aperture 8 in the center of the bottom to accommodate a 
spike 10, preferably also made of plastic, that is driven through the 
aperture 8 and into the ground 13 to secure the target receptacle 2 to the 
ground 13. 
As is illustrated in FIG. 3, one of the cups 5 may be made taller than the 
other cup 6. This results in a vertical wall 11 between the cups 5 and 6 
and this adds greater versatility to the game since, when the target 
receptacle 2 is oriented as shown in FIG. 1 with the taller cup 5 furthest 
from the player, the wall 11 acts as a backboard so that washers 1 may be 
bounced off of it and into the smaller cup 6. Bottoms 14 and 15 of the 
cups 5 and 6 respectively are preferably flat and coplanar to allow the 
receptacle 2 to rest evenly on a planar surface such as the ground 13. 
Conversely, if the target receptacle 2 is rotated one hundred eighty 
degrees, the taller cup 5 acts to partially block the opening 16 of the 
smaller cup 6, which makes it harder to get the washer 1 into the smaller 
cup 6. 
In practice, the game may be played as follows: at least two players, each 
provided with a plurality of washers 1, preferably of different colors, 
stand a specified distance away from the target receptacle 2. The players 
take turns tossing their washers 1 toward the target receptacle 2 in an 
effort to get the washers 1 to land and stay in the cups 5 and 6 in the 
target receptacle. If the players are of equal ability, the cups may be 
assigned different point values. For example, the larger cup 5 may be 
assigned a value of one point while the smaller cup 6 is assigned a value 
of two points for each washer 1 which a player successfully tosses into 
the cup 5 or 6. If the players are of differing abilities, the player of 
greater skill may be given little or no credit for tossing the washer 1 in 
the larger cup 5 and a credit of one point for getting his washer 1 into 
the smaller cup 6. Conversely, the player of lesser skill will be given a 
full point for getting his washer 1 in the larger cup 5 and, possibly, two 
points for getting his washer 1 into the smaller cup 6. If it is desired, 
two target receptacles 2 may be provided at the proper distance apart so 
that the players, as in horseshoes, alternate tossing towards the target 
receptacles 2 to minimize walking during the game. 
Many variations in play with the invention will occur to the average 
player. For example, if no player manages to get a washer 1 to stay in a 
cup 5 or 6 during one series of tosses, the closest washer 1 to the target 
receptacle 2 may be awarded a point. Furthermore, a player managing to 
toss one of his washers 1 into a cup 5 or 6 on top of a washer 1 of 
another player may act to negate the points of the washer 1 from the other 
player. Only the top washer 1 would be counted, or possibly all washers 1 
of that player in the target receptacle 2 would count and none of the 
opposing player. Games could be structured such that the first player to 
reach fifteen or twenty-one or any other desired number would be the 
winner. 
As stated earlier, this game allows players of differing abilities to 
compete fairly with each other. In addition to requiring the better player 
to hit the smaller cup 6, the target receptacle 2 could be oriented such 
that the taller cup 5 is placed closest to the throwers with the better 
player required to hit the smaller cup 6 which is partially hidden by the 
taller and larger cup 5. Washers 1 of varying sizes could be used by the 
players, with the different sizes accorded different point values or being 
assigned to players of differing abilities. By using one or more 
variations of these "handicaps", players of widely varying abilities can 
be relatively evenly matched. 
It is foreseen that additional variations in the game, including variations 
in the target receptacle 2 design and washer 1 design could be used. For 
example, the smaller cup 6 could be the taller of the two cups 5 and 6 in 
target receptacle 2. The target receptacle 2 and washer 1 could be made of 
materials other than molded plastic, such as steel or the like. 
Projectiles of the shape other than washers 1, such as round balls, for 
example, could also be used with similar target receptacles 2. The game 
can also be adapted for indoor play by using washers 1 of soft foam or 
other resilient material, and by providing suction cups or the like to 
secure the receptacles 2 to the floor. Variations in playing techniques 
and scoring are limited only by the players' imagination. 
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention 
have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the 
specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.