Cornhole leveling system

Kits for leveling and adjusting the slope of cornhole boards as well as a method leveling and adjusting the cornhole boards.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to cornhole boards, and more specifically to a cornhole board leveling system.

Cornhole is a lawn game in which players or teams take turns throwing fabric bean bags or other items at a raised, angled board with a hole at an end.FIG.1shows a typical cornhole board10. A single cornhole board10is preferably 2 by 4 feet (0.61 by 1.22 m), with a 6-inch (150 mm) diameter hole3. The cornhole board10has a first end2aopposite a second end2b, and a top surface2copposite the bottom surface2d, and two side surfaces2h. The side surfaces2hhave a top edge2iand a bottom edge2j. Legs4,5are attached to the second end2b. A hole3is present along the top surface2cand extends from the top surface2cthrough to the bottom surface2d. The hole's center is positioned 9 inches (230 mm) down from the center of the edge2eof the board.

The legs4,5have a first end4a,5aconnected to the bottom2dsurface of the board10and the second end4b,5bwhich contacts the ground6. It is noted that there is space between the legs4,5and a back edge2gof the second end2bof the cornhole board10. The second end2bof the board10is a greater distance from the ground than the first end2a. The legs4,5are typically made of boards with a thickness of 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) or less and a maximum width of 3.5 inches (88.9 mm) since the boards are typical 2 ft (60.96 cm)×4 ft (121.92 cm). The front edge2fof the first end2acontacts the ground.

Each board10is angled with the back edge2eof the playing surface 12 inches (300 mm) above the ground, and the front edge2fthree to four inches (76-102 mm) above the ground with an angle of 10 degrees. A standard court places the two boards 33 feet (10 m) or 27 feet (8.2 m) apart, measuring from the front edge2fof the boards. The boards are often set up on a lawn which is not level, making placement and angling of the boards appropriately and fairly very difficult.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a kit for leveling one or more cornhole boards is disclosed. The kit comprises: at least one pair of back leg bracket assemblies and one or more front leg bracket assemblies.

The back leg bracket assemblies comprising: a right leg bracket assembly and a left leg bracket assembly. The right leg bracket assembly has a right leg having a right leg portion connected to a right leg base portion at a first angle; a right back leg bracket guide having a right leg guide body defining a closed end bore adapted to receive a right leg of a back of one or more cornhole boards and connected to a right leg guide defining a right leg through bore and a right leg screw bore perpendicular to and connected to the right leg through bore adapted to receive a screw; wherein the right leg portion of the of the right leg is received within the right leg through bore, such that the right leg guide is vertically adjustable about the right leg portion. The left leg bracket assembly has a left leg having a left leg portion connected to a left leg base portion at a second angle; a left back leg bracket guide having a left leg guide body defining a closed end bore adapted to receive a left leg of a back of one or more cornhole boards and connected to a left leg guide defining a left leg through bore and a left leg screw bore perpendicular to and connected to the left leg through bore adapted to receive a screw; wherein the left leg portion of the of the left leg is received within the left leg through bore, such that the left leg guide is vertically adjustable about the left leg portion; and

The one or more front leg bracket assemblies each comprises: a front leg having a front leg portion connected to a front leg base portion at a third angle; and a front leg bracket guide body defining a closed end bore adapted to receive a front edge of the at least one cornhole boards comprising a guide body defining a guide body closed end bore and connected to front leg bracket leg guide defining a through bore and a screw bore perpendicular to and connected to the through bore to receive a screw; wherein the front leg portion of the of the front leg is received within the through bore, such that the front leg bracket guide is vertically adjustable about the front leg.

The kit can also include a collapsible reducing wedge for insertion within the right leg guide body and/or the left leg guide body, a reducing shim for insertion within the one or more front leg bracket assemblies and a horizontal and angle slope level. It is noted that the reducing shims are used for legs that are less than 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) in width.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a kit for leveling one or more cornhole boards is disclosed. The kit comprises: at least one pair of back leg bracket assemblies, one or more front leg bracket assemblies, an alignment cable and alignment clips.

The back leg bracket assemblies comprising: a right leg bracket assembly and a left leg bracket assembly. The right leg bracket assembly has a right leg having a right leg portion connected to a right leg base portion at a first angle; a right back leg bracket guide having a right leg guide body defining a closed end bore adapted to receive a right leg of a back of one or more cornhole boards and connected to a right leg guide defining a right leg through bore and a right leg screw bore perpendicular to and connected to the right leg through bore adapted to receive a screw; wherein the right leg portion of the of the right leg is received within the right leg through bore, such that the right leg guide is vertically adjustable about the right leg portion. The left leg bracket assembly has a left leg having a left leg portion connected to a left leg base portion at a second angle; a left back leg bracket guide having a left leg guide body defining a closed end bore adapted to receive a left leg of a back of one or more cornhole boards and connected to a left leg guide defining a left leg through bore and a left leg screw bore perpendicular to and connected to the left leg through bore adapted to receive a screw; wherein the left leg portion of the of the left leg is received within the left leg through bore, such that the left leg guide is vertically adjustable about the left leg portion.

The one or more front leg bracket assemblies each comprises: a front leg having a front leg portion connected to a front leg base portion at a third angle; and a front leg bracket guide body defining a closed end bore adapted to receive a front edge of the at least one cornhole boards comprising a guide body defining a guide body closed end bore and connected to front leg bracket leg guide defining a through bore and a screw bore perpendicular to and connected to the through bore to receive a screw; wherein the front leg portion of the of the front leg is received within the through bore, such that the front leg bracket guide is vertically adjustable about the front leg.

The alignment cable has a first end and a second end separated by a length, the first end and the second end each having a retainer.

The left side alignment clip is adapted to mount to a left side of the first cornhole board. The left side alignment clip comprises: a left side alignment clip body with an a left side alignment clip first portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a left side alignment clip second portion connected to the left side alignment clip first portion at the first end on the first side; and a left side alignment clip third portion connected to the left side alignment clip first portion at the second end on the second side defining at least one left side alignment piece.

The right side alignment clip adapted to mount to a right side of the second cornhole board. The right side alignment clip comprises: a right side alignment clip body with an a right side alignment clip first portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a right side alignment clip second portion connected to the right side alignment clip first portion at the first end on the first side; and a right side alignment clip third portion connected to the right side alignment clip first portion at the second end on the second side defining at least one right side alignment piece.

The kit can also include a collapsible reducing wedge for insertion within the right leg guide body and/or the left leg guide body, a reducing shim for insertion within the one or more front leg bracket assemblies and a horizontal and angle slope level. It is noted that the reducing shims are used for legs that are less than 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) in width.

A method of leveling of aligning and leveling a first cornhole board and a second cornhole board for playing on uneven ground is also disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.2-4show a corn hole board10with front leg bracket assemblies40,41on the first end or front end2aand back leg bracket assemblies20,21on the second end or back end2bto level the corn hole board10relative to the ground6. Both the back leg bracket assemblies20,21and the front leg bracket assemblies40,41are individually adjustable to raise or lower the front end2aor back end2bof the corn hole board10.

FIGS.5a-11cshow the back leg bracket assemblies20,21. The right back leg bracket assembly20has a right leg22of a leg portion24and a base portion23as shown inFIGS.6a-6dand a right back leg bracket guide29shown inFIGS.7a-8c. The left back leg bracket assembly21has a left leg29of a leg portion25and a base portion26as shown inFIGS.9a-9dand a left back leg bracket guide30shown inFIGS.10a-11c.

The base portion23of the right leg22has a first surface23aand a second surface23b, opposite the first surface23a. The second surface23bcontacts the ground6. The leg portion24has a first end24aand a second end24b. The second end24bof the leg portion23is attached to the first surface23aof the base portion23at an angle alpha. The angle alpha is preferably between 20-30 degrees. More preferably, the angle alpha is 27 degrees.

Referring toFIGS.7a-8c, the right back leg bracket guide29has a guide body27defining a closed end bore27aand is connected to a leg guide28. The leg guide28defines a through bore28aand a screw bore28bperpendicular to and connected to the through bore28a.

The leg guide28is fixed to the guide body27at the same angle alpha as the right leg22to the base portion23. The screw bore28breceives a screw33that abuts the right leg22received within the through bore28a.

The base portion26of the left leg29has a first surface26aand a second surface26b, opposite the first surface26a. The second surface26bcontacts the ground6. The leg portion25has a first end25aand a second end25b. The second end25bof the leg portion25is attached to the first surface26aof the base portion26at an angle beta. The angle beta is preferably between 20-30 degrees. More preferably, the angle beta is 27 degrees. In one embodiment, the angle alpha equals the angle beta.

Referring toFIGS.9a-11c, the left back leg bracket guide30has a guide body31defining a closed end bore31aand is connected to a leg guide32. The leg guide32defines a through bore32aand a screw bore32bperpendicular to and connected to the through bore31a. The leg guide31is fixed to the guide body32at the same angle beta as the left leg29to the base portion26. The screw bore32breceives a screw33that abuts the left leg29received within the through bore31a.

As shown inFIG.5a, the legs4,5of the cornhole board10are inserted into bore27a,31aof the guide bodies27,31. The leg portion24,25is inserted into the through bore28a,32a. A screw35is received within the screw bore28b,32b. The height of the leg4,5is adjusted by moving the guide body27,31along the length of the leg portion24,25and fixed in place with the screw35which interacts with the leg24,25.

FIG.5bshows an initial position in which the leg4,5, of the cornhole board10is at the least amount of height added to raise the back end2bof the cornhole board10.

FIGS.12-13shows the front bracket assemblies40,41which can be mounted to the first or front end2aof the cornhole board10. The front bracket assemblies40,41engage at least a front edge2fof the cornhole board10. Referring toFIGS.14a-14d, the front bracket assemblies40,41each have a guide body55defining a closed ended bore55awhich receives the front edge2f. It is noted that the front edge2fcan be a board with 2 inches (50.8 mm) or less of width. Attached to the guide body55is a leg guide56. The leg guide56has a through hole56aparallel to the closed end bore55aof the guide body55.

FIGS.15a-15dshow the front legs54of which a portion are received by the through hole56aof the leg guide56. The front legs54have a base portion53connected to a leg portion52. The leg portion52has a first end52aand a second end52b. The base portion53has a first surface53aand a second surface53b, opposite the first surface53a. The second surface53bcontacts the ground6. The second end52bof the leg portion52is attached to perpendicular to the first surface53aof the base portion53.

The height of the front end2aof the cornhole board10can be raised and adjusted to different heights based on movement of the leg portion52within the through hole56aof the leg guide56.

FIGS.17a-17dshow a collapsible reducing wedge60that can be inserted between the left back leg4and the left back leg bracket guide30depending on the thickness of the left back leg4. It is noted that the collapsible reducing wedge60is angled at an angle beta to match the leg guide32of the left leg bracket guide30.

FIGS.17e-17hshows a collapsible reducing wedge63that can be inserted between the right back leg5and the right back leg bracket guide29depending on the thickness of the right back leg5. It is noted that the collapsible reducing wedge63is angled at an angle alpha to match the leg guide28of the right leg bracket guide29.

If the thickness of the right and left back legs4,5is not enough to fill the closed end bore27a,31a, the collapsible reducing wedge60,63can be used as a shim to fill the closed end bore27a,31a. The collapsible reducing wedge60,63each have a collapsible material62attached to a rigid shim plate61. In a non-compressed state, the collapsible material has62a distance d3.

FIG.16ashows the board leg4,5of a first thickness w1. The collapsible reducing wedge60is inserted within the closed end bore27a,31aadjacent to the board leg4,5, with the collapsible material reduced to a distance d1. In this figure the board leg4,5has a thickness of approximately ¾ inch.FIG.16bshows a board leg4,5with a second thickness w2, greater than thickness w1, but still not a thickness large enough to fill the closed end bore27a,31a. The thickness of the board legs4,5is greater than ¾ inch. As shown, the collapsible material is collapsed to a distance d2, less than d1. Therefore, the collapsible reducing wedge60is adaptable to act as a shim for various thicknesses of the legs4,5.

FIGS.18-19show a reducing shim65for filling the space within the closed end bore55aof the guide body of the front bracket assemblies40,41after the front edge2fof the cornhole board has been inserted into the closed end bore55a. The reducing shim65has a C-shaped rigid body65defining an opening66for receiving a collapsible material67.

FIGS.26a-28are a method of aligning and leveling cornhole boards for playing on uneven ground.

In a first step (step302), a first cornhole board10ais placed on the ground opposite a second cornhole board10b. It is noted that the first end2aof each of the first cornhole board10aand the second cornhole board10bface each other as shown inFIG.29.

An alignment clip70,71, is then placed on the back corner edges2gof the first and second cornhole boards10a,10b.FIGS.25a-25cshows a left side alignment clip70andFIGS.24a-24cshows a right side alignment clip71(step304).

FIG.22ashows the left side alignment clip70on back corner edge2gnear leg4of the first cornhole board10a.FIG.22bshows the right side alignment clip71on back edge2gnear leg5of the second cornhole board10b. It is noted that the right side alignment clip71could be used near leg4of the first cornhole board10aand the left side alignment clip70used near leg5of the second cornhole board10b. It is noted that the right side alignment clip71is a mirror image of the left side alignment clip70.

Referring back toFIGS.24a-25c, the alignment clips70,71each have a body72with a first portion73with a first end73aand a second end73band a first side73cand a second side73d. Connected to the first portion73at the first end73aon the first side73cis a second portion74. Connected to the first portion73at the second end73bon the second side73dis a third portion75which defines at least one hook76.

The alignment clips70,71are placed onto the cornhole boards10a,10bsuch that the corner edge2gcontacts the first portion73, the second portion74is received underneath and behind the second end2bbetween the leg4,5and the corner edge2g, and the third portion75is adjacent to second end2b.

Referring back toFIGS.26a-26b, the alignment clips70,71attached to the first and second cornhole boards10a,10bare connected together using an alignment cable80,81(step306) as shown inFIG.29.

FIG.23bshows an alignment cable81with a first end81aseparated from a second end81bby a length81c. The length81cof the alignment cable can be 35 feet or 41 feet long. Markers82may be present along the length81cof the alignment cable81to indicate 27 feet between each first end2aof the first and second cornhole boards10a,10b. While not shown, the markers82can also indicate 33 feet between the first end2aof the first cornhole board10aand the first end2aof the second cornhole board2a. At the first end81aand the second81bare loops84that can be accepted around the hooks76of the alignment clips70,71.

Alternatively, alignment clips78,79are placed onto the cornhole boards10a,10bin step304. The alignment clips78,79have each have a body72with a first portion73with a first end73aand a second end73band a first side73cand a second side73d. Connected to the first portion73at the first end73aon the first side73cis a second portion74. Connected to the first portion73at the second end73bon the second side73dis a third portion87which defines at least two flanges85a-85cwhich define holes86a,86b. The alignment clips78,79are placed on the cornhole boards10a,10b. such that the corner edge2gcontacts the first portion73, the second portion74is received underneath and behind the second end2bbetween the leg4,5and the corner edge2g, and the third portion75is adjacent to second end2b.

FIG.23ashows an alignment cable80with a first end80aseparated from a second end80bby a length80c. The length80cof the alignment cable can be 35 feet or 41 feet long. Markers82may be present along the length80cof the alignment cable80to indicate 27 feet between each first end2aof the first and second cornhole boards10a,10b. While not shown, the markers can also indicate 33 feet between the first end2aof the first cornhole board10aand the first end2aof the second cornhole board2a. At the first end80aand the second80bare solid pieces83that can be accepted into the openings86a-86bbetween the flanges85a-85cof the alignment clips78,79in step306to connect opposing cornhole boards10a,10btogether.

The first and/or second cornhole boards10a,10bare moved to pull the alignment cable taut (step308).

Next, it is determined whether the top or bottom edges2i,2jof the sides2hof the first and second cornhole boards10a,10bare aligned with the length80c,81cof the alignment cable80,81(step310). If the top or bottom edges2i,2jof the sides2hof the first and second cornhole boards10a,10bare aligned with the length80c,81cof the alignment cable80,81as shown inFIGS.30a-30b, the method continues to step314. If the top or bottom edges2i,2jof the sides2hof the first and second cornhole boards10a,10bare not aligned with the length80c,81cof the alignment cable80,81as shown inFIG.29, the cornhole boards10a,10bare moved laterally towards or away from the alignment cable80,81(step312) as shown inFIGS.30a-30band the method continues to step314.

The cornhole boards10a,10bare then leveled (step314). Referring toFIG.27, the leveling of the cornhole boards10a,10bincludes the sub-steps of placing a horizontal and angle slope level100at first end2aof each of the cornhole boards10a,10b(step350) and if the cornhole board10a,10bis not level (step352), placing one or more front leg bracket assemblies40,41on the front edge2fand raising or lowering the guide bodies55on the front legs54until the cornhole board10a,10bis level (step354). The screw35is tightened to engage the leg portion52to maintain the one or more front leg bracket assemblies40,41. The method continues to step316.

The horizontal and angle slope level100is shown inFIGS.20a-20d. The horizontal and angle slope level100has a body101which is L-shaped and has a first portion102connected to a second portion103at a right angle. The first portion102has an outer surface102aand an inner surface102b. The inner surface103bcontacts the cornhole board10a,10b. Mounted to the outer surface102aof the first portion102is a sloped body104defining a bore105for receiving a first level110. The sloped body104is higher at a first end104athan the second end104b. The first level110determines the angle slope of the cornhole boards10a,10bwhen placed on the front edge2fThe second portion103has an outer surface103aand an inner surface103b. Mounted to an outer surface103bof the second portion103is a body107defining a bore108for receiving a second level111. The second level111determines the horizontal slope of the cornhole boards10a,10b. It is noted that the which slope being measured—horizontal or angle, is determined by which level is placed adjacent to the top surface2cof the cornhole board10a,10b. The level measuring angle slope is set to be “level” at 10 degrees.

Step316of adjusting the slope has sub-steps shown inFIG.28of placing the horizontal and angle slope level100at top edge2iof the side2hof each of the cornhole boards10a,10b(step350) and if the cornhole board10a,10bis not level (step356), placing the back leg bracket assemblies20,21on the legs4,5of the cornhole boards10a,10band raising or lowering the left back bracket guide30on left leg29and the right back leg bracket guide29on right leg22until the cornhole board10a,10bis level (step360). Screws35are tightened to engage the right leg22and the left leg29to maintain the back bracket assemblies20,21. The method continues to step318.

The alignment cable, alignment clips and level are removed (step318) and the method ends.

It is noted that a kit for leveling one or more cornhole boards would include front leg bracket assemblies40,41, back leg bracket assemblies20,21and the horizontal and angle slope level100.

It is noted that a kit for aligning and leveling cornhole boards for playing on uneven ground would include front leg bracket assemblies40,41, back leg bracket assemblies20,21, the horizontal and angle slope level100, alignment cables80,81and alignment clips78,79,70,71.