Lighted gaming bag

A gaming bag including at least one outer wall defining a cavity, at least one light emitting source positioned adjacent the at least one outer wall, a filling material disposed within the cavity, and wherein the at least one light emitting source provides illumination. A method of lighting a gaming bag comprising the steps of providing a gaming bag comprising at least one outer wall defining a cavity, at least one light emitting source positioned adjacent the at least one wall, a shock sensor within the cavity, a filling material within the cavity, and wherein the at least one light emitting source provides illumination, tossing the gaming bag, measuring a force with the shock sensor upon impact with a surface, activating the light emitting source when the force is greater than the predetermined threshold, and deactivating the light emitting source after a predetermined amount of time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates generally to a tossable gaming bag. More particularly, the invention relates to a tossable gaming bag having a filler material such as corn or beans and an illumination source. Specifically, the invention relates to a lighted gaming bag having either an internal or external illumination source as well as the ability to selectively illuminate the respective sources.

2. Background Information

Gaming bags come in a variety of shapes and sizes for a multitude of purposes. Gaming bags may be used in combination with a target or just freely thrown about. One of the more popular games that utilizes gaming bags is cornhole.

Cornhole is generally played with two game boards and eight gaming bags. The gaming bags have two sets of distinctive colors or patterns, with four bags having each color or pattern. The gaming bags are generally made of duck cloth or a similar heavy weight tight woven material to ensure strength and durability for outdoor use. The cornhole board in generally rectangular in shape with a raised back end and a hole located proximate the back end. The cornhole board is arranged similar to a ramp so that the gaming bag can be slid towards the back end and still permit the bag to remain on the board after being thrown. Regulation cornhole boards are approximately two feet wide and four feet long, with the front end resting on the ground and the back end raised approximately twelve inches.

Cornhole is played in frames, where each player rotates throwing his or her gaming bag towards the target. After all eight bags have been thrown, the bags remaining on the cornhole board are scored as one point and any bags traversing the hole are scored as three points. The ultimate goal of the game is to be the first team to reach 21 points. Although this seems like a fairly easy task, since the boards are placed approximately thirty-three feet apart from one another, scoring may be difficult. Further, since the boards are required to be a certain distance apart, the game must be played during daylight hours in order to be able to see the board and calculate the score.

Cornhole board manufacturers have adapted the game to include lights surrounding various features of the board. In particular, cornhole boards are sold that include LEDs or fiber optics which define the outer perimeter of the board as well as the scoring hole. Further, LEDs have been used to illuminate the scoring hole from the bottom side. While the lighted cornhole board provides interesting visual effects and allows the players to see the board at night, the player is still unable to determine if his or her bag has landed on the board or traversed the scoring hole. Thus, the players are still unable to adequately play in the dark, and are unable to receive any form of feedback after throwing the gaming bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly comprises a gaming bag including at least one outer wall defining a cavity, at least one light emitting source positioned adjacent the at least one outer wall, a filling material disposed within the cavity, and wherein the at least one light emitting source provides illumination.

The present invention also broadly comprises a method of lighting a gaming bag comprising the steps of providing a gaming bag comprising at least one outer wall defining a cavity, at least one light emitting source positioned adjacent the at least one wall, a shock sensor within the cavity, a filling material within the cavity, and wherein the at least one light emitting source provides illumination, tossing the gaming bag, measuring a force with the shock sensor upon impact with a surface, activating the light emitting source when the force is greater than the predetermined threshold, and deactivating the light emitting source after a predetermined amount of time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.

The lighted gaming bag of the present invention is indicated generally at12, as is particularly shown inFIGS. 1-11. As particularly shown inFIGS. 1-4, a first preferred embodiment lighted gaming bag14includes a top wall16and a bottom wall18. A plurality of mounting loops20extend outward from a side wall22formed at the attachment of top and bottom walls16and17. Top wall16and a bottom wall18are secured together with thread24. As particularly seen inFIG. 3, the top wall includes an end26, while the bottom wall includes an end28. The respective ends26and28are folded inward and stitched shut with thread24.

Mounting loops20are formed from a single cloth layer forming a cavity30between a first end32and a second end34. In particular, first and second ends32and34are located proximate one another and disposed between top wall end26and bottom wall end28and arranged to provide cavity30with approximately the same diameter as the outside diameter of a glow stick36. As particularly seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, the first and second ends32and34are secured between top wall end26and bottom wall end28with thread24.

In the preferred embodiment, eight mounting loops20are arranged in pairs on each side of lighted gaming bag14. Although gaming bag14has been described with eight mounting loops and two mounting loops on each side, one skilled in the art should immediately recognize that any amount of mounting loops and any particular arrangement of mounting loops may be incorporated so long as glow sticks36are securely held in place without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Each side wall22of lighted bag14is preferably the same length, thereby forming a generally square shape as seen inFIG. 1. Side walls22are preferably arranged orthogonal to one another to form a corner38at each connection point. Lighted gaming bag14preferably has a length L of approximately six inches and a width W of approximately six inches, although any length or width may be utilized. Glow sticks36, on the other hand, have a length of less than six inches in the preferred embodiment to ensure that the glow stick does not extend beyond each respective side wall22.

Finally, lighted gaming bag14includes a cavity40formed by top wall16and bottom wall18and filled with a filling material42as seen inFIGS. 2 and 3. Filling material42may be any suitable substance including, but not limited to, beans, corn, sand, beads or plastic pellets.

Having described the structure of a first preferred embodiment, a preferred method of operation will now be described in greater detail and should be read in light ofFIGS. 1-4and particularlyFIG. 4.

FIG. 4illustrates lighted gaming bag14in a first position44and a second position46. In order to provide illumination from the glow sticks, the user may either remove glow stick36and snap each of them to provide the illumination and then replace the glow stick within mounting loops20, or the user may snap the glow stick while still within mounting loops20. After each of glow sticks36have been snapped to provide illumination48, the user can then begin using lighted gaming bag14. In particular, the user throws lighted gaming bag14in the direction associated with arrow50in an attempt to locate gaming bag14on a gaming board52and particularly a top surface54or a scoring hole56. Since lighted gaming bag14provides illumination48from glow stick36, the user may play the game in low or no light conditions and still be able to located the gaming bag at all times.

Having described the structure and operation of the first embodiment, only those portions of the second embodiment which are different than the first embodiment are described in greater detail. Likewise, similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various embodiments.

A second preferred embodiment lighted gaming bag58is illustrated in FIGS.5-9. Second embodiment gaming bag58is similar to the first embodiment gaming bag in that the second embodiment gaming bag includes top wall16and bottom wall18arranged in a preferably square shape with orthogonal connections between side walls22. The second embodiment gaming bag may also include mounting loops20to secure glow sticks36.

In accordance with another main feature of the invention, lighted gaming bag58includes a light emitting source60as seen inFIGS. 5,6and7. Light emitting source60includes a printed circuit board62with a controller IC1, a sensor64, a diode D1and a plurality of resistors R1through R5. The light emitting source also includes LEDs66,68,70and72. Resistor R1is in electrical communication with LED66through wire74, while resistor R2is in electrical communication with LED68via wire76. In the same manner, LED70is in electrical communication with resistor R3via wire78and LED72is in electrical communication with resistor R4via wire80. Light emitting source60includes a battery82or other sufficient power source, located intermediate terminal84and printed circuit board62for providing illumination of LEDs66-72as seen inFIG. 7. Finally, the printed circuit board, or control panel, may include a device which allows the user to select the sequence of LEDs66,68,70, and72. In particular, the user may select the LEDs remain steadily on for a given time period, flash at a given interval, blink in a random pattern, or any other suitable sequence, all of which are within the spirit and scope of the prevent invention as claimed.

Printed circuit board62is preferably arranged within filling material42as seen inFIGS. 5 and 7. Light emitting source60is illustrated as being free floating within the second embodiment gaming bag58, however it should be immediately apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that light emitting source60may be secured to either top wall16or bottom wall18with an adhesive or stitches without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. LEDs66through72are each preferably located proximate side walls22. Specifically, the LEDs are located proximate corners38. LEDs66through72may be secured proximate corners38with an adhesive86. Advantageously, locating the LEDs within the corner ensures that the perimeter of the gaming bag is visible upon impact. In an alternative embodiment, LEDs66through72are secured within their respective corners38with thread88as seen inFIG. 10. By incorporating thread to secure the LEDs within their respective corners, the LEDs can be secured to either top wall16or bottom wall18as desired.

FIG. 8is an electrical schematic of the lighted gaming board. Microprocessor IC1is preferably a model 12F609 manufactured by Micro-Chip Technologies, Inc. Inputs1and8are the respective positive and negative inputs to the processor, while outputs2,3,6and7connect the processor and the respective LEDs. Resistors R1, R2, R3and R4are used to regulate the amount of voltage at the respective LEDs. A diode D1acts as a voltage clamp and protects the microprocessor from voltage spikes from the sensor through input5. Sensor64is preferably a wide range pizo shock sensor manufactured by Measurement Specialists, model number LDTC028K. In an alternative embodiment, sensor64may also be a motion sensor. To further protect the processor and the battery, the processor and battery may be contained within a potted cube to provide resistance to shock and vibration.

Having described the structure of the second embodiment, a preferred method of operation will be described in greater detail and should be read in light ofFIGS. 5-9.

Second embodiment gaming bag58is shown in both a first state90and a second state92inFIG. 9. Second embodiment gaming bag58is initially in first state90whereby glow sticks36have already been snapped to provide illumination48, but LEDs66,68,70and72are not illuminated. The user then throws the gaming bag in the direction associated with arrow94towards gaming board52. When second embodiment gaming bag58contacts top surface54, sensor64receives an input of the magnitude of the impact force. Next, sensor64transfers the impact force magnitude to processor IC1, where a determination is made if the impact force is greater than the required threshold. If the impact force measured is greater than the threshold force, processor IC1transmits voltage from battery82through resistors R1through R4to illuminate LEDs as indicated by lines96. If the impact face measured is insufficient, then the LEDs remain unlit. The processor may then control whether the LEDs remain illuminated for a predetermined period of time or if the LEDs are programmed to illuminate in an alternating pattern. Finally, processor IC1may deactivate LEDs66through72after the predetermined time has elapsed. In an alternative embodiment, the processor may continue to provide voltage to the LEDs until a second shock is measured at the shock center thereby triggering the processor to deactivate the LEDs. In this alternative arrangement, the LEDs would be activated and deactivated based on alternating impact forces. In another alternative embodiment, the LEDs may be activated by the motion sensor in a first pattern when the player throws the gaming bag. Further, the LEDs may be also be activated in a second pattern different that the first pattern when the gaming bag contacts the gaming board.

Having described the structure and operation of two preferred embodiments, only those portions of the third embodiment which are different from the first and second embodiment, are described in greater detail.

A third embodiment lighted gaming bag98includes a releasably sealed side wall100. Top wall18preferably includes a hook portion102, while bottom wall18includes a loop portion104. In this arrangement, hook portion102and loop portion104are releasably sealable to maintain light emitting source60and filler material42within gaming bag98, while still permitting access and replacement of battery82(not shown). Although the third embodiment is shown and described without mounting loops or glow sticks, it is within the spirit and scope of the present invention as claimed to include glow sticks on releasable side wall100by either securing the mounting loops to top tall16or bottom wall18.

Thus, the lighted gaming bag provides both a constant source of illumination around the perimeter of the gaming bag and internal illumination selectively activated and deactivated to enhance the player's experience. Light emitting source60may be secured within the gaming bag in a variety of ways, and includes a sensor and a processor to control the operation of the LEDs.

Accordingly, the lighted gaming bag is an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device that achieves all the enumerated objectives of the invention, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior art devices, systems, and methods, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the lighted game bag is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.