Abstract:
A washer game with an upright tube has two targets spaced apart to test people&#39;s skill at throwing washers. The targets are round with concentric rings upon a flat base within a perimeter wall. Score value increases as ring diameter decreases. The centermost ring has a diameter to receive an upright tube. In addition to the targets and tubes, the game has a plurality of washers or bean bags. Players of the game can add or remove a tube to vary the difficulty of the game. Also, a backboard collects washers for novice players or friendly competitions. The backboard rests upright upon the wall of a target and has a similar shape to the target.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This continuation-in-part application claims the benefit of application Ser. No. 10/953,042, filed Sep. 29, 2004 and commonly owned by the same inventor. The above noted application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The washer game with an upright tube relates generally to games and more specifically to throwing games involving a target at a distance.  
         [0003]     People play games for entertainment and to develop coordination. Games have rules and usually scoring to measure skill. As coordination develops, skills and scores generally improve. At machine shops, auto shops, and hardware stores, washers accumulated often. Workers and customers would toss spare washers occasionally. In the last thirty years, a game developed in throwing washers at a distant target for score akin to horseshoes thrown at picnics.  
         [0004]     Traditionally, washer games have two spaced apart scoring boxes that receive tossed washers. The prior art boxes are typically manufactured from wood, metal, plastic and other materials in a square form with an open top. The square boxes received washers from all directions and permitted scoring of washers along a diagonal of the box similar to along the longitudinal and lateral axes of the box. The structure of the box allowed scoring at greater distances but perhaps at lesser skill. Further limitations of the prior art included scoring for only washers within the box, not precisely at the center and few features to reduce rebounding of the washers as they contacted the scoring box. This prior art limitation sometimes allowed well tossed washers to bounce out of the scoring box, thereby heightening the skill required at the game beyond mere throwing accuracy. Players would have to account for the spin and angle of impact of the washer with the box. The prior art had little recognition for a perfect center ringer toss.  
         [0005]     Presently, people throw washers outdoors and indoors upon surfaces resistant to chipping, like concrete. The outdoor surfaces absorb impact of washers as in earth or people tolerate damage as in wooden surfaces or concrete. With washers thrown between targets, or boxes, the area proximate to the target sustains the impact from the washers. When used indoors, surfaces limit the play of the washer game to those surfaces deemed chip resistant. A target of sufficient area would protect an indoor surface while still allowing competitive scoring of games.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0006]     The prior art has many version of boxes and targets. Some boxes stack and some nest. Other boxes have scoring systems painted upon the box and rules for the players. Some boxes award higher points for washers thrown and landed in the center of the box. However, few washer boxes mention an upright target.  
         [0007]     The patent to Blume, U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,653, shows a target apparatus for a washer game. Like the present invention, the apparatus has an upright tube and a box with a perimeter wall. However, this patent has a hole in the bottom for inserting the tube, four sides, and lacks throwing pieces and concentric rings within the perimeter wall.  
         [0008]     The patent to Teafatiller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,966, shows a ring toss game apparatus with separable but locking cases. Similar to the present invention, this patent has a tube attached to the center of a case. Different from the present invention, this patent has a tube with fins on the end that secure into slots in the cases, a handle on the case, scoring pegs, and no internal concentric rings.  
         [0009]     The patent to Weymuth, U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,801, shows a two cup washer game. Akin to the present invention, this patent has cups serving as adjacent rings. Unlike the present invention, this patent has adjacent cups as point targets in contrast to the area target of the present invention, spikes through the cups securing them to the earth, nodes or bumps on the bottom of the cups to aid in retrieval of washers, and plastic washers.  
         [0010]     The patent to Baumgartner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,139, shows a disk tossing game with a box target. Like the present invention, the patent has a central ring as the final washer target. Unlike the present invention, the patent has an outer box shape, cross bars within the box and beneath the central ring, and no tube above the ring.  
         [0011]     Then, the patent to Dougherty, No. D329,666, illustrates the design for a round game target. As the present invention does, this patent has a round target with a central cylinder or ring. However, this patent like Baumgartner&#39;s &#39;139 patent has an open bottom, cross bars beneath the ring, and a lip upon the top of the sidewall but no upright tube.  
         [0012]     The patent to Konotopsky, U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,862, shows a two piece tossing game. Similar to the present invention, this patent has concentric scoring rings in a bull&#39;s eye arrangement. In contrast to the present invention, this patent has a flat board propped at an angle on a support and flat scoring rings but lacks a sidewall to contain washers and an upright tube.  
         [0013]     The patent to Shost, Jr. et al., No. D415,533, illustrates an octagonal washer target. Like the present invention, this patent has a central cup higher than the sidewalls. In contrast to the present invention, this patent has a square cup and octagon shape.  
         [0014]     The patent to Billodeau et al., No. D428,061, illustrates another washer toss game with a central ring or cup. Like the present invention, this patent has a central cup but the cup rests upon cross bars and extends above the box. Further, the patent has a square box where the present invention has a round target.  
         [0015]     The patent to Gomez, U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,833, shows a recent patent for another washer toss game. This patent has concentric rings for scoring. Unlike the present invention, this patent has a raised mat with a cup in the center and the cup beneath the mat.  
         [0016]     Then, the patent to Kessler, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,201 shows a stackable washer game target with a central ring. Differing from the present invention, this patent has a tapered sidewall and a removable center pin with a base plug. The patent also has surface treatments for the washers and the bottom of the target.  
         [0017]     The patent to Kessler, Jr. et al., No. D479,279, illustrates a stackable washer target. As in the present invention, this design patent has a raised center portion to receive thrown washers. However, this patent has a central pin, four tapered sides arranged in a rectangle, and nodes upon the bottom which the present invention lacks.  
         [0018]     The patent to Knetsch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,200, has a washer game with a box. As in the present invention, this patent has a central upright tube. However, this patent has an adjustable height tube inserted through a hole in the bottom of a box, and an adjustable false bottom in a square box.  
         [0019]     And, the patent to Geror, U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,010, has a game with rings upon a target. As in the present invention, this patent has a central cup to receive thrown washers. However, this patent lacks an upright tube above the sidewall, has the tray not in contact with the ground, and has the cup as an integral molded part of the tray.  
         [0020]     The present invention overcomes the difficulties of cross arms and tapered central rings and allows installation of an upright tube for a new dimension to the washer tossing game and a backboard to assist novices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     Generally, the present invention provides a game and method of play with washers similar to the game of horseshoes played at picnics and in parks across the nation. Presently, people throw washers outdoors and indoors upon surfaces resistant to chipping, like concrete. Some washer games have square bins as the distant target from a player.  
         [0022]     The present invention has at least one round target, upright tube, and backboard suitable for indoor and outdoor use. The target has a round cylindrical shape closed on the bottom and open on the top to receive thrown washers. Within the target, one or more rings have concentric locations with various radii. The rings are spaced along the diameter of the target. Each ring represents a different point value for a game. Two or more people play the game, individually or on teams. Typically, each player throws four pieces, or washers, in a round. The center ring has the highest points for its small diameter in contrast to the outer ring with the lowest points for its large diameter. The center ring has a fixed diameter to receive an upright tube. The upright tube can have one or more openings that receive thrown washers. As an accessory to the game, the players choose whether to play with the upright tube. Preferably, the center ring is four and one half inches outside diameter to accept a PVC pipe fitting. In using two targets, the targets are spaced at least twenty feet apart at the players&#39; discretion. Additionally, the targets may have scoring for washers landing within each ring, increasing towards the center and for landing within the upright tube. The players throw washers until a player or team reaches twenty one points.  
         [0023]     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.  
         [0024]     The washer game may also include at least one backboard and at least one connector attached to each backboard. The backboard provides for training in throwing for the washer game and a more forgiving game if desired by the players. Persons throw washers towards a target and the backboard collects washers upon it and deposits them into the outer ring of the target. The connectors join the backboard to the wall of a target on at least one location. The connectors and the backboard resist the impacts of multiple washers over many uses of the washer game.  
         [0025]     Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0026]     One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved washer game with an upright tube.  
         [0027]     Another object is to provide such a washer game that has multiple concentric rings for scoring.  
         [0028]     Another object is to provide such a washer game that is portable and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.  
         [0029]     Another object is to provide such a washer game that has an upright opening for additional scoring opportunities.  
         [0030]     Another object is to provide such a washer game that has a backboard to collect washers into a target.  
         [0031]     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the washer game with an upright tube and without a tube arranged for play and constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of a target of the present invention with pieces suitable for tossing;  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a sectional view through the preferred embodiment of the target;  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an upright tube emplaced upon the preferred embodiment of the target;  
         [0036]      FIG. 5  illustrates a sectional view through the upright tube upon the preferred embodiment of the target;  
         [0037]      FIG. 6  describes a top view of an alternate embodiment of a target of the present invention; and,  
         [0038]      FIG. 7  describes a sectional view through the alternate embodiment of the target.  
         [0039]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of the washer game with an upright tube and a backboard arranged for play;  
         [0040]      FIG. 9  shows a sectional view through a target and the backboard of the preferred embodiment;  
         [0041]      FIG. 10   a  shows an isometric view of the backboard and connectors;  
         [0042]      FIG. 10   b  shows a top view of the backboard; and,  
         [0043]      FIG. 10   c  shows a sectional view through the backboard and showing a typical connector. 
     
    
       [0044]     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0045]     The present art overcomes the prior art limitations by providing a target with one or more concentric rings and an upright tube accessory to receive pieces, or washers, thrown at a distance for score. Beginning on  FIG. 1 , a washer game of the present invention  1  has one or more targets  2  at a distance, D. Here shown are two targets  2  with one upon a solid surface, or concrete, and the other upon the ground. The concrete represents indoor use of the present invention  1  while the ground represents outdoor use. In the washer game, targets  2  have a twenty foot distance between them and the rings  4 ,  4   a  within a target  2  have higher score as the ring  4  diameter decreases. A suggested scoring system is one point for a washer in the outer ring  4 , three points for a washer in the inner ring  4 , and five points for a washer landed in the center ring  4  where a total score of twenty one points wins the game. Preferably, one or more targets  2  have an upright tube  3  for variety and to increase the challenge of the game.  
         [0046]     Then in  FIG. 2 , the preferred embodiment of a target  2  has a generally round shape with a central ring  4  and one or more inner rings  4   a  within a wall  7 . The rings  4 ,  4   a  are concentric and centered upon the target  2 . As ring  4  diameter decreases score value in the washer game increases. The central ring  4  has a diameter no more than one third the diameter of the target  2 . Preferably, the central ring  4  has a diameter to fit an upright tube  3 , approximately four and one half inches. The central ring  4  has the highest score awarded for a washer that lands within it. In addition to the target  2 , the present invention  1  includes a plurality of throwing pieces, beanbags, or washers  5  either round or square in shape and less than four inches in diameter and width respectively.  
         [0047]     Rotating a target  2 ,  FIG. 3  shows a target  2  having a flat base  6  generally round in plan view as in  FIG. 2 , a wall  7  upon the perimeter, and multiple rings  4 ,  4   a  upon the base  6 . The wall  7  is a hollow cylinder centered upon the base  6  and joined to the top surface  8  of the base  6 . Within the wall  7 , the preferred embodiment has multiple rings  4 ,  4   a  arranged concentrically. Though many rings  4  are possible, two rings  4 ,  4   a  are shown here for clarity. Each ring  4 ,  4   a  is a hollow cylinder upon the top surface  8  of the base  6 . The central ring  4  has a diameter suitable for a snug fit with an upright tube  3 , here approximately four and one half inches. The multiple rings  4   a  have the same height, or less, as the wall  7 . Along with the target  2 , the present invention  1  has throwing pieces, or washers  5 , that have a rectangular cross section with a hole in the center.  
         [0048]      FIG. 4  has the preferred embodiment of the target  2  with a generally round shape and an upright tube  3 . As described in  FIG. 1 , the washer game allows use of an upright tube  3  with a vertical sleeve  9  that fits over the central ring  4  in a target  2 . The vertical sleeve  9  is approximately four and one half inches in diameter. From the sleeve  9 , the upright tube  3  has one or more arms  10  that branch upward and outward. Each arm  10  ends in an opening  11  to receive washers  5 .  
         [0049]     Taking a section through  FIG. 4 , the present invention  1  has an upright tube  3  fitted snugly upon the central ring  4  of a target  2  in  FIG. 5 . The sleeve  9  extends upward where the arms  10  extend laterally from the sleeve  9 . The arms  10  extend further upward, and laterally upon a radius from the center of the target  2  and then upward. The openings  11  at the ends of each arm  10  collect washers  5  thrown by the players. Within the tube  3 , the washers  5  slide under gravity to the central ring  4 .  
         [0050]     Moving to  FIG. 6 , the alternate embodiment of a target  2  has a base  6 , generally round in shape with a wall  7  upon the perimeter. The wall  7  is a hollow cylinder centered upon the base  6  and joined to the top surface  8  of the base  6 . Within the wall  7 , the alternate embodiment has a central ring  4  formed from a hollow cylinder upon the top surface  8  of the base  6 . The central ring  4  has a diameter no more than one third the diameter of the target  2 . The central ring  4  has a diameter suitable for a snug fit with an upright tube  3  and a height similar or less than that of the wall  7 . In playing the game with the alternate embodiment of the target  2 , the central ring  4  has the highest score awarded for a washer that lands within it  
         [0051]     Viewing, in  FIG. 7 , the alternate embodiment in section, the target  2  has a flat base  6 , a wall  7 , and a ring  4  upon the base  6 . The wall  7  is a hollow cylinder joined to the top surface  8  of the target  2  upon the perimeter of the target  2 . Within the wall  7 , the target  2  has a ring  4  centered upon the base  6 . The central ring  4  is a hollow cylinder of the same height or less as the wall  7  and also joined to the top surface  8  of the target  2 . The central ring  4  has a diameter to fit snugly with an upright tube  3 . Along with the target  2 , the present invention  1  has bean bags or washers  5  that typically have a rectangular cross section with a hole in the center.  
         [0052]     And turning to  FIG. 8 , the washer game with upright tube has an additional embodiment to ease practicing for the game or playing the game itself. Here shown on the plain target, a backboard  20  extends upwards from the target. The backboard conforms to the shape of the wall  7  of the target  2  as the backboard joins to the wall and collects washers  5  thrown upon it. The backboard extends partially along the perimeter of the target. The backboard has a top  21  away from the target and an opposite bottom  22  that connects with the wall. In the preferred embodiment, at least one connector  23  joins to the backboard proximate to the bottom and is spaced across the width of the backboard.  
         [0053]      FIG. 9  illustrates the connection of the backboard to a target with the upright tube removed. As previously described in  FIG. 3 , a target  2  has a flat base  6  generally round in shape, a wall  7  upon the perimeter, and multiple rings  4 ,  4   a  upon the base  6 . The wall  7  is a hollow cylinder centered upon the base  6  and joined to the top surface  8  of the base  6 . Within the wall  7 , the preferred embodiment has multiple rings  4 ,  4   a  arranged concentrically, though two rings  4 ,  4   a  are shown here for clarity. The multiple rings  4   a  have the same height, or less, as the wall  7 . Now the additional embodiment has a planar backboard  20  extending upwards from the wall. The backboard adjoins the inner surface of the wall and approaches the top surface of the base. A connector  23 , here shown as a clip, joins to the backboard generally at the height of the wall. The clip extends over the top of the wall and then descends upon the outer surface of the wall. The clip extends outward for merely the thickness of the wall and descends near to the bottom of the target sufficiently to grasp the outer surface of the wall so the backboard resists overturning. When a washer impacts upon the backboard, the clip deflects slightly and prevents the backboard from overturning and falling out of the target.  
         [0054]     In the additional embodiment, the clips are spaced across the width of the backboard as shown in  FIG. 10   a . The backboard  20  and the clips  23  follow the shape of the wall and here have a curved shape of similar radius to the wall as also shown in  FIG. 10   b . A clip  23  has a generally strap like planar inverted L shape of similar thickness to that of the wall as also shown in  FIG. 10   c . The clip has a top and an opposite bottom with the bottom having a greater length than the top. The clips  23  join near the top upon the backboard  20  in the additional embodiment so the backboard can resist washers thrown upon it from a variety of directions. In the additional embodiment, the clip joins to the backboard by a weld. Alternatively, an adhesive joins the clips to the backboard. Alternatively, the connector can be a strap, clamp, bracket, or clevis.  
         [0055]     In use, the bracket allows a player to slip the backboard just inside the wall and then rest the bracket upon the top of the wall. The players then play normally throwing washers. Upon impact, the backboard bends away from the wall and the resilience of the clips return the backboard to an upright position. Some of the washers that would have missed the target are collected by the backboard and deposited into the outer ring. The players make an agreed upon score applicable for washers that hit the backboard. Then upon completion of a game, a player lifts the backboard, detaching the clips from the top of the wall, and the target and backboard are then ready for storage or transport.  
         [0056]     From the aforementioned description, a washer game with an upright tube has been described. The washer game with an upright tube is uniquely capable of providing scoring at multiple rings with upright scoring through a tube, all upon a flat base for indoor and outdoor use. This embodiment provides a backboard to collect washers thrown by novices and friendly players. The washer game with an upright tube and its various components may be manufactured from many materials, including but not limited to, polyvinyl chloride pipe and fittings such as elbows and wyes, plywood, polymers, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, their alloys, and composites.  
         [0057]     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Therefore, the claims include such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.