Abstract:
A game structure which may be packaged and sold separately or as part of a package for a beverage container, including bottles for water, soda, adult beverages and the like. While the game structure is adaptable for use with bottles of various types, it may be included in packaging for cans, in addition to bottles, so long as an associated bottle is available for use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Non-Provisional application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/386,289 filed Sep. 24, 2010, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    It is often desirable to provide some form of fun competitive sport game, for example, at social events or in gatherings of people in social settings. Preferably, one would desire the game to at least resemble the sport being played. So called sports bars offering food, refreshments and multiple television sets have become popular for socializing and watching sporting events, including, for example, soccer, football, rugby, basketball, hockey and multiple other sports events that come to mind. To capitalize on the sports bar phenomenon and similar social situations, I have developed a low cost game construction that can be distributed to those interested in participating in friendly competition, the game components being essentially disposable after use. 
         [0004]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, there are a number of games and game devices available which attempt to meet this need. However, there is a general lack of social games devices, which are low cost and widely available, and may be included, for example, as part of the packaging of beverages and the like. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Briefly stated, the present invention is a disposable game board having a sports theme. A game board is configured for assembly into a simulated sports goal, which can engage with a beverage container. Players shoot game pieces, such as bottle caps, at the simulated goal for scoring. The game board can simulate a plurality of sports, including, but not limited to, basketball, soccer, or hockey. 
         [0006]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the disclosure as well as embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a top plan view of a game board for a simulated basketball goal; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a bottom plan view of the game board for the simulated basketball goal; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a top plan view of a game board for a simulated soccer goal; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  is a bottom plan view of the game board for the simulated soccer goal 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of a game board for a simulated football goal; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a bottom plan view of the game board for the simulated football goal; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a top plan view of a game board for a simulated hockey goal 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  is a bottom plan view of the game board for the simulated hockey goal; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the simulated football goal engaged with a beverage container; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5B  is another perspective view of an simulated football goal engaged with a beverage container; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of the simulated basketball goal engaged with a beverage container; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5D  is another perspective view of the simulated basketball goal engaged with a beverage container; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5E  is a perspective view of the simulated soccer goal engaged with a beverage container; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 5F  is a perspective view of the simulated hockey goal engaged with a beverage container. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The following detailed description illustrates the claimed invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the disclosure, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the claimed invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-5F , an embodiment constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, generally referred to as a disposable game board  10 , includes a plurality of foldable sections  12  shaped and sized for assembly into a simulated sport goal  14 . The assembled goal  14  detachably engages with a beverage container  16  so that the goal  14  is positioned for gameplay ( FIGS. 5A-5F ). Players toss or flip game pieces, such as bottle caps, at the goal  14 . Players can track scoring using any suitable method. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a first embodiment of the game board  10 , which is shaped and sized to simulate a basketball goal. The game board  10  is generally rectangular and defines the following plurality of sections: (A) Engagement portion; (B) rear board face; (C) front board face; (D) hoop face; (E) front hoop face; (F) bottom face; and (G) rear hoop face. Corresponding folding seams  18  are positioned along the junction between each section as indicated by section lines A-B; B-C; C-D; D-E; E-F; F-G. The seams  18  are generally parallel to each other and spaced at a predetermined distance to permit assembly of the game board  10  into a simulated basketball goal  14 . 
         [0026]    The engagement portion (A) is generally square and defines a generally circular detachable perforated member  20 . When the perforated member  20  is removed, the engagement portion (A) defines a generally circular opening  21  sized and shaped to slide over a neck of a beverage container  16  and rest on the top of the lower portion  22  of the beverage container  16 . 
         [0027]    The rear board face (B) is generally shaped like a basketball backboard and defines a pair of slots  24  positioned along each edge. The front board face (C) is generally shaped like a basketball backboard and defines a pair of tabs  26  that are shaped and sized to secure with slots  24 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , folding along seam B-C, allows the tabs to secure with slots  24  and form a simulated backboard. Folding along seam A-B until the engagement portion (A) is generally perpendicular to the simulated backboard positions the opening  21  for engagement with the beverage container  16 . Sections (D), (E), (F), and (G) are generally rectangular and are formed into a box by folding along seams D-E; E-F; and F-G. Tabs  28  extending from the rear hoop face (G) secure with slots  24  in hoop face (D). A generally circular perforated member  30  in hoop face (D) is detachable to define a goal opening  32 . 
         [0028]    Appropriate indicia  34  are printed on all faces of the game board  10  to enhance the aesthetics of the simulated goal, including, but not limited to, assembly instructions, advertising, or promotional items. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a second embodiment of the game board  110 , which is shaped and sized to simulate a soccer goal. The game board  110  is generally rectangular and defines the following plurality of sections: (A) Engagement portion; (B) rear face; (C) top goal face; (D) goal face; (E) bottom goal face; and (F) rear goal face. Corresponding folding seams  118  are positioned along the junction between each section as indicated by section lines A-B; B-C; C-D; D-E; and E-F. The seams  118  are generally parallel to each other and spaced at a predetermined distance to permit assembly of the game board  10  into a simulated soccer goal  114 . 
         [0030]    The engagement portion (A) is generally square and defines a generally circular detachable perforated member  120 . When the perforated member  120  is removed, the engagement portion (A) defines a generally circular opening  121  sized and shaped to slide over a neck of a beverage container  16  and rest on the top of the lower portion  17  of the beverage container  16 . 
         [0031]    The rear face (B) is generally rectangular. The top goal face (C) is generally rectangular shaped and simulates the top of a soccer goal. The top goal face (C) defines a pair of slots  124  positioned along each a seam B-C. The goal face (D) is generally rectangular and simulates the shape of a soccer goal. A generally rectangular perforated section  130  is detachable to define a goal opening  132  for receiving game pieces. The bottom goal face (E) is generally rectangular and simulates a bottom of a soccer goal. The rear goal face (F) is generally rectangular and simulates a rear portion of a soccer goal. The rear goal face (F) defines a pair of tabs  128  that are shaped and sized to secure with slots  124 . As shown in  FIG. 5E , folding along seams C-D, D-E and E-F, to form a box allows the tabs  128  to secure with slots  124  and form a simulated soccer goal. Folding along seam A-B until the engagement portion (A) is generally perpendicular to the rear face (B) positions the opening  121  for engagement with the beverage container  16 . 
         [0032]    Appropriate indicia  134  are printed on all faces of the game board  110  to enhance the aesthetics of the simulated goal, including, but not limited to, assembly instructions, advertising, or promotional items. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a third embodiment of the game board  210 , which is shaped and sized to simulate a football goal. The game board  210  is generally rectangular and defines the following plurality of sections: (A) Engagement portion; (B) rear face; (C) extension face; (D) goal face; (E) front goalpost face; (F) bottom goalpost face; (G) rear goalpost face; and (H) game piece portion. Corresponding folding seams  218  are positioned along the junction between each section as indicated by section lines A-B; B-C; C-D; D-E; E-F; G-H. The seams  218  are generally parallel to each other and spaced at a predetermined distance to permit assembly of the game board  210  into a simulated football goal  214 . 
         [0034]    The engagement portion (A) is generally square and defines a generally circular detachable perforated member  220 . When the perforated member  220  is removed, the engagement portion (A) defines a generally circular opening  221  sized and shaped to slide over a neck of a beverage container  16  and rest on the top of the lower portion  17  of the beverage container  16 . Folding along seam A-B until the engagement portion (A) is generally perpendicular to the rear face (B) positions the opening  221  for engagement with the beverage container  16 . 
         [0035]    The rear face (B) is generally rectangular. The extension face (C) is generally rectangular shaped and spaces the football goal at a predetermined distance from the beverage container  16 . The extension face (C) defines a pair of slot  224  positioned generally along the midsection of the extension face (C). The goal face (D) is generally rectangular and simulates the shape of a football goal. A pair of generally rectangular perforated sections  230  is detachable to define a goal opening  232  for receiving game pieces. The front goalpost face (E); bottom goalpost face (F); and rear goalpost face (G) fold along seams D-E, E-F, and F-G to generally form a box. The end of the rear goalpost face (G) section inserts into the slot  224 . The game piece portion (H) is generally rectangular and detaches from the rear goalpost face (G). A pair of game pieces  240  detaches from the game piece portion (H) and form generally triangular shaped game pieces. 
         [0036]    Appropriate indicia  234  are printed on all faces of the game board  210  to enhance the aesthetics of the simulated goal, including, but not limited to, assembly instructions, advertising, or promotional items. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a fourth embodiment of the game board  310 , which is shaped and sized to simulate a hockey goal. The embodiment of  FIGS. 4A-4B  is similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 2A-2B . The game board  310  is generally rectangular and defines the following plurality of sections: (A) Engagement portion; (B) rear face; (C) top goal face; (D) goal face; (E) bottom goal face; and (F) rear goal face. Corresponding folding seams  318  are positioned along the junction between each section as indicated by section lines A-B; B-C; C-D; D-E; and E-F. The seams  318  are generally parallel to each other and spaced at a predetermined distance to permit assembly of the game board  10  into a simulated soccer goal  314 . 
         [0038]    The engagement portion (A) is generally square and defines a generally circular detachable perforated member  320 . When the perforated member  320  is removed, the engagement portion (A) defines a generally circular opening  321  sized and shaped to slide over a neck of a beverage container  16  and rest on the top of the lower portion  17  of the beverage container  16 . 
         [0039]    The rear face (B) is generally rectangular. The top goal face (C) is generally rectangular shaped and simulates the top of a soccer goal. The top goal face (C) defines a pair of slots  324  positioned along each a seam B-C. The goal face (D) is generally rectangular and simulates the shape of a soccer goal. A generally rectangular perforated section  330  is detachable to define a goal opening  332  for receiving game pieces. The bottom goal face (E) is generally rectangular and simulates a bottom of a soccer goal. The rear goal face (F) is generally rectangular and simulates a rear portion of a soccer goal. The rear goal face (F) defines a pair of tabs  328  that are shaped and sized to secure with slots  324 . As shown in  FIG. 5E , folding along seams C-D, D-E and E-F, to form a box allows the tabs  328  to secure with slots  324  and form a simulated hockey goal. Folding along seam A-B until the engagement portion (A) is generally perpendicular to the rear face (B) positions the opening  321  for engagement with the beverage container  16 . 
         [0040]    Appropriate indicia  34  are printed on all faces of the game board  10  to enhance the aesthetics of the simulated goal, including, but not limited to, assembly instructions, advertising, or promotional items. 
         [0041]    A particular feature of the embodiments of this disclosure is that the game board can be included as part of the packaging for the beverage containers. For example, the game board can be included as a separate component included with the packaging of a beverage. Alternatively, the game board can be integrated or formed from the packaging of the beverages. Specifically, the game board can be stamped with perforations in the six pack, twelve pack or case and other packaging or carrier of beverages, and removed from the carrier proper for use. 
         [0042]    The game board is preferably made from a low cost disposable material, such as cardboard or card stock, to permit distribution for promotional purposes at either no cost or minimal cost to establishments selling the products which the game construction uses in conjunction with its application. 
         [0043]    Changes can be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.