Abstract:
The disclosure concerns a collapsibly foldable throwing game kit for convenient storage and portability. The throwing game kit is configured for use indoors and outdoors, and includes a game grid having a plurality of grid receptacles, one or more throwing projectiles, a set of game cards, and score cards. The throwing game kit optionally includes a dowel for elevating one side of the game grid for orienting the game grid at an angle about a surface on which the game grid is placed. Related methods for playing various games using the throwing game kit are also described.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The claimed invention relates to a throwing game kit and related methods; and more particularly, to a collapsibly foldable and portable throwing game kit configured for multiple play options. 
       Description of the Related Art 
       [0002]    Most commercially available projectile throwing games are backyard or lawn games. Such games have been popular for various types of gatherings, for example, home parties, picnics, camping, and the like. However, the commercially available backyard or lawn games are often either cumbersome to carry, complicated, and/or time consuming to set up. In addition, these games are mostly exclusive for one of outdoor or indoor play only, and either for children or for adult play. Moreover, such games and game kits often provide only one method of playing. 
         [0003]    Thus, there is a present need and desire for improved throwing games and game kits, especially for those that may be foldable, collapsible and portable, can be played indoors as well as outdoors, and those that may be suitable for players of a wide range of ages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with various embodiments, a throwing game kit is disclosed, the throwing game kit includes at least: a collapsibly foldable game grid having a plurality of grid receptacles therein, one or more throwing projectiles, a game card set including a plurality of game cards therein, and one or more score cards. In some embodiments, the throwing game kit further includes a bag for storage and transport of the game kit contained therein. Further embodiments include a dowel or other structural support for elevating one side of the game grid for positioning the game grid at an angle with respect to the ground or surface on which the game grid is placed. 
         [0005]    Methods for playing games using the collapsibly foldable throwing game kit are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a method for playing a game using the throwing game kit includes: a first player selecting a first card from the set of game cards, the first card including a first target pattern; a second player selecting a second card from the set of game cards, the second card including a second target pattern; each of the first and second players, in turn, throwing the one or more projectiles toward the game grid, each of the projectiles landing in one or none of the grid receptacles; each of the first and second players, subsequent to throwing the one or more projectiles, marking the score card at the graphical representation such that the marking is indicative of a corresponding grid receptacle for which the projectiles have been received in the game grid after throwing; and repeating the throwing and marking; wherein the player to land a projectile in each grid receptacle corresponding to one of the first and second target patterns prior to the other player wins the game. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The claimed invention can be further understood upon a thorough review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a perspective view of a throwing game kit in accordance with an illustrated embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a perspective view of a game grid and grid receptacles thereof of the throwing game kit, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a divider of the throwing game kit in accordance with the illustrated embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2B  illustrates an inverse view of the divider of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the throwing game kit in accordance with the illustrated embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a perspective view of the game grid of the throwing game kit in accordance with the illustrated embodiment as it is folded into a collapsed state; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a side view of the throwing game kit showing a living hinge in accordance with the illustrated embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a game card from the set of game cards of the throwing game kit in accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the game card showing a target pattern corresponding to grid receptacles of the game grid; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a view of a rule card of the throwing game kit in accordance with the illustrated embodiment; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates views of a score card of the throwing game kit in accordance with the illustrated embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, details and descriptions are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the claimed invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these details and descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Certain embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings wherein illustrative features are denoted by reference numerals. 
         [0018]    In the following description and in the figures, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of “e.g.,” “etc,” and “or” indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation, unless otherwise noted. The use of “including” or “includes” means “including, but not limited to,” or “includes, but not limited to,” unless otherwise noted. 
         [0019]    Now turning to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-7  illustrate a throwing game kit  100  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , generally, the throwing game kit  100  includes a game grid  101 , a dowel  200  (see  FIG. 3 ), a set of game cards  500 , a set of rule cards or rules  600  (see  FIG. 6 ), a set of score cards  650 , one or more throwing projectiles  700 , and a carrying feature  800 . 
         [0020]    Now with respect to  FIG. 1A , the game grid  101  may be folded for storage or transport (see  FIG. 4A ). In an expanded (or open, expanded, playing) state, one or more dividers  112  (see  FIGS. 1B and 2 ) may be removably positioned in an interior space of the game grid  101  to form a grid of receptacles  120 . In some embodiments, as described herein, the throwing game kit  100  may be played according to a target pattern described in a game card  500 , and according to a rule  600 . In a collapsed (or folded) state, the throwing game kit  100  may be stored in the carrying feature  800 , such as for example, a bag or case. Although the carrying feature  800  is illustrated in  FIG. 1A  as a bag, it may also be a box, a tube, or a suitable carrying feature. The carrying feature  800  may also include a strap or handle for carrying. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the throwing projectile  700  includes a first portion, and a second portion extending from the first portion. The first portion may have a greater weight than the second portion. The second portion may include one or more guiding or stabilizing elements or wings. In these embodiments, when the throwing projectile  700  is delivered (for example, thrown or tossed) by a player, the first portion of the throwing projectile  700  will generally land first. 
         [0022]    Turning to  FIG. 1B  of the illustrated embodiment, a perspective view of the game grid  101  of the throwing game kit  100  is illustrated. The game grid  101  includes a base  103  (see  FIGS. 1A and 4A ), a first wall  102 , a second wall  104 , a third wall  106  and a fourth wall  108 , wherein the first wall  102  is opposite of the third wall  106 , and the second wall  104  is opposite of the fourth wall  108 . The base  103 , the first wall  102 , the second wall  104 , the third wall  106  and the fourth wall  108  are fixedly coupled to form an interior space  105  (see  FIG. 4A ). In the illustrated embodiment, in an expanded (or open, playing) state, the game grid  101  has a rectangular shape of four sides. 
         [0023]    It should be noted that there can be an equal number of columns and rows of the game grid, or there can be more columns or more rows. It should further be noted, depending on user or manufacturer preference, that the game grid can comprise one or more walls extending perpendicularly upward from the base about a periphery thereof. 
         [0024]    When the game grid  101  is in the expanded state, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , one or more horizontal and vertical dividers  112  (see  FIG. 2 ) may be removably positioned in the interior space  105  to form a grid of grid receptacles. In some embodiments, at least the third wall  106  and the horizontal dividers  112  may include column and/or row indicia in a predetermined order. For example, in the illustrated embodiment in  FIG. 2 , the indicia are in numerical order horizontally, and are in alphabetical order vertically. As such, horizontally, the markings include A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , etc., in a first horizontal row, and so on. Vertically, the markings include A 1 , B 1 , C 1 , etc., in a first vertical row, and so on. As will be described herein, the markings provide the grid receptacles  120  with labels for playing one or more games. 
         [0025]    The dividers  112  include alternating fingers  113  and slits  114 . The horizontal and vertical dividers  112  may be positioned perpendicular to one another. In some embodiments, when the horizontal dividers  112  are positioned as illustrated in  FIG. 2A  (e.g., edge  115  facing downward), the vertical dividers  112  will be positioned inverse to the horizontal dividers  112  as illustrated in  FIG. 2B  (e.g., edge  115  facing upward). As a result, the slits of the horizontal dividers  112  will removably couple with the corresponding slits of the vertical dividers  112 . In some embodiments, the width of each slit  114  may be slightly greater than the thickness of the divider  112 . 
         [0026]    The outside surface of the first wall  102  of the game grid  101  may include graphics for the throwing game kit  100 , for example, logo  110  or any other marketing information. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the first wall  102 , the second wall  104 , the third wall  106  and the fourth wall  108  may be fabricated with corrugated cardboard or other paper board, or a plastic, and covered with nylon fabric. In these embodiments, corrugated cardboard may be selected for its light weight, and nylon fabric may be selected for its waterproof and resilient characteristics. Other materials having similar characteristics or benefits may also be selected. 
         [0028]    Turing to  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, a side view of the throwing game kit  100  is illustrated.  FIG. 3  illustrates the third wall  106  being elevated and held in the elevated position by a dowel  200  and a catch  210 . In the elevated position, the grid receptacles and their corresponding indicia in the interior space  105  will be more readily visible to a player of the throwing game kit  100  who may be standing at a distance from the throwing game kit  100 . Using the dowel, the game grid can be elevated at one side such that the game grid forms an angle with respect to the ground or surface on which the game grid is placed. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4A  illustrates, in some embodiments, a perspective view of the throwing game kit  100  with the game grid  101  in a state of being folded or collapsed. As disclosed herein, the second wall  104  and the fourth wall  108  of the game grid  101  each includes respective living hinge  107  and  109 . The living hinge  107  allows the second wall  104  to fold inwardly. Similarly, the living hinge  109  allows the fourth wall  108  to fold inwardly. As the sides  104  and  108  fold, the first wall  102  and third wall  106  move toward the center of the game grid  101 , until the inner wall  104 ′ of the side  104  and the inner wall  108 ′ of the side  108  couple with the inner wall of the side  102 . Substantially at the same time, the inner wall  104 ″ of the side  104  and the inner wall  108 ″ of the side  108  couple with the inner wall of the side  106 . In this collapsed state, the game grid  101  may be stored in the carrying feature  800 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates, in some embodiments, a game card  500  which includes a depiction of corresponding grid receptacles  502 , and having an exemplary target pattern  510  (for example, four darkened grid receptacles  502 ). In some embodiments, the target pattern  510  may be predetermined (pre-printed on the game card  500 ). In other embodiments, a game card  500  may not include a predetermined pattern. In these latter embodiments, the player will provide his or her own pattern, by marking one or more grid receptacles  502  on a blank grid of a blank game card. 
         [0031]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, the throwing game kit  100  includes a set of rules  600 . As described herein, in an exemplary operation (play) of the throwing game kit  100 , a game card  500  will be selected. The selected game card  500  may indicate that a game with a predetermined pattern (for example, shown as “PICTURE” in  FIG. 6 ) will be played. The predetermined pattern will be disclosed, or known, to all players. In these embodiments, with the ordered labels on the dividers  112  corresponding to the labels on the game card  650 , the goal or objective of each player, or team of players, will be to make one or more deliveries (for examples, throws or tosses) of the throwing projectiles  700  into the grid receptacles  120  of the game grid  101  (see  FIGS. 1 (A-B)), so that the one or more deliveries will match the known predetermined pattern. The players, or teams, may record each delivery in a score card  650 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . For example, a “hit” or match may be recorded by marking an “X” in a corresponding square in the grid of the score card  650 . A “miss” may be recorded by marking an “O” in a corresponding square in the grid of the score card  650 . The first player, or team, that completes the match will win the game. 
         [0032]    In other embodiments, a selected game card  500  may indicate that a game with or without a predetermined pattern (for example, shown as “TARGET” in  FIG. 6 ) will be played. If there is no predetermined pattern, the players, or teams, may create their own pattern in a first game card  650 . The pattern (predetermined or created) is known only to the player, or team, holding the card  500  having that pattern. As such, the pattern will be kept secret from, or unknown or undisclosed to, the opposing player or team. In these embodiments, the objective of each player, or team of players, will be to make one or more deliveries (for examples, throws or tosses) of the throwing projectiles  700  into the grid receptacles  120  of the game grid  101  (see  FIGS. 1 (A-B)), so that the one or more deliveries will match the unknown or secret pattern. The players, or teams, may record each delivery in a game card  650 . For example, a “hit” or match may be recorded, by the player or team with knowledge of the pattern, with an “X” in a corresponding square in the grid of the first game card  650 . A “miss” may be recorded, by the player or team with knowledge of the pattern, with an “O” in a corresponding square in the grid of the first game card  650 . The player or team making the delivery may record the delivery on his or their own second game card  650 . The first player or team that completes the match will win the game. 
         [0033]    In the above embodiments, the number of deliveries (for examples, throws or tosses) made by each player or team during each turn may vary. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , each team will make six deliveries at a time. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, the outside wall of one or more of the side  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108  may include one or more pockets for holding the game cards  500 , game cards  650 , and rule cards  600 . 
         [0035]    It should be noted that the throwing game kit  100  may be set up and played either indoors or outdoors. 
         [0036]    Now, although particular features and embodiments have been described in an effort to enable those with skill in the art to make and use the claimed invention, it should be understood that several variations, alterations or substitutions can be achieved to fabricate and operate the throwing game kit. Nothing in this description shall be construed as limiting the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, below.