Abstract:
The present disclosure is a portable playing system for a golf chipping game rectangular in shape. The playing system has a first surface with a shooting region and a scoring region, and a second surface parallel to the first and has substantially the same dimensions. The first and second surfaces each have a circular hole with a center located within about 12 inches of one end of the first and second surfaces. The first surface has a goal disposed substantially on one end of the first surface. The goal has at least two vertical side posts, a horizontal crossbar, and a mesh net connected to the side posts and crossbar extending within the entire goal and configured to trap a ball within the goal. The portable playing system has a first playing position with the first surface up, and a second playing position with the second surface up.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/237,645, filed on Oct. 6, 2015, entitled “Flop Shot (Backyard Game),” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Playing games at parties and tailgates is becoming a favorite pastime for many. Portable games like cornhole or bag toss are becoming more popular as they provide platforms to play games that are easy and quick to set up and take down. However, these games generally are configured to allow users to play a single game. If a user would like to change the game she is playing, another set of boards or other implements is required to be set up. In addition, there are few portable multi-player games based on golf. If a user wants to play a game like golf, he or she generally needs to find a miniature golf course or settle for single-player putting games. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    One aspect of the present invention includes a portable playing system for a golf chipping game rectangular in shape. The playing system has a surface with a chipping “rough” region and a scoring “green” region, and a second surface parallel to the first with substantially the same dimensions. The first and second surfaces each have circular holes with centers located within about 12 inches of one end of the first and second surfaces. The first surface has a goal disposed substantially on one end of the first surface. The goal has at least two vertical side posts, a horizontal crossbar, and a mesh net connected to the side posts and crossbar extending within the entire goal and configured to trap a ball within the goal. The portable playing system has a first playing position with the first surface up, and a second playing position with the second surface up. 
         [0004]    Another aspect of the present invention includes a manually portable playing board having a first surface rectangular in shape and having a length longer than a width, and having a hole located in the middle of the width, and closer to a first end than a second end. The first surface has a chipping portion and a scoring portion in addition to the hole, each of which is assigned points to score the game. A second surface is parallel with the first surface and substantially the same dimensions as the first surface, wherein the hole in the first surface extends through the board and the second surface. On the first surface, there is a goal assembly configured to span substantially the entire width, comprising at least two substantially vertical side post assemblies which fit into or are anchored in the board and a substantially horizontal crossbar coupled to the top of the side post assemblies, and a mesh net connected to the side posts and crossbar and spanning substantially the entire area between the side post assemblies and from the crossbar to the first surface. The two side post assemblies may each have an upper post and a lower post, and the first surface faces in a substantially upward direction. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a method exists to convert a manually portable playing board from a golf chipping game to a bean bag toss game. The method further includes disassembling each of the two side post assemblies by detaching the upper post from the lower post, removing the two upper posts, the crossbar, and the mesh net from the board, leaving the two lower posts anchored in the board, flipping the board over such that the first surface faces downward, and resting the board on the ground such that the board is supported on the two lower posts and the second end of the board. 
         [0006]    These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In the drawings: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a golf chipping game. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of one board of the golf chipping game. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a closer isometric view of a goal of the golf chipping game. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of one board of the golf chipping game. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5A  is one embodiment of the connection between a lower post and an upper post. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5B  is another embodiment of the connection between a lower post and an upper post. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5C  is still another embodiment of the connection between a lower post and an upper post. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of one board flipped over for a second game. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of another embodiment of the golf chipping game. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of one board of another embodiment of the golf chipping game. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a closer isometric view of a goal of another embodiment of the golf chipping game. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of one board of another embodiment of the golf chipping game. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a view of a carrying assembly of the game boards. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is a portable playing system  10  for a golf chipping game. While the playing system  10  as shown in  FIG. 1  has two portable playing boards  20 , it may also have only one playing board  20 . The boards  20  may have a chipping region  24 , a scoring region  26 , and a hole  28 . The hole  28  may be a through-hole, or may not go all the way through for easy access to balls or bags that fall into the hole  28 . The boards  20  may be offset from one another by any distance commensurate with the level of skill of the player or players using the system  10 . Typically, the boards may be offset by about 20 feet to about 30 feet depending on skill level of the player(s), preferably offset by 27 feet. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows the playing board  20  in more detail. The playing board  20  may have a baseboard  22 . The baseboard  22  may be a homogenous material, such as a dense injection molded plastic material, a rubber material with wood or glass infused for structural integrity, or a solid wood construction. The baseboard  22  may also be formed in pieces, with a thin flat board surface on top  22   a  and bottom  22   b , and connected by wood pieces on the sides  36 . 
         [0024]    The playing board  20  may also have a chipping or “rough” region or area  24 . The chipping region may have a synthetic material designed to simulate a grass or turf typically found on a golf course. The grass may be about 1 inch to 2 inches in length, more preferably about 1¼ inches to 1¾ inches, and most preferably about 1½ inches in length. The chipping region  24  as shown spans the width of the playing board  22 , and extends from a first end  38  of the playing board  22 , to a distance from about 8 inches to about 24 inches from the end  38 , preferably about 12 inches from the end  38 . 
         [0025]    The playing board  20  may further include a scoring “green” region or area  26 . The scoring region may have a synthetic material designed to simulate a grass typically found on a golf course, similar to the chipping region  24 . The grass in the scoring region  26  may be shorter than the grass in the chipping region, about ¼ inch to about ¾ inches in length, most preferably about ½ inches in length. In another embodiment, grass may be the same length as the chipping region, about 1¼ inches to 1¾ inches, most preferably about 1½ inches in length with a line or color difference to differentiate the regions. The scoring region  26  as shown spans the width of the playing board  22 , and extends from the end of the chipping region  24  to a second end  39  of the board  22 . 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, the chipping region  24  may not span the entire width of the board  22 , and may be offset from the first end  38 . The chipping region  24  may be located anywhere on the board  22 , and may be any shape large enough to hold a ball or another game implement such as a puck or a bag. In this embodiment, the scoring region may include all of the area of the top surface  32  of the board  22  not included in the chipping area. The scoring area  26  may also include the chipping area  24  in still another embodiment. 
         [0027]    The playing board  22  may further include a hole  28 . The hole  28  may be about 5½ inches to about 6½ inches in diameter, preferably about 6 inches in diameter. In another embodiment, the hole may be about the size of a regulation golf hole, or about 4¼ inches in diameter. The hole  28  may be a through-hole such that a ball  60  or another sporting implement falls through the hole and onto the ground when playing. In another embodiment, the hole  28  does not go all the way through the board  22 , such that a ball  60  is easier to remove from the hole  28 . The game may have rules which designate points earned corresponding to which portion of the board the ball lands within. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5B , the side posts  42  may fit directly into the holes xx using any means to attach to play board  20 . The side posts  42  may also comprise a lower post  50  and an upper post  48 . In one embodiment, the lower post  50  may not detach from the board, but may instead be affixed to the board. The upper post  48  and the lower post  50  may be designed for easily assembling and disassembling the post  42 . 
         [0029]    The upper post  48  and lower post  50  may be coupled by a sleeve  52  that is fixedly attached at a first end  52   a  to the lower post  50 . This attachment may be a welded attachment, an interference fit of the sleeve  52  over the lower post  50 , or any other means known in the art to fixedly attach the sleeve  52  to the lower post  50 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , The upper post  48  may then be slidably inserted into a second end  52   b  of the sleeve  52 . Conversely, in another embodiment, the sleeve  52  may be fixedly attached to the upper post  48  using any of the above mentioned methods, and the lower post  50  may be slidably inserted into the sleeve. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 5B , in another embodiment, the upper post  48  may have a smaller end portion  48   a . The smaller end portion  48   a  may be sized for slidable attachment within an inner diameter of the lower post  50 . Conversely, the smaller end may be on the lower post  50 , and may be slidably attached to the upper post  48 . In still yet another embodiment shown in  FIG. 5C , the upper and lower posts may be attached via a spring button or spring pin  48   b  on the end portion  48   a  that is locked into a hole  50   b  located on the lower post  50 . When a user would like to detach the upper and lower posts, the spring button  48   b  is urged back out of the hole in the lower post  50 , allowing the upper post  48  to be slidably removed from the lower post  50 . 
         [0031]    The surface  34  may be any surface known in the art to allow bean bags or other playing implements to slide on the surface. The surface  34  also may have the hole  128  shown. The hole  128  may be a regulation cornhole sized hole about 5½ inches to about 6½ inches in diameter, preferably about 6 inches in diameter. The hole  128  may have the same axis and be of the same size as the hole  28 . In another embodiment, the holes  28  and  128  may share an axis but be of different sizes. In still yet another embodiment, the holes may be different sizes and on different axes. 
         [0032]    To play the golf chipping game, a user first places a ball  60  on the chipping or shooting area  24  of the board  20 . The user then chips the ball  60  with a club  70 , while trying to land the ball  60  on the scoring area  26  of the opposite board  20 . The grass-like substance of the chipping area  24  allows a more golf-like feel to a shot, and the grass-like substance of scoring area  26  allows the ball  60  to stop a well placed shot. In another embodiment, a single board  20  may be used, and a user may chip the ball  60  off the ground without the use of the chipping area. Scoring of the game may allow users to gain more points if the ball  60  goes into the hole  28 , and fewer points the farther from the hole the ball  60  comes to a rest on the scoring area  26 , and still fewer points if the ball  60  comes to rest on the chipping area or in the net, and may give no points to a shot that is not stopped on the board  20 . 
         [0033]    In another embodiment of the present invention, referring now to  FIG. 6 , the board  22  is shown in a flipped over position, which may be designed to play a different game than the golf chipping game, such as cornhole, bag toss, bags, or any other game utilizing a flat surface at a slight angle with a hole near the far end of the board. To utilize this position, the goal  40  has been removed except the lower posts  50 . The lower posts may be dimensioned such that the end  39  of the board stands about 12 inches off the ground to mimic a regulation cornhole board. If the sleeve  52  is fixedly attached to the lower posts  50 , the sleeves may aid in securing the board at its proper height when resting on different ground materials, such as soft grass or beach sand. 
         [0034]    A detailed description of how the board  20  may be converted from a golf chipping game to a game involving bean bags or the like is as follows. The upper posts  48  is slidably removed from the lower posts  50  using any of the aforementioned methods. The crossbar  44  and the mesh net  46 , which may be fixedly attached to the upper posts  48 , are removed from the board  20  along with the upper posts  48 . The board  20  is then flipped over, such that the first surface  32  is no longer facing upward, and the second surface  34  now faces substantially upward. The board  20  is then placed on the ground or other playing surface, and is propped up at one end by the lower posts  50 . In another embodiment, the lower posts  48  are removed along with the rest of the goal  40 , and the second surface  34  is another game similar to cornhole that does not require the board to be propped up at an end  39 . 
         [0035]    In another embodiment as detailed in  FIGS. 7-10 , the playing board  20  may also have a lip or edge  54 , which prevents the ball from rolling off of board and assists the player in capturing the ball. The playing board  20  may also have holes  56  on either side of end  39  in which side posts  42  for net  46  may be attached.  FIGS. 7-10  also detail a different shape scoring area  26  and chipping region  24 .  FIG. 7  shows a similar setup as in  FIG. 1 , but instead of a square chipping region, the chipping region  24  has a shape that corresponds to a greater scoring opportunity the closer to the middle of the board a user hits the ball.  FIG. 8  shows a raised wall  54  to help the user keep the ball  60  on the playing board  20  is the user hits it on the board.  FIG. 9  discloses a closer look at the shape of the chipping area  24 . As will be understood by one skilled in the art, any combination of assembly and scoring areas as previously discussed can be introduced and is within the disclosure. 
         [0036]      FIG. 11  details the portability of the board  20 . A handle assembly  80  may have a board strap  82  which wraps around a board  20  to ease the carrying of the board. The handle assembly may also have a handle strap  84  which may fit over a user&#39;s shoulder for easily carrying the board  20  without the aid of another person or other tool to assist. The board  20  may be of a weight that is able to be carried by a single user, between about 5 pounds and about 20 pounds, preferably about 10 pounds. As shown in  FIG. 7 , a pair of board straps  82  fit snugly around two boards  20  holding them together, and connecting through the handle strap  84 . In another embodiment, the board straps may fit around a single board  20 . In still another embodiment, a single board strap  82  may wrap around one or more boards  20  and have a handle strap  84  for easily carrying the board or boards  20 . Depending on the material chosen for the board(s), wheels may be attached or a cart may be provided for portability of the boards to and from the chosen playing area. 
         [0037]    It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described invention and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein. 
         [0038]    For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated. 
         [0039]    It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the invention as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations. 
         [0040]    It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present invention. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting. 
         [0041]    It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.