Patent Publication Number: US-7909329-B1

Title: Slingshot-like skill game device and method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to games of skill and, more particularly, to a slingshot-like skill game device and method which may aid a user thereof in developing and/or improving hand to eye coordination, and which may be used at various levels of skill. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Games of skill have been around for ages. Games of skill are often used for such things as entertainment, amusement, contests, developing hand to eye coordination, and the like. Games of skill that may be used for improving hand to eye coordination are generally known in the prior art, such as ring toss, corn toss, horseshoes, and the like. Limitations exist with such prior art games of skill, in that they may be required to be played outdoors, may require a relatively large playing area, may require multiple sets of equipment and multiple participants, and the like. These limitations may present difficulties for users of such games of skill when, for various reasons, there is a desirability for play to take place indoors and/or in a relatively small space, or when the user wishes to play alone, for example. 
     A need therefore exists for a skill game device that may be used for improving hand to eye coordination, that may be played indoors, that does not require a relatively large playing area, and that does not require multiple sets of equipment and multiple participants. 
     The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other related advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a slingshot-like skill game device is disclosed. The device comprises, in combination: a body having a front surface and a back surface; a handle coupled to the body; a ball; an elongated elastic cord having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to be secured to the body and the second end is attached to the ball; an opening in the body adapted for the ball to pass therethrough; and a substantially ring-shaped insert adapted to be removably attached to the opening. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a slingshot-like skill game device is disclosed. The device comprises, in combination: a body having a front surface and a back surface; a handle coupled to the body; a ball; an elongated elastic cord having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to be secured to the body and the second end is attached to the ball; a first opening in the body adapted for the ball to pass therethrough; a second opening in the body adapted for running the first end of the elongated elastic cord therethrough; a slot positioned on the back surface of the body, wherein the slot is adapted to receive the first end of the elongated elastic cord; and a substantially ring-shaped insert adapted to be removably attached to the first opening, wherein an interior diameter of the insert is slightly less than a diameter of the first opening. 
     In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a method for playing a slingshot-like skill game is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a slingshot-like skill game device comprising, in combination: a body having a front surface and a back surface; a handle coupled to the body; a ball; an elongated elastic cord having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to be secured to the body and the second end is attached to the ball; a first opening in the body adapted for the ball to pass therethrough; a second opening in the body adapted for running the first end of the elongated elastic cord therethrough; a slot positioned on the back surface of the body, wherein the slot is adapted to receive the first end of the elongated elastic cord; and a substantially ring-shaped insert adapted to be removably attached to the first opening, wherein an interior diameter of the insert is slightly less than a diameter of the first opening; securing the first end of the elongated elastic cord to the body; grasping the ball; pulling the ball away from the body; releasing the ball in an effort to get the ball to pass through the first opening; decreasing a diameter of the first opening by attaching the insert thereto; grasping the ball; pulling the ball away from the body; and releasing the ball in an effort to get the ball to pass through the insert. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a slingshot-like skill game device, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 , illustrating an elastic cord and ball in position on the device, as well as a plurality of removable rings that may be used with the device. 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 , illustrating an alternative configuration in which a removable ring of the device has been removed. 
         FIG. 6  is a back perspective, exploded view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a back perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a slingshot-like skill game device, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the device of  FIG. 8 , illustrating an elastic cord and ball in position on the device, as well as a plurality of removable rings that may be used with the device. 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the device of  FIG. 8 , illustrating an alternative configuration in which a removable ring of the device has been removed. 
         FIG. 11  is a back perspective, exploded view of the device of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  is a back perspective view of the device of  FIG. 8 , illustrating an elastic cord and ball in position on the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of a slingshot-like skill game device  10  consistent with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . The slingshot-like skill game device  10  may be divided into the following principal components: a body  12  and a handle  14  coupled to the body  12 . In this embodiment, the handle  14  is coupled to the body  12 , such that the slingshot-like skill game device  10  comprises a one-piece assembly. It may be desired to fashion a slingshot-like skill game device  10  in which the body  12  and handle  14  comprise separate components which are then securedly coupled to one another in some manner. Preferably, the slingshot-like skill game device  10  is composed of a durable material such as plastic, but could also be composed of wood or some other desired material. 
     In this embodiment, the body  12  comprises a front surface  12 A (as best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5 ) and a back surface  12 B (as best seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  7 ). The front surface  12 A is preferably flat. While in this embodiment the body  12  has an overall shape resembling that of a head of a clown wearing a hat, the body  12  may be shaped in any number of other ways, as desired. For example, the body  12  may have an overall shape that is round, oval, square, etc. In this embodiment, the front surface  12 A of the body  12  incorporates a clown face design, as best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5 . It may be desired for the body  12  to incorporate virtually any other design imaginable. 
     The body  12  further includes a first opening  16 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 7 . Preferably, the opening  16  is positioned substantially in a center of the body  12 . The opening  16  preferably has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of a ball  40  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) with which the slingshot-like skill game device  10  is to be used, such that the ball  40  may pass through the opening  16  unobstructed. In particular embodiments, the ball  40  may have a diameter of one inch. The body  12  also includes a second opening  24 . Preferably, the opening  24  is positioned slightly above the opening  16 . In a preferred embodiment, the opening  24  has a relatively small diameter, but should be wide enough to permit a first end of an elongated elastic cord  42  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) to be positioned therethrough. In this way, the first end of the elongated elastic cord  42  may be positioned through opening  24  and then secured to the body  12  in some fashion, while a second end of the elongated elastic cord  42  may be attached to the ball  40  with which the slingshot-like skill game device  10  is to be used. Preferably, the back surface  12 B of the body  12  includes a slot  25 . Thus, in a preferred embodiment, securing the elongated elastic cord  42  to the body  12  may be accomplished by positioning the first end of the elongated elastic cord  42  through opening  24 , grasping the elongated elastic cord  42 , stretching the elongated elastic cord  42 , inserting the first end of the elongated elastic cord  42  in slot  25 , and then releasing the elongated elastic cord  42 . Preferably, the elongated elastic cord  42  has a diameter of at least one-eighth of an inch. Further, according to particular embodiments of the present invention, the elastic cord may have a length of thirteen inches. 
     The slingshot-like skill game device  10  further comprises an insert  18 , as seen in  FIGS. 1-4  and  6 - 7 . Preferably, the insert  18  comprises a ring  20  and a plurality of tabs  22  extending perpendicularly from the ring  20 . The insert  18  is adapted to be positioned in opening  16  of the body  12 . The tabs  22  may assist in allowing the insert  18  to snap into place after being positioned in opening  16 , such that the insert  18  may be securedly coupled to the body  12 . Preferably, the ring  20  of the insert  18  has an interior diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of opening  16 , but that is greater than a diameter of the ball  40  with which the slingshot-like skill game device  10  is to be used, such that the ball  40  may pass through the opening  16 , unobstructed, when the insert  18  is positioned on the body  12 . 
     The object for a user of the slingshot-like skill game device  10  would be for the user to grasp the handle  14  with one hand, grasp the ball  40  with the user&#39;s other hand, pull the ball  40  away from the body  12 , and then release the ball  40  in an attempt to get the ball  40  to pass through opening  16  upon release. Once the user has become proficient in getting the ball  40  to pass through opening  16  upon release, the user may desire to increase the level of difficulty required for this objective. In a preferred embodiment, the user may do so by positioning insert  18  on the body  12 , such that the diameter of opening  16  is decreased. The user would then grasp the handle  14  with one hand, grasp the ball  40  with the user&#39;s other hand, pull the ball  40  away from the body  12 , and then release the ball  40  in an attempt to get the ball  40  to pass through opening  16  upon release with insert  18  in place. 
     Once the user has become proficient in getting the ball  40  to pass through opening  16  upon release with insert  18  in place, the user may desire to further increase the level of difficulty required for this objective. In a preferred embodiment, the user may do so by positioning one of additional inserts  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C on the body  12 , such that the diameter of opening  16  is progressively further decreased. The user would then grasp the handle  14  with one hand, grasp the ball  40  with the user&#39;s other hand, pull the ball  40  away from the body  12 , and then release the ball  40  in an attempt to get the ball  40  to pass through opening  16  upon release with one of inserts  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C in place. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the slingshot-like skill game device  10  further comprises an attachment ring  26 . The attachment ring  26  preferably protrudes from the back surface  12 B of the body  12  and is configured such that the insert  18  may be attached to the attachment ring  26  and thereby stored on the body  12  when not in use, as best seen in  FIG. 7 . While in this embodiment only one attachment ring  26  is shown, it may be desired to include more than one attachment ring  26  protruding from the back surface  12 B of the body  12 , such that additional inserts  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C may be accommodated and stored when not in use. 
     In this embodiment, the slingshot-like skill game device  10  further includes compartments  30 . Preferably, each of the compartments  30  is adapted to receive a light source  28 , such as a light-emitting diode (“LED”) or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the light source  28  may be coupled to a sensing means (not shown) so that when a user of the slingshot-like skill game device  10  is successful in getting the ball  40  to pass through opening  16 , the light source  28  is activated. The sensing means may be, for example, photoelectric, light sensitive, or some other type of desired sensing means. In a preferred embodiment, activation of the light source  28  may be accomplished when the sensing means (not shown) reads a change in light conditions and/or a break in a sensor path, which may be caused by the ball  40  passing through opening  16 . Preferably, the light source  28  then cycles through two to three seconds of backward and forward illumination, for example, and then returns to a standby mode wherein the light source  28  is not activated. The light source  28  may also cycle in a different manner: as desired. It may also be desired to provide means for the light source  28  to be activated throughout a duration in which the slingshot-like skill game device  10  is used. While two compartments  30  are shown in this embodiment, it may be desired for the slingshot-like skill game device  10  to have only one compartment  30 , to have more than two compartments  30 , or for the compartments  30  to be omitted. 
     The slingshot-like skill game device  10  may further include a compartment  32  with a door  34 . In this embodiment, the compartment  32  is positioned on the back surface  12 B of the body  12 , proximate the opening  16 . The compartment  32  may be positioned elsewhere on the body  12 . It may also be desired to fashion a slingshot-like skill game device  10  in which the compartment  32  is omitted. The compartment  32  may be used for storing a battery  36  that may be used with the slingshot-like skill game device  10 . For example, the battery  36  may be used to operate the light source  28 . It may also be desired for the compartment  32  to store various other objects to be used with the slingshot-like skill game device  10 , such as the elongated elastic cord  42 , for example. Preferably, objects may be secured within the compartment  32  by snapping door  34  into place. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-12 , an alternative embodiment of the slingshot-like skill game device  10 , hereinafter  100 , is shown. The slingshot-like skill game device  100  is essentially the same as the slingshot-like skill game device  10 , except that the slingshot-like skill game device  100  includes light sources  38  in compartment  32 , whereas the slingshot-like skill game device  10  may include battery  36  or some other desired object in compartment  32 . As with the slingshot-like skill game device  10 , in this embodiment the compartment  32  is positioned on the back surface  12 B of the body  12 , proximate the opening  16 . The compartment  32  may be positioned elsewhere on the body  12 . In this embodiment, three light sources  38  are employed; however, more or less light sources  38  may be used, as desired. Preferably, the light sources  38  consist of LEDs or the like. As with the slingshot-like skill game device  10 , the object for a user of the slingshot-like skill game device  100  would be for the user to grasp the handle  14  with one hand, grasp the ball  40  (shown in  FIG. 9 ) with the user&#39;s other hand, pull the ball  40  away from the body  12 , and then release the ball  40  in an attempt to get the ball  40  to pass through opening  16  upon release. In this embodiment, when the user is successful in getting the ball  40  to pass through opening  16 , the light sources  38  are activated. Preferably, the light sources  38  are coupled to a sensing means (not shown) in order to activate the light sources  38  when a user of the slingshot-like skill game device  100  is successful in getting the ball  40  to pass through opening  16 . The sensing means may be, for example, photoelectric, light sensitive, or some other type of desired sensing means. In a preferred embodiment, activation of the light sources  38  may be accomplished when the sensing means (not shown) reads a change in light conditions and/or a break in a sensor path, which may be caused by the ball  40  passing through opening  16 . In a preferred embodiment, the light sources  38  flash from side to side in a wavelike pattern when activated. The light sources  38  may also be illuminated in any number of different ways when activated, as desired. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.