Patent Publication Number: US-2023134331-A1

Title: Floating bag toss game

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION SECTION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 63/263,288 filed on Oct. 29, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bag toss game and, more particularly, to a floating bag toss game. 
     Bag toss, commonly called “cornhole,” is a recreational game played amongst friends. Many people desire to play games in a pool, lake, river, or ocean. To do so, game apparatus, such as boards, must float. Many floating bag toss games on the market are inflatable or made of polyvinyl chloride or other lightweight materials. These products are made for pool use only and are not durable enough to withstand usage in a lake, river, or ocean. These products also lack a means of anchoring them without obstructing play. They also do not give the player a consistent field for reliable play because the products constantly shift in the water or currents. 
     There is a need for a durable floating bags game that may be anchored without interfering with gameplay. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a floating bags game that may be anchored in water, particularly water with a current. The invention provides an apparatus for the throwing of bags comprising: 
     a first game piece and a second game piece, each including a play board and a boat board underneath the play board; 
     a target hole on a rear end of the play boards; 
     legs that swing out from underneath a rear end of the play boards, elevating the play boards at an angle relative to the boat boards; 
     the first game piece having a bow board at a rear end of the game piece; and 
     the second game piece having a bow board on the front end of the game piece. Each game piece preferably has an anchor secured to the piece, preferably to the bow board. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a top view of a first game piece in transport position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a front view thereof. 
         FIG.  3    is a top perspective view thereof. 
         FIG.  4    is a underneath perspective view thereof. 
         FIG.  5    is a side view thereof. 
         FIG.  6    is a top view of a first game piece in play position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    is a front view thereof. 
         FIG.  8    is a top perspective view thereof. 
         FIG.  9    is a underneath perspective view thereof. 
         FIG.  10    is a side view thereof. 
         FIG.  11    is a top view of a second game piece in transport position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  12    is a front view thereof. 
         FIG.  13    is a top perspective view thereof. 
         FIG.  14    is a underneath perspective view thereof. 
         FIG.  15    is a side view thereof. 
         FIG.  16    is a top view of a second game piece in play position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  17    is a front view thereof. 
         FIG.  18    is a top perspective view thereof. 
         FIG.  19    is a underneath perspective view thereof. 
         FIG.  20    is a side view thereof. 
         FIG.  21    is a top view of two people playing with the apparatus. 
         FIG.  22    is a side view of two people playing with the apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     A general overview of the various features of the invention will be provided, with a detailed description following. Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a floating set of boards (also called game pieces or pieces) for the throwing of bags in a bag toss game. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, there are two separate game pieces. The game pieces differ with respect to a position of a bow on the piece. The bow of a first piece is on a rear end of the piece. The bow of a second piece is on a front end of the piece. 
     Each piece comprises a play board, a boat board, and a bow board. The pieces may further comprise play sides, boat sides, and bow sides. The play board is typically rectangular and contains a target hole on the rear end of the piece. The target hole functions as a target for the bags in a bag toss game. 
     The bow board and bow sides comprise a bow of the piece. The bow board may be a triangular shape, where two sides of the triangle are facing the water and a third side, or triangle base, is adjacent to, attached to or an integral part of the boat board. The geometry of the bow board can be similar to other boat bow shapes. For example, the sides facing the water can be curved such that the focal point of the curve lies within the bow board or boat board. When in use, the game pieces lay a distance from each other with the front ends of the pieces facing each other. The bows of the pieces will face the same direction. The bow breaks the water of a stream or a wave and functions to keep the piece level. Thus, the bows enable the pieces to be utilized on flowing or moving water. 
     The boat board is typically rectangular and can have the same dimensions as the play board. The boat board provides a surface that will rest and float on a water surface. 
     Play sides can be affixed underneath the playboards on multiple sides. A boat board can be affixed to the playboard, for example, by a hinge on a front end of the game piece. Boat sides can be affixed to the boat board underneath the boat board on multiple, such as all, sides. In embodiments, the boat sides and play sides are integral to the boat board and play board, respectively. The bow board is affixed to the boat board. In some embodiments, the boat board and bow board are one piece. Bow sides can be affixed underneath the bow board on multiple sides of the bow board. 
     A latch can attach the play board to the boat board. When unlatched, legs can swing from underneath a rear end of the play board and prop the play board up at an angle relative boat board. When the play board is in this position, a play position, the game piece is ready for play. When latched, the piece is in a transport position. The transport position prevents the legs from swinging and the playboard from separating from the boat board. 
     Typically, the boat board is made of or comprises a buoyant material. Preferably the boards are rigid or are covered or coated with a rigid material. For example, the boards can be made of a cellular polyvinyl chloride sheet and lineal stock. The play boards and boat boards may be made of polyvinyl chloride sheet stock. The play board sides, boat sides, bow sides, and legs may be made of polyvinyl chloride lineal stock. The materials of the boards and sides are not particularly limited by the present invention and may be interchanged with any buoyant material. For example, a molded plastic may be used. Foams, such as polyurethane foams, can also be used to improve buoyancy. 
     Typically, the play boards are 1 ft or 2 ft wide at the point the play board is attached or hinged to the boat board. Typically, the play boards are 2 ft, 3 ft or 4 ft long from the front of the play board to the back, or rear, of the play board. The hole is located along the central axis running parallel to the sides of the play board. Typically, the hole is 6 to 9 inches in diameter and is located in the rear half of the play board. The legs are typically between 10 and 12″ in length and affixed to the rear of the play board, such as within 12 inches of the rear surface. It can be advantageous to size the legs such that the angle between the boat board and play board is between about 20 and 40 degrees. 
     Adhesive, such as glue, or screws or nails may be used to affix the boards and sides together, when not integrally formed. The legs may be affixed to the playboards with a nut and bolt, hinge, or any other suitable means which allows the legs to swing from under the play board when the latch is unlatched. 
     A rope cleat may be affixed onto an end, side of, or underneath, the game, including the boat board or to the bow board. The rope cleat may be used to anchor the piece to a stationary object when playing in flowing or moving water. Thus, it can be desirable to include one or two anchors, each preferably attached to a tether with the game pieces. Alternatively or additionally, one or more holes can be drilled into the piece configured to receive a tether. 
     A handle may be affixed by screw, nail, or another method to a game piece. A handle may be used to transport the game piece. 
     A cupholder may hold a cup of a player enabling the player to keep his or her hands free for game play. The cup holder may be placed into the bow board of a game piece or the boat board of a game piece. Ideally, the cupholder is on the rear end of a piece where a game player is positioned. 
     Buoyant bags (8 bags) can also be supplied with the apparatus of the invention. Regulation bags are 6 inches square and weigh 16 oz. Duck cloth or other water-proof material can be used. The bags can be filled with plastic pellets, beans, or the like. Adding up to about 10% by volume styrofoam or other low density, water resistant, or non-absorbent, pellet can improve buoyancy. 
     Referring now to the Figures,  FIGS.  1 - 5    depict a first game piece in a transport position according to an embodiment of the present invention. A play board  10  sits on top of a boat board  20 . Play sides  12  can be placed in between the play board  10  and the boat board  20  attached to the play board  10 . Boat sides  22  can be placed underneath and on sides of the boat board  20 . A bow board  30  is on the rear end of the game piece with bow sides  32  underneath and on the sides of the bow board  30 . A target hole  14  is on a rear end of the play board  10 . A latch  40  keeps the play board and the boat board together. A rope cleat  44  can be attached on a front end of the piece and another rope cleat  44  is shown on the bow board  30 . Cup holders  60  are in the bow board  30 . A handle  50  is on a side of the game piece. 
     It is to be understood that the bow board  30  can be an integral part of the boat board  20  such as can be created by a pentagon, for example, with two parallel opposing sides, an end that is perpendicular to the parallel opposing sides and a bow board opposing the end, as clearly shown in  FIG.  3   . Here, the bow board is shown as a triangle where a base of the triangle is opposing the end. However, other bow shapes can be quickly envisioned. 
       FIGS.  6 - 10    depict the first game piece in a play position according to an embodiment of the present invention. Legs  16  swing out from underneath a rear end of the play board  10 . The play board  10  is elevated at an angle from the boat board  20  but remains affixed by a hinge (not pictured). 
       FIGS.  11 - 15    depict a second game piece in the transport position according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bow board  30  and bow sides  32  are on a front end of the game piece. The target hole  14  remains on the rear end of the game piece. 
       FIGS.  16 - 20    depict a second game piece in the play position according to an embodiment of the present invention in play position. Legs  16  swing out from the rear end from underneath the play board  10 . Cup holders  60 , placed in the boat board  20 , are exposed. 
       FIGS.  20  and  21    illustrate the apparatus in use. The element numbering in prior figures are preserved. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.