Patent Publication Number: US-5421585-A

Title: Floating water game

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The instant invention relates generally to games and more specifically it relates to a floating water game. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous games have been provided in prior art that are playing activities, in which people take part in, so that competition is achieved accordingly to a particular set of rules, allowing the people to strive to win. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a floating water game that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     Another object is to provide a floating water game that is fun and exciting, in which skill, coordination and imagination is required by each player playing the game. 
     An additional object is to provide a floating water game containing a plurality of interconnecting upright floating pins placed in a triangular configuration in a body of water, so that each player can toss rings or balls at the pins to receive points when making contact with the pins, in which the player with the highest score at the end of the game wins. 
     A further object is to provide a floating water game that is simple and easy to use. 
     A still further object is to provide a floating water game that is economical in cost to manufacture. 
     Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view showing the instant invention in use in a pool being played by two players. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the central ten pin and its associated collar with parts broken away and in section. 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the plug shown in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 1, showing the ten pin with its anchor in the pool. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view taken in the direction of arrow 5 in FIG. 1, showing just the triangular configuration set up of all the pins. 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of two of the balls used in playing the game. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of two of the rings used in playing the game. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a floating water game 10, comprising a plurality of pins 12, each similar in shape to a bowling pin. An assembly 14, best seen in FIG. 2, is for floating each pin 12 in an upright position on a body of water 16. An article 18 is for stabilizing and spacing each pin 12 apart from the other pins 12 on the body of water 16. Fasteners 20 are for attaching in a removable manner the stabilizing and spacing articles 18 of the pins 12, so that the pins 12 form a particular geometric configuration on the body of water 16. Indicia 22 on each pin 12, is to indicate a specific amount of points for each pin 12. Components 24 are used by each player 26, for tossing at the pins 12 to determine if contact was made onto the pins 12. Each player 26 can receive the amount of points indicated, in which the player 26 with the highest score at the end of the game 10 wins. 
     A structure 28, shown in FIG. 4, is for anchoring one of the pins 12 to the floor 29 of the body of water 16, so as to keep the geometric configuration of the pins 12 stationary on the body of water 16. 
     Elements 30 are used by each player 26 for throwing at the pins 12, to determine if contact was made in a pocket between some of the pins 12. Each player 26 can receive the amount of points awarded for making the pocket, in which the player 26 with the highest score at the end of the game wins. 
     Each upright position floating assembly 14, as best seen in FIG. 2, includes the pin 12 being hollow having a chamber 32 with a bottom entrance port 34. A weighted material 36, such as sand, gravel or water is inserted through the bottom entrance port 34 and into a lower segment of the chamber 32. A plug 38, best seen in FIG. 3, is to seal the bottom entrance port 34. Each stabilizing and spacing article 18 is a collar 40, extending about the middle of the pin 12. The collar 40 can be affixed to the pin 12. The collar 40 can also be an integral part of the pin 12. 
     The attaching fasteners 20 are a plurality of mounting tabs 42, spaced apart on the perimeter of each collar 40 in a special pattern. Indicator markings 43 are on top of each collar 40 adjacent the mounting tabs 42. The mounting tabs 42 can be placed in contact with each other in the special pattern, by matching up the indicator markings 43 to make the geometric configuration of the pins 12, as best seen in FIG. 5. The geometric configuration includes ten pins 12 in a triangle motif, with one of the pins 12 being in the center. 
     The indicia 22 are numbers 44, in which one indicia 22 is numbered &#34;10&#34; representing ten points on the center pin 12, six indicia 22 are numbered &#34;5&#34; representing five points on each of the six pins 12 about the center pin 12 and three indicia 22 are numbered &#34;2&#34; representing two points on each of the three end pins 12. 
     The tossing components 24, as best shown in FIG. 7, are a plurality of hollow rings 46. Each ring 46 is tossed by each player 26 to go onto one pin 12, so that the player 26 will receive the amount of points indicated. 
     The anchoring structure 28 contains a weighted ball 48, to rest upon the bottom floor 29 of the body of water 16. An elongated cord 50 extends upwardly from the weighted ball 48 and is attached to the plug 38 of the center pin 12. 
     The throwing elements 30, as best shown in FIG. 6, are a plurality of hollow balls 52. Each ball 52 is thrown by each player 26, to go into one pocket between some of the pins 12, so that the player 26 will receive the amount of points awarded. 
     Each mounting tab 42 can be a magnet 54. Each mounting tab 42, can also be one of a mating hook and loop pile fastener material strip 56. 
     Each pin 12 further includes a plastic liner sheet 58, shown in a dotted line in FIG. 2. The plastic liner sheet 58 is an integral part of the pin 12 within the chamber 32, to form a top enclosure for the lower segment of the chamber 32. The plastic liner sheet 58 will keep the weighted material 36 stabilized therein. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     10 floating water game 
     12 pin 
     14 upright position floating assembly in 12 
     16 body of water 
     18 stabilizing and spacing article on 12 
     20 attaching fastener on 18 
     22 indicia on 12 
     24 tossing component 
     26 player 
     28 anchoring structure for 12 
     29 floor of 16 
     30 throwing element 
     32 chamber in 12 
     34 bottom entrance port in 12 
     36 weighted material in 32 
     38 plug in 34 
     40 collar for 18 
     42 mounting tab of 20 
     43 indicator marking on 18 
     44 number for 22 
     46 hollow ring for 24 
     48 weighted ball 
     50 elongated cord 
     52 hollow ball for 30 
     54 magnet for 42 
     56 mating hook and loop pile fastener material strip for 42 
     58 plastic liner sheet of 12 in 32 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.