Patent Publication Number: US-2023158385-A1

Title: Portable outdoor game with versatile, collapsible storage

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/348,733, filed Jun. 15, 2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/039,412, filed Jun. 15, 2020, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The subject matter described herein relates to outdoor game design and more particularly to a portable game with versatile, collapsible storage. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are a number of popular outdoor games, those suited for parks and beaches in particular. One notable game is Cornhole, which involves tossing a bean bag from a certain distance on a raised platform with a hole at the end. Scores are counted based on whether a bag is thrown into the hole or how far it landed from the hole if not. 
     Another popular game is Roundnet, also popularly referred to as Spikeball, which involves a raised cloth service and net, which players attempt to bounce a small rubber ball onto. 
     Disclosed herein is a novel game design as an alternative to the previously described outdoor games. 
     SUMMARY 
     The subject matter described herein relates to outdoor game design and more particularly to a portable game with versatile, collapsible storage. In one embodiment, the portable game includes a game board defining a center; a net coupled to the center of the game board; and a structure to support the game board at a certain height above the ground. 
     Other systems, devices, methods, features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the subject matter described herein and be protected by the accompanying claims. In no way should the features of the example embodiments be construed as limiting the appended claims, absent express recitation of those features in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The details of the subject matter set forth herein, both as to its structure and operation, may be apparent by study of the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the subject matter. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely. 
         FIG.  1    is a top view of a game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a side view of a game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a view of a game board folded in half in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a view of a support structure for the game board collapsed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a storage bag for the game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a figure of a bean bag in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention during game play. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described herein are example outdoor game designs. Before the present subject matter is described in detail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present disclosure will be limited only by the appended claims. 
     As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     Turning to  FIG.  1   , an exemplary embodiment of the outdoor portable game  1000  of the present invention is shown with a top view. Game  1000  includes a donut shaped game board  1100 . The donut shaped game board  1100  comprises a flexible cloth that provides a bouncy or springy surface, attached to a hinged, foldable rigid circular frame  1150  that can be folded in half as shown in  FIG.  3   . The rigid frame  1150  of game board  1100  maintains shape during game play as will be described in more detail below. The outer diameter OD of the game board  1100  is approximately 36″ in diameter. The inner diameter ID is approximately 8″ in diameter and houses a cylindrical basket  1200  made of a netting material attached to the inner diameter ID of game board  1100 . 
     Turning to  FIG.  2   , a side view of game  1000  is shown. The side view of game  1000  shows a side view of basket  1200  attached to the inner diameter ID of game board  1100 . The basket is generally about 8″ in height. Game board  1100  sits on top of and is attached to a collapsible base  1300  via a set of detachable clips (not explicitly shown) at  1150 . The collapsible base  1300  further includes a lower platform  1350 , which can add versatility and storage during play. The collapsible base  1300  further includes foldable legs,  1375 , enabling the collapsible feature. 
     Turning to  FIG.  3   , game board  1100  is shown detached from base  1300  and folded in half for transport and storage. Turning to  FIG.  4   , base  1300  is shown detached from game board  1100  and collapsed into minimal size. 
     Turning to  FIG.  5   , a carrying and storage bag  1400  is shown, with handle  1450 . Bag  1400  is generally made of canvas material and is designed to carry board  1100  folded in half as shown in  FIG.  3   , and collapsed base  1300  as shown in  FIG.  4   . 
     Turning to  FIG.  6   , an exemplary bean bag  1250  is shown. It can be numbered for various games, e.g.,  5 , and is generally square shaped and can be similar to a Cornhole bean bag. During play, players will toss a bean bag  1250  towards game board  1100  as will be described below. 
     Turning to  FIG.  7   , game  1000  is shown with a perspective view assembled and being used by a plurality of players  1500  surrounding game  1000  at a beach at a certain distance. Game  1000  further includes a plurality of bean bags  1250 . Bean bags  1250  are included in sets of 3-4 bean bags  1250 , each set being a different color to discern which player each bean bag  1250  belongs to. 
     Below are rules for an example game to be played with game  1000 . 
     1. All players grab 1-3 bags  1250  and stand at an equal distance around game  1000 . 
     2. Take turns throwing a bag  1250  at gameboard  1100 . 
     3. Once all bags  1250  have been thrown, everyone claims their bags  1250  and tallies own score. 
     4. If a bag  1250  lands in the center net  1200 , it is worth 3 points 
     5. If a bag  1250  lands on the game board  1100  donut portion between the inner diameter ID and outer diameter OD, it is worth 1 point. 
     6. If the board  1100  is missed, no points are awarded. 
     Throughout this disclosure, the preferred embodiment and examples illustrated should be considered as exemplars, rather than as limitations on the present inventive subject matter, which includes many inventions. As used herein, the term “inventive subject matter,” “system,” “device,” “apparatus,” “method,” “present system,” “present device,” “present apparatus” or “present method” refers to any and all of the embodiments described herein, and any equivalents. 
     It should also be noted that all features, elements, components, functions, and steps described with respect to any embodiment provided herein are intended to be freely combinable and substitutable with those from any other embodiment. If a certain feature, element, component, function, or step is described with respect to only one embodiment, then it should be understood that that feature, element, component, function, or step can be used with every other embodiment described herein unless explicitly stated otherwise. This paragraph therefore serves as antecedent basis and written support for the introduction of claims, at any time, that combine features, elements, components, functions, and steps from different embodiments, or that substitute features, elements, components, functions, and steps from one embodiment with those of another, even if the following description does not explicitly state, in a particular instance, that such combinations or substitutions are possible. It is explicitly acknowledged that express recitation of every possible combination and substitution is overly burdensome, especially given that the permissibility of each and every such combination and substitution will be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     When an element or feature is referred to as being “on” or “adjacent” to another element or feature, it can be directly on or adjacent the other element or feature or intervening elements or features may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” or extending “directly onto” another element, there are no intervening elements present. Additionally, when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
     Furthermore, relative terms such as “inner,” “outer,” “upper,” “top,” “above,” “lower,” “bottom,” “beneath,” “below,” and similar terms, may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element to another. Terms such as “higher,” “lower,” “wider,” “narrower,” and similar terms, may be used herein to describe angular relationships. It is understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the elements or system in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. 
     Although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, or section from another. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, a first element, component, region, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, or section without departing from the teachings of the inventive subject matter. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated list items. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, when the present specification refers to “an” assembly, it is understood that this language encompasses a single assembly or a plurality or array of assemblies. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Embodiments are described herein with reference to view illustrations that are schematic illustrations. As such, the actual thickness of elements can be different, and variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances are expected. Thus, the elements illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. 
     The foregoing is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims, wherein no portion of the disclosure is intended, expressly or implicitly, to be dedicated to the public domain if not set forth in the claims. Furthermore, any features, functions, steps, or elements of the embodiments may be recited in or added to the claims, as well as negative limitations that define the inventive scope of the claims by features, functions, steps, or elements that are not within that scope.