Abstract:
A toss-game structure for poolside use includes a target supported at a height from a base and having front and rear portions defining an interior space. The target front portion includes at least one opening for receipt of a tossed object in the interior space. The target portions each have surfaces defining a portion of a substantially prolate sphere for collectively simulating a football shape. A support post includes opposite ends engaging the base and the target rear portion such that a majority of the target is positioned forwardly of a front edge of the base. The structure further includes a backstop having upper and lower portions. The upper portion is curved about a vertical axis to define a concave surface in the form of a partial cylinder. The lower portion is curved about horizontal and vertical axes in the form of a partial bowl.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to structures used in games of toss, and more particularly to freestanding structures that provide a target for a tossed object, such as a ball for example. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In toss-game structures in the general field of the present invention, a target is provided for receiving a tossed object. In basketball for example, arguably the best known of such target games, a horizontally oriented hoop is supported at an elevated height with respect to a playing surface for receiving a tossed ball. Numerous constructions are known for providing a horizontal hoop for basketball. In its original form, a bottomless basket was secured to the wall of a structure adjacent a playing surface. The upper end of the basket formed the horizontal hoop for receiving a round ball. The wall of the basket provided a useful channeling function to downwardly direct a received ball. A rim and net construction replaced the original basket, with the rim providing a horizontal hoop target and the net providing for downward channeling of a received ball. 
   A variety of structures are known for supporting a horizontal rim at an elevation to provide for a game of basketball. The rim is typically secured to a backboard that includes a vertically oriented, and planar, surface. For indoor play, the backboard is secured to the wall of a structure, such as a gymnasium for example. For outdoor play, a pole is embedded in the ground to provide for elevated support of the backboard adjacent to a playing surface. It is also known to provide a wheeled base suitably weighted for stable support of the backboard and pole. Such freestanding structures provide the advantage of portability over embedded backboard support poles. 
   Toss-game structures have also been adapted for use adjacent to swimming pools. U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,136 to Raba et al., for example, discloses a basketball structure adapted for use adjacent a swimming pool. The structure includes a horizontal basketball rim connected to a vertical planar surface of a backboard. Because the pool bottom is at a lower elevation than the poolside surface, the height at which the backboard must be supported from the poolside to position the horizontal rim sufficiently above the game participants is less than for basketball court construction. The Raba &#39;136 structure includes a hollow base that may be filled with water or other suitable ballast to provide for a stable freestanding structure. 
   The backboard of the Raba &#39;136 structure includes “wing” portions of the front side surface extending along its edges that are angled with respect to the major, central portion of the front side surface. All of the front side surfaces, including the wings, however, are planar surfaces. Furthermore, the central portion that is not angled occupies the majority of the front side surface. This provides for traditional basketball play in which a round ball is directed to the horizontal hoop by banking the ball off the backboard in addition to direct arcs of the ball from the participant to the hoop. 
   As described above, the poolside toss-game structure disclosed in Raba &#39;136 is directed to a basketball type of toss-game in which a horizontal hoop is secured to a planar surface of a backboard for receiving a round ball. Raba &#39;136 does not disclose or suggest a poolside structure in which the target element is not horizontally oriented or adapted for receipt of a round ball. Raba &#39;136 also does not disclose or suggest a construction in which the target element is not secured to the backboard. As described above, the direct connection between the hoop and backboard in the manner disclosed in Raba &#39;136 facilitates conventional basketball play in which the hoop may be targeted by banking shots off of the backboard. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention, there is provided a structure for use in a swimming pool game of toss. The structure includes a base providing for freestanding support of the structure at an edge of a swimming pool. The structure further includes a target supported on the base in a substantially upstanding orientation with respect to a length of the target. The target includes front and rear portions defining an interior space therebetween, the front portion having at least one opening to provide for receipt of a tossed object within the interior space. The structure further includes a backstop supported by the base such that at least a portion of the backstop is located rearwardly of the target for contact with an object tossed beyond the target from the swimming pool. 
   The front and rear portions of the target preferably include surfaces defining portions of a substantially prolate sphere for simulating a football shape. The target preferably includes front and rear portions defining a hollow interior therebetween. The structure also preferably includes a support post received in recesses defined in the base and in the target rear portion for positioning a majority of the target forwardly of a front edge of the base. The recesses defined by the base and the target rear portion preferably include a cylindrical central portion for receiving the support post and opposite slotted portions for receiving locking pins extending through openings in the support post to limit relative rotation between the post and the target rear portion and between the post and the base. 
   The base preferably includes an access hole communicating with an interior of the base to provide for receipt by the base of a ballast substance. The backstop of the structure preferably includes upper and lower portions each having a curved surface. The surface of the backstop upper portion is preferably curved about a vertical axis in the form of a partial cylinder. The surface of the backstop lower portion is preferably curved about vertical and horizontal axes in the form of a partial bowl. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a toss-game structure according to the present invention positioned beside the edge of swimming pool; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the toss-game structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the toss-game structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the toss-game structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear elevation view of the toss-game structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the toss-game structure of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the rear portion of the target of  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawing figures where like reference numerals refer to like elements, there is shown a structure  10  according to the present invention for use in a toss game. The structure  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  positioned adjacent to an edge  14  of a swimming pool  12  for use by persons (not shown) located in a playing area  16  of the swimming pool  12 . Directional terms used herein, such as “upper”, “lower”, “vertical” and “horizontal”, refer to the structure  10  when supported in an upstanding orientation, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Directional terms such as “front”, “rear”, “forward”, “rearward”, refer to structure  10  with respect a playing area, such as playing area  16  of swimming pool  12 , from which objects would be tossed to structure  10 . 
   The structure  10  includes a target  18  forwardly supported with respect to the structure  10 . As will be described in greater detail, the target  18  is adapted for receiving a tossed object, such as a ball (not shown), directed at the target  18  from the playing area  16 . The target  18  includes front and rear portions  20 ,  22 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the front portion  20  of the target  18  includes pegs  24  that are slidably received in cooperatively formed recesses  26  in the rear portion  22 . The front and rear portions  20 ,  22  of the target  18  are secured together by screws  28  extending through the rear portion  22  and received by the pegs  24  of the front portion  20 . 
   The front and rear portions  20 ,  22  of target  18  define a hollow interior  30  therebetween. The front portion  20  includes openings  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35  communicating with the interior  30  of the target  18  to provide for passage of a tossed object, such as a miniature football for example, through the front portion  20  into the interior  30 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , openings  33 ,  34  are relatively large compared to openings  32 ,  35  with opening  34  being the largest. As a result, the probability that a tossed object will pass through openings  33 ,  34  is greater than that for openings  32 ,  35 . Such a construction could be used in a football-type game, for example, in which three points (a “field goal”) are awarded for passage of a miniature football through openings  33 ,  34  and six points (a “touchdown”) are awarded for openings  32 ,  35 . 
   The target  18  is supported by the structure  10  such that the front and rear portions  20 ,  22 , extend in a substantially upstanding fashion. The upstanding support of the front portion  20  in this manner positions the openings  32 – 35  forwardly, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , providing for presentation of the openings  32 – 35  to users of the structure  10 , positioned in playing area  16  of swimming pool  12 , for example. 
   The front and rear portions  20 ,  22  of the target  18  have curved walls such that outer surfaces  36 ,  37  of the front and rear portions  20 ,  22 , respectively, define portions of a substantially prolate sphere. As shown, the prolate sphere portions defined by outer surfaces  36 ,  37  collectively simulate the shape of a football. The football appearance may be further enhanced, as shown, by including simulated lacing on outer surface  36  of front portion  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , rear portion  22  has a lower terminal end  38  that defines an exit opening  40  communicating with the interior  30  of the target  18 . Objects received through the openings  32 – 35  in the front portion  20  will be directed downwardly by gravity toward the exit opening  40  in the rear portion  22 . The exit opening  40  is sufficiently large to provide an exit path from the target  18  for objects received in the interior  30  through the openings  32 – 35  in the front portion  20 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the forward location of the target  18  provides for positioning of the structure  10  such the exit opening  40  in rear portion  22  will be located over the playing area  16  of the swimming pool  12  adjacent the edge  14 . Positioned in this manner, objects that are received in the interior  30  of the target  18  through openings  32 – 35  will be directed through the interior  30  for return to the playing area  16  via exit opening  40 . 
   The structure  10  further includes a base  42  providing for freestanding support of the structure  10  on a surface, such as adjacent to the edge  14  of swimming pool  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The base  42  includes upper and lower surfaces  44 ,  46  and relatively short sides  48 . The base  42  defines a hollow interior (not shown) and includes an access hole  50  ( FIG. 5 ) in one of the sides  48  communicating with the interior of the base  42 . The access hole  50  provides for filling of the interior of the base  42  with a ballast material, such as water or sand. The structure  10  preferably includes a removable plug to provide for filling and draining of the base  42 . The ballast material adds sufficient weight to the base  42  to limit overturn of the structure  10 . 
   An opposite end of the support post  56  engages the rear portion  22  of target  18  to support target  18  at a distance from the base  42 . The rear portion  22  includes a post holder  59  formed integrally with the rear portion  22  to form a rearward part thereof. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the post holder  59  defines a recess  60  that includes a cylindrical center portion and opposite slotted portions. The cylindrical center portion of recess  60  receives post  56  and the opposite slotted portions receives a locking pin  61  extending through openings  63  on opposite sides of post  56 , in a similar manner to pin  58 , to lock the target  18  against rotation with respect to the post  56 . Support of the target  18  in this manner positions the exit opening  40  of the rear portion  22  forwardly of the front edge  54  of the base  42  to provide for the return of objects to the playing area  16  of swimming pool  12 , for example. 
   An opposite end of the support post  56  engages the rear portion  22  of target  18  to support target  18  at a distance from the base  42 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the rear portion  22  includes a post holder  59  formed integrally with the rear portion  22  to form a rearward part thereof. The post holder  59  defines a recess  60  that includes a cylindrical center portion and opposite slotted portions. The cylindrical center portion of recess  60  receives post  56  and the opposite slotted portions receives a locking pin  61  extending through openings  63  on opposite sides of post  56 , in a similar manner to pin  58 , to lock the target  18  against rotation with respect to the post  56 . Support of the target  18  in this manner positions the exit opening  40  of the rear portion  22  forwardly of the front edge  54  of the base  42  to provide for the return of objects to the playing area  16  of swimming pool  12 , for example. 
   The structure  10  further includes a backstop  62  located rearwardly of the target  18  for retaining tossed objects passing beyond the target  18  and returning them to the playing area  16  of a swimming pool  12 , for example. As shown in the exploded perspective of  FIG. 6 , the backstop  62  includes upper and lower portions  64 ,  66 . The backstop upper portion  64  includes pegs  68  extending from a lower edge for receipt in recesses  70  formed in an upper edge of the backstop lower portion  66 . The backstop upper and lower portions  64 ,  66  are secured together by screws  71  received by the pegs  68 . 
   The backstop upper portion  64  is curved such that a forward surface  72  thereof presents a concavely curved surface to participants of a toss game. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the forward surface  72  is curved about a vertical axis such that it is substantially a portion of a cylinder. The inclusion of the cylindrically curved forward surface  72  in backstop upper portion  64  provides for a focused return of tossed objects inwardly with respect to the structure  10 . In a similar fashion to the backstop upper portion  64 , the backstop lower portion  66  includes a forward surface  74  that is curved about a vertical axis to provide for inward direction of tossed object with respect to the structure  10 . The forward surface  74  of backstop lower portion  66  is further curved about horizontal axes, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , such that the surface  74  is substantially bowl shaped. The bowl shape defined by the backstop lower portion  66  provides for downward channeling of tossed objects towards a lower edge  76  of the backstop lower portion  66 . 
   The backstop lower portion  66  includes an opening  75  adjacent the lower edge  76  to provide for receipt of the support post  56 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the backstop  62  is positioned such that the lower edge  76  of the backstop  62  is substantially aligned with the exit opening  40  of the target  18 . In this manner, tossed objects will exit from the interior  30  of the target  18  to the playing area  16  of the swimming pool  12 , for example, in substantially the same location as objects returned from the backstop  62 . 
   The lower portion  66  of backstop  62  includes front and rear legs  78 ,  80  to provide for support of the backstop  62 . The rear legs  80  are relatively long compared to the front legs  78  to accommodate the bowl shaped curvature of the lower portion  66 . A lower portion  82  of the front legs  78  has a reduced diameter adapted for receipt in recesses  84  formed in the upper surface  44  of the base  42  along the front edge  54  of base  42 . As described above, the base  42  preferably defines a hollow interior that is filled with water or sand to provide ballast. To facilitate portability and material efficiency, other components such as the backstop  62  are also preferably formed to include hollow interiors. In such a case, it may be desirable to provide additional ballast to that provided by the filled base  42 . An access hole could be provided in surface  85  of the backstop lower portion  66  for directing water into the hollow interior. Because of the relatively large size of the backstop  62 , a partial fill of the backstop lower portion  66 , should provide sufficient ballast for structure  10 . 
   The structure  10  includes front and rear buttresses  86 ,  88  formed integrally with the base  42  and extending from upper surface  44  adjacent the recess  52  to reinforce the support post  56 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the rear buttress  88  is elongated rearwardly to define a relatively gently sloping upper surface  90 . A depression  92  formed in the upper surface  90  of rear buttress  88  provides a convenient location for placement of a game object, such as a miniature football (not shown), for example. 
   The components of the structure  10  are preferably made from linear low-density polyethylene. The components are further preferably formed in a roto-molding process. It is not required by the present invention, however, that the components be linear low-density polyethylene or that they be formed in a roto-molding process. The components of structure  10  could be made from other materials in other processes such as thermoplastic materials in an injection molding process, for example. Although the toss-game structure  10  has been described above for use adjacent a swimming pool, the present invention is not so limited. The toss-game structure  10  could be used in other settings, such as supported on a table within a carnival booth, for example 
   While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.