Abstract:
A disc golf scorecard is provided that not only allows the recording of scores for each hole of one or more rounds of disc golf for one or more players but also is shaped in the form of a disc for storing or carrying within the cavity of a disc or its carrying bag.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to scorecards for disc golf games, and more particularly to a disc golf scorecard and scorecard storage apparatus and protector.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Disc golf is a game typically played on courses laid out in parks or other recreational areas. Like its counterpart, a course consists of a number of holes, such as nine or eighteen, with each hole having a tee box (or location) from which a disc is originally thrown by each player and a target hole positioned a selected distance from the tee. As with its counterpart, a player counts the number of throws needed until the disc goes into the hole (or receptacle) or strikes a target. A player completes a round of disc golf after the player has completed each hole of the course.  
         [0003]     As the players progress through the course, they mark their scores on some form of score sheet or card. Some players retain their scorecards for their records and may compare their results to monitor their progress. Players may also store their scorecards with their golf disc equipment. In most instances, players will walk the course and score as they play.  
         [0004]     There is therefore a need for a golf disc scorecard upon which players can record their scores as they are playing and which can be stored or carried with golf disc equipment.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a disc golf scorecard for recording a round of disc golf and for storing and/or carrying with golf disc equipment. The disc golf scorecard comprises a card or sheet that includes a table with a number of rows for recording a player&#39;s score on each of the holes of a course. The disc scorecard is shaped in the form of a disc for storing or carrying within the cavity portion of the disc or a disc carrying case without bending the disc scorecard. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrates several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serves to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawing:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an overhead view of the disc scorecard of the present invention insertable into the backside of a disc or frisbee.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an overhead view of the disc scorecard of the present invention shown in its stored position within the backside of a disc or frisbee.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an overhead view of the disc scorecard of the present invention shown in an open position with a detachable scorecard mounted within a cover and back. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , disc scorecard  10  of the present invention is shown together with disc or Frisbee  12  insertable into the backside of a disc or frisbee. Disc scorecard  10  comprises cover  14 , scoring sheet  16 , and back  18  connected by binding ring  20 . Cover  14  and back  18  are comprised of a suitable rigid material, such as a light cardboard for protecting the scoring sheet from wear and tear. Cover  14 , scoring sheet  16 , and back  18  each have a connecting region  22  that is linear and perforated. Perforations  24  permit the binding ring to be used for attachment purposes. The linear connecting region permits rotation of the moving portions of disc scorecard  10 . The cover and back  14 ,  18  protect the scoring sheet  16  from wear and tear during storage and while in use by a player. It may be appreciated that disc scorecard  10  may include more than one scoring sheet  16 . It may also be appreciated that scoring sheet  16  may be comprised of a paper material or cardboard material. In the event that the scoring sheet  16  is comprised of a cardboard material, cover  14  and/or back  18  may be optionally eliminated. It may be appreciated that scoring sheet  16 , cover  14 , and/or back  18  may be comprised of a vellum or other water proof material.  
         [0011]     Binding ring  20  allows cover  14 , scoring sheet  16 , and back  18  to rotate by 360 degrees around its axis, thereby allowing a player or scorer to rotate the cover  14  out of the way and to use its rigid material to be used together with back  18  to provide a platform upon which to write a score on scoring sheet  16 . It may further be appreciated that binding ring  20  may be replaced by an adhesive binder, such that cover  14 , back  18 , and one or more scoring sheets  16  are produced in the form of a circular pad with a flat binding region to allow for rotation of cover  14  and scoring sheet  16 .  
         [0012]     Disc or Frisbee  12  may be of a variety of sizes and disc scorecard  10  is sized according to the associated disc or Frisbee  12 . In addition to being sized for storage within disc or Frisbee  12 , disc scorecard  10  is sized to rest on the top portion of disc or Frisbee  12  while a scorer inscribes a score or scores on scoring sheet  16 . Typically, disc or Frisbee  12  is comprised of a thin skinned and circular shaped rigid rubber or plastic. The disc or Frisbee  12  includes a top portion that is slightly curved radially and streamlined. The backside of disc or Frisbee  12  includes a lip that extends around the perimeter such that a cavity shape is formed. Disc scoreboard  10  fits within the cavity and is retained by the lip.  
         [0013]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , disc scorecard  10  of the present invention is shown in its stored position within the backside of disc or Frisbee  12 . Disc scorecard  10  is retained in its stored position by the rim of disc or Frisbee  12 . It may further be appreciated that players may also carry or use a disc storage bag and that the shape and size of disc scorecard  10  is designed to fit within such storage bags without having to be bent or to otherwise be subjected to additional wear and tear.  
         [0014]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , disc scorecard  10  of the present invention is shown in an open position with a detachable scoring sheet  16  mounted between cover  14  and back  18 . Scoring sheet  16  includes linear perforated region  26  that is parallel with the binding ring  20 . Scoring sheet  16  may be removed from disc scorecard  10  by gently tearing the paper along perforated region  26 . This allows for a smooth edge for the removed scoring sheet  16 . It may be appreciated that scoring sheet  16  may be torn along the perforations  24 , and that the perforated region  26  could be eliminated or situated along the line of perforations  24 . It may further be appreciated that consecutive scoring sheets  16  can be easily retained and flipped through according to the needs and desires of a player. Such that a player might have many different rounds maintained in the disc scorecard  10 .  
         [0015]     As may be further seen in  FIG. 3 , scoring sheet  16  includes a scoring area that comprises table  28 . Table  28  has columns that are numbered to correspond to the holes of the course as is labeled in the uppermost row  30 . In subsequent rows, table  28  has a row  32  that lists the par rating of each hole, a row  34  that lists the handicap rating of each hole, and subsequent blank rows for filling in the name of the player and scores for each hole. On each scoring sheet  16 , there is also a column for sub-totalling each of nine holes and for the overall total. It may be appreciated that a course may have less than eighteen holes and that there may not be par and handicap ratings for holes of a given course.  
         [0016]     The foregoing description includes the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The embodiments described are presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments described are chosen to provide the best illustration of the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably titled.