Abstract:
A target game with, for example, weighted game pieces or unweighted game pieces and game boards onto which the weighted or unweighted game pieces are dropped is disclosed, The elements of the game may include, for example, playing surface, targets and playing pieces. The target areas may be used to progress throughout the game using one or more game pieces.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/338,984, entitled Game—“Corqué” AKA Classic Corque, filed on Mar. 1, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates, for example, to games, and more particularly, to games with weighted game pieces and game boards onto which the weighted pieces are dropped. 
         [0003]    Games to improve manual skills involving game boards with targets have long existed and have been produced in many forms. The conventional, modern dart game, for example, typically employs a board which is separated by radial extending rays and circumferential rings at which players may aim when throwing projectiles from a predetermined distance. There are also numerous games where a player throws or bounces a ball, disk, or the like onto a horizontal board or other target with the intention of having the ball or disk be seated at rest in either an aperture or depression, as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,866,268 and 7,207,565, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0004]    As indicated above, games having projectiles, balls, disks or the like thrown at target or game boards exist in the prior art. However, none disclose, for example, a game hoard onto which weighted pieces are dropped to stand vertically, in targeted areas, depending on the board design. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to, for example, weighted game pieces and game boards onto which the weighted game pieces can be dropped. One embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, a game board having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface having one or more target areas, and one or more game pieces having a first end having a diameter and a second end having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first end. Another embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, a game board having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface configured having one or more target areas, and one or more game pieces having a first end having a diameter and a second end having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first end, wherein the game pieces are weighted. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
         [0006]    Some features and advantages of the various embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings of certain preferred embodiments, which are intended to illustrate and exemplify and not to limit the invention. 
           [0007]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention that together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A-2D  are perspective views of an embodiment of a tossing game piece. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A   3 D are perspective views of an embodiment of a tossing game piece. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 4A-4D  are perspective views of an embodiment of a tossing game piece. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 5A-5D  are perspective views of an embodiment of a tossing game piece. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  depicts various embodiments of a tossing game piece. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an embodiment of the invention, wherein the playing surface depicts a basketball court. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the playing surface depicts a billiards table. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements, and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps or subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0017]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices and materials are described although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. 
         [0018]    All patents and other publications are incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the methodologies described in such publications that might be useful in connection with the present invention. These publications are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application, Nothing in this regard should be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention or for any other reason. 
         [0019]    The game is played, for example, by dropping a weighted game piece onto a game board such that the weighted game piece stands upright, on either of its ends, and flush in one of the targets of the game board. The percentage of times that the weighted game piece will stand upright will depend on where in the game piece a weight is placed. Game pieces standing 95% of the time will take less skill to drop in the desired position than one that stands only 75% of the time. Such varying difficulties motivates players to repeatedly play the game in order to develop a higher skill level. 
         [0020]    The weighted game pieces may be constructed of, for example, cork, a foam composite, rubber, plastic, or one or more of any of various other materials. The game pieces are generally cork-like in shape, with one end having a diameter larger than the other. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  depicts an exploded embodiment of the present invention. The elements of the game include, for example, a support element  100 , playing surface  120 , self-contained, interlocking box  130  and game pieces  200 ,  300 ,  400  and  500 . 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the weighted game pieces may have embedded in them pellet-like weights which will affect difficultly and required skill level. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-5D , game piece  200  may contain one or more pellets  210  placed on or within the game piece near one end, for example the end with the smaller diameter (“tapered end” of the game piece). Game piece  300  may contain one or more pellets  310  placed on or within game piece  300  at a position in the game piece away from the tapered end of the game piece. Game piece  400  may contain a single pellet  410  placed within game piece  400 . Finally, game piece  500  may not contain an interior weighting pellet. The varying use of pellets and their placement within the game pieces may, for example, create varying levels of difficulty in the game. Alternatively, game pieces may include composite structures having, for example, materials of varied densities, mass, aerodynamic shape or geometry, or other material properties or geometric shapes causing one end or portion to have a greater weight or otherwise assume an orientation because of the nature of the composite structure. For example, instead of a pellet, a fluid could be applied, or a metal portion could be affixed at one location or another on a piece that is made of cork or wood and therefore not as dense or heavy as the metal element. The term “weighted” in this instance is intended to include that the game piece or pieces include a greater or added weight in a particular portion or aspect of the game piece. 
         [0023]    The game boards include targets that are slightly larger than the standing surface of one end of the game piece. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the top of the playing surface may resemble basketball court  700  with baskets  720  and player spots  710 .  FIG. 8  depicts another embodiment of rectangular playing surface  800  in which, for example, games based on billiards may be played. The configuration in  FIG. 8  allows for utilization of the rules of eight-ball billiards, for example, modified as follows. For example, each player may drop their game piece on the low ( 1 - 7 ) or high ( 9 - 15 ) balls  810  before taking a drop shot at the eight ball  820 . Additional shots may be given if a player successfully drops their game piece on the bumpers  830 . In another embodiment, the target may be in the form of one or more bulls eyes in the center of playing surface. In another embodiment, a playing surface may include multiple targets arranged in a tic-tac-toe grid. Once the player has hit a target, he or she may proceed to play until he or she achieves a tic-tac-toe. In yet another embodiment, the targets may be arranged to resemble a baseball diamond. In yet another embodiment, the targets may be arranged to resemble the solar system. In yet another embodiment, the game board may be designed to resemble a golf course. In some embodiments, the game board may be electronic and light up when a target is hit. These possible embodiments represent only non-limiting examples of the various playing surface and target configurations that are possible within the scope of this invention. 
         [0024]    The weighted game pieces may also be designed according to the game being played, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 6 . For example, the weighted game piece may include a stitching design resembling that of playing cards, a baseball, or other designs that resemble the game being played by the users. In another embodiment of the present invention, the weighted game pieces may have a white rough exterior simulating the surface of a golf ball. In another embodiment of the present invention, when played with the game board resembling the solar system, the weighted game piece may be designed to resemble a space capsule.  FIG. 6  depicts various example embodiments of game piece, including, for example, a game piece with card suits for use in conjunction with a blackjack table element on the playing surface. 
         [0025]    This invention has been described herein in several embodiments, It is evident that there are many alternatives and variations that can embrace the performance of ceramics enhanced by the present invention in its various embodiments without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. The embodiments described above are exemplary only. One skilled in the art may recognize variations from the embodiments specifically described here, which are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. As such, the invention is limited only by the following claims. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.