US20090058007A1

US20090058007A1 - Border crossing

Info

Publication number: US20090058007A1
Application number: US12/231,789
Authority: US
Inventors: Tim A. Neverdahl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-09-05
Filing date: 2008-09-05
Publication date: 2009-03-05

Abstract

A new Object Toss Game whereas a player tosses a round steel rod at a target, with the outside border of said target markers being the intended target. Said markers are three steel stakes at each end of the game course approx. forty feet apart, anchored in the ground approx. twenty inches apart, forming a triangle.

Included are four throwing rods, two per player or team. When said throwing rods are tossed and come to rest crossing one or two borders of said triangle, points are scored. Said throwing rods have markers that reward the player with one or two points depending on the accuracy of the throw.

You and your opponent may close borders with a Blockade on one of three target stakes. A Blockade closes both borders associated with said target stake leaving only one border open. When the open border is scored upon, the blockade is lifted.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of earlier filed Provisional application No. 60/967,655
Filed on Sep. 5 2007

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The invention resides in the field of games involving the tossing of an article toward an object or target in order to score points by having the tossed article engage one or more appendages or supports of the target object. The earliest and most basic concept of tossing an article toward an object or target is the game of horseshoes, or a later modification, quoits. This involves the throwing or tossing of a ring or horseshoe to engage an upright stake anchored at a perpendicular angle to the surface of the ground. The object of the game is to encircle the stake with the horseshoe or ring, the ring being more difficult due to the lack of an opening.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

The use of Object Toss Games known in the prior art are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art object toss games include U.S. Pat. No. 753,561; U.S. Pat. No. 2,576,326; U.S. Pat. No. 2,590,444; U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,190; U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,956; U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,912.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new Rod Toss Border Crossing Game. The invention devise includes a target with a plurality of markers outlining a particular shape with the outside perimeter or border of this shape whether visible or imaginary, becoming the target. A plurality of throwing sticks or rods designed to come to rest in the horizontal position touching or crossing said outside perimeter or border.
In these respects, the Border Crossing Game according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of offering a game of skill playable indoors and outdoors that requires a player to toss a stick or rod at a target with the purpose of getting it to come to rest touching or crossing its borders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In view of the forgoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of Object Toss Games now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new Object Toss Game construction wherein the same can be utilized for offering a game of skill playable indoors and outdoors that requires a player to toss a steel rod at a target shape with the perimeter or outside border of the target shape being the intended target.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new object toss game apparatus and method which has many advantages of the Object Toss Games mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new Object Toss Game which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art Object Toss Games, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a target shape that is defined by markers with the outside perimeter or border of said markers becoming the intended target, and a plurality of throwing rods that are tossed by a player at the target shape with the intention of landing or stopping the throwing rod in a horizontal position breaking or crossing the border of said target shape.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent of legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is designed to play in a backyard setting with a predetermined course layout of approx. fifty five feet in length and approx. fifteen feet in width. The said course layout is designed to accommodate a forty foot by six foot playing area with a satisfactory safety zone included.
The present invention is to provides a plurality of unique game pieces designed to be different from any of the game pieces in any prior art Object Toss Games.
The present invention has a total of ten game pieces. Six game pieces to be used as target markers, three at either end of the game course and four game pieces to be used as throwing rods, two rods per player or team.
The target consists of three steel stakes acting as markers placed vertically into the ground protruding approx. twelve to fourteen inches out of the ground. The said steel markers are placed approx. twenty inches apart in the shape of a triangle with one long side of the triangle facing the other end of the playing course. The outside perimeter or border of said triangle being the intended target.
The throwing rods are approx. eighteen inches in length and approx. five eighths of an inch in diameter. The said throwing rods have markings on them depicting areas of different scoring values.
The object of the Border Crossing game is to throw a steel rod at the target triangle while trying to touch or cross the outside border of the triangle when the said throwing rod comes to-rest.
The target is shaped like a triangle so that all borders are visible or accessible to the player and throwing rods and to make it possible to cross and score on more than one border at a time.
The borders of said triangle can be closed by you or your opponent at strategic times during the game by placing a marker on one corner stake effectively closing both borders associated with said corner stake, this is called a Blockade. A Blockade leaves only one open border that can be scored upon, once the remaining open border is scored upon, the Blockade is lifted and all borders are open again.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game that is of a quality that can be played professionally.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game that can be played with two, three or four people.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game with a plurality of game options and scenarios to make every game experience different and exciting.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game that is easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game that is of durable and reliable construction.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game with throwing objects that are user friendly, easy to throw and have no sharp edges.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game with throwing objects that have areas of different scoring values, rewarding more points for a more accurate throw.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game that involves strategy and the use of the mind.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game that can be played inside or outside and is portable and storable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game that can be modified in the future with game pieces that are made of different materials such as wood, plastic, rubber and all metals.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game that can be modified in the future to include throwing objects that are made of different shapes and materials such as bean bags, throwing disks or rings, round balls and anything that can come to rest on a particular line or border.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Object Toss Game that can be modified in the future with different target shapes that have a line or border as the target, whether visible or imaginary, and the throwing object has to be touching or crossing said border to score points.
Another object of the present invention is to include any Object Toss Game designed to play inside or outside with lines or borders that are drawn or painted on a surface with said lines or borders as being the intended target, and the throwing object has to be touching or crossing said border to score points.
Another object of the present invention is to include any Object Toss Game that is made to play inside or outside with a target board that goes on the wall or any vertical surface with said target board having lines or borders as the intended target, and the throwing object has to be touching or crossing said border to score points.
Another object of the present invention is to include any future game concepts that have to do with war games or battles of witch the borders are crossed or cities, states or countries are captured by crossing their borders.
Yet another object of the present invention is not to be limited to any particular course layout, limited to any target dimensions or shapes, and not to be limited to any game piece shapes or sizes.
Yet another object of the present invention is to include an Object Toss Game that can be played with three players, with the game course set up in a triangle shape that has a target on each corner of the triangle.
Therefore the main object of the present invention is to include any and all Object Toss Games that have a line or border as the intended target whether visible or imaginary, and the throwing object has to be touching or crossing said border to score points.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Is the court layout diagram of the Border Crossing game. The official court size is approx. 52 feet A by 12 feet B. The target triangles are approx. 40 feet C apart and the target boxes are approx. 6 feet D by 8 feet E.

FIG. 2. Is the target box layout diagram of the Border Crossing game. The target box size should be at least 6 feet wide F by 8 feet long G with 2½ feet H behind the rear target marker I.

FIG. 3. Is the target diagram of the Border Crossing game. The target markers are three steel stakes J anchored into the ground with approx. 12 to 14 inches of stake J remaining above the ground. The three stakes J act as markers whereas the outside perimeter or border K of said markers are the intended target. The borders K of the target shape are imaginary and a Border Crossing can be seen if you look down the outside of the two stakes J of the said border K. If there is any question about a crossing, then a straight edge or string can be used to simulate the imaginary border K. Because there are three target markers (stakes) J, there are three borders K.

FIG. 4. Is the throwing rod diagram of the Border Crossing game. The throwing rods 1 a and 1 b are approx. 18 inches long and ⅝ of an inch in diameter. The throwing rods have rings L around them that mark areas of different point values M or N rewarding the player with more points for a more accurate throw. Rod 1 a has rings L at 4½ inches from either end, whereas the outside 4½ inches M equals 1 point and the inside 9 inches N equals 2 points. Rod 1 b has a ring L at the very center of the rod and a ring L 4½ inches from one end of the rod. The open 9 inches N of the rod equals 2 points and the other end with two 4½ inch sections M equals 1 point.

FIG. 5. Is an example of how points are scored or added up with the Border Crossing game. Throwing rod 1 a is crossing border 10 on the two point section of the rod, for a value of 2 points, throwing rod 1 a is also crossing border 20 on the 1 point section of the rod, for a value of 1 point. Throwing rod 1 b is also crossing border 20 on the 1 point section of the rod, for a value of 1 point. The total points scored are 4 points.

FIG. 6. Is a diagram of the Blockade marker and how it closes the two borders associated with it. A Blockade marker O, is placed on the right front marking stake of the target, effectively closing both

borders

20 and 30 that are associated with it. Border 10 is the only border left open and the only one that can be scored upon. Once border 10 is scored upon, the Blockade is lifted and all

borders

10, 20 and 30 are open and can be scored upon. The Blockade marker is simply a plastic cap O, that covers the top one to two inches of the target marker (steel stake).

“Border Crossing” is a game similar to “Horseshoes”, only there are Three stakes (forming a triangle) at either end, instead of only one stake. You throw a Steel Rod, instead of a horseshoe.
The object of the game is to throw a steel rod at the target (three stakes forming a triangle) 40 feet away and get the rod to break the outside border of the triangle when it comes to rest.
Throwing Rods:
Each player has two rods to throw. Each rod is similar but slightly different in that they both have markings on them but not in the same places. The rods are 18 inches long and 50% of the rod scores two points and the other 50% scores one point and are marked accordingly. One rod, the center 9 inches scores two points and the outside 4½ inches on either end, scores one point. The other rod is marked so that one half of the rod scores two points and the other half scores one point (see scoring instructions).
The Target:
The target has three stakes approx. 20 inches apart with one stake to the rear and two stakes up front (forming a triangle).
Scoring Instructions:
The throwing rod must come to rest with a portion of the rod breaking the outside border of the triangle in order to score points. This can be seen with the naked eye or you may use a straight edge about ground level in order to determine if it is a score or not.
The total score depends on what portion of the throwing rod is breaking the outside border of the triangle. If one rod, the two point portion of the rod is breaking the border and the other rod, the one point portion of the rod is breaking the border, then the total points are three. In some cases the throwing rod may break more than one border, points are scored on every border that is broken. If the two point portion or section of one throwing rod is breaking two borders, the total for that rod is four points.
If the two point section of the rod is breaking a border and the one point section of the rod is breaking another border, then the total points for that rod is three points. Etc.
As in horseshoes, scores cancel each other out. If you score five points and your opponent scores four points then you receive a total of one point. Etc.
The official number of points needed to win is 21. This can vary if decided before the start of the game.
Marks on Throwing Rods:
The marks on the throwing rods indicate where the one point section of the rod begins and the two point section of the rod ends. If any portion of the mark or groove on the rod is touching the border of the triangle, then the score would be one point. Etc.
One set of rods has a single groove and the other set has a double groove, this is done in order to tell the two apart. If any portion of the grooves are touching the outside border of the triangle, then it is considered one point.

Claims

1. A Rod Toss Border Crossing Game with a course consisting of two target areas approx. forty feet apart, said target areas consisting of three or more markers that outline a particular target shape with the outside perimeter or border of said shape being the objective target; a plurality of throwing rods designed to land horizontally touching or crossing said perimeter or border of said target shape in order to score points.

2. The Rod Toss Border Crossing Game of claim 1, wherein said outside perimeter or border of said target shape being an imaginary straight line extending from the outside of one marker to the next marker extending all the way around the absolute outside edge of said target shape.

3. The Rod Toss Border Crossing Game of claim 2, wherein said throwing rods have a round tubular shape approx. eighteen inches in length with rounded ends as to eliminate sharp edges.

4. The Rod Toss Border Crossing Game of claim 3, wherein said throwing rods have markings extending around said rods depicting areas of different scoring values.

5. The Rod Toss Border Crossing Game of claim 4, wherein the object of the game is to throw a steel rod at a target, whereas the outside perimeter or border of the target shape is the intended target, whereas the steel rod must come to rest touching or crossing said border in order to score points.

6. The Rod Toss Border Crossing Game of claim 5, wherein strategy can be added to the game with the ability to close borders at strategic times of the game by placing a Blockade on one target marker, effectively closing both borders associated with said marker.