US3554550A

US3554550A - Bean bag toss target game

Info

Publication number: US3554550A
Application number: US728934A
Authority: US
Inventors: Douglas J Schram
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-05-14
Filing date: 1968-05-14
Publication date: 1971-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-12

Abstract

A bean bag toss target game is disclosed comprising, in combination, bean bags, a freestanding frame, and hollow equilateral triangular prism target pieces supported for individual 360* bidirectional rotation on same frame; the frame supports the target pieces in equally spaced parallel rows each having the same number of target pieces therein; the frame and the target pieces are constructed in relation to the bean bags so that the bean bags are capable of passing completely through the frame from one side to the other thereof when tossed at the target pieces and so that no bean bag can pass through the frame without causing rotation of a target piece on the frame; each target piece when struck by a bean bag passing through said frame is rotatable between three target positions to present to view of the user of the game any one of three target faces but only one thereof at any one time, whereby scoring is effected by observing when corresponding target faces first fill any parallel or diagonal row from rotation of target pieces caused by bean bags tossed thereat passing through said frame.

Description

United States Patent Douglas J. Schram 29,557 Van Laan, Warren, Mich. 48092 [21] Appl. No. 728,934

[22] Filed May 14,1968

[45] Patented Jan. 12, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] BEAN BAG TOSS TARGET GAME 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 273/95, 273/106, 273/102 [51 1 Int. Cl A63b 63/00 [50] Field of Search 273/102(AB),

102.1(F), 102.1(E), 102.1(C), 127, 100 for known ref., 102

Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-William L. Fisher ABSTRACT: A bean bag toss target game is disclosed comprising, in combination, bean bags, a freestanding frame, and

' hollow equilateral triangular prism target pieces supported for individual 360 bidirectional rotation on same frame; the frame supports the target pieces in equally spaced parallel rows each having the same number of target pieces therein; the frame and the target pieces are constructed in relation to the bean bags so that the bean bags are capable of passing completely through the frame from one side to the other thereof when tossed at the target pieces and so that no bean bag can pass through the frame without causing rotation of a target piece on the frame; each target piece when struck by a bean bag passing through said frame is rotatable between three target positions to present to view of the user of the game any one of three target faces but only one thereof at any one time, whereby scoring is effected by observing when corresponding target faces first fill any parallel or diagonal row from rotation of target pieces caused by bean bags tossed thereat passing through said frame.

' Pmmwmmm Y Y $554,550

SHEET l UF 2 I DOUGLASJ SCHRA INVENTOR.

I BY

HIS ATTORNEY PATENIEnJAmm: 3554550 sum 2 or 2 QQUGLAS J SCHRAM INVENTOR.

BYQKQQMK SM HIS ATTORNEY was BEAN BAG TOSS TARGET GAME My invention relates to games.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of a fascinating and entertaining bean bag toss target game which is played by two competing persons or groups thereof. The foregoing object of my invention and its advantages will become apparent during the course of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 4 are, respectively, front perspective and side elevational views of a target game embodying my invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary perspective views of parts of said game; and

FIG. 5 is a combination of several views of parts of said game.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, generally designates said game which comprises-a freestanding frame consisting of an inverted U-shaped tubular frame member 12 and another U-shaped solid rod frame member 16, the free ends of which project through apertures in the outside walls of the frame member 12 so that the two

frame members

12 and 16 are pivotally connected together. The two frame members i 12 and 16 have an operative position shown determined by the length of a chain 18 connected to the horizontal run of the frame member 16 and to a horizontal solid rod frame brace member 14 in which they mutually support each other so that the frame member 12 is disposed at a 60 angle to the horizontal when said frame is supported on a horizontal surface. Antislip means are provided for said frame in the form of caps 13 on the free ends of the frame member 12 and spaced bushings 19 on the horizontal run of the frame member 16. The

frame members

12 and 16 also have a stored position (not shown) in which the frame member 16 is disposed in the plane of the frame member 12 with the horizontal run of the frame member 16 adjacent but beyond the caps 13.

Said game also comprises a plurality of multifaced targets 22 which are multipositionable in respect to a supporting axle 20 by virtue of a multisided axial through aperture means which is oversize in respect to the diameter of said axle 20 so that said targets 22 are bidirectionally 360 rotatably and slidably supported on said axle 20. In the instance there are five vertically spaced horizontal axles 20 supported between the sides of the frame 12 by projecting through apertures in the inside walls thereof. Each axle 20 rotatably and slidably supports five targets 22 which are horizontally spaced from each other by spools 30 and from the frame slides by longer spools 32. The

spools

30 and 32 are rotatably supported on said axle 20. The targets 22 and the

spools

30 and 32 and the axles 20 are assembled on the frame 12 prior to fastening of the brace frame member 14 thereto. The five horizontal and vertical rows of targets 22 define the target area of the game 10 at which two differently colored pillow type bean bags are tossed as shown and indicated at 37 and 39 in FIG. 5. In the instance each target 22 is a hollow pentahedron or equilateral triangular prism having a pair of equilaterally triangular parallel and walls and three 60 angularly disposed square front walls. The three front walls are differently colored as shown and indicated at 25, 27 and 29 in FIG. 5 for reasons which will appear. The axial through aperture means with which each target 22 is provided comprises, in the instance, a pair of equilaterally triangular apertures formed one in each of said triangular end walls. Each such triangular aperture 23 has straight sides of length of about three times the diameter of the axle 20 and has semicircular apexes of the same radius as the axle 20 so that, as mentioned, the target 22 is capable of both rotating and sliding in either direction in respect to the corresponding axle 20 to one of three rest positions in which the target 22 settles by gravity on the axle 20. One of the three square front walls is horizontal and the other two are at 60 to the horizontal in each of said three rest positions of each target 22. Said game 10 is played by two competing persons or group thereof who alternately throw their owri set of colored bean bags at the target area to osition the targets 22 so as to score a ingo. The bean bags 7 are of the same color as the front wall 27 of each target and the bean bags 39 are of the same color as the front wall 29. The game 10 is commenced by first v positioning all of the targets 22 so that the neutral colored front walls (25 in FIG. 5) face forwardly, i.e. toward the players. The color of the bean bags which a player tosses determines the color of the front walls of the targets 22 which he endeavors to face forward. For example, the player tossing color to wit: That indicated in FIG. 5 for the front wall 27.

Conversely the player tossing bean bags of the color indicated in FIG. 5 for the bean bag 39 would endeavor to face forward target front walls of that color, to wit: thatindicated in F IG. 5 for the front wall 29. A bingo is scored by the winner who is first to position the targets so that all of the targets in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row have the same color front walls facing forward, i.e. the color of his bean bags. As the dif-' ferent bean bags strike one or more targets 22 they cause said targets 22 to rotate and slide in respect to the corresponding axle 20 through one or more of said rest positions causing the front walls of the targets to continually change color. A faster game likened to tic-tac-toe can be played by utilizing-nine in lieu of 25 targets. The target area can be reduced to the center nine targets by employing a shield (not shown) which can be suspended from the frame 12 and masks off the remaining tar-- vention a target game in which the object hereinabove set' forth together with many other thoroughly practical advantages has been successfully achieved. While preferred embodiments of my invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that variations and changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bean bag toss target game comprising, in combination, a plurality of bean bags, freestanding frame means, and a plurality of hollow target pieces supported for individual 360 bidirectional rotation on said frame means, each target piece being an equilateral triangular prism having two equilateral triangular end walls and three square front walls defining three target faces, said frame means supporting said target pieces in equally spaced parallel rows each having the same number of target pieces therein, said frame means having axle means, each target piece having axially aligned triangular apertures centrally formed in its respective end walls, said target pieces rotatably supported on said axle means via their respective triangular apertures, said frame means and said target pieces constructed in relation to said bean bags so that said bean bags are capable of passing completely through said frame means from one side to the other thereof when tossed at said targetpieces and so that no bean bag can pass through said frame means without causing rotation of a target piece on said axle means, each target piece when struck by a bean bag passing through said frame means rotatable on said axle means between three target positions to presentto view of the user of the game any one of said three target faces but only one thereof at any one time, each target piece in each of its respective three target positions being suspended on said axle means via apexes of its respective triangular apertures, each target piece both rotatable and slidable on its respective axle means and settling by gravity into one of its respective three target positions after being struck by a bean bag passing through said frame means, whereby scoring is effected by observing when corresponding target faces first fill any parallel or diagonal row from rotation of target pieces caused by bean bags tossed thereat passing through said frame means.

2. A beam bag toss target game as claimed in claim 1 in which said frame means has a portion thereof disposed at an inclined plane when said frame means is resting on a horizontal surface, said portion encompassing said target pieces.

Claims

1. A bean bag toss target game comprising, in combination, a plurality of bean bags, freestanding frame means, and a plurality of hollow target pieces supported for individual 360* bidirectional rotation on said frame means, each target piece being an equilateral triangular prism having two equilateral triangular end walls and three square front walls defining three target faces, said frame means supporting said target pieces in equally spaced parallel rows each having the same number of target pieces therein, said frame means having axle means, each target piece having axially aligned triangular apertures centrally formed in its respective end walls, said target pieces rotatably supported on said axle means via their respective triangular apertures, said frame means and said target pieces constructed in relation to said bean bags so that said bean bags are capable of passing completely through said frame means from one side to the other thereof when tossed at said target pieces and so that no bean bag can pass through said frame means without causing rotation of a target piece on said axle means, each target piece when struck by a bean bag passing through said frame means rotatable on said axle means between three target positions to present to view of the user of the game any one of said three target faces but only one thereof at any one time, each target piece in each of its respective three target positions being suspended on said axle means via apexes of its respective triangular apertures, each target piece both rotatable and slidable on its respective axle means and settling by gravity into one of its respective three target positions after being struck by a bean bag passing through said frame means, whereby scoring is effected by observing when corresponding target faces first fill any parallel or diagonal row from rotation of target pieces caused by bean bags tossed thereat passing through said frame means.