US20240226683A1 - Bean bag toss game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A bean bag toss game apparatus includes a plurality of bean bags and a frame. The frame has a first leg and an opposing second leg forming an A-shape. The apparatus also includes a playing surface mounted within the frame and the playing surface has a base and an apex, where a width of the playing surface narrows from the base to the apex. The apparatus includes a plurality of ledges spanning laterally across the width of the playing surface and are configured for a bean bag to rest thereon. The plurality of ledges are spaced apart from one another vertically on the playing surface. In addition, the apparatus includes an open compartment positioned between a top of the frame and the apex of the playing surface, the open compartment configured to receive bean bags tossed therein.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application 63/438,076 filed Jan. 10, 2023, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.
FIELD
• The present invention relates to the field of outdoor games, and, more particularly, to a bean bag toss game apparatus.
BACKGROUND
• Cornhole is a bean bag toss game that uses an inclined platform having a single hole. Players take turns in tossing bean bags to the platform. The object of the game is to try and toss the bean bag through the hole or at least land the bean bag on the platform itself. Players earn points for each bean bag that goes through the hole or lands on the platform. The platforms are generally rectangular and the far end of the platform is elevated to create an incline along the platform surface.
• While cornhole platforms have been around for many years there is a need for a bean bag toss game apparatus that is for players of all skill levels and also can be played in low light conditions.
• In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a game that is fun to play for players of all ages and skill levels. This and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a bean bag toss game apparatus. The bean bag toss game apparatus includes a plurality of bean bags, and a frame. The frame has a first leg and an opposing second leg forming an A-shape. The apparatus also includes a playing surface mounted within the frame and the playing surface has a base and an apex, where a width of the playing surface narrows from the base to the apex. In addition, the apparatus includes a plurality of ledges spanning laterally across the width of the playing surface and configured for a bean bag to rest thereon. The plurality of ledges are spaced apart from one another vertically on the playing surface, and an open compartment is positioned between a top of the frame and the apex of the playing surface. The open compartment is configured to receive bean bags tossed therein.
• The apparatus may also include a rear support secured to a rear of the frame, where the rear support is extendable out from the frame to support the frame in an upright position. A controller may be coupled to a plurality of lights configured to light up selected portions of the playing surface. In addition, the apparatus may include a bean bag detector configured to activate selected lights of the plurality of lights when a bean bag is detected on the playing surface.
• A plurality of stakes may also be removably secured to the first and opposing second legs that are configured to hold the frame securely to a ground surface. A visual indicator may be located between each of the plurality of ledges, where a respective visual indicator indicates a value for a bean bag being tossed on a respective ledge.
• The apparatus may also include a power source coupled to the controller and a plurality of lights, and a speaker configured to emit a sound when a bean bag is tossed on a respective ledge. Each bean bag may include a bag light coupled to a power source where the bag light is configured to illuminate a respective bean bag. The plurality of bean bags may each include a pocket that is configured to secure the bag light and the power source therein.
• In another particular aspect, a method of playing a bean bag toss game is disclosed. The method includes providing a frame, a playing surface mounted within the frame, a plurality of ledges spanning laterally across the width of the playing surface and being spaced apart from one another vertically on the playing surface, and an open compartment positioned between at a top of the playing surface. The method also includes providing a plurality of bean bags. In addition, the method includes tossing each bean bag of the plurality of bean bags on to the playing surface, and adding a respective value for each bean bag that lands on a respective ledge to calculate a ledge score. In addition, the method includes adding a high value for each bean bag that lands in the open compartment to the ledge score to calculate a total score.
• The method may also include activating lights in the plurality of bean bags and activating lights to illuminate the playing surface so that the bean bag toss game can be played in low light conditions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The aspects and the attendant advantages of the embodiments described herein will become more readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
• FIG.1 is a front perspective view of a bean bag toss game apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure;
• FIG.2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus ofFIG.1;
• FIG.3 is a rear view of the apparatus with a rear support in a retracted position;
• FIG.4 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus with the rear support extended;
• FIG.5 is a right-side elevational view of the apparatus;
• FIG.6 is a rear detail view of the apparatus;
• FIG.7 is a perspective view of a bean bag of the apparatus showing a pocket with a light secured therein;
• FIG.8 is a front view of the apparatus showing a bean bag tossed on to the playing surface and resting on a ledge; and
• FIG.9 is a front view of the apparatus illuminated by lights.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
• Referring toFIGS.1-2, a bean bag toss game apparatus of the present invention is shown and generally designated100. The bean bagtoss game apparatus100 includes a plurality ofbean bags130, and aframe102. Theframe102 has afirst leg112aand an opposingsecond leg112bforming an A-shape. Theapparatus100 also includes aplaying surface120 mounted within theframe102. Theplaying surface120 has abase113 and anapex115, where a width of theplaying surface120 narrows from thebase113 to theapex115.
• In addition, theapparatus100 includes a plurality ofledges104,106,108 spanning laterally across the width of theplaying surface120. The ledges104,106,108 are configured for abean bag130 to rest thereon. The plurality ofledges104,106,108 are spaced apart from one another vertically on theplaying surface120, and anopen compartment110 is positioned between a top of theframe102 and theapex115 of theplaying surface120. Theopen compartment110 is configured to receivebean bags130 tossed therein. Theopen compartment110 may have a number that is visible to the player and correlates to a number of points a player earns if successfully tossing abean bag130 therein.
• The apparatus may also include arear support118 secured to a rear of theframe102 as shown inFIGS.3-5. Therear support118 is extendable out from theframe102 to support the frame in an upright position as shown inFIGS.4 and5. As those of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, theapparatus100 may be comprised of plastic, wood, or any other suitable material.
• Referring now toFIG.6, the apparatus may include integrated circuit (C) withcontroller132 that is coupled to a plurality oflights160 configured to light up selected portions of theplaying surface120. Thelights160 may be secured to the rear of theplaying surface120 and can be used to light up the visual indicators128a, b, c(e.g. numbers) when abean bag130 lands on arespective ledge104,106,108 or lands in theopen compartment110.
• In addition, theapparatus100 may include abean bag detector162 configured to activate selected lights of the plurality oflights160 when abean bag130 is detected on theplaying surface120. Theapparatus100 also includes aninternal power source136 such as a battery, and aspeaker138.
• A plurality of stakes114 may also be removably secured to the first and opposingsecond legs112a,bthat are configured to hold theframe102 securely to a ground surface such as a grassy lawn so it does not move or slide during game playing. A visual indicator128a,b,cmay be located between each of the plurality ofledges104,106,108, where a respective visual indicator indicates a value for abean bag130 being tossed on a respective ledge.
• Theapparatus100 may also include apower source136 coupled to thecontroller132 and the plurality oflights160, and thespeaker138 that is configured to emit a sound when abean bag130 is tossed on arespective ledge104,106,108.
• Referring now toFIG.7, eachbean bag130 may include a bag light150 coupled to apower source152 such as a battery, where the bag light150 is configured to illuminate arespective bean bag130. The plurality ofbean bags130 may each include apocket154 that is configured to secure the bag light150 and the power source therein152 using aclosure mechanism156. Theclosure mechanism156 may be hook and loop, a snap, or button for example that allows for the power source to be replaced as needed.
• FIG.8 is a front view of theapparatus100 with abean bag130 resting onledge106. Theapparatus100 being used in low light conditions is shown inFIG.9, where thelights160 are illuminating the playing surface and the visual indicators128a,b,c.
• Referring now toFIG.9, thelights160 may be light emitting diodes (LEDs) or strips of LEDS that are secured along theledges104,106,108 and that are configured to illuminate at night for visibility, then blink on and off a few times when abean bag130 is successfully tossed into theopen compartment110, for example.
• In another particular aspect, a method of playing a bean bag toss game is disclosed. The method includes providing aframe102, a playingsurface120 mounted within the frame, a plurality ofledges104,106,108 spanning laterally across the width of the playing surface and being spaced apart from one another vertically on the playing surface, and anopen compartment110 positioned between at a top of the playing surface. The method also includes providing a plurality ofbean bags130. In addition, the method includes tossing abean bag130 of the plurality of bean bags on to the playingsurface120, and adding a respective value for eachbean bag130 that lands on arespective ledge104,106,108 to calculate a ledge score. In addition, the method includes adding a high value for eachbean bag130 that lands in theopen compartment110 to the ledge score to calculate a total score.
• The method may also include activating lights150 in the plurality ofbean bags130 and activatinglights160 to illuminate the playingsurface120 so that the bean bag toss game can be played in low light conditions.
• Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

That which is claimed is:

1. A bean bag toss game apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of bean bags;

a frame having a first leg and an opposing second leg forming an A-shape;

a playing surface mounted within the frame and the playing surface having a base and an apex, wherein a width of the playing surface narrows from the base to the apex;

a plurality of ledges spanning laterally across the width of the playing surface and configured for a bean bag to rest thereon, the plurality of ledges being spaced apart from one another vertically on the playing surface; and

an open compartment positioned between a top of the frame and the apex of the playing surface, the open compartment configured to receive bean bags tossed therein.

2. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a rear support secured to a rear of the frame, wherein the rear support is extendable out from the frame to support the frame in an upright position.

3. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to a plurality of lights configured to light up selected portions of the playing surface.

4. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 3, further comprising a bean bag detector configured to activate selected lights of the plurality of lights when a bean bag is detected on the playing surface.

5. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein a plurality of stakes are removably secured to the first and opposing second legs and configured to hold the frame securely to a ground surface.

6. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of ledges span continuously across the playing surface and the frame.

7. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a visual indicator between each of the plurality of ledges, wherein a respective visual indicator indicates a value for a bean bag being tossed on a respective ledge.

8. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 3, further comprising a power source coupled to the controller and the plurality of lights.

9. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a speaker configured to emit a sound when a bean bag is tossed on a respective ledge.

10. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein each bean bag comprises a bag light coupled to a power source and the bag light is configured to illuminate a respective bean bag.

11. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein each bean bag has a pocket configured to secure the bag light and the power source therein.

12. A bean bag toss game apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of bean bags;

a frame;

a playing surface mounted within the frame;

a plurality of ledges spanning laterally across a width of the playing surface and configured for a bean bag to rest thereon, the plurality of ledges being spaced apart from one another vertically on the playing surface; and

an open compartment positioned between at a top of the playing surface, the open compartment configured to receive bean bags tossed therein.

13. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 12, further comprising a rear support secured to a rear of the frame, wherein the rear support is extendable out from the frame to support the frame in an upright position.

14. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 12, further comprising a controller coupled to a plurality of lights configured to light up selected portions of the playing surface.

15. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 14, further comprising a bean bag detector configured to activate selected lights of the plurality of lights when a bean bag is detected on the playing surface.

16. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 14, further comprising a power source coupled to the controller and the plurality of lights.

17. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 12, further comprising a speaker configured to emit a sound when a bean bag is tossed on a respective ledge.

18. The bean bag toss game apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein each bean bag comprises a bag light coupled to a power source and the bag light is configured to illuminate a respective bean bag.

19. A method of playing a bean bag toss game, the method comprising:

providing a frame, a playing surface mounted within the frame, a plurality of ledges spanning laterally across a width of the playing surface and being spaced apart from one another vertically on the playing surface, and an open compartment positioned between at a top of the playing surface;

providing a plurality of been bags;

tossing each bean bag of the plurality of bean bags on to the playing surface;

adding a respective value for each bean bag that lands on a respective ledge to calculate a ledge score;

adding a high value for each bean bag that lands in the open compartment to the ledge score to calculate a total score.

20. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising activating lights in the plurality of bean bags and activating lights to illuminate the playing surface so that the bean bag toss game can be played in low light conditions.

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