US3837650A - Collapsible tossing game target - Google Patents

Abstract

A bag tossing game target device having a pair of hingedly connected panels, one being obliquely inclined and having a bag receiving hole. A u-shaped brace is pivotally mounted to a pair of inner support beams mounted on opposite sides of said hole. The brace pivots into detachable engagement with a pair of catch members attached to the other panel. The target device can be easily collapsed to a flat storable position or opened into a rigid game target.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Haney 1 Sept. 24, 1974 COLLAPSIBLE TOSSING GAME TARGET [76] Inventor: Harold I. Haney, 2623 S. Twelfth St., lronton, Ohio 45638 [22] Filed: Oct. 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 298,939

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/105 R, 273/102 S [51] Int. Cl A63b 72/00 [58] Field of Search 273/95 R, 102 R, 105 R,

273/DIG. 4; 108/115, 116; 40/102, 104.06, 104.08, 104.09, 104.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,021,989 1l/1935 DeMaster 273/105 R 3,035,838 5/1962 Johnston 273/105 R 9/1969 Triplett 108/115 8/1972 Knight 273/D1G. 4

Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerMarvin Siskind [5 7] ABSTRACT A bag tossing game target device having a pair of hingedly connected panels, one being obliquely inclined and having a bag receiving hole. A u-shaped brace is pivotally mounted to a pair of inner support beams mounted on opposite sides of said hole. The brace pivots into detachable engagement with a pair of catch members attached to the other panel. The target device can be easily collapsed to a fiat storable position or opened into a rigid game target.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures COLLAPSIBLE TOSSING GAME TARGET BACKGROUND This invention relates generally to a game device and more particularly relates to a receiving target for a tossing game which is readily storable and yet unfolds into a sturdy structure.

Bag tossing games are very desirable because they are safe, may be played in all seasons, indoors or outdoors, and appeal to all age groups.

Other inventors have shown tossing games targets utilizing an inclined surface with a bag receiving hole. For example, such game devices are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,628,793; 406,342; 1,636,920; 2,021,989; 2,291,104; and 3,504,787.

Pleasant games may be played with these game devices. However, previous game devices, in order to be suitably stable and rigid, have comprised solid box-like structures which, when the game is not in use, are difficult and bulky to store. Those game devices which are substantially foldable so that they may be easily stored tend to be weak, unstable and/or complicated to assemble.

There is a need for a tossing game target device which is foldably collapsible to a flat, easily storable configuration but which may be easily unfolded and assembled to form a rigid, sturdy structure. There is similarly a need for such a sturdy game device which may be made of inexpensive, thin sheet material and inexpensive and simple supporting structure.

SUMMARY The invention is an improved bag tossing game device of the type having the first rigid front sheet with a central bag receiving hole and a second supporting sheet. The game device has a pair of hinge means pivotally connecting said sheets and mounted near the top edge of each of these sheets. A pair of support beams are attached to the front sheet on opposite sides of the hole and facing the supporting sheet. The support beams extend from near the top edge to near the opposite edge of the front sheet. A u-shaped, rod-like brace has each of its ends rigidly mounted to a different one of the support beams. A pair of catch members are mounted to the supporting sheet and are positioned to detachably engage the bottom leg-joining portion of the U-shaped brace.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved game device having improved rigidity and simplicity while capable of being very easily folded into a flat storable position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game device which may be constructed of thin, inexpensive sheet material but is constructed to exhibit suitable strength.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game device in which the parts can not separate from the whole unit and be subject to loss.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an easily collapsible and assemblable game device which includes a rear panel providing not only support but operating as a back stop to retain tossed bags within the game device.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent form the following specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the underside of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a collapsed configuration.

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the FIGURES, the preferred embodiment of the invention is a tossing game target indicated generally as 10. Thetarget 10 has a firstrigid front sheet 12 preferably formed of one-quarter inch Masonite for example, and desirably painted in a pleasing color. A central bag-receivinghole 14 is formed through thesheet 12 to receive a tossedbag 16. Thisgame bag 16 is a bean bag, sand bag or similar article.

During play, thesheet 12 is inclined to a horizontal surface, such as a floor, on which thetarget 10 is set. The rear of thetarget 10 is supported by a secondrigid support sheet 18.

Preferably, a game is played with two such sloping targets, like thetarget 10, which are positioned approximately 30 feet apart with their bag receiving openings facing each other. Eight game bags are preferably used and are tossed by the contestants from a standing position beside one of the game targets and toward the opposite target. The details of the structure of thetarget 10 are illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2 5 which illustrate the advantageous structure of the invention.

A pair of hinge means, such ashinges 20 and 22 are mounted near the top edges of each of thesheets 12 and 18. A pair ofwooden support beams 26 and 28 are attached to thefront sheet 12 on opposite sides of the bag-receivinghole 14. Thesesupport beams 26 and 28 are mounted on the inner side of thefront sheet 12 preferably by nails and face the supportingsheet 18. They extend from near thetop edge 30 of thefirst sheet 12 to near itsopposite edge 32.

Preferably, thehinges 20 and 22 have apivot axis 24 which is spaced from the opposed surfaces of thesheets 12 and 18, a total distance greater than the thickness of thesupport beams 26 and 28. This permits thesheets 12 and 18 to be pivoted around thepivots 24 and 24A into a parallel relationship on opposite sides of the sup port beams so that thetarget device 12 is very conveniently folded into a flat configuration.

As illustrated most clearly in FIG. 3, thesupport beams 26 and 28 extend beyond the pivot axis of the hinges, such aspivot axis 24, so that thesupport sheet 18 pivots against theends 36 and 38 of thesupport beams 26 and 28 and against thefront sheet 12 when the target device is opened into its operable position. The cooperation of these parts increased the rigidity of the game device.

A U-shaped, rod-like brace 40 maintains thesheets 12 and 18 rigidly in their opened position when the game target is being used. Thebrace 40 has each of itsends 42 and 44 pivotally mounted to a different one of thesupport beams 26 and 28. To accomplish this pivotal connection, a pair ofbores 46 and 48 are formed in the distal sides of thesupport beams 26 and 28. Theends 42 and 44 of thebrace 40 are formed with right angle bends and extend into thesebores 46 and 48. Consequently, thebrace 40 pivots freely about an axis through thebores 46 and 48.-

To secure thebrace 40 in its operable position, a pair ofcatch members 50 and 52 are mounted to the supportingsheet 18. Thecatch members 50 and 52 are positioned to detachably engage the bottom leg-joiningportion 54 of the u-shapedbrace 40.

Each of these catch members, such as thecatch member 50, comprises an elasticallymovable cantilever tongue 56 which is bent to have abase portion 58 which is riveted to the supportingsheet 18. Thecantilever tongue 56 extends above the surface of the supportingsheet 18 and approximately parallel to that surface. It extends toward the hanged edges of the sheets so that thebottom portion 54 of thebrace 40 may be pivoted beneath thetongue 56 of thecatch member 50. Therefore, the brace is releasably retained between the tongues of thecatch members 50 and 52 and the inner surface of the supportingsheet 18.

The target structure of FIGS. 1 w 4 is therefore very easily folded to the collapsed position illustrated in FIG. 5. To accomplish this, the bottom leg-joiningportion 54 of thebrace 40 is merely pushed toward the hinged edge of thesheets 12 and 18 and thereby released from thecatch member 50 and 52. The brace is pivoted against the support beams 26 and 28. The supportingsheet 18 is then pivoted up against the support beams 26 and 28.

When the game device is to be used, the targets are removed from storage and the supportingsheets 18 are pivoted away from their storage position. Thebrace 40 may then be rotated downwardly into engagement beneath the catch members and 52.

From the above, it can be seen that relatively inexpensive materials, such as quarter inch sheet, may be used and yet the target is made rigid in a simple but critical manner by the support beams 26 and 28. The support beams also serve additional functions. They provide a pivot for thebrace 40. Furthermore, the support beams 26 and 28 are strategically terminated at theirends 36 and 38 so that thesupport sheet 18 may be pivoted against them to further-strengthen the target structure. Therear support sheet 18 not only supports thefront sheet 12 in its inclined position but further it provides a backstop to retain tossed bags within the game target device.

Thetarget device 10 further may be assembled by two quick and simple pivotal motions without any complicated assembly being necessary. Additionally, all necessary parts to thetarget device 10 are connected to the deviceand are never detached from the device and therefore are never subject to loss or misplacement.

Although the game may be played and enjoyed according to a wide variety of rules, I have devised a set of rules which I have found to be particularly enjoyable. When played according to the following rules, a game is provided which may be played in all seasons indoors or outdoors. The game is found to be quite entertaining and to provide good exercise for all age groups. The game is quite safe because there is no sharp or dangerous equipment or fast moving, dangerous objects which must be contended with.

When the game is played on hard, smooth surfaces it is advantageous that the game target devices be positioned on non-slip throw rugs. Two such game target devices are used and are spaced as described above. The first pitch may be decided upon by a coin toss, the loser having the choice of game bag colors. There are preferably provided four game bags of one color and four game bags of a second color. In singles, one contestant stands on each side of one game board, as in the game of horseshoes. In doubles, as in horseshoes, each team has one contesting member at each game board. The toes of the players should not extend beyond front edge of the game board as the pitching motion is begun but contestants may take one step forward as they pitch the game bag toward the opposite target device.

In scoring, one point is counted for each game bag that enters the target hole. Opponents alternately pitch the four game bags from one game board to the other and after all eight bags are pitched a round is completed. The game continues through several complete rounds until the total score of one person or team is 21 points.

I have found it interesting to score the game so that only one contestant can score in a round. The contestant having the last game bag to enter the target hole receives the complete score based upon the total number of bags passing through the target hole.

If one or more game bags should hang up on the board or edge of the target hole and subsequently be knocked in or nudged in by a contestants game bag so that one or both fall through the target hole, then the contestants game bag to enter the target hole last is granted a full score.

It is to be understood that while the detailed drawings and specific examples given describe a preferred embodiment of the invention, they are for the purposes of illustration only, that the apparatus of the invention is not limited to the precise details and conditions disclosed and that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An improved bag tossing game device comprising: (a) a first rigid front sheet with a central bag receiving hole pivotally mounted near its top edge to a second, rigid, supporting rear sheet; (b) a pair of support beams attached to said front sheet on opposite sides of said hole, facing said supporting sheet and extending from near the bottom edge of said front sheet to beyond the pivot axis of said sheets for permitting the top end of said supporting sheet to pivot against said front sheet and against the top end of said support beams, said beams having a pair of bores formed on their distally opposite sides: (c) a pair of hinge means for pivotally connecting said sheets as aforesaid, said hinge means having a pivot axis spaced from the opposed surfaces of said sheets a total distance greater than the thickness brace, each of said catch members formed by an elastically movable cantilever tongue extending approximately parallel to the surface of said supporting sheet toward the hinged edges and extending above the surface a distance slightly less than the thickness of said brace for releasably retaining the brace between the tongues and the surface of the supporting sheet.

Claims (1)

1. An improved bag tossing game device comprising: (a) a first rigid front sheet with a central bag receiving hole pivotally mounted near its top edge to a second, rigid, supporting rear sheet; (b) a pair of support beams attached to said front sheet on opposite sides of said hole, facing said supporting sheet and extending from near the bottom edge of said front sheet to beyond the pivot axis of said sheets for permitting the top end of said supporting sheet to pivot against said front sheet and against the top end of said support beams, said beams having a pair of bores formed on their distally opposite sides: (c) a pair of hinge means for pivotally connecting said sheets as aforesaid, said hinge means having a pivot axis spaced from the opposed surfaces of said sheets a total distance greater than the thickness of said support beams for permitting said sheets to be pivoted into parallel relationship on opposite sides of said support beams; (d) a U-shaped, rod-like brace having each of its ends formed with right angle bends and pivotally extending into said bores in said support beams; and (e) a pair of catch members mounted to said supporting sheet and positioned to detachably engage the bottom leg-joining portion of said U-shaped brace, each of said catch members formed by an elastically movable cantilever tongue extending approximately parallel to the surface of said supporting sheet toward the hinged edges and extending above the surface a distance slightly less than the thickness of said brace for releasably retaining the brace between the tongues and the surface of the supporting sheet.

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