CA2402090A1

CA2402090A1 - Hoop toss game

Info

Publication number: CA2402090A1
Application number: CA002402090A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jean Roy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-26
Filing date: 2002-09-06
Publication date: 2003-05-26
Also published as: US20050006846A1

Abstract

The invention generally relates to a game requiring the use of manual dexterity and skill in projecting hoops, or rings, by one player in manner to slip each hoop onto a distanced and immobilized target. The target comprises a main post adapted to be secured into or on the ground and a number of secondary hooks extending from the main post. The main post and the secondary hooks are each adapted to be engaged by a properly thrown hoop. The main post and the secondary hooks (for instance there are four secondary hooks) include vibration dampers in order to reduce a hoop accurately thrown thereon to bounce off the target member.
Four secondary hooks can be embodied in a pair of hook units, each having two opposed secondary hooks. The two hook units are capable of being relatively displaced from a cross-like configuration (i.e. game position of target member) to a collapsed configuration (i.e. storage position of target member).

Description

HOOP TOSS GAME;
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention generally relates to a Qnme and, more particularly, to a ring toss game.
HACKGROt7NC~ OF THE INVENTION
[0002j Hvvn toss and ring toss game: have bEen provided under several forms in the art. They a.re generally based on throwing <-:ircular hoops or aerial projectiles over a specially designed post-.. Ring tOS6 clamas me will known i.n the art and usually coraist of vnc> or more rings that are tossed onto a post. auch a post ~r.ay have one or move projecting arms to catch the rings as each ring's central ppening passes over and falls in an ercircling relationship onto such post and/or onto any one of the projecting arms.
Many of these games have been patented, such as in U.S-Patent No. _,705,501, which issued t:o gas ~on :arch 19, 1929, there 3.s di~~clossed a device having several conical projections on a turntable that xotate:~ while a player throws a ring with a view of dropping his ring over one of the rotating pro~ecti.ons. In U.S. Patent Ncs. 1,480,563, which issued to Morgan vzz January 15, 1924, the post onto which the ri:~gs are thrown oscillates back and forth on a hinge to make it nuore dif~icolr. to throw the rings onto the post. U.5. Patent No. 1,230,5U3, which issued to Miller on June i9, 1917, there are disclosed ciit~ez~exit mechanisms =or supporting a ring toss post on a base member for indoor use and for outdoor use. U.S. Patenc. Pro. ?,365,513, which issued to Bartle t=t n1. on December i9, 1994, discloses a post having pegs projecting horizonc,a~ly therefrom ar_ a variety ox elevations and directions thereon, and a handle is provided at tht~ fop of the post.. By way of the handle, the past is jerked around by she player, so that the rings move ur~wardly along the post and become engage to 9uCCessive pegs, a~ a result. o~ tree pU:jt'S tri6vAm~ritfi.

[0003] Numerous other games have ~aeen provided .n the prior arr.. For example, LJ. f:. Patents i~lo. Q, 130, 28i (issued to Leber et al. cn December 19, 1978?, No. 4,132,41C
(issued to Montagna on January 2, 7.979), No. 4,726,591 ( issued to 7ohnson on f'ebruarr 3 , 19 RE f . and No . 4 , 819 , 947 (issued to Mackev on AL~ri7. 11., 1989) all are illustrative of such other known games.

[0004] All of these units may b~~ suitable for the particular purpose that. they address, but there is also a need for a new ring toss caame.

[0005] For in~.~tanae, trere i:: n need 'Pot n ring toss game that is~ less subject: to vibrations whet: a ring makes Contact with the post thereof, such a:; to reduce the possibility Chat the thrown ring bounces off the post.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] it is therefore am aim of the present invention to provide a hoop toss name comprising main and -secondary rods, at least one of which being prov_ded with a vibration damper, and at least ono aariai projer,rile, which is preLerably a ring.

[0007] Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, r_hcjrc~ is pr-evidad a hoop toss game comprising a target member and at least one aerial ~xojectile, said target mEmber inciudin~r at least orm~ pr«.ject_ing catching element arid a vibr3tic~n damper provided on said catching element.

[0008] ?,lore particularly, said aerial projectile is a ring.

[0009] Typically, said targat member coriprises a base member, a mai_-r poet ext~ndin~; upwardly from said base member, and at least one secondary hook, said main post and said secondary hook each constituting a catching element, whereby said aerial projectile is adapted to engoge at least one of said main poi>t and said secondary hook.

[0010) Specifically, said vibration damper defines an enlargement with respect to said catching element.

[0011] Also in ac~,ordance with the present invention, there is provided a r~oop tos;~ game comprising a target member and at least one aerial pro;ectile, said target member compri:~ing a base: marnber, a main host extending upwardly from said ba:;e member, and four secondary hooks extending outwardly from said main pos;r, said main post and said secondary hooks each constituting n catching elemEnt such trot there a-c f~.ve catching elements, whereby said aerial projectile :s adapted to engage at least one of eaid main post and said secondary hooks.

[0012] Furtre:r in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a t~.oop tosr~ gee comprising a target member and at least one aerial projectile, said target member comprisi:~g a base member, a main post extending upwardly from said based menW er, and two hook units adapted to extend in cross-likc.~ fashion. about :,aid main post, eac'rr said hook unit having a pair of opposed secondary hooks, said hook uni ~s being :relatively displaceable one relative to the other such chat, for storage, said hook units can be positioned iri a generalJ.y side-by-side and substantially parallel relationship, aaid main post. 9nd said setonaary hooks each constifut.ing a catching elErneri:. such that there are five catching e'.~ements, whereby said aerial projectile is adapted to engage xt least cne of said main post and said secondary hooks.
HRIEF' DESCRIPTiGN Or' THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Further features and aciva~tages of the present invention will become apparent. from c..he following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

[0014] Fig. l is a perspective view of a hoop toss game according to a first er,~bodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Fig. 1A is a perspective view Cf d hoop toss g3.Tne according to a second ambodimfant of the present invention, which is provided wzth a vit~ration damper;

[0016] Figs. 2A to 2D <~.re elevational views of part of the hoop tcss game which illustrate some of the different possible posir_ions of L-ibration darnper(s) an the hoop toss game also in accordance with the present invention;

[0017] . Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are elevz~tional views of part of the hoop toss game which iLiustrate different shapes of vibration dampers;

[0018] Fig. 3A is a top Mail view showing the damper of Fig. 3;

[0019] Figs. 3H and 3C are top plan views showing variants of the dampe:~ of Fig. 3 ;

_ G~ -[0020] Fig. 4A is a top pla:~ view showing the damper of Fig. 4;

[0021] Figs. 4>j and 4C are tap plan ~riews showing variants of the damper of Fig. 4;

[0022] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a hoop toss game aCOOrding to a thiz'd en'bodimer,t of the present invention;

[0023] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hoop toss game of Fig. 7, but shown in a storage position thereof;

[0024] Fig. ° is an elevati~sn of tt~e hoop toss game of Fig. 8, that is is the storage position;

[0025] Fig. 10 is a f=ont elevation of the hoop toss game of Fig. 7, that is in a QamE3 position 'LhE.reof;

[0026] Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of the hoop toss game of Fig. 7, that is in a cdHme position t=hereof; and {042 Figs. 1z, 13 .~nc3 14 are respectively side elevation, top plan and bottom plan views of the hoop toss game of Fig. 7, that is in a gam~ position thereof.
[0028] It wi.Ll k~e noted tluat throughout. the appended drawings, like Features are identified by like reference nur«eral s, whE:ceas for variants of such f~3tures, suffixes such as "a", "b", "r:", etc. have been added to the reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIP'fION OF THE PR~F'ERkF;D EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring new specifically to r_he drawings, a hoop toss game U in accoLdance with the present invention includes a tarye~_ membe~ ?~7 and at .east one aerial projectile .2, which is p:reterably a ring or hoop. The target mernber 10 c'ornp= ices a main post. 14 anti a plurality of secondary hooks 16, and as anchPriag base member 1.8.
Reinforcement. braces 1' era provided between the main post.
14 and eac~ or the secondary hooky lti, at the elbows thereof. As seen for instance xn the variant game G' of Fig. 1A (knich also includes an aerial projectile 12, albeit not shc.~wn thereon) , any one cf. the post 14 or the hooks 16 of the target member 10a may gave a damping member 20 thereon; in Fia. 1A, damping members 2U are mounted on the post 14a ( i . a . between tree hooks 1; and the anchoring bane member 18) and at upper free ends of the post 14 and of each of the hooks 1n, noting that the damping member 20 mounted an the post 14a ti.e. between the hooks 16 aria the anchoring base member 18) Could be omitted.
[0030] The anchoring base member 18 includ~s for instance three prongs r1, a certr.~l ono of which being a downward extension of the main po~:t. .4, whi.~h are adapted to be forcibly introduced in the ground for securing the target member 10/10a in the ground. Other base members may be contemplated, such as a Large ant-t ta:avy base adapted to rest upon the ground, or any other suitable support surface, thereby allowing the game G/G' to be also used Pn hard surfaces, i.e. on surfaces which cannot be penetrated by the Illustrated anchorir-ig base member 12.
[0031] Still referrir_g to Figs . 1 or LA, i t i s the obj er.t Of the game to thx9w the tlPop 1;' in :~atnnPr to slip it onto a:. least one of the hooks 15 and of an upper end 19 of the post i4 of a hoop boss gave 1C/:.Oa positioned at a distance from the player throwing the hoop 12.

[8032] The hoop !-.oss game c3/c~' comprises, for instance, four (4) secondary nooks 16. The numt~er of points awarded for each ring that has engaged the target member 20/2oa may be higher iF the ring has engaged both tl~.e upper end 19 of the main post 14 and <3me of the secondary hooks 16, rather than just one of the rod and hooks 19 and 10. In such a case, the ring 12 has an inner diameter that is largex than exterior distance betweer: Ctae uppex erW 19 uI the main post 14 and any one of the secondary hooks 16, It is also possible to attribute difieren.t number of points for a ring 12 that has engaged only the upper end 1~ of the main post 14 versus ono that. has ongaged only one secondary hook 16.
(0033] Referring to Figs. ?R :0 2J, the damping member 20 may be positioned at var-ious locations on t.'tse t:.arget member lQa a~d may bo~ removsY~Ie th-.2rmfrorn Al~;o, there may be more than one such damping member 20 on the target member 10a.
For instance, the 3amping m~rmber 2G may be t-.ightly fixed or screwed on the : er_ondary hooks 26 and the upper end l~ of the main post 14. Ind<<ed, the secondary hooks 1E or the upper end 19 of the main rod 19 may be provided with damping members ?.~7 that: ran be secured or integrated at different elevat~.ons thereon. Nor instance, Fig. 2A shows one damping member 2U mounted at a middle portion of a vertical section 22 of the secondary hook 16, Fig. 2>3 shows one damping member 20 mounted at an upper end of the vertic:~ri. sec:t_i«ra ?;? of the secondary h~>o3c 1.6. Fig. 2C shows ane damping member 20 mounted at a free end of the upper end Z9 0~ the rnair. past 14. Finally Fig. 2la shows two damping members :?G mounted at a middle portion of a horizontal section 24 vZ the secondary hook 16.

-[0034] Fiqs . 3 to E i'.:lustrate various shapes that can be adopted by the vibr~iti.~n damper 20, although other shapes can also be co:~template:~-t- The damping member 20 may be, fox example, spherical, cubical, triangu-~.ar, or dW c-shaped.
It may also be and~r form of a bulge, a thickening, a swelling pare or a pror.uberant: part of the secondary hooks 16 or of the upper end '19 of the main post 14. The vibration dampers have the advantage of significantly reducing vibrations i~ the secondary hooks 16 or in the upper end 19 of t:h« main port 14 when the ring 12 hits these components and t!~us reduce the possibility that the ring 1?. disengages fron one of the secondary hooks 16 or from the upper end 19 of the main post 14 because of vibrations. in other words, a well-throvrri ring 12, that is a ring 12 thnt has enraged ar_ its central opening 26 at least one of t:he ~e.:ondary hooks 16 and the upper end 19, has less chances of bouncing off the target member 10110a as a result of v~.brations in;parted to the target member 10/10a by the impact between it anti the ring 12. The damper, when defining an enlargement of the secondary hooks 16 or of the uppor end 19 of t?1~s main post I9, also acts as an obstruction 5tvp that prevents a ring 12 thrown therebelow Eton easily boun~=ing off the target member 1C120a.
[0036] Figs. 7 to 14 show a further variant game G", Wherein the target memk~er lOb is provided with two L3-shaped hook units 3U amt 31, c:,a ch including too~ opposite hocks 16b that are integrally joined at the inner ends of the horizontal se~t.ions ~~1 thereof by a curved connecting portoo=a 34 (for the hook unit 30) and 36 tfor the hook unit 31) . The curved connecting Portion 34 of the hook unit 30 is located above the curved connecting portion 36 of the _ ~a _ hook unit 31. The curved connecting por:.ir~T~ 3~ is welded to the post 14b, whereas the curved connecting portion 34 is welded to a sleeve 32 of the hook unit 30. 'ihe sleeve 32 is sliddbly erigdged dnound the post 1GJ=~. As the lower hook unit 31 is fixed ee the po;~t 14b, tYl~~ sleeve 32, and thus the upper hook unit 30 sits by gravity onto the lower hook unit 31,. and, mote particul,3rly, ttwJ sleeve 32 and the curvod connecting porL_on :j4 c!I_ the upper nook unit 30 a-a supported by t=he ou:rve~i ronnect.ind pOx'ti.On 36 of the lower hook unit 31.
i!0436] the sleeve 32 includes an upper cylindrical member 38 and a downwardly projecting locking member 40 than is in the form of an arcuate extension of pare of the side wall of r_he upper r-ylindric.~1 mf~cnbE~r 38, as best seen in figs. 8 and 12. In Figs. I and 10 to 14, the target member lOb is shown in an operational, or game, position thereof, that is with its two U-shaped hook units 30 and 31 extending at right angles to each utr~r~r thereby forming a cross-shaped outer target (as in the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 1A).
(0037] Furthermore, the target member lOb of game G" can be displaced to a storage position (see Fiys. 8 a_nd 9), wherein the t.wn U-:,h,~pE~<i hook unit: 30 and 31 extend gF~nerally in a parallel and side-by-side rFelationahip. More particularly, ir_ the gama position, the upper (displaceable; hook u;iir 30 is positioned so that the Locking member 40 ext~~nds opposite the curved connecting portion 36 of the ''~owsr hook unit 31, with the post 14B
extending central~.y thereo:. In this configuration, the upper hook unvt. .10 E:.xr.eneis at r:yht ,~zglr~s to the lower hock ur:it 31 and cannot. he .--or.at.Pd with re~pert t_here~o as opposite vert.ioal edg~_s of tY:e loekinJ member 40 are - 1 i) r.
Limited by the ends of the curved connecting portion 36 of the lower hook ur.i e. 31 .
[0038] To displace the target member lOb to the storage position, the upper hock unit 3ti is raised, via the sliding encagement of t:nc~ s1 eewe 32 along the main po~Nt 14b, until the lower end of the locking member 40 is above the curved cor_necting portLUn 36 c~f the lower hook t.nit 31. Then, the uppex hpok :rnit: 30 can be rotated, almost 9G°, about the mai~. post 19b and reJ.ative~ t.o the lower hook unit 31, until the upper and lower hook units are side-by-aide as seen in Figs. 8 and 9. In this position, the upper hook unit 30 rests, via gravity, on the lower hook uni;~ 31 and, more particularly, the lower end of the locking meter 40 of the uppex hook unit 30 vita atop the Curved connecting portion 3~ of the fixed lowE~r hook. unLt 31. in this storage position, the target. mf~mber 1Db _is muc:h more compact, e.g.
to carry in a bag, as it is much more ~.~~ro-dime:rsional.
[0039] Also, the tar3et snember 7,0b of Figs. '7 to 14 has a slightly different anchoring base member 1Sb in that the central prong 21b is loncter than the two side prongs 21b, with the lower ends of <-r~ 1 three yronc~_~ 21ri being beveled for easier insertion or the target mextir~ex 1Ub in the ground.
[0040] Scoring in she game G/G~/G" can be achieved in a variet-.y of ways. F'o~ ~xarnpl~~, po:inc.:: sari be obtained by throwing the ri:lg member 12 so that it engages one of the secondary hooks 16116b. Other points can be scored by catching the c i og 1 > on one of the seconnary hooks 16 i lib and the upper end 1.9 of th<: :nr~in post 14/14d/14b.

[0041] Therefore, by reducing signifx~:antly the vibrations in the secondary hooks 16116b and in the upper end 19 of the main poet 14114n/1~1b, the_~~ is eliminated, or at '_east reduced, failures resulting ~rom an engagod ring bouncing off the target member 10i10a/lOb, whe:rt~by the hoop toss game G/G' /G° of th.: p:cesent irisrention allots for challeriging the tzue talent of players.

Claims

1. A hoop toss game comprising a target member and at least one aerial projectile, said target member including at least one projecting catching element and a vibration damper provided on said catching element.

2. The hoop toss game of claim 1, whereon said aerial projectile is a ring.

3. The hoop toss game of claim 1, wherein said target member comprises a base member, a main post extending upwardly from said base member, and at least one secondary hook, said main post and said secondary hook each constituting a catching element, whereby said aerial projectile is adapted to engage at least one of said main post and said secondary hook.

4. The hoop toss game of claim 1, wherein said vibration damper defines an enlargement with respect to said catching element.

5. The hoop toss game of claim 3, wherein one said vibration damper is provided on said main post and said secondary hook.

6. The hoop toss game of claim 5, wherein said vibration dampers are provided at upper free ends of said main post and of said secondary hook.

7. The hoop toss game of claim 1, wherein there are provided four said secondary hooks extending outwardly from said main post, whereby there are five catching elements.

8. The hoop toss game of claim 7, wherein said secondary hooks extend in diametrically opposed pairs from said main post.

9. A hoop toss gamed comprising a target member and at least one aerial projectile, said target member comprising a base member a mail post extending upwardly from said base member, and four secondary hooks extending outwardly from said main post, sail main post and said secondary hooks each constituting a catching element such that there are five catching elements, whereby said aerial projectile is adapted to engage at least one of said main post and said secondary hooks.

10. The hoop toss game of claim 9, wherein said aerial projectile is a ring.

11. The hoop toss game of claim 9, wherein a vibration damper is provided on each of said secondary hooks.

12. The hoop toss game of claim 11, wherein said vibration damper defines an enlargement with respect to said secondary hook.

13. The hoop toss game of claim 9, wherein a vibration damper is provided on said main post.

14. The hoop toss game of claim 13, wherein said vibration damper defines an enlargement with respect to said secondary hook.

15. The hoop toss game of claim 9, wherein a vibration damper is provided at upper free ends of each of said main post and said secondary hooks.

16. The hoop toss game of claim 9, wherein said secondary hooks extend in diametrically opposed pairs from said main post.

17. A hoop toss game comprising a target member and at least one aerial projectile, said target member comprising a base member, a main post extending upwardly from said base member, and two hook units adapted to extend in cross-like fashion about said main post, each said hook unit having a pair of opposed secondary hooks, said hook units being relatively displaceable one relative to the other such that, for storage, said hook units can be positioned in a generally side-by-side and substantially parallel relationship, said main post and said secondary hooks each constituting a catching element such that there are five catching elements, whereby said aerial projectile is adapted to engage at least one of said main post and said secondary hooks.

18. The hoop toss game of claim 17, wherein said aerial projectile is a ring.

19. The hoop toss game cf claim 17, wherein a first one of said hook units is fixedly mounted to said main post, whereas a second one of said hook units is displaceable along said main post for moving said target member between a game position and a storage position.

20. The hoop toss game of claim 19, wherein said second hook unit is displaceable between lower and upper positions, wherein in said lower position a locking member of said second hoop unit engages said first second hook unit with said first and second hook units being in said cross-like fashion and said target member being in said game position, and wherein in said upper position said locking member is released thereby allowing said first hook unit to be rotated relative to said main post and to said second hook unit and allowing said target member to assume said storage position.