Yard game apparatus and method

Abstract

A tossing game and method for throwing a plurality of bola-type projectiles at a target is described. The bola-type projectiles are preferably a pair of golf balls interconnected with a prescribed length of flexible rope. The target includes a rectangular base with a plurality of vertically-stacked tiers, each of which has two vertical supports and a horizontal target member that is horizontally smaller than the horizontal target member of the tier therebelow, creating a “wedding cake” profile. The bolas, when tossed correctly at the target, strike and wrap around a horizontal target member of the tiers, and thereby score a point value assigned to the horizontal target member. The top tier is assigned the highest point value. The middle tier is assigned a lower point value, and the horizontal target member of the bottom tier a lower point value still. Optionally, for bolas that land completely within the boundaries of the rectangular base, a still lower point value may be scored. The players are grouped into two teams of one or more players each, and each team is provided with a plurality of bolas of a distinct color. Each team takes turns tossing all of its bolas towards the target, and when all bolas have been tossed for both teams each team's score is calculated. In this manner, play continues until either team exactly reaches a predetermined winning point total. During a turn, if a team tosses all of its bolas and the resulting score exceeds the winning score, that team's tosses on that turn are ignored.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to outdoor yard games and, more particularly, to a bola-type projectile tossing game and target and method of playing same. DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART [0002] Outdoor games with a target and a throwing bola are well known in the prior art. A throwing bola is a pair of weighted elements such as balls or bean bags connected with a rope or other flexible element. In such games a participant stands a predetermined distance away from the target and, while holding one of the weighted elements of the bola, tosses the bola by swinging the other weighted element in the direction of the target. Such an action typically imparts a vertical spinning motion to the bola which, when striking a horizontal element of the target, causes the weighted elements and rope to wrap around the horizontal element of the target. Bola-type games are popular partly due to the high probability of the bola wrapping around the target successfully, e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The present invention, as described, is both highly entertaining and yet challenging for both very young and older players. The game is easily broken-down by manually pulling the PVC pipe lengths out of the various connectors so that all of the components may be held within a nylon draw-string bag, or the like, and easily transported or stowed. The allowance for a point award for bolas that do not engage the target, but rather land on the ground within a rectangular “base hit” target range provides additional enjoyment for both younger players who may not be able to throw the bola onto a horizontal target member, and also older players who use the “base hit” scoring to approach the winning point total with more accuracy. Such an improvement is not possible with bola-type throwing game target designs of the prior art. Still further, the present game rewards both vertical and horizontal accuracy in bola tossing, which also is not found in the prior art except with dart-type target games, which are typically unsuitable for use by younger players. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

Problems solved by technology

While such a target is more entertaining and challenging than a simple linear target member, it does have the drawback of having only one horizontal cumulative length of target zone for the engagement of the projected bolas.

As a result, such a target is often too challenging, in that multiple throwing attempts may be required for securing the engagement of a bola to the target.

Further, such a target is necessarily comprised of a single length of bent metal rod or tubing, which is relatively expensive to form, and which must be formed for insertion into the ground in order to stand upright.

As such, upon removal, dirt or mud is often attached to the target and can cause inconvenience when placing the target into a vehicle or other area where dirt or mud are undesirable.

Such a device further has the drawback of being relatively expensive to manufacture, and the angled side supports tend to disadvantageously deflect the hurled bolas, preventing them from engaging the horizontal targets.

Such a game, while inexpensive to manufacture, only provides provision for vertical accuracy, and does not include any provision for horizontal accuracy in throwing such as does the Welbourn prior art.

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