GAME BOARD ASSEMBLY MADE OF COMPOSITE CORN BOARDS

Abstract

A bag toss game platform easy to assemble and store is disclosed. Traditional bag toss game platforms are two pre-assembled boxes taking up to 48 inches by 24 inches by 15 inches in total and cannot be dissembled by players after use. But the platforms described herein take (for two sets), in certain embodiments, no more than 48 inches by 13 inches by 3.5 inches (i.e., about of the traditional volume) and can easily be assembled for gameplay and disassembled after use. The platform may include a top surface, at least two side supports, and at least two cross bars connecting the at least two side supports. Because cross lap joints between the side supports and cross bars, and groove joints between the top surface and the side supports and cross bars may be used, the platform is easily assembled for use and disassembled for transportation and storage.

Claims

1. A structural assembly for use in a bag toss game, the assembly comprising: at least two side supports having a lower end and an upper end; a first cross bar connecting the at least two side supports nearer the lower ends than the upper ends; a second cross bar connecting the at least two side supports nearer the upper ends than the lower ends, wherein the at least two side supports have pre-cut slots for receiving the first and the second cross bars such that the connections between the first and second cross bars and the at least two side supports are at least partially achieved using friction; and a top surface positioned above the at least two side supports and the first and second cross bars.

2. The structural assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third cross bar positioned between the first and the second cross bars and connecting the side supports, wherein the at least two side supports have pre-cut slots for receiving the third cross bar for a press-fit connection.

3. The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein the top surface further comprises an opening formed therein for receiving a bag in a bag toss gameplay and a slot pattern for affixing to the at least two side supports and the first and the second cross bars.

4. The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein a distance between the lower end and the upper end of each of the at least two side supports is less than or about the length of the top surface such that the top surface aligns with the at least two side supports when positioned thereon.

5. The structural assembly of claim 4, wherein the top surface is press-fitted onto the at least two side supports and the first and the second cross bars.

6. The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two side supports, the first and the second cross bars, and the top surface are made of composite corn boards manufactured from a mixture of corn byproducts and a binding material, wherein the mixture is compressed to form boards of a desired thicknesses.

7. The structural assembly of claim 6, wherein the corn byproducts are corn husks and the binding material is an epoxy resin.

8. The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two side supports further comprise an extended leg at each of the lower and the upper ends.

9. The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein the top surface further comprises a left half piece and a right half piece that may be assembled during use and disassembled during storage.

10. The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two side supports, the first and the second cross bars, and the top surface may be disassembled for storage and transportation.

11. The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein two sets of the at least two side supports, the first and the second cross bars, and the top surface are packaged into a box no greater than 48 inches in length, 13 inches in width, and 3.5 inches in height before assembly or during storage.

12. A bag toss game platform comprising: an inclined top surface positioned above at least two side supports, each side support having a lower end and an upper end; a first cross bar connecting the at least two side supports; and a second cross bar connecting the at least two side supports; and wherein the first cross bar and the second cross bar are removably connected between the upper ends and the lower ends of the at least two side supports.

13. The bag toss game platform of claim 12, wherein the inclined top surface further comprises a slot pattern for coupling to the at least two side supports and the first and the second cross bars, and an opening formed therein for receiving a bag during a bag toss gameplay.

14. The bag toss game platform of claim 12, further comprising a third cross bar positioned between the first and the second cross bars and removably connected to the at least two side supports.

15. The bag toss game platform of claim 14, wherein the inclined top surface, the at least two side supports, and the first, the second, and the third cross bar are made of composite corn boards manufactured from a mixture of corn byproducts and a binding material, wherein the mixture is compressed to form boards of desired thicknesses.

16. The bag toss game platform of claim 15, wherein the byproducts are corn husks and the binding material is an epoxy resin.

17. The bag toss game platform of claim 12, wherein two sets of the at least two side supports, the first and the second cross bars, and the top surface are packaged into a box no greater than 48 inches in length, 13 inches in width, and 3.5 inches in height before assembly or during storage.

18. The bag toss game platform of claim 12, wherein the first and the second cross bars are positioned between the at least two side supports at an angle to one another.

19. The bag toss game platform of claim 12, wherein the first and the second cross bars are positioned between the at least two side supports in a diagonal relation.

20. The bag toss game platform of claim 12, wherein the first and the second cross bars are positioned between the at least two side supports such that the first and the second cross bars are positioned at an angle to one another.

21. A method for producing a bag toss game platform, the method comprising producing a composite board using a mixture of byproducts of corn production and a binding material, the composite board having a standard thickness; cutting, out of the composite board, at least two side supports each having a lower end and an upper end, wherein each of the side support includes a cut slot near the lower end and a cut slot near the upper end, the cut slots having a width configured to receive the standard thickness; cutting, out of the composite board, a top surface having a left half piece, a right half piece, and a hole for receiving a bag during a bag toss gameplay; cutting, out of the composite board, a plurality of cross bar components to be used as a first cross bar and a second cross bar; and wherein the at least two side supports are to be connected using the first and the second cross bar pressed into the cut slots at the lower ends and the upper ends to form a frame for supporting the top surface, and wherein the top surface has a slot pattern for coupling to the frame by press fit.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising packaging two sets of the top surface, the at least two side supports, and the first and the second cross bars into a package no greater than 48 inches in length, 13 inches in width and 3.5 inches in height.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising cutting an additional cut slot between the lower end and the upper end in each of the at least two side supports; and wherein a third cross bar of the plurality of the cross bar components connects the at least two side slots at the additional cut slots for reinforcing the top surface during gameplay.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structural assembly for use in bag toss games;

[0026] FIG. 2A is a bottom view of a first embodiment of the top surface of the structural assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 2B is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of the top surface of the structural assembly shown in FIG. 1

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the side supports and cross-bars shown in FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a side view of the side supports and cross-bars shown in FIG. 3;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of stacking two sets of side supports onto one another in preparation of packaging or storage;

[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of stacking two sets of structural assemblies for packaging or storage; and

[0032] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for making the structural assembly for use in bag toss games according to FIG. 1.

[0033] Like elements are labeled using like numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] This disclosure presents a set of easy-to-assemble-and-store platforms for use in bag toss games. Traditional bag toss games game platforms are two pre-assembled boxes taking up to 48 inches by 24 inches by 15 inches in total and cannot be dissembled by players after use. The cumbersome volume discourages many tailgate or camping trips when luggage spaces were insufficient for the bulky boxes. The platforms described herein, in certain embodiments, take (for two sets) no more than 48 inches by 13 inches by 3.5 inches (i.e., about of the traditional volume) and can easily be assembled for gameplay and disassembled after use and provided in a convenient carrier or bag for ease of transport. Other sizes and configurations are also covered by this disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structural assembly 100 for use as the platforms in bag toss games. The structural assembly 100 includes a top surface 110, a pair of side supports 120, and a number of cross bars 130. The top surface 110 is inclined to receive bags thrown by players during gameplay. The inclined angle is determined by the geometry of the side supports 120. Different embodiments of the top surface 110 are illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0036] FIG. 2A is a bottom view of a first embodiment of the top surface 110. The top surface 110 further includes a first half piece 110a and a second half piece 110b. The first and the second half pieces 110a and 110b are assembled during use and disassembled during storage. For a dado joint or a groove joint, a slot pattern 150 is made in the top surface 110 for coupling to the side supports 120 and the cross bars 130. For example, the slot pattern 150 has a width of the thickness of the side supports 120 and the cross bars 130. When assembled, the first half piece 110a and the second half piece 110b will be press-fitted to the side supports 120 and the cross bars 130 at the slot pattern 150. Other joints, not expressly shown herein, may also be used. Further, although two pieces are illustrated in FIG. 2A, other embodiments may include a different number of pieces.

[0037] FIG. 2B is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of the top surface 110, which is a single piece. In this embodiment, the top surface 110 also includes a slot pattern 150 for affixing to the side supports 120 and the cross bars 130. This embodiment allows the overall packaging to be of a thinner but wider configuration than the alternative embodiment of FIG. 2A.

[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, they respectively are a perspective view and a side view of the side supports 120 and cross-bars 130 shown in FIG. 1. Each side support 120 has a lower end 122 and an upper end 124. Each side support further includes various slots such as, in the one embodiment shown, a first slot 152 at the lower end 122 and a second slot 154 at the upper end 124. The first slot 152 is created for a cross lap joint with a first slot 151 in a first cross bar 134 that connects the side supports 120 at the lower ends 122 at a distance specified by the slot pattern 150 of the top surface 110. Similarly, the second slot 154 is created for a cross lap joint with a second slot 153 in a second cross bar 130 that connects the side supports 120 at the upper ends 124. In some instances, the side supports 120 further includes an extended leg 142 at the lower end 122 and an extended leg 144 at the upper end 124. The extended legs 142 and 144 provide a ground clearance for better positioning the structural assembly 100 on lawn or beach surfaces. In other embodiments, the slots may be configured only on certain members, and may be oriented or shaped with other configurations.

[0039] The slots 151 and 152, in the embodiment shown, have a total depth less than the width of the first cross bar 134 such that the cross lap of the first cross bar 134 protrudes slightly over the inclined side of the side supports 120, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Similarly, the slots 153 and 154 may have a total depth less than the width of the second cross bar 130. When the top surface 110 is press-fitted onto the frame formed from the side supports 120 and the first and the second cross bars 134 and 130, the first and the second cross bars 134 and 130 frictionally engage with slot pattern 150 at a greater depth than the depth engaged by the side supports 120. A distance between the lower end 122 and the upper end 124 of each of the side supports 120 equals to a length of the top surface 110 such that the top surface 110 aligns with the side supports when placed thereon.

[0040] In some embodiments, each side support 120 further includes a slot 156 positioned in about middle position between the slots 152 and 154. The slot 156 forms a cross lap joint with a third slot 155 of a third cross bar 132 to reinforce the top surface 110 as optional back support. Unlike the slot pairs 151 and 152, and 153 and 154, the slot pair 155 and 156 has a total depth greater than the width of the third cross bar 132 such that the cross bar 132 is below the top surface 110 and does not interfere with the slot pattern 150 to form the groove joint with the side supports 120 and the first and the second cross bars 134 and 130. In other embodiments, the slot depth may be less than, greater than, or equal to the width of the associated cross bar.

[0041] In some embodiments, the side supports 120, the first and the second cross bars 134 and 130, and the top surface 110 are made of composite corn boards manufactured from a mixture of corn byproducts and a binding material. The mixture is compressed to form a board of a standard or desired thickness that is the same as the width of the slot pattern 150 and the slots 151-156. In some instances, the byproducts include corn husks and the binding material is an epoxy resin.

[0042] Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of stacking two sets of side supports 120 in preparation of packaging or storage; and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of stacking two sets of structural assemblies 100 for packaging or storage. A bag toss games gameplay often includes two teams competing for scores so two sets of the structural assemblies 100 are often packaged together. However, a single set may also be individually packaged or sold standalone. For example, when only one set is packaged, the illustration in FIG. 5 may include one layer of the side supports instead of two. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when packaged, the two sets of the side supports 120, the cross bars 130, 132, and 134, and the top surface pieces 110a and 110b are packaged into a box no greater than 48 inches in length 166, 13 inches in width 164, and 3.5 inches in height 162. Such packaging configuration substantially reduces the space requirement for storing or transporting two sets of the bag toss games game platforms needed for gameplay.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a flowchart 700 illustrating a method for making the structural assembly 100 for use in bag toss games according to FIG. 1. At block 710, a composite board is produced from a mixture of byproduct of corn production and a binding material. In some instances, the byproduct includes corn husks and the binding material is an epoxy resin. The mixture is subject to a planar pressure that may either be constant or in variance for reducing gases trapped therein. The mixture is formed at a standard thickness after fully cured.

[0044] At 720, a pair of side supports is cut out from the cured composite board. Each of the side supports forms a trapezoidal shape in general and includes a lower end and an upper end. Two or three cross lap joint slots are further cut on the inclined side between the lower end and the upper end. In some embodiments, the side supports further includes extended legs near the lower end and upper end for raising the structural assembly above the ground.

[0045] At 730, a top surface is cut out from the composite board. In a preferred embodiment, the top surface is further separated into two left-and-right half pieces for packaging advantages. However, it is optional for the top surface to be one whole piece or two half-pieces. A hole is cut in the top surface as the hole for receiving corn, bean, or other filled bags or projectiles during gameplay. In the backside of the top surface, a slot pattern is cut for providing a groove joint for later press-fitting with other components.

[0046] At 740, a number of cross bar components are cut out. These cross bar components may be identical in shape and interchangeable during assembly. In some embodiments, each structural assembly includes at least two cross bar components. A first cross bar component connects the side supports near the lower ends and a second cross bar component connects the side support near the upper ends. The first cross bar component includes corresponding cut slots for engaging with the slots in the side supports to form cross laps. Similarly, a second cross bar component includes corresponding cut slots for engaging with the slots in the side supports to form cross laps. In some embodiments, a third cross bar component may connect the side supports in a similar manner in the middle between the first and the second cross bar components for additional support for the top surface. The top surface is press-fitted to the side supports and the first and the second cross bar components at its slot pattern, which may vary depending on how the cross bars are positioned, for a groove joint.

[0047] At 750, the side supports, the top surface (two half-pieces), and the cross bar components are packaged into a box no greater than 48 inches in length, 13 inches in width, and 3.5 inches in height before assembly or during storage. Although a pair of side supports has been mentioned herein, it should be understood that in other embodiments, two or more side supports may be used instead. Such side supports and/or cross bar components may be parallel or angled with respect to one another.

[0048] Other implementations are possible. For example, the structural assembly may be pre-assembled and sold in a final assembled form. Adhesive or fasteners may further be used to prevent further disassembly, or to couple or connect components.