SCOOP AND BALL TOSS TO BUCKET GAME

Abstract

A game and its components are disclosed which comprises, in one embodiment, one or more buckets for arranging on a playing surface, and scoops for receiving a malleable ball wherein players may toss the malleable balls or at the bucket in an effort to score points. Also disclosed are various methods for playing the game. The preferred arrangement of components of the invention includes two buckets that may stand alone or equidistant from the other bucket and opposite each player (or, if the players are more numerous than two-opposite each team of players), two identical malleable spherical balls which are shaped and sized such that the balls form a friction fit with two equally sized identical scoops, and two scoops for tossing the aforementioned balls into the bucket. The scoops can be used for catching and throwing without the buckets.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising: a. one or more scoops, each scoop including a handle and a rounded protrusion extending outward from the handle; b. a bucket for receiving balls tossed using the one or more scoops, the bucket further comprising a fixed or detachable backboard to stop balls; c. a raised backboard to stop balls; d. wherein the raised backboard may have a decline to allow for the balls to bounce straight up in the air after hitting the backboard. e. one or more malleable spherical balls sized and shaped to fit within the rounded protrusion of the scoop; f. wherein the rounded protrusion of the scoop is configured to friction fit with the malleable spherical balls; g. wherein the one or more scoops are also usable as stand-alone equipment for playing toss and catch games.

2. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more scoops are made of a hard or semi-hard material, selected from the group consisting of but not limited to plastic, leather and rubber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the extended handle and rounded protrusion of the one or more scoops are identically shaped and sized, and the scoop apparatus can be used as a stand-alone or used in games like cricket, baseball, lacrosse, but not limited to, as a throwing object using suction lock and release mechanism.

4. A method of playing a game, comprising the steps of: a. providing a game apparatus comprising one or more scoops, a bucket, and one or more malleable spherical balls; b. tossing the malleable spherical balls at or into the bucket using the one or more scoops; c. evaluating the tosses based on predetermined criteria to determine the score of each toss; d. continuing the game until a predetermined number of team turns or points are reached, declaring a winner based on the higher score.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined criteria for evaluating the tosses include: a. the ball bouncing or rolling and hitting the bucket, worth one point; b. the ball hitting the bucket without first touching the ground or other objects, worth two points; c. the ball landing inside the bucket without being obstructed or redirected by other objects, automatically winning the game; d. deducting points from the opposing team's score if they catch the tossed balls with the scoop after they hit the bucket.

6. A game kit comprising: a. targets or buckets; b. Scoop-like tossing mechanism; c. One or more malleable spherical balls; d. for use in a versus game with multiple players forming teams of equal number, each team using both buckets, scoops, and balls.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Some of the illustrations are used as an example and are not limited to the drawings. Like references may indicate different elements.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a realistic depiction of the scoops without the balls inserted into the scoops showing the details of the bucket.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a picture of the scoops with balls inserted into the scoops showing the details of the bucket.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a realistic depiction of the ball inserted into the scoop ready for tossing.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a realistic depiction of the ball inserted into the scoop showing the friction fitment overcoming the force of gravity and holding the ball within the scoop.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a realistic depiction of the ball inserted into the scoop ready for tossing which shows the friction fitment of the ball into the scoop.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a front view of the bucket showing the rim and backboard.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a side view focusing on the backboard and decline to allow the ball to bounce straight up in the air.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Various representations are shown throughout the figures hereinafter to help describe the invention. These figures are to be used to satisfy the legal applicable process but should not be interpreted as limited. The embodiments to the invention illustrated by the figures and descriptions should not be taken as limited.

[0023] All fundamental terminology and examples in this documentation should be considered basic so all parties can understand the references, materials and concepts. Any internal or external functions to the accessory device or attachments associated with the attachment system are not limited to the components shown in the drawings or descriptions.

[0024] The invention will now be described by the drawing and labels in the figures. The present invention includes one or more buckets 6 shown in FIG. 4. The buckets may be any shape or size. In preferred embodiments the disclosed ball tossing game is played with an apparatus consisting of one bucket 6 at a specific distance from a player (not shown) or a plurality of identical buckets 6 that stand equidistant from each player or team of players and opposite the other player or team of players. The buckets 6 may have a top with a smaller aperture affixed to them which may be used to increase the difficulty of the game. The buckets 6 are stackable and may be circular or square (depending on style of bucket) with a backboard or arc 7 shown in FIG. 4 that goes above the circular or square rim 9 in FIG. 5 and which when used in conjunction help slow, stop, or block the ball from going overtop of the bucket 6 so as to score points making the game more competitive and playable for all age levels. The bucket 6 can hold 3.5-5 gal but not limited to and is lightweight for portability. In one embodiment the bucket 6 may be filled with liquid and or aggregate (such as sand or dirt) so as to stabilize the bucket for gameplay 6 and make scoring points with the ball(s) 4 in FIG. 2 easier. The bucket may have a raised backboard 6 to stop balls; wherein the raised backboard may have a decline 8 shown in FIG. 5 to allow for the balls to bounce straight up in the air after hitting the backboard.

[0025] The present invention also includes one or more scoops 3 shown in FIG. 1. In preferred embodiments the scoops 3 are identically shaped and sized scoops 3 that are used to toss balls 4 shown in FIG. 2. into the bucket 6 in FIG. 4. Further, in preferred embodiments, the scoop(s) 3 may be made of any hard or semi-hard material (like plastic, metal, rubber, etc). The scoop(s) are comprised of a handle 2 shown in FIG. 1 and a rounded protrusion 3 extending outward from the scoop(s) 3 handle 2. The scoop(s) 3 are of such a shape and size that the rounded shovel-like protrusion 3 opposite of the handle 2 of the scoop(s) 3 may be used to fill the bucket 6 with liquid and or aggregate. The scoop(s) 3 may also be used to retrieve the balls 4 from the surface upon which the balls 5 are resting or from the bucket 6 as a result of the friction coupling that takes place between the scoop(s) 3 and the balls 4. The main purpose of the scoop(s) 1, however, is to be friction coupled with the balls 4 and used by the player(s) to toss the balls 4 at or into the bucket 6 thereby scoring points. The scoop(s) 3 are held in the hand of the player(s) and by using a flinging motionwhereby the player strokes their scoop 3 containing the ball 4 from the rear of their body forwardlythe ball's 4 weight overcomes the friction coupling with the scoop 3 and the ball 4 is forced toward the bucket 6. The scoop(s) 3 and balls 4 may also be used as a fidget so as to entertain the players and or create a distraction for other players while a player waits for their turn to toss during a game or otherwise.

[0026] The present invention also includes one or more malleable spherical balls 4 which are sized and shaped so as to create a friction fit within the scoop's 3 rounded protrusion 3. The balls 4 may be constructed of any suitable material such as plastic or rubber and may be filled with malleable aggregate and or air (with differing volumes of malleable aggregate and or air so as to change the friction coefficient of the balls 4 with the scoop's 3 rounded protrusion 3 and increasing or decreasing the force needed to toss the balls 4).

[0027] The game can be played outdoors or indoors in an area with sufficient space and may be played as a practice game with one player using only one bucket, as a one-versus-one game using both buckets, or as a versus game with multiple players who generally would form teams which are equal in number (generally 2 versus 2) using both buckets 6 and potentially more than the two scoops 3 which are included in the game kit. The aforementioned balls 4 are tossed at the bucket 6 by players using scoop(s) 3. In the preferred embodiment each player's toss would be evaluated based on whether the ball 4: 1) bounced or rolled and hit the bucketbeing worth one point; 2) hit the bucket without first touching the ground or objects which are not the bucketbeing worth 2 points; or 3) landed inside the bucket whether the ball bounced first or landed in the bucket without first being obstructed by and/or redirected by objects which are not the bucketin which case the player who made the toss (or their team) would automatically win the game. Both teams are actively engaged in play at all times. The game is played until the completion of a predetermined number of team turns, or a predetermined number of points (usually between 11 and 21 points) are scored and a winner is declared as the team with the higher score.

[0028] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently foreseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Listing the steps of a manufacturing, clasping, and or loading method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method. Accordingly, the embodiment of the invention set forth above is intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is intended to embrace all known or earlier developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents.

[0029] In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as equidistant, forward, rear, up, down, top and bottom as well as derivative thereof (e.g., downwardly. upwardly. etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that any apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as attached, connected, coupled. interconnected, and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures and or components are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

[0030] This disclosure describes the best mode or modes of practicing and or playing the game as presently contemplated. This description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but provides an example of the invention presented solely for illustrative purposes by reference to the accompanying drawings to advise one of ordinary skill in the art of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.