Game apparatus and method

Abstract

A game apparatus and method known as “Ring Rackerz™,” made up of a set of components including stiffy, pegs, and rings that provide a competitive and entertaining game. The game involves tossing rings with the aim of landing them on various components to score points. Also described are rules, scoring mechanisms, and structures of novel objects in the game apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0001] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of the racker unit.

[0002] FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing showing a ring being tossed towards a racker unit carrying out the method of the present invention.ReferenceNumberDescription100Racker unit101Metal backbone102Middle Rack 4-way fitting103Elbow fitting104Peg (short peg)105Bottom rack 5-way fitting106Leg107Leg cap108Top rack 5-way fitting, two 45° and one 90° fitting109Peg cap200RingDESCRIPTION

[0003] The game apparatus comprises two racker units, each equipped with two metal backbone pieces (hereinafter referred to as “racks”) and six to ten short metal pegs (hereinafter referred to as “pegs”). The pegs include an essentially vertical top peg, and several other pegs attached to the racker unit at three different heights, namely, a middle height and a bottom height. There can be 2, 3 or 4 pegs independently selected at each of the the different heights.

[0004] Each racker unit includes legs to position the racker unit above the ground and at the desired angle of inclination for game play. The legs have sufficient weight to maintain the racker unit upright during game play with rings on the pegs and during impact of the rings with the racker unit. There are preferably four legs each positioned at a 90 degree angle to the backbone and also at 90 degree angles relative to the two adjacent legs.

[0005] Additionally, the game includes a set of rings (hereinafter referred to as “rings”) intended for tossing during gameplay. The rings are preferably made from a metal such as steel, aluminum or iron or metal alloys.Rules1. Rack Placement: Position the two racker units about 20 feet apart, pointing towards each other.

[0007] 2. Team Setup: Form two opposing teams (Team A and Team B), each team having a player stationed at one of the Rackerz units.

[0008] 3. Tossers and Turns: Teams alternate throwing three rings from their designated racker to the other racker, starting with the team in the lead. Each team is entitled to the same total number of throws. A turn comprises each team throwing three rings.

[0009] 4. Scoring: Points are awarded based on the landing position of the rings, including 7 points for the top peg, 5 points for middle pegs, 3 points for bottom pegs, and 1 point for quadrants formed by the legs of the racker.

[0010] 5. Game End: The game concludes when a team reaches 21 points. The winner is the first team to read 21 points or the team that has the highest score if both teams exceed 21 points. In one version, all three rings are thrown by both teams in the final throwing round even if 21 points is reached before all six rings are thrown. In another version, once 21 points is reached there are no more throws except that if the first tosser of the round reaches 21 points with a particular throw, the second tosser is entitled to one more throw so that both teams have had the same number of throws at game's end.Alternate Rules1. Rack Placement: Position a single Rackerz unit (a Racker) 20 feet away from the throwing position pointing towards the active player (tosser).

[0012] 2. Team Setup: Form two opposing teams (Team A and Team B) with all of the players at least 6 feet behind the tosser.

[0013] 3. Tossers and Turns: Teams alternate tossing three Rings from the chosen tossing point

[0014] 4. Scoring: Points are awarded based on the landing position of the rings, including 7 points for the top peg, 5 points for middle pegs, 3 points for bottom pegs, and 1 point for quadrants formed by the racker legs.

[0015] 5. Game End: The game concludes in the same way as described above.

[0016] In another variation, the game ends immediately when a throw causes the team to have or exceed 21 points.Scoring Mechanisms1. Top Peg: 7 points

[0018] 2. Middle Pegs: 5 points each

[0019] 3. Bottom Pegs: 3 points each

[0020] 4. Quadrants: 1 point each

[0021] 5. Leaner Points: If a ring is leaning on a peg or quadrant at the end of a turn, points are awarded based on the quadrant or peg the leaning Ring touches.Cancellation Rules1. Opponent's ring in the same quadrant cancels the point for being in that quadrant.

[0023] 2. Opposing rings on the same peg cancel each other's points.

[0024] 3. Leaner points cannot be canceled.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising:a. two or more rings, andb. two racker units, each said racker unit including:i. a backbone configured as an essentially vertical pole,ii. legs attached at one end of the vertical backbone to position the racker unit on the ground and at the desired angle of inclination for game play, andiii. six or more pegs attached to the backbone.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, comprising 8 rings, four for each team.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pegs are positioned at at least three different heights on the backbone.

4. The game apparatus of claim 3, wherein one top peg is positioned essentially vertical at a top of the backbone.

5. The game apparatus of claim 4, where three of the middle pegs are positioned on the backbone below the single top peg that is positioned at the top of the backbone.

6. The game apparatus of claim 5, wherein two of the bottom pegs are positioned on the backbone below the three pegs positioned on the backbone.

7. The game apparatus of claim 6, wherein the three pegs positioned below the single ped at the top of the backbone are evenly spaced around the backbone.

8. The game apparatus of claim 7, wherein the two pegs positioned below the three pegs on the backbone are positioned on either side of the backbone.

9. A method for playing a game wherein rings are tossed at the game apparatus of claim 6, comprising counting the following points based on where each ring lands:top Peg: 7 points, middle pegs: 5 points each, bottom pegs: 3 points each, quadrants on the ground between a pair of the legs: 1 point each, and leaner points for a leaning ring that is leaning on a peg or quadrant at the end of a turn, wherein the leaner points are the number of points awarded for the quadrant or peg that the leaning ring touches.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein an opponent's ring in the same quadrant cancels the point for a ring in that quadrant and also scores no points for being in that quadrant.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein an opponent's ring on the same peg cancels the points for a ring on that peg and also scores no points for being on that peg.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein leaner points cannot be canceled.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each team tosses three rings per turn.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the teams alternate tossing the rings, with the leading team tossing first in each round.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the game concludes when a team first reaches 21 points.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein all three rings are thrown by both teams in the final throwing round even if 21 points is reached before all six rings are thrown and the team with the highest score after that round wins.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein once 21 points is reached there are no more throws except that if the first tosser of the round reaches 21 points with a particular throw, the second tosser is entitled to one more throw so that both teams have had the same number of throws at game's end.

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