FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to field games, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a field game having two opposing teams engaging in play against each other on an annular field of play having a target member in the center thereof.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Field games are well known in the art. There are numerous games played on fields that place two teams against each other such as but not limited to soccer, football and baseball. Each of these games have a unique field, equipment and a set of rules that the teams follow in order to play the game. The history of these games and its players form a significant part of the culture of the society in which the games are played. These games are further played at a recreational level for all age levels and provide team building and social interaction for all individuals and ages that engage in playing of the games.

[0003] Most field games have been around for decades and some date back hundreds of years. Relatively little to no development exists in the area of field games with no new significant field games having been developed for many years.

[0004] It is intended within the scope of the present invention to provide a new and novel field game that incorporates utilization of an annular shaped field and two opposing teams wherein the opposing teams have an objective placing a ball in a target member located in the center of the field. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is the object of the present invention to provide a field game that incorporates placing two opposing teams on a field of play wherein the present invention employs the utilization of an annular shaped field of play.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a game that is played by two opposing teams trying to attain a score higher than that of the other team wherein the present invention further includes a target member located in the center of the field of play.

[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide a field game that incorporates placing two opposing teams on a field of play wherein the target member is hexagonal in shape and has a plurality of alternate sized scoring receptacles.

[0008] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a game that is played by two opposing teams trying to attain a score higher than that of the other team wherein the scoring receptacles of the target member have different point values.

[0009] An additional object of the present invention is to provide a field game that incorporates placing two opposing teams on a field of play wherein the present invention utilizes a ball similar to that of a conventional rugby ball.

[0010] Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a game that is played by two opposing teams trying to attain a score higher than that of the other team wherein the rules of play require landing the ball in the scoring receptacles a certain number of times.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a field game that incorporates placing two opposing teams on a field of play wherein the present invention incorporates penalties against players for committing certain infractions. [0012] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

[0014] Figure 1 is a is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the field of play of the present invention; and

[0015] Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the target member of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] References now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a game 100 constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

[0017] An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention.

[0018] It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms "a”, "an” and "the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to "an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word "or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical "or” rather than that of a logical "exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0019] References to "one embodiment”, "an embodiment”, "exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiments] of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic. [0020] Now referring to the Drawings submitted as a part hereof, the game 100 includes target member 10 illustrated herein in Figure 2. The present invention is a new team sport designed to be fast paced, skillful and exciting. The game 100 is played on a circular field 20. In the center of the field 20 is a target member 10, which is common to both teams. The target member 10 has nineteen sections referred to as scoring receptacles 30, wherein the scoring receptacles 30 have alternate numerical values. The present invention deploys a rugby style ball, not particularly illustrated herein. The object of the game 100 is for each team to place the ball, via kicking, throwing or a combination thereof into the various scoring receptacles 30. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the team to deposit the ball into the scoring receptacles 30 to attain a score of twenty-seven times and have more points than the other team in order to win. While various combinations of player could be utilized to comprise the two teams, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the two teams comprise of nine players each. The circular field 20 has a radius of forty-five meters. The target member 10 is a specifically designed apparatus required to play the game 100 of so as to facilitate receipt of the ball. The ball is a rugby type ball and the players will wear protective equipment that is soft sided with no metal or hard plastic.

[0021] The target member 10 is constructed of a plurality of operably coupled support members 32 to form the shape illustrated herein in Figure 2. The support members 32 are operably coupled utilizing suitable techniques such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners. In a preferred embodiment of the target member 10, the target member 10 is configured so as to be foldable or easily disassembled for transportation thereof. The support members 32 are arranged to create the scoring receptacles 30. The scoring receptacles are present on all six sides of the hexagonal shaped target member 10. The target member 10 is structured so as to provide the scoring receptacles 30 in vertical rows wherein each vertical row comprises three scoring receptacles 30 of different sizes. The utilization of the scoring receptacles 30 during play of the game 100 is further discussed herein.

[0022] Referring in particular to Figure 1 submitted herewith, an exemplary diagram of the field 20 is illustrated therein. The field 20 is constructed from a suitable material such as but not limited to natural grass or artificial turf. The target member 10 is placed in the middle of the field 20. The field 20 has indicia marked thereon wherein the indicia employs suitable technology such as but not limited to chalk or paint. The field 20 includes a boundary line 22 wherein the boundary line 22 marks the out of bounds area during play of the game 100 as is further discussed herein. Further marked on the field 20 is the play in line 24 which is adjacent to and parallel with the boundary line 22 wherein the play in line 24 is located towards the target member 10. The play in line 24 and its incorporation into the game 100 during play is further discussed herein. The field 20 additionally includes the shot line 26. The shot line 26 circumferentially surrounds the target member 10 and the shot line 26 and the role thereof during play of the game 100 is further discussed herein. Between the target member 10 and the shot line 26 are numerical indicia 28. The numerical indicia 28 are aligned with the vertical rows of the scoring receptacles 30 of the target member 10. Exemplary scoring during play of the game 100 utilizing the numerical indicia 28 is further discussed herein.

[0023] The present invention begins with a player on one team, determined by a coin toss, standing with the ball outside of the boundary line 22. That player may position themself at any point around the outside circle of the field 20. The player passes the ball to one of their teammates, who is positioned inside the play in line 24. The team that is in possession of the ball is the offensive team. The player receiving the ball, may then run with the ball, pass the ball to a teammate, or pass the ball on the run by either throwing or punting the ball. The player may pass the ball forward, backward or sideways, and may even pass the ball over the target member. The purpose of running with the ball and passing to teammates is to advance the ball closer to the target member in order to attempt a shot at the target member by either a drop kick of the ball or by throwing the ball, depending on the skill level and age of the players. The team that does not have possession of the ball is the defensive team. The defensive team works together to try and cover the offensive players and prevent them from making a shot at the target member 10. If a defensive player is able to apply a two handed touch on the offensive player who is in possession of the ball, then the offensive player must stop immediately, relinquish possession of the ball to the defensive player who made the two handed touch. It should be understood that alternate moves in addition to the two hand touch could be employed in the game 100.

[0024] The defensive player takes possession of the ball and now becomes the offensive player. This player, standing at the spot at which the two-handed touch was made, may now pass the ball to a teammate by throwing or punting; either forward, sideways or backward. The player may not attempt a shot at the target member 10, or advance the ball by running with the ball. Play continues until a player on one team attempts to drop kick or throw of the ball at the target member 10, wherein the intention thereof is landing the ball in one of the scoring receptacles. The ball must be drop kicked or thrown outside of the shot line 26. If the player is successful in landing the ball in the target member 10, then that team will be awarded a check on the scoreboard for the corresponding number, double, triple or ten. Alternatively, if that team already has the required three checks for that number, doubles, triples or ten, then that team will record the associated number of points on the scoreboard. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that shot attempts, e.g. scoring attempts could include but are not limited to the following. If the ball hits one of the support members 32 of the target member 10 and bounces directly back on the field 20 outside of the shot line 26, the ball is still in play, and both teams have the right to gain possession of the ball. If the ball hits one of the support members 32 of the target member 10 and bounces into one of the scoring receptacles 30, that team will be awarded the corresponding check on the scoreboard or be awarded the appropriate points, even if the receptacle that the ball lands in the scoring receptacle 30 was unintentional by the player who shot the ball.

[0025] During play, if the ball hits one of the support members 32 of the target member 10 and bounces on the field 20 within the shot line 26, the team who did not attempt the shot will take possession of the ball within the shot line at the point where the ball landed. That player may then pass the ball to a teammate standing on the field 20 beyond the shot line 26 by either throwing or punting the ball. The player may not move to a different area within the shot line 26. Additionally, during the play of the present invention, if the ball lands directly on the field 20 between the target member 10 and the shot line 26, then the opposing team will take possession of the ball within the shot line 26, at the point where the ball landed, and the same rules will apply as previously described herein. When a team is successful at landing the ball in one of the scoring sections, the appropriate check will be awarded on the scoreboard, or the corresponding number of points will be recorded on the scoreboard. Subsequently, a player on the other team will take possession of the ball outside of the boundary line 22 and pass to one of their teammates and play resumes. Play of the game 100 continues in this manner until one team has successfully shot the ball into the scoring receptacles 30 of the target member 10 the required twenty seven times as follows: The numerical indicia 28, one through six, - three times each to accumulate eighteen points; three of the doubles receptacles to accumulate three points; three of the triples receptacles to accumulate three points; and three times in the ten receptacle to achieve a final total accumulation an accumulation of twenty-seven points while also having more points than the other team. It should be understood within the preferred embodiment of the present invention that the ball be placed in each of the scoring receptacles three times prior to any award of points being allocated to a team. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternate embodiments of this preference could be provided within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

[0026] It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that additional rules will apply. By way of example but not limitation is a loose ball rule. The loose ball rule is when the ball is considered loose if it is not in possession of either team, either on the field 20, or in the air from a pass from one teammate to another, either team has equal rights to the ball, and may attempt to gain possession of it. While inadvertent contact between players of opposing teams is acceptable in trying to gain possession of a loose ball, impeding or interfering with the player on the other team is a penalty. Another contemplated rule within the scope of the present invention is the out of bounds rule. In this rule if the ball goes beyond the boundary line 22, the ball will be awarded to the team who did not touch the ball last. A player on that team will stand outside of the boundary line 22 and pass the ball to a teammate situated on the field 20 by either throwing or punting the ball. The ball will also be considered out of bounds if it lands inside of the shot line 26. The possession of play is be awarded to the team who did not touch the ball last, and a player on that team will pass the ball to a teammate situated on the field 20 beyond the shot line 26 by either throwing or punting the ball.

[0027] Referring again in particular to Figure 1 an exemplary diagram of the field 20 is illustrated therein. The game of the present invention is played on a large, circular field. The field 20 in a preferred embodiment is made of natural grass or any artificial playing surface used to play football or soccer. In the center of the field 20, is the target member 10. The numerical indicia 28, one through six, are marked in the area between the outer edge of the target member 10 and shot line 26. While it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the field 20 could be alternate sizes, a desired embodiment is as follows. The radius is approximately forty-five meters with a playing radius of forty meters. The diameter of the shot line 26 is eight meters with a target member 10 being three meters. A total playing area would be a diameter of thirty-seven meters.

[0028] The target member 10 is the scoring apparatus situated in the center of the playing field 20, which is the focal point and essential to playing the game 100. The target member 10 is a hexagonal shaped apparatus that is divided into nineteen sections wherein these sections are scoring receptacles 30 in which the ball must penetrate thereinto and remain to attain a score. The scoring receptacles 30 break down as follows: six scoring receptacles 30 valued at one to six, six scoring receptacles 30 as doubles sections, six scoring receptacles 30 as triples and one scoring receptacles 30 valued at ten. The size of the scoring receptacles 30 are smaller as the value of the scoring receptacles 30 increases. The largest scoring receptacles 30 are those valued one through six. The second largest scoring receptacles 30 are the doubles sections, then the triples scoring receptacles 30 and the smallest section being the valued as ten. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that a net on each scoring receptacle 30 of the target member 10. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the scoring receptacles 30 could be provided in alternate sizes.

[0029] Exemplary scoring scenarios are as follows but it should be understood the scoring examples are provided as examples only and do not serve to limit scoring examples. Furthermore, the use of the terms red and blue are for the purpose of opposing team identification. Each of the scoring receptacles 30 valued at one through six is successfully targeted three times each for a total of eighteen points. Any combination of the three scoring receptacles 30 labeled doubles accounts for three points. Any combination of the three scoring receptacles 30 labeled triples accounts for three points. The scoring receptacles 30 labeled ten when successfully targeted three times accounts for three points. Once a team has successfully achieved the necessary three hits on any given scoring receptacles 30, the team is awarded the corresponding number of points for each subsequent hit, until such time as the opposing team also achieves the necessary three hits on that scoring receptacles 30, then neither team can score on that scoring receptacles 30 for the remainder of the game. [0030] It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the game 100 could be played in alternate manners. By way of example but not limitation, some exemplary playing and scoring possibilities are as follows. The blue team has the necessary three hits on the number five scoring receptacle 30, and the red team only has one. Each time the blue team hits the number five scoring receptacle 30, the team will score five points. Once the red team achieves the necessary three hits on the scoring receptacles 30 valued at five, then neither team can score on the scoring receptacles 30 valued at five for the remainder of the game. Another example is as follows: the red team has the necessary three hits on the doubles scoring receptacle 30 and the blue team does not have any hits on the double valued scoring receptacle 30. Each time the red team hits a scoring receptacle 30 valued as a double, the red team will score double the value of the value [numerical indicia 28] of scoring receptacle 30 that it aligns with on the target member 10. If the red team hits the doubles scoring receptacles 30 that is aligned to the four numerical indicia 28, then the red team will be awarded 8 points. The red team will continue to score on doubles hits until the blue team achieves their necessary three hits on the doubles valued scoring receptacle 30. Subsequently, neither team can score on the doubles scoring receptacle 30 for the remainder of the game.

[0031] Still another example of play of the game 100 is as follows: The blue team has the necessary three hits on the triples valued scoring receptacle 30, and the red team has two hits on the triples scoring receptacles 30. Each time the blue team hits a triple valued scoring receptacle 30, they will score triple the value of the numerical indicia 28 aligned with on the target member 10. If the blue team hits the triples valued scoring receptacles 30 that aligns with the number six, then the blue team will be awarded eighteen points. The blue team will continue to score on triples valued scoring receptacle 30 until the red team achieves their necessary three hits on the triples valued scoring receptacle 30. Subsequently, neither team can score on the triples valued scoring receptacle 30 for the remainder of the game. An additional example of scoring is as follows: The red team has the necessary three hits on the ten valued scoring receptacle 30. The blue team has one hit on the ten valued scoring receptacle 30. Each time that the red team hits the ten valued scoring receptacle 30, the red team will score ten points. When the blue team achieves their necessary three hits on the ten valued scoring receptacles 30, then neither team can score on the ten valued scoring receptacle 30 for the rest of the game.

[0032] It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that penalties will be levied on players for various infractions. By way of example but not limitation, a player may not hold a player on the opposing team preventing them from free movement around the turf. Another contemplated penalty is for tripping. A player may not trip an opposing player. An additional penalty within the scope of the present invention is interference, which within the scope of the present invention is defined as a player may not interfere or prevent an opposing player from free movement around the turf. Still another penalty within the scope of the present invention is elbowing. Elbowing is defined as when a player may not use elbows to block, hit or impede an opposing player. Furthermore, another penalty within the present invention is termed pushing off. In pushing off, a player may not shove off an opposing player in order to break free of their coverage. Still an additional penalty of the present invention is unnecessary roughness which is defined as a player may not use excessive force, hit, kick or push an opposing player. The result of any of the aforementioned penalties will be an immediate stoppage of play. The player who was offended against will be given possession of the ball where the infraction occurred and will be awarded a free shot at the target member 10.

[0033] In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.