PROJECTILE TARGET ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF USE

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT Not Applicable

(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

Not Applicable

(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention.

The disclosure relates to target assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new target assembly for use in a targeted projectile launching game. The present invention discloses a target assembly for use in a projectile launching game using finned missiles launched by slingshots.

(2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The prior art relates to target assemblies, which may comprise targets for frisbees, targets comprising multiple pockets or baskets, boards with one or more holes, and targets comprising posts having attached plates and receptacles or holes. What is lacking in the prior ail is a target assembly comprising a pair of endless lines and a post having two receptacles, which are nested.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising an outer ring, an inner ring, and a post. The outer ring and the inner ring are configured to be positioned on a substantially horizontal surface with the inner ring within the outer ring. A first target is defined by and positioned between the outer ring and the inner ring. A second target is defined and outlined by the inner ring. The post is configured to be positioned in a substantially vertical configuration within the inner ring. A first receptacle is attached to the post proximate to an upper end of the post. The first receptacle has an upper facet, which is open so that that the first receptacle defines a third target. A second receptacle is attached to and positioned in the first receptacle. The second receptacle has an upper face, which is open so that the second receptacle defines a fourth target. The first target, the second target, the third target, and the fourth target are configured for landing of a projectile as part of a targeted projectile launching game.

Another embodiment of the disclosure comprises a targeted projectile launching game system, which comprises a projectile target assembly, according to the disclosure above, and a plurality of projectiles, the projectiles of which are configured to be launched at the first target, the second target, the third target, and the fourth target as pail of a targeted projectile launching game Yet another embodiment of the disclosure comprises a method of playing a targeted projectile launching game. The method includes a provision step, which entails providing a targeted projectile launching game system according to the disclosure above, and a setup step, which entails positioning the outer ring, the inner ring, and the post according to the set of rules. The method includes a playing step, which entails launching the projectiles according to the set of rules, a scoring step, which entails scoring the projectiles according to the set of rules, and a continuation step, which entails repeating the launching and scoring of the projectiles until a player achieves a score provided in the set of rules. A final step of the method is declaring a winner according to the set of rules.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There arc additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a pail of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a projectile target assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Figure 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. Figure 3 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

Figure 4 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

Figure 5 is a flow diagram for a method utilizing an embodiment of the disclosure.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to Figures 1 through 5 thereof, a new target assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in Figures 1 through 5, the projectile target assembly 10 generally comprises an outer ring 12, an inner ring 14, and a post 16. The outer ring 12 and the inner ring 14 are configured to be positioned on a substantially horizontal surface with the inner ring 14 within the outer ring 12. A first target 18 is defined by and positioned between the outer ring 12 and the inner ring 14. A second target 20 is defined and outlined by the inner ring 14. The inner ring 14 and the outer ring 12 each comprise an endless flexible line 22, which may comprise ropes, cords, cables, or the like. As shown in Figure 2, the outer ring 12 and the inner ring 14 are positioned in rectangular and circular configurations, respectively. The present invention anticipates a variety of other configurations for the outer ring 12 and the inner ring 14, such as, but not limited to, the outer ring 12 being circular with the inner ring 14 being square, both the outer ring 12 and the inner ring 14 being square or circular, and the like.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the post 16 is configured to be positioned in a substantially vertical configuration within the inner ring 14. The stand 24 may be centered in the inner ring 14, or elsewhere within the inner ring 14 or the outer ring 12. A stand 24 may be attached to the post 16 proximate to a lower end 26 of the post 16. The stand 24, which may be tripodal, is configured to stabilize the post 16 in the substantially vertical configuration. The present invention also anticipates the post 16 being stabilized in the substantially vertical configuration by other means, such as, but not limited to, weights attached to the post 16 proximate to its lower end 26, the lower end 26 being pointed and thus configured for insertion into the substantially horizontal surface, and the like.

A first receptacle 28 is attached to the post 16 proximate to an upper end 30 of the post 16. The first receptacle 28 has an upper facet 32, which is open so that that the first receptacle 28 defines a third target 34. As shown in Figure 3, the first receptacle 28 is inverted square pyramid shaped. The present invention anticipates the first receptacle 28 being alternatively shaped, such as, but not limited to, conical, cylindrical, cuboid, and the like. A second receptacle 36 is attached to and is positioned in the first receptacle 28. The second receptacle 36 has an upper face 38, which is open so that the second receptacle 36 defines a fourth target 40. As shown in Figure 3, the second receptacle 36 is cylindrical. The present invention anticipates the second receptacle 36 being alternatively shaped, such as, but not limited to, conical, cuboid, and the like.

The first target 18, the second target 20, the third target 34, and the fourth target 40 are configured for landing of a projectile 42 as part of a targeted projectile launching game 44, such as tossing games using bags, balls, and the like, which are tossed by hand, and games wherein projectiles 42 are launched by other means, such as by air pressure, slingshots 48, rackets, and the like.

The present invention also includes a targeted projectile launching game system 46, which comprises a projectile target assembly 10, according to the specification above, and a plurality of projectiles 42, which are configured to be launched at the first target 18, the second target 20, the third target 34, and the fourth target 40 as part of a targeted projectile launching game 44. The targeted projectile launching game system 46 also may comprise a plurality of slingshots 48, with each projectile 42 comprising a finned missile 50 configured to selectively engage a band 52 of a respective slingshot 48. A user thus is positioned to engage the finned missile 50 to the band 52, to pull on the finned missile 50 to stretch the band 52, and to release the finned missile 50 so that it is launched from the slingshot 48 toward the first target 18, the second target 20, the third target 34, and the fourth target 40.

The targeted projectile launching game system 46 may be used in any manner which is entertaining to users, but also may comprise a set of rules 54 for playing a targeted projectile launching game 44. For example, the set of rules 54 may prescribe a distance from the outer ring 12, or from the post 16, from which the projectiles 42 are to be launched, such as 5.0 to 15.0 meter. The set of rules 54 also may prescribe points are to be awarded for landing a projectile 42 in the first target 18, the second target 20, the third target 34, and the fourth target 40, such as one, two, five, and ten, respectively. The set of rules 54 also may prescribe how projectiles 42 are launched by players, such as sequentially or simultaneously. Any number of variations in the set of rules 54 is possible and is anticipated by the present invention.

In use, the targeted projectile launching game system 46 enables a method of playing a targeted projectile launching game 56. The method 56 comprises a provision step 58, which entails providing a targeted projectile launching game system 46 according to the specification above. A setup step 60 of the method 56 entails positioning the outer ring 12, the inner ring 14, and the post 16 according to the set of rules 54. A playing step 62 of the method 56 entails launching the projectiles 42 according to the set of rules 54. A scoring step 64 of the method 56 entails scoring the projectiles 42 according to the set of rules 54. A continuation step 66 of the method 56 entails repeating the launching and scoring of the projectiles 42 until a player achieves a score provided in the set of rules 54. A final step 68 of the method 56 is declaring a winner according to the set of rules 54. The present invention is anticipated to provide outdoor entertainment for multiple users.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification arc intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.