Ball and ladder game for use in combination with an indoor table game

Abstract

A ball toss game that is configured to be mounted to a game table includes a frame having a pair of vertical posts (vertical support members) arranged parallel to one another and at least three cross members extending between and coupled at their ends to the pair of vertical support member. The ball toss game also includes a pair of coupling members for mounting to two opposing vertical side surfaces of the game table. The coupling member has a receiving portion that receives a lower end of a respective vertical support member and a fastening means for releasably mounting the lower end to the coupling member such that the frame stands upright. The ball toss game includes a pair of objects attached to two ends of a cord to form a connected member that is tossed at the frame in order to score points if and depending upon where the connected member is temporarily secured to one cross member.

1 . A ball toss game that is configured to be mounted to a game table comprising:
 a frame having a pair of vertical support members arranged parallel to one another and at least three cross members extending between and coupled at their ends to the pair of vertical support member;   a pair of coupling members for mounting to two opposing vertical side surfaces of the game table, each coupling member having a receiving portion that receives a lower end of a respective vertical support member and a fastening means for releasably mounting the lower end to the coupling member such that the frame stands upright; and   a pair of objects attached to two ends of a cord to form a connected member that is tossed at the frame in order to score points if and depending upon where the connected member is temporarily secured to one cross member.   
   
   
       2 . The ball toss game of  claim 1 , wherein each end of the cross member includes a threaded bore that receives a threaded fastener that passes through a through opening in the adjacent vertical support member and threadingly engages the bore for attaching the cross member end to the vertical support member. 
   
   
       3 . The ball toss game of  claim 1 , wherein the table game is selected from the group consisting of an air hockey table, a foosball table, a table tennis table, and a combination game table. 
   
   
       4 . The ball toss game of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling member comprises a bracket having a pair of planar flanges that extend outwardly from a base portion that defines the receiving portion, each of the planar flanges being mounted to the vertical side surface. 
   
   
       5 . The ball toss game of  claim 4 , wherein the receiving portion includes an arcuate side wall and a floor that is perpendicular to the arcuate side wall, the floor having a flat inner edge that seats against the vertical side surface. 
   
   
       6 . The ball toss game of  claim 5 , wherein the arcuate side wall is U-shaped. 
   
   
       7 . The ball toss game of  claim 5 , wherein the floor includes a through opening for receiving a threaded fastener that is threadingly engaged to a threaded bore formed in the lower end of the vertical support member to securely mount the vertical support member to the floor. 
   
   
       8 . The ball toss game of  claim 1 , wherein the lower ends of the vertical support member are mounted to the coupling members at a height that is elevated relative to a ground surface which supports the table game. 
   
   
       9 . In combination, a ball and toss game and a table game that includes a playing surface that is supported by and elevated from a ground surface by a plurality of legs, the table game including a perimeter side wall and wherein the ball and toss game includes a frame having a pair of vertical support members arranged parallel to one another and at least three cross members extending between and coupled at their ends to the pair of vertical support member, the frame being releasably mounted to the perimeter side wall such that the frame remains elevated and spaced from the ground surface and extends across and over the playing surface, the ball and toss game including a pair of objects attached to two ends of a cord to form a connected member that is tossed at the frame in order to score points if and depending upon where the connected member is temporarily secured to one cross member. 
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the ball and toss game includes a pair of coupling members for mounting to the perimeter side wall of the game table at two opposing locations, the coupling member having a receiving portion that receives a lower end of a respective vertical support member and a fastening means for releasably mounting the lower end to the coupling member such that the frame stands upright. 
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the coupling members comprise brackets. 
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the coupling members include a releasable snap-fit locking mechanism for locking the frame in an upright position. 
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the receiving portion includes an arcuate side wall and a floor that is perpendicular to the arcuate side wall, the floor having a flat inner edge that seats against the vertical side surface. 
   
   
       14 . The ball toss game of  claim 13 , wherein the arcuate side wall is U-shaped. 
   
   
       15 . A combination of indoor games comprising:
 a table game that includes a playing surface that is supported by and elevated from a ground surface by a plurality of legs, the table game including a side wall that extends around a perimeter of the playing surface and includes opposing coupling members attached thereto; and   a ball and toss game including a frame having a pair of vertical supports arranged parallel to one another and upper, middle and lower cross members extending between and coupled at their ends to the pair of vertical supports, the frame being releasably mounted to the coupling members associated with the perimeter side wall, wherein heights of the vertical supports and locations of the coupling members along the perimeter side wall are selected so that a distance between the lower cross member and the playing surface is substantially the same as a distance between the middle and lower cross members and a distance between the middle and upper cross members, the ball and toss game including a pair of objects attached to two ends of a cord to form a connected member that is tossed at the frame in order to score points if and depending upon where the connected member is temporarily secured to one cross member.   
   
   
       16 . A combination of indoor games comprising:
 a table game that includes a playing surface that is supported by and elevated from a ground surface by a plurality of legs, the table game including a side wall that extends around a perimeter of the playing surface and includes opposing coupling members attached thereto; and   a ball and toss game including a frame having a pair of vertical supports arranged parallel to one another and upper, middle and lower cross members extending between and coupled at their ends to the pair of vertical supports, the frame being releasably mounted to the coupling members associated with the perimeter side wall, wherein locations of the coupling members along the perimeter side wall are selected so that when the ball and toss game is attached to the coupling members, the frame lies in vertical plane that is substantially parallel to two vertical planes defined at ends of the game table, the ball and toss game including a pair of objects attached to two ends of a cord to form a connected member that is tossed at the frame in order to score points if and depending upon where the connected member is temporarily secured to one cross member.