Ring toss game and equipment therefor

Abstract

A tossing game includes playing equipment. The playing equipment includes a first pair of propelling sticks and a tossable ring member. The first pair of propelling sticks include a proximal handle portion, a distal portion and a guard portion. The tossable ring member include a central aperture. The distal portion of the propelling sticks are sized and configured for being received within the central aperture of the ring member.

1 . A tossing game including playing equipment, the playing equipment comprising a first pair of propelling sticks and a tossable ring member, the first pair of propelling sticks including a proximal handle portion, a distal portion and a guard portion, the tossable ring member including a central aperture, wherein the distal portion of the propelling sticks are sized and configured for being received within the central aperture of the ring member. 
     
     
         2 . The tossing game of  claim 1  wherein the distal portion of the propelling sticks includes a first end disposed adjacent to the proximal portion and a second end, the distal portion being tapered between the first and second end so that the first end has a larger diameter than the second end. 
     
     
         3 . The tossing game of  claim 1  wherein the propelling sticks include a major axis extending through each of the proximal and distal portions, and wherein the guard member includes a guard member axis extending generally perpendicular to the major axis. 
     
     
         4 . The tossing game of  claim 3  wherein the guard member is disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion and extends outwardly from the distal portion and is configured for preventing a ring received on the distal portion from sliding to the proximal portion. 
     
     
         5 . The tossing game of  claim 1  wherein the proximal portion includes a padded hand grip member. 
     
     
         6 . The tossing game of  claim 1  wherein the ring includes a radially inner portion, a radially outer portion, and a central portion disposed between the radially outer and radially inner portion and an indicia member. 
     
     
         7 . The tossing game of  claim 1  where the indicia member is disposed in the central portion, the indicia member including at least one of a printed decal, sticker, applique and colorant member. 
     
     
         8 . The tossing game of  claim 7  wherein the indicia member comprises a luminous indicia member capable of glowing for permitting the ring member to be seen in the dark. 
     
     
         9 . The tossing game of  claim 6  wherein the indicia member is disposed in the central portion and comprises a luminous indicia member for permitting the ring member to give off light sufficiently to enable the tossing game to be played in a darkened area. 
     
     
         10 . The tossing game of  claim 6  wherein the darkened area comprises at least one of an unlit interior space and an exterior space between dusk and dawn. 
     
     
         11 . The tossing game of  claim 1  wherein the ring member includes an axially extending, radially inwardly facing inner member, an axially extending, radially outwardly facing outer member, and a central portion disposed between the inner member and the outer member. 
     
     
         12 . The tossing game of  claim 11  wherein the central portion of the ring member includes a radially extending portion that extends between the inner member and the outer member, and defines an annular channel between the inner member and outer member. 
     
     
         13 . The tossing game of  claim 12  further comprising a luminous member insertable into the channel, and wherein the radially extending portion includes at least one aperture for permitting the luminous member to be seen from a top and a bottom side of the ring member. 
     
     
         14 . The tossing game of  claim 13  wherein the luminous member comprises at least one of a light stick and an LED light. 
     
     
         15 . The tossing game of  claim 12  further comprising an indicia member insertable in the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The tossing game of  claim 15  wherein the indicia member comprises at least one of a printed decal, sticker, applique and colorant member. 
     
     
         17 . The tossing game of  claim 12  further comprising a lighting device capable of lighting up the ring member to permit the tossing game to be played in the dark. 
     
     
         18 . The tossing game of  claim 11  wherein the ring has a cross sectional profile that comprises at least one of a U-shaped profile and an H-shaped profile, and wherein the central portion includes at least one aperture for permitting an indicia member placed in the central portion to be seen from each of a top and bottom side of the ring member. 
     
     
         19 . The tossing game of  claim 1  further comprising a second pair of propelling sticks for use by a second player. 
     
     
         20 . A method of playing a tossing game comprising the steps of
 (a) providing playing equipment including a first pair of propelling sticks for a first player and a second pair of propelling sticks for a second player and a ring member tossable between the first players and first propelling sticks; and the second player and second propelling sticks, each propelling stick including a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion includes a first end disposed relatively closer to the proximal portion, and a second end disposed relatively further from the proximal portion, the ring member including a radially inwardly facing portion defining a central aperture,   (b) causing the central aperture of the ring member to receive the distal portions of each of the first pair of propelling sticks, so that the ring member is disposed relatively closer to the first end of the distal portion than the second end of the distal portion,   (c) having the first user hold the proximal end of each of the first pair of ring member containing propelling sticks in a manner wherein the respective first ends of the distal portions of the propelling sticks are relatively closer together than the respective second ends of the propelling sticks,   (d) having the user move the position of the propelling sticks to a launch position wherein the second ends of the distal portion of the propelling sticks are relatively more closely positioned than the respective first ends of the distal portions in a manner wherein the application of force by the propelling sticks against the radially inwardly facing portion of the ring member causes the ring member to move in a direction from the first ends of the distal portions to the second ends of the distal portions, and ultimately become launched off the second ends of the distal portions of the propelling sticks so as to become airborne.