Ball and cup game and method for playing

Abstract

A game system for playing a ball and cup game is disclosed. The game system includes an array of seven integrally-formed, sixteen-ounce decreasing-radius cups coupled together in a substantially hexagonal shape, a shaft having a top end coupled to an underside of the array, wherein a length of the shaft is up to about 50 inches, a quadruple-pronged base coupled to a bottom end of the shaft and at least one ball with a diameter that fits within the sixteen-ounce, decreasing-radius cup.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A game system for playing a ball and cup game, comprising:
 an array of seven integrally-formed, sixteen-ounce decreasing-radius cups coupled together in a substantially hexagonal shape;   a shaft having a top end coupled to an underside of the array, wherein a length of the shaft is up to about 50 inches;   a quadruple-pronged base coupled to a bottom end of the shaft; and   at least one ball with a diameter that fits within the sixteen-ounce, decreasing-radius cup.   
     
     
         2 . The game system of  claim 1 , wherein the array further comprises a depression that accepts a portion of the top end of the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The game system of  claim 2 , wherein the quadruple-pronged base comprises a depression that accepts a portion of the bottom end of the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The game system of  claim 3 , wherein the shaft comprises extruded plastic. 
     
     
         5 . A game system for playing a ball and cup game, comprising:
 an array of a plurality of integrally-formed cups coupled together in a substantially hexagonal shape;   a shaft having a top end coupled to an underside of the array;   a base coupled to a bottom end of the shaft; and   at least one ball with a diameter that fits within a cup.   
     
     
         6 . The game system of  claim 5 , wherein the array further comprises a depression that accepts a portion of the top end of the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The game system of  claim 6 , wherein the base comprises a depression that accepts a portion of the bottom end of the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The game system of  claim 7 , wherein the shaft comprises extruded plastic. 
     
     
         9 . A ball and cup game system for at least two players, comprising:
 a pair of cup arrays, wherein each cup array corresponds to at least one player, wherein each cup array comprises an array of a plurality of integrally-formed cups coupled together;   a plurality of balls corresponding to each player, wherein each ball includes a diameter that fits within a cup; and   a set of game rules providing for each player to throw his plurality of balls towards the cup array of the other player, whereupon points are awarded to a player based on a location of a cup into which the player threw a ball, and wherein the player that is awarded the most points, wins.   
     
     
         10 . The ball and cup game system of  claim 9 , wherein the set of game rules further provides for:
 positioning the cup arrays from about 5 feet to about 10 feet apart; and   positioning each cup array adjacent to the player to which the cup array corresponds.   
     
     
         11 . The ball and cup game system of  claim 10 , wherein the set of game rules further provides for:
 awarding additional points to a player if the player catches a ball thrown by an opponent; and   awarding additional points to a player if the player bounces a ball off a surface before the ball enters a cup.   
     
     
         12 . The ball and cup game system of  claim 11 , wherein the set of game rules further provides for declaring a first player to reach a predetermined score threshold the winner.