Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02869555 2014-10-29
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLAYING A GAME
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Outdoor games and activities at picnics, pool parties, beaches,
and the like are very popular. There is always a need to keep
persons entertained with new and different games. The present
invention provides for particularly configured cups and rules
for one such activity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of
playing a game and cups configured for the method, said method
comprising the steps of: providing at least three cups, whereby
said cups are constructed and arranged to have an exterior
surface, an interior surface, and an interior cavity; at least
one releasing ridge within said interior cavity; a grasping
ridge formed about the circumferal lip of the outer surface of
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said cup; and a finger grip positioned on an exterior surface of
said cup next to said grasping ridge; providing a receiving cup
to each player, said receiving cups included in the at least
three cups; designating one of said three cups as a launching
cup; placing a quantity of water in the interior cavity of said
launching cup; placing said launching cup in a single receiving
cup; launching said water cup from said receiving cup; catching
said launching cup.
The cup has at least one indicia marking a desired water level.
The indicia can be on the interior, exterior, or both.
The water cup nests within the interior cavity of said receiving
cup in a configuration whereby the releasing ridge within said
interior cavity contacts the outer surface of the water cup.
In one embodiment, the water cup nests within the interior
cavity of said receiving cup in a configuration whereby the
releasing ridge within said interior cavity contacts the outer
surface of the water cup and the outer surface of the water cup
is blocked from contacting the inner surface of the receiving
cup by the releasing ridge. The blocking of surface contact in
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the nesting configuration allows cups to easily be separated
when water cup is launched.
In one embodiment, the water cup further includes a weighted
bottom.
In one embodiment, the method is also is including launching the
launching cup from a first player to a second player; attempting
to catch the launching cup by the second player; tabulating a
score based on a successful or unsuccessful catch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
Fig. 1 is a side view demonstrative of a launch cup aimed at a
receiving cup according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view of a cup according to one embodiment of
the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a top view of a cup according to one embodiment of the
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present invention.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a cup from Fig. 3 according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is demonstrative of nesting of two cups according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a side view demonstrating liquid fill lines according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is demonstrative of the handling and subsequent launch of
a cup according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is demonstrative of a cup in motion according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is demonstrative of a launch cup being received by a
receiving cup according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As generally understood, the present invention involves a novel
cup 10 having a finger grip 12 formed thereon. Cup 10 is formed
with a grasping ridge 14 and releasing ridge 16. Cup 10 further
includes in its central interior cavity at least one releasing
ridge 16 associated with a bottoming ledge 18. Contact ridge 20
is constructed and arranged to interact with finger grip 12 when
cups are nested as demonstrated in Fig. 5. An amount of liquid
22 is placed in the interior of cup 10, and in a preferred
embodiment, a liquid fill line 24 shows the user a preferred
level in which to add liquid. Liquid fill line can be one or
more lines visible on the exterior, the interior, or both
interior or exterior of the cup.
When conventional cups nest, typically various physical forces
hold the cups one to another and require an exertion force in
order to separate. The present invention has addressed this in
configuring a cup constructed and arranged for playing the game
described and enclosed herein. When two cups are in a nesting
position, as demonstrated in Fig. 5, one or more of releasing
ridges 16 prevent the nested cup from fully contacting the
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interior of the receiving cup. Because there is this space that
limits the contact, the cups are more easily separated.
It is contemplated that each player will have a single cup. One
player who is to start the game has a second cup nested within
their receiving cup. An amount of water is placed in the
nesting cup and the user launches the cup containing water from
the receiving cup towards an opposing player. The opposing
player must catch the water-containing cup without spilling the
water. It is further contemplated that sufficient water be
placed in the water-containing cup such that, when launched, the
cup remains substantially upright while in flight. As shown in
Fig. 1, a cup 10 with water 26 is caught by a cup 10 held by a
player (directional arrows showing motion of flying cup to be
caught by hand-held cup).
Fig. 4 shows the releasing ridge 16 associated with a bottoming
ledge 18 that will contact the outer surface of a cup nested
within a hand held cup. The releasing ridge 16 associated with a
bottoming ledge 18 prevent the outer surface of the nesting cup
from contacting the inner surface of the hand-held cup and
provides a configuration that allows for release when the
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nesting cup is launched outward from the hand-held cup (nesting
demonstrated in Fig. 5).
In one embodiment, not shown in the figures, the liquid level of
the cup is transparent or translucent. In another embodiment,
the entire cup is either transparent or translucent.
Further contemplated in playing the game of the present
invention would be a cup is launched and a person who catches a
cup receives a certain number of points. If the person
attempting to catch the cup drops the cup and/or spills the
water, points are subtracted.
While the invention has been described in its preferred form or
embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood
that this description has been given only by way of example and
that numerous changes in the details of construction,
fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement
of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
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