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  Portable game device and method of useUSPTO Application #: 20060226606Title: Portable game device and method of use Abstract: A playing field is used with a drinking game involving a plurality of cups. It has a playing surface with a means for maintaining the playing surface in a horizontal position. The playing surface is disposed on a planar member and has cup-receiving recesses. In some embodiments, the playing field is a planar member that rests upon a table, while in other embodiments the playing field is a table. The planar member may have first and second portions that are joined along an edge of each portion. The playing surface may be adapted for illumination from at least one light source positioned below the playing surface. A raised edge may be provided around a periphery of the playing surface, especially with a plurality of cup-receiving recesses along each of a pair of opposing sides of the playing surface. (end of abstract) Agent: Standley Law Group LLP - Dublin, OH, US Inventors: Scott FINLEY, Thomas DELONG, Kurt DOLL USPTO Applicaton #: 20060226606 - Class: 273342000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Aerial Projectile Game; Game Element (e.g., Target, Etc.) Or Accessory Therefor Other Than Projector Or Projectile, Per Se, Upwardly Facing Projectile-bounce Surface The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060226606. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/670,539, filed 12 Apr. 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully recited herein. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to the field of game tables. More particularly, the present invention is a device for providing a play surface for one or more popular drinking games. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] There are many types of drinking games that require the use of a planar playing surface, especially a table. Among these are games commonly referred to as "Beer Pong" and "Flip-Cup." [0004] In "Beer Pong" and its variants, cups containing a beverage, typically an alcoholic beverage, are placed near opposing ends of the play surface, in a configuration determined by the rules of the particular game. The game is played by two sides, each side consisting of one or more players, but usually with an equal number of players on each side. The sides stand at the respective ends of the playing surface, behind one set of the cups. In turn, a player from each side attempts to propel an object, usually a ball, and typically a ping-pong ball, from the team's end of the playing surface into one of the cups at the opposite end of the playing surface, causing it to rest therein. In some variants of the game, the object is thrown; in other variants, the object is batted with a paddle or the like. In some variants of the game, the side on the offense has the opportunity to take two successive attempts. [0005] Depending upon the particular set of rules adopted, the defending side may defend its cups. In one variation, no defense is permitted, yet in other variants, the defending side may use hands, a paddle or the like. If a ball comes to rest in a defending side's cup, the defending side must drink the contents thereof and the cup is removed from the playing field. When two balls are used and the offensive side is successful in landing both in the cups, the defensive side may be required to remove an additional cup from play and drink its contents. As cups are removed from play, some rule variations allow (or require) re-arrangement of the remaining cups. The side to remove all of the opponent's cups from the playing surface is the winner, and most rule variations require that the contents of any cups remaining on the winning side's end of the playing surface must be consumed by the losing side. [0006] It is common to play the game of "Beer Pong" in a round-robin or elimination-type tournament, with many matches occurring in a venue on a number of playing surfaces. In such a format, the state of inebriation of each side may depend upon its success (or lack thereof) in prior matches. [0007] The cups used in the game are usually of the disposable, plastic variety, typically with about a capacity of from about 10 to about 16 liquid ounces. A typical material for such a cup is poly(ethylene terephthalate), sometimes referred to as PETE. An amount of a beverage (usually 3 to 6 ounces) is added to each cup at the start of the game. Based on a 12-ounce can or bottle, about 2 to about 5 cans or bottles will be used per team per game to achieve this. A ping pong ball, with a nominal diameter of about 4 cm, will be about one-half the diameter of the open end of the cup, so it a reasonably sized for the game. Also, with its light weight and density, the ping pong ball keeps splashing down from that which would occur with a denser ball. [0008] The preferred playing field for this game is from about six to about eight feet long, with a width in the range of from about two to about three feet. The cups are typically arranged within 18 inches from an end of the playing field, but usually no closer than about 4 inches from an end. As such, the preferred playing field is slightly shorter in length than a conventional table tennis table, and about one-half as wide. The preferred playing field is similar in shape and size to that of the surface of a door. The playing field is usually placed in a flat horizontal position about 29 inches off of the floor, that is, at the approximate height of a conventional table. [0009] Until now, Beer Pong players have had to play the game on a variety of makeshift playing fields, including kitchen tables, homemade tables, and old doors, all of which are generally inadequate. Since the size of the playing surface is not standardized and because it is not primarily intended for use in the game, the cups are not placed consistently thereon. This can unfairly affect the difficulty of the game. To promote fairness, it is important that cups are placed in the same starting and regrouping positions on each end of the playing surface, and that this placement is consistent from game to game. It is therefore desirable for the game to be played on a surface that mandates the correct placement of cups. [0010] Published US Patent application 2005/0029747 A1 to Grayson describes a drinking game cup holder that provides a plurality of cup-receiving openings. The holder places the cups within the holder in a correct relationship, but it does not provide a means for correctly positioning the cups at the opposite ends relative to each other. To this extent, the Grayson '747 published application exemplifies the fact that the game has been commonly played on a variety of make-shift playing fields. [0011] Published US Patent application 2004/0188942 A1 to Trokan describes a non-alcoholic drinking game system, but the invention is concerned with the game rules and physical properties of the balls used in the game. While the published Trokan '942 discloses the triangular arrangement of the drinking cups used and the general size of the playing field used, it does not describe a playing field particularly adapted for use with the game. [0012] "Flip Cup" is another drinking game that is played in many of the same venues as "Beer Pong." In "Flip Cup," two opposing teams line up across from each other at a table. Each player has a cup, filled with beverage. Starting at one end of the table, the first player on each team consumes the beverage in his cup and places the emptied cup, upright, along the table edge, with a portion of the cup bottom extending over the edge. The player strikes this portion of the cup bottom from below, attempting to flip the cup into an upside down position on the table. If the attempt is unsuccessful, the player places the cup again and repeats the flip attempt until successful. The game proceeds in the manner of a relay race, with each team member starting only after the prior team member has succeeded. The first team to successfully drink and flip all of its cups is the winner. [0013] As with Beer Pong, Flip Cup can become very messy. The ability to contain spillage on the table is quite desirable. It is also desirable to have a landing surface that is slight lower than the flipping surface. It can be difficult to find a playing surface that is long enough to accommodate enough Flip Cup players, since Flip Cup is often played at large parties, where many players wish to participate. [0014] Even in a commercial drinking establishment, it may be desirable to have a portable playing surface for playing games such as Beer Pong and/or Flip Cup, so that the playing surface may be readily moved for cleaning and may be readily stowed away when not in use. [0015] It is therefore an unmet advantage of the prior art to provide a standardized playing surface for drinking games such as Beer Pong and/or Flip Cup that is readily portable and easily cleaned after use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0016] This and other advantages are provided by a playing field for use with a drinking game involving a plurality of cups. The playing field comprises a planar playing surface and a means for maintaining the playing surface in a horizontal position. The playing surface is disposed on a planar member and is adapted for placement of the plurality of cups on the playing surface. [0017] In some embodiments, the position-maintaining means comprises a planar surface opposite the playing surface, while in other embodiments, the position-maintaining means comprises a set of support legs. [0018] In some embodiments, the planar member comprises first and second portions that are joined along an edge of each portion. [0019] A plurality of cup-receiving recesses formed at each end of the playing surface provide for the placement of the cups. [0020] In some embodiments, the playing surface is adapted for illumination from at least one light source positioned therebelow. Continue reading... Full patent description for Portable game device and method of use Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Portable game device and method of use patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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