Resilient coil toy and game, a kit and a method for playing a game

Abstract

A toy and a game are provided as well as a method for playing a game. The toy includes a resilient coil that has an attachment surface for picking up an article or target with a complementary attachment surface associated with the article or target. The toy and the article may be provided as a kit. One or more players may use the coil to pick-up one or more articles or targets. Points may be accumulated based on designated values that may be given to the articles or targets.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A toy comprising: 
 a resilient coil having a first end and a second end; and    an attachment surface associated with the second end of the coil.    
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein the resilient coil is formed from a helically-wound member that forms a plurality of loops.  
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a top loop at the first end of the coil; and  
 a bottom loop at the second end of the coil.  
 
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a strap adapted to attach the coil to a hand of a user.  
 
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a strap extending at the first end of the coil wherein the strap has two free ends adapted to wrap around a hand of a user to secure the coil to a hand of the user.  
 
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 means for securing one of the free ends of the strap to the other one of the free ends of the strap.  
 
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 5  wherein one of the free ends has one of a hook and loop fabric and the other one of the free ends has a hook and loop fabric.  
     
     
         8 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 one of a hook and loop fabric associated with the second end of the coil.  
 
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a tacky surface associated with the attachment surface.  
 
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an elastic member securing the first end of the coil to the second end of the coil.  
 
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein the coil is expandable to a length of at least two feet between the first end and the second end of the coil.  
     
     
         12 . A toy kit comprising: 
 a resilient coil having a first and a second end;    an attachment surface associated with the second end of the coil; and    an article having an engaging surface adapted to be attachable to the attachment surface on the second end of the resilient coil.    
     
     
         13 . The toy kit of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a strap secured to the first end of the coil for securing the coil to a hand of a user.  
 
     
     
         14 . The toy kit of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a hook and loop fabric associated with the second end of the coil and a complementary hook and loop fabric associated with the article.  
 
     
     
         15 . The toy kit of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a tacky surface associated with the second end of the coil; and  
 a surface associated with the article adapted to stick to the tacky surface on the second end of the coil.  
 
     
     
         16 . The toy kit of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a point designation associated with the article.  
 
     
     
         17 . The toy kit of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a second article having an engaging surface adapted to be attachable to the attachment surface on the second end of the resilient coil.  
 
     
     
         18 . A method for playing a game, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a resilient coil having a first end and a second end and having an attachment surface associated with the second end of the coil; and    providing an article at a predetermined distance away from the first player wherein the article has an engagement surface adapted to be attachable to the attachment surface on the second end of the coil wherein a first player extends the coil outwards over the predetermined distance to pick up the article.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of: 
 establishing a time frame to attempt to pick up the article.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of: 
 permitting one or more additional players to use the coil to retrieve the article.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of: 
 marking the article with a point designation.  
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of: 
 providing a second article at another predetermined distance away from the first player wherein the second article has an engagement surface adapted to be attachable to the attachment surface on the second end of the coil.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of: 
 marking the second article with a point designation.