Bottle ball game

Abstract

A game adaptable to substantially mimic playing or scoring aspects of a variety of sports while making substantial use of inexpensive commonly available components, such as, for example, glass or plastic bottles, such as water, soda, or beer bottles; ping pong balls; cardboard drink coasters; and drinking straws. The bottle elevates and supports a scoring structure. A basketball embodiment is disclosed operable to substantially mimic a ball-shooting aspect of basketball. The basketball scoring structure includes a backboard and a basket coupled with the bottle; a ball, such as a ping pong ball, is provided for shooting. A football embodiment is also disclosed, wherein the football scoring structure includes a goal post assembly, partly constructed of conventional drinking straws; a ball is provided for “kicking”. Possible rules and variations thereof are provided for each embodiment.

1 . A game that substantially mimics an aspect of a sport, the game comprising: 
 a scoring structure operable to accommodate a ball in a manner substantially mimicking a scoring aspect of the sport; and    a mechanism for removably coupling the scoring structure with a bottle to thereby position the scoring structure for playing.    
     
     
         2 . The game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bottle is an open glass bottle.  
     
     
         3 . The game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bottle is a closed plastic bottle.  
     
     
         4 . The game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bottle is weighted with a weighting material to aid stability.  
     
     
         5 . The game as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a shot ramp operable, in cooperation with a force applied to the ball, to launch the ball upward and toward the scoring structure.  
     
     
         6 . The game as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a backstop having a net, wherein the backstop is operable to facilitate preventing the ball, once the ball has been launched toward the scoring structure, from traveling substantially beyond the backstop.  
     
     
         7 . The game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the scoring structure substantially mimics an actual scoring structure used in the sport of basketball, the scoring structure comprising: 
 a backboard providing a surface for deflecting the ball, wherein the backboard is coupled with the bottle so as to be supported in a playing position; and    a basket coupled with the backboard and including a rim and a tubular net, wherein the rim is operable to pass the ball and the tubular net depends from the rim.    
     
     
         8 . The game as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the backboard includes a cardboard drink coaster.  
     
     
         9 . The game as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the scoring structure further includes a retaining clip operable to removably couple the backboard with the bottle.  
     
     
         10 . The game as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the game further includes a ball deflector piece coupled with the bottle directly below the net and operable to deflect the ball back into play.  
     
     
         11 . The game as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the ball deflector piece includes a cardboard drink coaster.  
     
     
         12 . The game as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the game further includes a circular shot ring operable to define an area wherein the ball must appear prior to entering the basket.  
     
     
         13 . The game as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the game further includes a shot blocking device comprising a handle coupled with a paddle and operable to block the ball from entering the basket.  
     
     
         14 . The game as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the handle of the shot blocking device includes a drinking straw.  
     
     
         15 . The game as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the ball is a ping pong ball.  
     
     
         16 . The scoring structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the scoring structure substantially mimics an actual scoring structure used in the sport of football, the scoring structure comprising: 
 a goal post oriented substantially vertically, wherein the goal post is coupled with the bottle so as to be supported in a playing position;    a crossbar oriented substantially perpendicular to the goal post, with a midpoint of the crossbar being coupled with an upper end of the goalpost; and    a left upright and a right upright both oriented perpendicular to the crossbar, with a lower end of each upright being coupled with a left end and a right end, respectively, of the crossbar, wherein the uprights are spaced sufficiently apart so as to allow the ball to pass therebetween.    
     
     
         17 . The game as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the left upright and the right upright each include a drinking straw.  
     
     
         18 . The game as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the spacing of the left upright and the right upright on the crossbar is variable.  
     
     
         19 . The game as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the scoring structure further includes a retaining clip operable to removably couple the goal post with the bottle.  
     
     
         20 . The game as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the game further includes a kicking tee operable to support the ball in a playing position.  
     
     
         21 . The game as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the kicking tee is operable to removably affix to a playing surface.  
     
     
         22 . The game as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the game further includes a kicking device operable to transfer a force to the ball.  
     
     
         23 . A game that substantially mimics an aspect of a sport of basketball, the game comprising: 
 a scoring structure operable to couple with a bottle and to thereby be positioned for playing, the scoring structure being further operable to accommodate a ball in a manner substantially mimicking a scoring aspect of basketball, the scoring structure including—
 a backboard providing a surface for deflecting the ball,  
 a retaining clip for coupling the backboard with the bottle so as to position the backboard in a playing position, and  
 a basket coupled with the backboard and including a rim and a tubular net, wherein the rim is operable to pass the ball and the tubular net depends from the rim;  
   a ball deflector piece coupled with the bottle directly below the net and operable to deflect the ball back into play;    a circular shot ring operable to define an area wherein the ball must appear prior to entering the basket; and    a shot blocking device comprising a handle and a paddle and operable to block the ball from entering the basket.    
     
     
         24 . The game as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the bottle is an open glass bottle.  
     
     
         25 . The game as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the bottle is a closed plastic bottle.  
     
     
         26 . The game as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the bottle is weighted with a weighting material to aid stability.  
     
     
         27 . The game as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the backboard includes a cardboard drink coaster.  
     
     
         28 . The game as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the ball deflector piece includes a cardboard drink coaster.  
     
     
         29 . The game as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the handle of the shot blocking device includes a drinking straw.  
     
     
         30 . The game as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the ball is a ping pong ball.  
     
     
         31 . The game as set forth in  claim 23 , further including a shot ramp operable, in cooperation with a force applied to the ball, to launch the ball upward and toward the scoring structure.  
     
     
         32 . A game that substantially mimics an aspect of a sport of football, the game comprising: 
 a scoring structure operable to couple with a bottle and to thereby be positioned for playing, the scoring structure being further operable to accommodate a ball in a manner substantially mimicking a scoring aspect of football, the scoring structure including—
 a goal post oriented substantially vertically, wherein the goal post is coupled with the bottle so as to be supported in a playing position,  
 a crossbar oriented substantially perpendicular to the goal post, with a midpoint of the crossbar being coupled with an upper end of the goalpost, and  
 a left upright and a right upright both oriented perpendicular to the crossbar, with a lower end of each upright being coupled with a left end and a right end, respectively, of the crossbar, wherein the uprights are spaced sufficiently apart so as to allow the ball to pass therebetween;  
   a kicking tee operable to support the ball in a playing position; and    a kicking device operable to transfer a force to the ball.    
     
     
         33 . The game as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the bottle is an open glass bottle.  
     
     
         34 . The game as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the bottle is a closed plastic bottle.  
     
     
         35 . The game as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the bottle is weighted with a weighting material to aid stability.  
     
     
         36 . The game as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the kicking tee is operable to removably affix to a playing surface.  
     
     
         37 . The game as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the left upright and the right upright each include a drinking straw.  
     
     
         38 . The game as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the spacing of the left upright and the right upright on the crossbar is variable.  
     
     
         39 . The game as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the scoring structure further includes a retaining clip operable to removably couple the goal post with the bottle.  
     
     
         40 . The game as set forth in  claim 32 , further including a backstop having a net, wherein the backstop is operable to facilitate preventing the ball, once the ball has been launched toward the scoring structure, from traveling substantially beyond the backstop.  
     
     
         41 . The game as set forth in  claim 40 , wherein the two rods are each supported by a respective bottle.