Game apparatus for propelling a projectile with a fluid spray

Abstract

The present invention provides game apparatus for playing a game using a pressurized fluid supply from a fluid source. The apparatus includes a playing surface attached to a frame, a projectile adapted to move on the playing surface, and a fluid delivery system including a fluid delivery device and a fluid conduit.

What is claimed as the invention is:  
     
         1 . A game apparatus comprising: 
 a fabric playing surface spread by a frame including a plurality of elongate rods;    a projectile; and    a device for directing a fluid stream towards the projectile to propel the projectile across the playing surface.    
     
     
         2 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the playing surface further comprises a containment wall supported by the frame.  
     
     
         3 . The game apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the frame is made of plastic.  
     
     
         4 . The game apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the frame is made of a plurality of individual segments adapted to be readily assembled and disassembled.  
     
     
         5 . The game apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the frame includes an arching segment spanning the playing surface.  
     
     
         6 . The game apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the arching segment includes a scoring indicator.  
     
     
         7 . The game apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the arching segment is adapted to receive the projectile.  
     
     
         8 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the projectile is a star-shaped puck.  
     
     
         9 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the projectile is a cylindrical puck.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for playing a game using a pressurized fluid supply from a fluid source, the apparatus comprising: 
 a playing surface attached to a frame;    a projectile adapted to move on the playing surface; and    a fluid delivery system comprising: 
 a fluid delivery device adapted to direct a fluid stream toward the projectile with sufficient force to move the projectile on the playing surface; and  
 a fluid delivery conduit adapted to receive the pressurized fluid supply and delivery the pressurized fluid supply to the fluid delivery device, the fluid delivery conduit being external to the frame.  
   
     
     
         11 . The game apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the fluid delivery conduit is uncoupled from the frame.  
     
     
         12 . The game apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the fluid source is a hose connected to a faucet and the fluid delivery conduit is configured to couple to the hose.  
     
     
         13 . The game apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the fluid delivery system includes at least two fluid delivery devices.  
     
     
         14 . The game apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the at least two fluid delivery devices are coupled to each other.  
     
     
         15 . The game apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the at least two fluid delivery devices receive the pressurized fluid supply from the same fluid source.  
     
     
         16 . The game apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the fluid source is received by a connector adapted to receive the pressurized fluid supply and partition the stream to the at least two fluid delivery devices.  
     
     
         17 . A game apparatus adapted to receive a pressurized fluid supply from a fluid source, the apparatus comprising: 
 a playing surface;    a projectile adapted to move on the playing surface; and    a fluid delivery system comprising: 
 a fluid delivery device adapted to direct a fluid stream toward the projectile with sufficient force to propel the projectile across the playing surface, the fluid delivery device being freely movable independent of the playing surface; and  
 a fluid delivery conduit adapted to receive the pressurized fluid supply and delivery the pressurized fluid supply to the fluid delivery device.  
   
     
     
         18 . The game apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the fluid delivery device includes a mechanism adapted to control delivery of the fluid stream.  
     
     
         19 . The game apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the mechanism adapted to control delivery of the fluid stream is a trigger.  
     
     
         20 . The game apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the fluid delivery device and trigger are adapted to be held and operated by one hand.  
     
     
         21 . A game apparatus adapted to receive a pressurized fluid supply from a fluid source, the apparatus comprising: 
 a fabric playing surface surrounded by a containment wall, the playing surface and containment wall being supported by a frame;    a projectile; and    a fluid delivery system comprising: 
 a fluid delivery device adapted to direct a fluid stream toward the projectile with sufficient force to move the projectile on the playing surface, the fluid delivery device being freely movable independent of the playing surface; and  
 a fluid delivery conduit adapted to receive the pressurized fluid supply and delivery the pressurized supply of fluid to the fluid delivery device, the fluid delivery conduit being external to the frame.