Tabletop horseshoes game systems

Abstract

A tabletop scaled-down horseshoes game system primarily for use indoors that includes a substantially horizontal playing surface and a pair of scaled-down posts to be used as the target for tossed scaled-down horseshoes. An embodiment for use in commercial establishments provides a token means to activate the game, a means to change and display each player's score, a means to keep track of and display game time, and a means to pneumatically lower the posts when the game is over. The commercial establishment game may also incorporate a vending machine to dispense the scaled-down horseshoes to be used with the game system.

1 ) A horseshoes game system, using at least one scaled-down game “horseshoe”, comprising: 
 a) at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board having at least one substantially horizontal playing surface to play scaled-down horseshoes on said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board; and    b) at least one supporter having at least one pre-set support height to support said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board at said at least one pre-set support height;    c) wherein said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board comprises at least one post to provide at least one vertically impingeable target to which the at least one scaled-down game “horseshoe” may be tossed; and    d) wherein said at least one supporter comprises at least one foldable leg.    
   
   
       2 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one post is fixed.  
   
   
       3 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 1  further comprising such at least one scaled-down game “horseshoe”.  
   
   
       4 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board is structured and arranged to be supportable by at least one game table horizontal surface.  
   
   
       5 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one set of scoring beads situate along at least one rod adapted to assist scorekeeping of the horseshoe game system.  
   
   
       6 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 5  wherein: 
 a) said at least one set of scoring beads comprises indicia; and    b) said at least one set of scoring beads comprises twenty-one beads.    
   
   
       7 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one substantially horizontal playing surface comprises indicia.  
   
   
       8 ) A horseshoes game system, using at least one scaled-down game “horseshoe”, comprising: 
 a) at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board having at least one substantially horizontal playing surface to play scaled-down horseshoes on said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board;    b) wherein said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board comprises at least one post comprising at least one vertically impingeable target to which the at least one scaled-down game-horseshoe may be tossed; and    c) wherein said at least one post comprises at least one pneumatic post activator structured and arranged to 
 i) raise said at least one post to at least one target position; and  
 ii) lower said at least one post to at least one non-target position.  
   
   
   
       9 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 8  wherein 
 said at least one pneumatic post activator comprises: 
 i) at least one first pneumatic element adapted to raise said at least one post to the at least one target position when said at least one pneumatic post activator is activated; and  
 ii) at least one second pneumatic element adapted to lower said at least one post to the at least one non-target position when said at least one pneumatic post activator is de-activated.  
   
   
   
       10 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 8  wherein said at least one post is removably attached to said at least one pneumatic post activator.  
   
   
       11 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 8  further comprising such at least one scaled-down game “horseshoe”.  
   
   
       12 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 8  wherein said at least one substantially horizontal playing surface comprises indicia.  
   
   
       13 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 8  further comprising at least one supporter having at least one pre-set support height to support said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board to said at least one pre-set support height.  
   
   
       14 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 13  further comprising at least one illuminator to assist illumination below said at least one pre-set support height.  
   
   
       15 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a) at least one game activator having at least one activation mode and at least one deactivation mode structured and arranged to activate said at least one pneumatic post activator;    b) wherein the activating of said at least one game activator raises said at least one post to the at least one target position; and    c) wherein the de-activating of said at least one game activator lowers said at least one post to the at least one non-target position.    
   
   
       16 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 15  wherein said at least one game activator comprises: 
 a) at least one monetary acceptor structured and arranged to receive at least one pre-set monetary amount;    b) wherein said at least one monetary acceptor activates said at least one game activator upon receiving the at least one pre-set monetary amount.    
   
   
       17 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 15  wherein said at least one game activator comprises at least one timer having at least one time limiter structured and arranged to activate said at least one game activator for at least one specific time period.  
   
   
       18 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 9  further comprising at least one air-operated piston assembly structured and arranged to: 
 a) raise said at least one post to the at least one target position when activated; and    b) lower said at least one post to the at least one non-target position when de-activated;    c) wherein said at least one air-operated piston assembly comprises said at least one first pneumatic element and said at least one second pneumatic element.    
   
   
       19 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 8  further comprising at least one scoreboard.  
   
   
       20 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 19  wherein said at least one scoreboard comprises at least one three-button scoring system having: 
 a) at least one one-point button;    b) at least one two-point button; and    c) at least one three-point button.    
   
   
       21 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 19  wherein: 
 a) said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board comprises a fixed perimeter; and    b) wherein said at least one scoreboard is flatly transportable within said fixed perimeter.    
   
   
       22 ) The horseshoes game system according to  claim 8  wherein said at least one post is structured and arranged to permit normal accidental pressure to lower said at least one post without causing serious damage to human tissue.  
   
   
       23 ) A horseshoes game system, using at least one scaled-down game “horseshoe”, comprising: 
 a) at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board having at least one substantially horizontal playing surface to play scaled-down horseshoes on said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board; and    b) wherein said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board comprises at least one post to provide at least one vertically impingeable target to which the at least one scaled-down game “horseshoe” may be tossed; and    c) at least one set of scoring beads adapted to assist scorekeeping of such horseshoe game system.    
   
   
       24 ) A horseshoes game system, using at least one scaled-down game “horseshoe”, comprising: 
 a) at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board having at least one substantially horizontal playing surface to play scaled-down horseshoes on said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board; and    b) at least one supporter having at least one pre-set support height to support said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board at said at least one pre-set support height;    c) wherein said at least one scaled-down “horseshoes”-game playing board comprises at least one post to provide at least one vertically impingeable target to which the at least one scaled-down game “horseshoe” may be tossed; and    d) at least one illuminator adapted to assist locating and illuminating of at least one scaled-down game “horseshoe” below said at least one pre-set support height.