Teardrop Ring Tossing Game

Abstract

The present invention includes a game of skill and a game piece generally comprising a single strip having first and second ends, wherein said first and second ends are attached to one another to form a single endless ring having a corner on one side of said ring and a teardrop-shaped opposing side opposite said corner. In some embodiments the ring is a single continuous piece. Alternative embodiments of the present invention call for the game piece to be flexible, and for utilizing attachment mechanisms and curvature retention mechanisms to further adjust and retain the curvature of the ring, all for the purpose of affecting the trajectory of the ring when thrown.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing entertainment comprising the step of throwing a game piece in a lateral direction with the object of causing the game piece to land in a certain place, said game piece comprising a single continuous open-ended teardrop-shaped ring formed from a flat strip that is bendable in a first plane but not bendable in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane, said strip having opposite ends that are attached to each other forming a corner, said piece having an open interior such that said game piece travels in a non-parabolic trajectory when thrown. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein throwing the game piece comprises axially rotating the game piece in the first plane. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the axial rotation results in a sharp downward change in a trajectory of the thrown game piece. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting an angle of the corner, wherein adjusting the angle of the corner influences a trajectory of the thrown game piece. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the opposite ends of the strip are attached by an adjustable joint having an angle that is adjustable within the first plane. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said strip is deformable to adjust an interior angle of the corner. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the deformability of said strip at a side opposite to the corner is greater than the deformability of the rest of said strip. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said game piece has a generally piriform cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said game piece has a generally lemniscates cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the corner has an interior angle of less than about one hundred degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the center of gravity of said game piece is at a different location than the geometric center of said game piece. 
     
     
         12 . A method of providing entertainment comprising the steps of:
 a. making a first throw of a game piece at a first velocity with the object of causing the game piece to land at a targeted place, the game piece comprising a single continuous tear drop-shaped ring formed from a flat strip that is bendable in a first plane but not bendable in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane, said strip having opposite ends that are attached to each other forming a corner, the game piece having an open interior such that said game piece travels in a non-parabolic trajectory when thrown;   b. observing where said game piece lands in comparison to said targeted place following said throw; and   c. making a second throw of one of said game piece or an identical game piece at a second velocity to land closer to said targeted place.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein an axial rotation is imparted to said game piece during said first throw. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein an axial rotation is imparted to said game piece during said second throw. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a first axial rotation is imparted to said game piece during said first throw, and a second axial rotation is imparted to said game piece during said second throw. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the same axial rotation is imparted to said game piece during said first throw, and during said second throw. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the center of gravity of said game piece is at a different location than the geometric center of said game piece. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing entertainment comprising throwing a game piece with the object of contacting a target, the game piece comprising a flat strip of material, the ends of which are connected at an acute angle to form a tear-drop cross-sectional shape with an open interior, wherein throwing the game piece includes inducing axial rotation in the first plane and the thrown game piece travels in a non-parabolic trajectory when thrown.