Method and Apparatus for a Game

Abstract

An apparatus and method for a game, in which a ball, token, or other projectile is propelled onto a game board. The game board is slightly raised from an adjacent playing surface. The game board might be comprised of a grid or set of ball-retaining depressions. The board would also contain a target area or aperture through which the projectile can pass. The object of the game is to get all the projectiles through the target aperture. To successfully propel or bounce a projectile onto the game board, the projectile must come to rest inside one of the projectile-retaining depressions or else pass through the target aperture. Players take turns propelling the projectiles onto the game board, moving the projectiles toward the target, or making jumps over other projectiles on the game board. The first player to get all his or her projectiles through the target wins.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for playing a game, comprising:
 providing a game board, wherein the game board includes a game surface having a plurality of depressions;   providing a plurality of game pieces, wherein each of the plurality of depressions is shaped to retain one of the plurality of game pieces;   projecting at least one of the plurality of game pieces onto the game surface, wherein the at least one of the plurality of game pieces is retained by one of the plurality of depressions;   selecting from a group of strategic moves; and   advancing the at least one of the plurality of game pieces retained by the one of the plurality of depressions in accordance with the selected strategic move.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein projecting the at least one of the plurality of game pieces includes bouncing the at least one of the plurality of game pieces off a surface supporting the game board toward the game surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the group of strategic moves includes moving a selected game piece of the plurality of game pieces to an adjacent depression and jumping the selected game piece over a second game piece retained in the adjacent depression. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the group of strategic moves includes a chain of jumps. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising repeating the steps of projecting the at least one of the plurality of game pieces, selecting from the group of strategic moves and advancing the at least one of the plurality of game pieces to pass the plurality of game pieces of one player through a target aperture on the game surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a plurality of game cards, wherein each of the plurality of game cards illustrates a pattern of depressions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising positioning one or more of the plurality of game pieces retained by the plurality of depressions according to the pattern illustrated by one of the plurality of game cards. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game surface has a target aperture substantially centered on the game surface, further comprising advancing one or more of the plurality of game pieces through the target aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of advancing one or more of the plurality of game pieces includes projecting the one or more of the plurality of game pieces directly into the target aperture. 
     
     
         10 . A game, comprising:
 a game board including a game surface surrounded by a boundary, wherein the game surface includes a plurality of depressions and a target aperture, wherein the target aperture is substantially centered on the game surface; and   a plurality of game pieces, wherein each of the game pieces is capable of being retained by any one of the depressions and going through the target aperture.   
     
     
         11 . The game of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of depressions includes an aperture at a base of the depression. 
     
     
         12 . The game of  claim 10 , wherein the game board is formed using an injection-molding process. 
     
     
         13 . The game of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of game cards, wherein each of the plurality of game cards illustrates a pattern of depressions. 
     
     
         14 . The game of  claim 10 , wherein the game board is hexagonal in shape. 
     
     
         15 . The game of  claim 10 , wherein the game board is vacuum formed. 
     
     
         16 . The game of  claim 10 , wherein the game board is collapsible. 
     
     
         17 . The game of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a plurality of side supports that support the game surface when the game board is assembled; and   at least one removable clip, wherein when the game board is assembled, the plurality of side supports are connected with the at least one removable clip.   
     
     
         18 . The game of  claim 10 , wherein the game board includes an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion includes the game surface, wherein the lower portion includes side supports. 
     
     
         19 . The game of  claim 18 , wherein the lower portion is shaped as a tray. 
     
     
         20 . A method for playing a game, comprising:
 providing a game board, wherein the game board includes a game surface having a plurality of depressions and a target aperture, wherein the target aperture is substantially centered on the game surface;   providing a plurality of game pieces, wherein each of the plurality of depressions is shaped to retain any one of the plurality of game pieces;   projecting at least one of the plurality of game pieces toward the game surface;   selecting from a group of strategic moves and moving a selected game piece of the plurality of game pieces retained by one of the plurality of depressions, wherein the group of strategic moves includes moving the selected game piece to an adjacent depression and jumping the game piece over a game piece retained in the adjacent depression; and   repeating the steps of projecting the at least one of the plurality of game pieces, selecting from the group of strategic moves and moving the selected game piece, until all of the plurality of game pieces for a player are passed through the target aperture.