BucketBall, a ball tossing game

Abstract

An apparatus and a method of play for a ball tossing game are disclosed. The apparatus includes one (1) bucket that stands alone at the center of an irregular pentagon board, four (4) buckets aligned at the center of an inclined board, and one (1) spherical ball. The irregular pentagon board and the inclined board are positioned at a distance from each other, with an equal number of players on each side representing a team. The game can be played outdoors or indoors with ample open space. The ball is tossed at the inclined board in turn with each toss being evaluated. Both teams are actively engaged in play at all times. The game is played until the completion of a predetermined number of team turns and a winner is declared as the team with the higher score.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus and a method to play a ball tossing game played on a supporting surface comprising of:
 one (1) bucket that stands alone at the center of an irregular pentagon board (Home Plate);   four (4) buckets which are aligned in a linear fashion with the brims touching at the center of an inclined board (Outfield Board);   one (1) spherical ball;   
       wherein the Home Plate and Outfield Board are spaced a predetermined distance apart resting on the supporting surface, so said ball may be tossed and come to rest in the bottom of a bucket. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the Home Plate and Outfield Board are constructed of any suitable material such as plastic or metal. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is constructed of any suitable material such as plastic or rubber. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the Home Plate further comprises of one (1) bucket with the bottom having a predetermined diameter, said diameter of top is larger than said diameter of bottom;
 said bucket having a top surface parallel to the supporting surface.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the Outfield Board further comprises of four (4) buckets aligned in a straight line with the bottom having a predetermined diameter, said diameter of top is larger than said diameter of bottom;
 said Outfield Board having an inclined surface and said buckets having a top surface equal height from and parallel to the supporting surface.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said ball has a diameter at least sixty percent (60%) of the top diameter of the buckets. 
     
     
         7 . A method of playing a ball tossing game, including the steps of:
 positioning the Home Plate and Outfield Board a given distance apart from each other on the supporting surface;   establishing two teams, each team consisting of an equal number of players;   establishing a tossing lineup for each team;   establishing a home team and away team;   positioning all away team players behind the Home Plate to begin the game;   positioning all home team players behind the front plane of the Outfield Board to begin the game;   tossing of ball by away team players in turn at the Outfield Board;   evaluating each toss of ball by registering it as a hit, strike, walk, out and/or runs;   having teams alternate positions after three (3) outs have been recorded in every one-half inning played;   determining a winner of the ball toss game.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , said step of establishing a home team and away team by tossing the ball includes the steps of:
 players from alternating teams take tosses with the ball at the Outfield Board until one player is the first to have the ball come to rest in one of the Outfield Board buckets;   whereby that player's team chooses to be the home team or away team.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , said step of evaluating each toss includes the steps of:
 determining whether the ball comes to rest inside one (1) of the four (4) buckets of the Outfield Board without making contact with the supporting surface;   registering a single hit by a team which said current tossing player is on if ball comes to rest in the first bucket located from the front of the Outfield Board;   registering a double hit by a team which said current tossing player is on if ball comes to rest in the second bucket from the front of the Outfield Board;   registering a triple hit by a team which said current tossing player is on if ball comes to rest in the third bucket from the front of the Outfield Board;   registering a homerun hit by a team which said current tossing player is on if ball comes to rest in the fourth bucket from the front of the Outfield Board.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , said step of evaluating each toss further includes the steps of:
 determining whether the ball initially makes physical contact with any portion of the Outfield Board, including the buckets, without coming to rest inside (1) one of the buckets or is not caught on a bounce off the Outfield Board buckets by any of the fielding team players;   registering a strike by a team which said current tossing player is on;   determining whether the ball fails to initially makes physical contact with at least (1) of the buckets of the Outfield Board on said current player's third toss;   registering a strike-out by a team which said current tossing player is on.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , said step of evaluating each toss further includes the steps of:
 determining whether the ball initially makes physical contact with at least (1) of the buckets of the Outfield Board on four consecutive tosses by said current player without coming to rest inside (1) one of the buckets and without being caught on a bounce off the buckets by any of the fielding team players;   registering a walk by a team which said current tossing player is on.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , said step of evaluating each toss further includes the steps of:
 determining whether a tossing player tosses out of sequence from the established tossing lineup;   registering an out by a team which said current tossing player is on;   determining whether a tossing player steps on or over Home Plate during their tossing motion;   registering an out by a team which said current tossing player is on;   determining whether the ball fails to make any physical contact with the Outfield Board;   registering an out by a team which said current tossing player is on;   determining whether the ball initially makes physical contact with at least (1) of the buckets of the Outfield Board, bounces, and is caught by a fielder on the defensive team before said ball makes physical contact with any other surface besides a player;   registering an out by a team which said current tossing player is on;   determining whether said defensive player tosses the caught ball from the spot of the catch into the Home Plate bucket where it comes to rest without making physical contact with the supporting surface or any foreign object when an imaginary base runner exists on first base;   registering two (2) outs by a team which said current tossing player is on.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , said step of evaluating each toss further includes the steps of:
 determining the location of imaginary base runners from all registered hits;   advancing all imaginary base runners by force with each registered hit;   scoring a run for each base runner that reaches home plate.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , said step of determining a winner includes the steps of:
 determining if one team has scored more runs than the other team at the completion of playing all innings;   declaring that team with a higher run score as winner of the game;   determining if the teams have scored an equal amount of runs at the completion of playing all innings;   playing extra innings until one team has a higher score than the other team at the completion of an extra inning;   declaring that team with a higher run score as winner of the game.