Portable horseshoes game

Abstract

A portable horseshoes game that includes a flexible mat, one or more rigid poles configured to extend substantially perpendicularly from the flexible mat, and one or more throwing shoes. Each throwing shoe has a base section and two arm sections extending from opposing ends of the base section. A width of a gap between the two arm sections is larger than a diameter of the one or more rigid poles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable horseshoes game comprising:
 a flexible mat;   one or more rigid poles configured to extend substantially perpendicularly from the flexible mat; and   one or more throwing shoes, each throwing shoe comprising a base section and two arm sections extending from opposing ends of the base section, wherein a width of a gap between the two arm sections is larger than a diameter of the one or more rigid poles.   
     
     
         2 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more throwing shoes and at least a pit area of the flexible mat comprise corresponding hook and loop fastener material such that the throwing shoes engage at least the pit area of the flexible mat when thrown, wherein the pit area is a portion of the flexible mat immediately surrounding the one or more rigid poles. 
     
     
         3 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 2 , wherein each throwing shoe comprises a patch of hook and loop fastener material on both sides of the base section and both sides of the two arm sections. 
     
     
         4 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 3 , wherein the patches of hook and loop fastener material on the two arm sections are disposed on distal portions of the two arm sections. 
     
     
         5 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible mat comprises two pit areas disposed adjacent opposing ends of the flexible mat. 
     
     
         6 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , wherein an underside of the flexible mat comprises neoprene material. 
     
     
         7 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , wherein an entire top surface of the flexible mat comprises hook and loop fastener material. 
     
     
         8 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible mat comprises one or more areas for displaying advertisements. 
     
     
         9 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible mat is rollable. 
     
     
         10 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rigid poles are detachably coupleable with the flexible mat. 
     
     
         11 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more rigid poles are configured to extend through one or more holes in the flexible mat, the one or more rigid poles comprising a base that is larger than the one or more holes such that the base does not completely pass through the one or more holes. 
     
     
         12 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment device configured to detachably couple the flexible mat to a billiards table. 
     
     
         13 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment device configured to detachably couple the flexible mat to a tailgate of a pickup truck. 
     
     
         14 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more throwing shoes and at least a pit area of the flexible mat comprise corresponding magnetic material such that the throwing shoes magnetically engage the pit area of the flexible mat when thrown, wherein the pit area is a portion of the flexible mat immediately surrounding the one or more rigid poles. 
     
     
         15 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flexible mat, the one or more poles, and the one or more throwing shoes comprises a glow-in-the-dark material. 
     
     
         16 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the flexible mat, the one or more poles, and the one or more throwing shoes comprises markings configured to fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         17 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more throwing shoes are made from a transparent plastic material. 
     
     
         18 . The portable horseshoes game of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more throwing shoes have light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         19 . A portable horseshoes game comprising:
 a flexible mat comprising two pit areas disposed adjacent opposing ends of the flexible mat, wherein an underside of the flexible mat comprises neoprene material, wherein the flexible mat is rollable;   one or more rigid poles configured to extend substantially perpendicularly from the flexible mat; and   one or more throwing shoes, each throwing shoe comprising a base section and two arm sections extending from opposing ends of the base section, wherein a width of a gap between the two arm sections is larger than a diameter of the one or more rigid poles;   wherein the one or more throwing shoes and the two pit areas of the flexible mat comprise corresponding hook and loop fastener material such that the throwing shoes engage at least the pit area of the flexible mat when thrown, wherein the pit area is a portion of the flexible mat immediately surrounding the one or more rigid poles.   
     
     
         20 . A method for portable horseshoes, the method comprising:
 unrolling a flexible mat, the flexible mat comprising two pit areas disposed adjacent opposing ends of the flexible mat, wherein each pit area comprises a hole extending through the flexible mat;   placing the flexible mat on a desired playing surface; and   inserting a rigid pole through the hole in each pit area, wherein a base of each rigid pole remains disposed underneath the flexible mat.