Gaming board and gaming set

Abstract

A gaming apparatus is disclosed. The gaming apparatus includes a main panel principally formed of a first material and possessing at least one opening, and a support member configured to maintain a front surface of the main panel at an oblique angle when the gaming apparatus is set on a horizontal surface. A damping portion of the front surface of the main panel includes a second material configured to substantially reduce a bouncing effect of a projectile when the projectile impacts the second material compared to when the projectile impacts the first material.

1 . A soft top gaming apparatus comprising:
 a panel of flexible material possessing at least one opening therein;   a rigid perimeter configured to support the panel of flexible material, and   a support member configured to maintain a front surface of the main panel at an oblique angle when the gaming apparatus is set on a horizontal surface.   
     
     
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         15 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the at least one opening includes a pattern of openings;   b. the at least one opening includes a reinforced opening lip;   c. the panel of flexible material includes a logo thereon;   d. the at least one opening is a blind recess;   e. the at least one opening is a through hole;   f. the at least one opening includes a pattern of openings arranged in a pyramidal pattern; and   g. the rigid perimeter has a rectangular, triangular, square, pentangular, or circular shape.   
     
     
         16 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support member includes a leg that is coupled to the rigid perimeter. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the leg includes two leg extensions that extend downwardly from the rigid perimeter and a leg crossbar that extends between distal ends of the respective leg extensions. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein corner attachment mechanisms attach respective distal ends of the leg extensions to the leg crossbar. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the corner attachment mechanisms are elbow fittings. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the panel of flexible material includes sleeves or flaps that are configured to couple the panel of flexible material to the rigid perimeter. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid perimeter includes two longitudinal perimeter rails extending in a first direction and two transverse perimeter rails which extend generally perpendicular to the respective longitudinal perimeter rails. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein corner attachment mechanisms attach respective ends of the two longitudinal perimeter rails to respective ends of the two transverse perimeter rails. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the corner attachment mechanisms include elbow fittings. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the corner attachment mechanisms include respective tee fittings that are directly couple respective upper ends of the longitudinal perimeter rails to respective second transverse perimeter rails via couplings, wherein the tee fittings attach the rigid perimeter to respective leg extensions of the support member. 
     
     
         25 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the panel of flexible material can includes sleeves having sleeve openings through which the longitudinal perimeter members are received, and the panel of flexible material includes flaps that are operable to enclose and couple the transverse perimeter rails to the panel of flexible material. 
     
     
         26 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the flaps are adjustable flaps operable to adjust the tension of the panel of flexible material with respect to the rigid perimeter. 
     
     
         27 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the flaps include a closure mechanism. 
     
     
         28 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the closure mechanism includes at least one of a hook and loop fastener, buttons, rivets, clips, zippers, buckles, ties, snaps, or hooks. 
     
     
         29 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid perimeter and support member are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood, metal, metal alloys and composites thereof, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), steel, aluminum, polymeric composite, titanium, glass-hardened polymers, polymer or fiber reinforced metals, carbon fiber, glass fiber composites, chopped glass and carbon fibers, laminate glass, epoxy laminates, woven glass fiber laminates, impregnate fibers, polyester resins, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, polyimide resins, cyanate resins, high-strength plastics, nylon, polymer fiber reinforced plastics, thermoform and thermoset materials, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the panel of flexible material is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of fabric, plastic, vinyl, canvas, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber, cotton, textile, polyester, polyester nylon, recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), leather, spandex, polyurethane foam, nylon, denier and denier variations, elastic, vinyl coated polyester, silicon coated materials, elastomer composite, mesh, PVC backed polyester, neoprene fabric, neoprene fabric variations and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . A kit for a gaming apparatus comprising a panel of flexible material, two longitudinal perimeter rails, two transverse perimeter rails, two tee fittings, six elbow fittings, two couplings, two leg extensions, and a leg crossbar. 
     
     
         32 . A kit for a gaming apparatus comprising two panels of flexible material, four longitudinal perimeter rails, four transverse perimeter rails, four tee fittings, twelve elbow fittings, four couplings, four leg extensions, and two leg crossbars. 
     
     
         33 . The kit of  claim 32 , further comprising two mats, a carrying case, and optionally one or more golf balls or golf ball sized wiffle balls.