Game system and method for playing the game

Abstract

A game system and method are provided. A game board has an inclined play surface, one or more score zone delineators on the play surface and an opening formed in the play surface through which a play ball can pass if the play ball rolls over the opening during game play. A player rolls the play ball up the inclined play surface with the objective of causing the play ball to enter a highest score zone and then to roll down the inclined surface and pass through the opening, resulting in the player attaining a number of points associated with the highest score zone that the play ball entered before passing through the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A game system comprising:
 a game board comprising a front end, a back end, a first side extending from the front end to the back end, a second side opposite the first side extending from the front end to the back end substantially parallel to the first side, a bottom side extending from the front end to the back end and from the first side to the second side, and a play surface extending from the back end toward the front end and stopping before reaching the front end to form a ball return for at least a first play ball, the play surface being a substantially planar surface that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second sides and substantially parallel to the bottom side, wherein a lip extends at least partially about a periphery of the play surface along the back end of the game board and along the first and second sides of the game board to prevent the first play ball from rolling off of the play surface when the first play ball is rolled across the play surface; and   wherein a back end of the play surface adjacent to the back end of the game board is inclined relative to a support surface on which the game system is supported such that when the first play ball is rolled in a direction from the front end of the play surface toward the back end of the play surface, the first play ball will be acted on by gravity to cause the first play ball to roll in a direction from the back end of the game surface toward the ball return, and wherein the play surface has at least a first opening formed therein in between the front end of the play surface and the ball return through which the first play ball passes from the play surface onto the bottom side of the game board if the first play ball rolls into the first opening.   
     
     
         2 . The game system of  claim 1 , wherein the game surface further comprises one or more score zone delineators disposed on the play surface for visually delineating one or more score zones from one another to players such that if a first player causes the first play ball to roll into one of the score zones and to then pass through the first opening, the first player is awarded a score associated with the score zone into which the first play ball rolled before passing through the first opening. 
     
     
         3 . The game system of  claim 2 , wherein the game surface comprises at least first, second and third score zone delineators disposed on the play surface, the first and second score zone delineators visually delineating a beginning and an end, respectively, of the first score zone, the second and third score zone delineators visually delineating a beginning and an end, respectively, of the second score zone, the first score zone being closer to the front end of the play surface than the second score zone, the first and second score zones having first and second scores associated therewith, respectively, the second score being higher than the first score, and wherein if the first player rolls the first play ball to cause the first play ball to roll into the first score zone, but not into the second score zone, and to then pass through the first opening, the first player is awarded the first score associated with the first score zone, and wherein if the first player rolls the first play ball to cause the first play ball to roll through the first score zone, into the second score zone and to then pass through the first opening, the first player is awarded the second score. 
     
     
         4 . The game system of  claim 3 , wherein the game surface further comprises at least a third score zone, the third score zone delineator delineating the end of the second score zone and a beginning of the third score zone, the back end of the play surface delineating an end of the third score zone, the third score zone having a third score associated therewith that is higher than the second score, and wherein if the first player rolls the first play ball to cause the first play ball to roll into the second score zone, but not into the third score zone, and to then pass through the first opening, the first player is awarded the second score, and wherein if the first player rolls the first play ball to cause the first play ball to roll through the first and second score zones, into the third score zone and to then pass through the first opening, the first player is awarded the third score. 
     
     
         5 . The game system of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the game board from the front end of the game board to the back end of the game board in a direction substantially parallel to the first and second sides ranges from approximately eighteen inches to forty-eight inches. 
     
     
         6 . The game system of  claim 5 , wherein a width of the game board from the first side to the second side in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second sides ranges from approximately six inches to approximately eighteen inches. 
     
     
         7 . The game system of  claim 6 , wherein a height of the back end of the game board in a direction that is substantially normal to the play surface ranges from approximately three inches to approximately ten inches. 
     
     
         8 . The game system of  claim 6 , wherein a height of the back end of the game board in a direction that is substantially normal to the play surface is adjustable to adjust the incline of the back end of the game board relative to the support surface. 
     
     
         9 . A method of using a game system to play a game:
 providing the game system, the game system comprising a game board comprising a front end, a back end, a first side extending from the front end to the back end, a second side opposite the first side extending from the front end to the back end substantially parallel to the first side, a bottom side extending from the front end to the back end and from the first side to the second side, and a play surface extending from the back end toward the front end and stopping before reaching the front end to form a ball return for at least a first play ball, the play surface being a substantially planar surface that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second sides and substantially parallel to the bottom side, wherein a lip extends at least partially about a periphery of the play surface along the back end of the game board and along the first and second sides of the game board to prevent the first play ball from rolling off of the play surface when the first play ball is rolled across the play surface, and wherein a back end of the play surface adjacent to the back end of the game board is inclined relative to a support surface on which the game system is supported, the game surface comprising a plurality of score zone delineators disposed on the play surface that visually delineate a plurality of score zones, each score zone being associated with a preselected score, the score zone delineators being disposed in between the first opening and the back end of the play surface; and   at least a first player playing a game using the board system by rolling the first play ball in a direction from the front end of the play surface toward the back end of the play surface in an attempt to cause the first play ball to roll into one or more of the score zones and to then pass through the first opening, wherein the first player is awarded a score associated with a highest score zone into which the first play ball rolls before passing through the first opening.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the game surface comprises at least first, second and third score zone delineators disposed on the play surface, the first and second score zone delineators visually delineating a beginning and an end, respectively, of the first score zone, the second and third score zone delineators visually delineating a beginning and an end, respectively, of the second score zone, the first score zone being closer to the front end of the play surface than the second score zone, the first and second score zones having first and second scores associated therewith, respectively, the second score being higher than the first score, and wherein if the first player rolls the first play ball to cause the first play ball to roll into the first score zone, but not into the second score zone, and to then pass through the first opening, the first player is awarded the first score associated with the first score zone, and wherein if the first player rolls the first play ball to cause the first play ball to roll through the first score zone, into the second score zone and to then pass through the first opening, the first player is awarded the second score. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the game surface further comprises at least a third score zone, the third score zone delineator delineating the end of the second score zone and a beginning of the third score zone, the back end of the play surface delineating an end of the third score zone, the third score zone having a third score associated therewith that is higher than the second score, and wherein if the first player rolls the first play ball to cause the first play ball to roll into the second score zone, but not into the third score zone, and to then pass through the first opening, the first player is awarded the second score, and wherein if the first player rolls the first play ball to cause the first play ball to roll through the first and second score zones, into the third score zone and to then pass through the first opening, the first player is awarded the third score. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a length of the game board from the front end of the game board to the back end of the game board in a direction substantially parallel to the first and second sides ranges from approximately eighteen inches to forty-eight inches. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a width of the game board from the first side to the second side in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second sides ranges from approximately six inches to approximately eighteen inches. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a height of the back end of the game board in a direction that is substantially normal to the play surface ranges from approximately three inches to approximately ten inches. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a height of the back end of the game board in a direction that is substantially normal to the play surface is adjustable to adjust the incline of the back end of the game board relative to the support surface.