Competitive knockdown target game apparatus

Abstract

A competitive knock-down target and fish catching game is provided wherein all players will have the same number of catchable fish and upright knockdown targets. Players will knock down targets and catch fish using a provided fishing pole/lure, or finger attached length of line/bungee cord/and lure, or hand-held kendama-style toy with a line attached ball/lure combination. After a player has knocked down all of the upright targets and caught the requisite number of fish, the player will try to catch and retrieve that player's designated target fish, retrieval of which signals the end of the game. In some embodiments, before the designated target fish can be caught, the player will be required to also catch and return to an upright position the previously knocked-down targets. In other embodiments, the fish targets must be caught and restocked before catching the target fish.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fishing game apparatus, wherein is provided a flat game field, comprising:
 (a) a first support bar situated on said game field;   (b) a second support bar spaced apart from said first support bar on said game field and oriented to be parallel to said first support bar;   (d) a one or more first targets rotatably mounted on said first support bar and a same number of second targets rotatably mounted on said second support bar, wherein,
 (d1) each of said at least one first targets and at least one second targets has a front side and a back side, with said back side of said first targets facing said back side of said second targets across said game field, 
 (d2) each of said first targets is rotatable backward toward said second support bar, and 
 (d3) each of said second targets is rotatable backward toward said first support bar; 
   (e) a first platform attached to said first bar and a second platform attached to said second bar;   (f) a first designated target mounted on said first platform and a second designated target mounted on said second platform, wherein said first and second designated targets both have an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having an engaging member affixed thereto;   (g) a line attached at a first end to said first designated target and at a second end to said second designated target; and   (h) at least two player poles, each of said at least two poles being connected by a line to a lure, said lure,
 (h1) being suitable for engaging with said engaging member on said back side of said first and second designated targets with sufficient attaching force to allow said rod to pull said an engaged designated first or second target away from its support member, and 
 (h2) being heavy enough to strike said at least one first target and said at least one second target to rotate them from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fishing game apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (i) a plurality of first fish game pieces and an equal number of second fish game pieces, each of said fish game pieces having a front side and a back side,
 each of said first fish game pieces being removably attached on said first fish game piece back side to a first platform mounted on said first bar, 
 each of said second fish game pieces being removably attached on said second fish game piece back side to a second platform on said second bar, and 
 each of said first and second fish game pieces 
 (i1) having an outwardly flaring upper terminus, said upper terminus having an angled guide surface leading to a guide slot in said upper terminus, 
 (i2) having a lure engaging member affixed to said back side of each of said first and second game pieces proximate to said guide slot, 
 (i3) having a tether attached thereto, said tether providing a restoring force tending to draw said associated fish game piece toward its associated platform when said associated fish game piece is drawn away from said associated platform by said lure. 
   
     
     
         3 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of fish game pieces is a flat cutout with an outline of a type of fish and a representation of said type of fish printed on said front side of said fish game piece. 
     
     
         4 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said tether attached to each of said first fish game pieces is elastic and is connected at a first end to one of said first fish game pieces and at a second end to said second support bar. 
     
     
         5 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said tether attached to each of said second fish game pieces is elastic and is connected at a first end to one of said second fish game pieces and at a second end to said first support bar. 
     
     
         6 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each platform has hole therein through which the tether passes. 
     
     
         7 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said player poles has a handle that is a paddle and a lure that is a rubber ball attached to said handle by an elastic cord. 
     
     
         8 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each of said tethers is attached at a first end to one of said first or second fish game pieces and at a second end to a weight that hangs below said game field. 
     
     
         9 . A fishing game apparatus, wherein is provided a flat game field, comprising:
 (a) a first support bar situated on said game field;   (b) a second support bar spaced apart from said first support bar on said game field and oriented to be parallel to said first support bar;   (d) a one or more first targets rotatably mounted on said first support bar and a same number of second targets rotatably mounted on said second support bar, wherein,
 (d1) each of said at least one first targets and at least one second targets has a front side and a back side, with said back side of said first targets facing said back side of said second targets across said game field, 
 (d2) each of said first targets is rotatable backward toward said second support bar, and 
 (d3) each of said second targets is rotatable backward toward said first support bar; 
   (e) a first platform attached to said first bar and a second platform attached to said second bar;   (f) a first designated target mounted on said first platform and a second designated target mounted on said second platform, wherein said first and second designated targets both have an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having an engaging member affixed thereto, and,   (g) a line attached at a first end to said first designated target and at a second end to said second designated target.   
     
     
         10 . The fishing game apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 (h) at least two fishing rods, each of said at least two fishing rods connected by a line to a lure, said lure
 (h1) being suitable for engaging with said engaging member on said back side of said first and second designated targets with sufficient attaching force to allow said rod to pull said an engaged designated first or second target away from its support member, and 
 (h2) being heavy enough to strike said at least one first target and said at least one second target to rotate them from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. 
   
     
     
         11 . The fishing game apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 (h) a plurality of first fish game pieces and an equal number of second fish game pieces, each of said fish game pieces having a front side and a back side,
 each of said first fish game pieces being removably attached on said first fish game piece back side to a first platform mounted on said first bar, 
 each of said second fish game pieces being removably attached on said second fish game piece back side to a second platform on said second bar, and 
 each of said first and second fish game pieces 
 (h1) having an outwardly flaring upper terminus, said upper terminus having an angled guide surface leading to a guide slot in said upper terminus, 
 (h2) having a lure engaging member affixed to said back side of each of said first and second game pieces proximate to said guide slot, 
 (h3) having a tether attached thereto, said tether providing a restoring force tending to draw said associated first or second fish game piece toward its associated platform when said associated first or second fish game piece is drawn away from said associated platform by said lure. 
   
     
     
         12 . The fishing game apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 (h) at least two fishing lines, each of said at least fishing lines having a graspable member at one end and a lure and at a graspable member at an opposite end, said lure
 (h1) being suitable for engaging with said engaging member on said back side of said first and second designated targets with sufficient attaching force to allow said rod to pull said an engaged designated first or second target away from its support member, and 
 (h2) being heavy enough to strike said at least one first target and said at least one second target to rotate them from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. 
   
     
     
         13 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said plurality of first and second fish game pieces is a flat cutout with an outline of a type of fish and a representation of said type of fish printed on said front side of said fish game piece. 
     
     
         14 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said tether attached to each of said first fish game pieces is elastic and is connected at a first end to one of said first fish game pieces and at a second end to said second support bar. 
     
     
         15 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said tether attached to each of said second fish game pieces is elastic and is connected at a first end to one of said second fish game pieces and at a second end to said first support bar. 
     
     
         16 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each first platform has a hole therein through which the tether connected to said first fish game piece mounted thereon passes. 
     
     
         17 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each second platform has a hole therein through which the tether connected to said second fish game piece mounted thereon passes. 
     
     
         18 . A fishing game apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said tethers is attached at a first end to one of said first or second fish game pieces and at a second end to a weight that hangs below said game field.