Game apparatus and method

Abstract

A game apparatus and method known as “Ring Rackerz™,” made up of a set of components including stiffy, pegs, and rings that provide a competitive and entertaining game. The game involves tossing rings with the aim of landing them on various components to score points. Also described are rules, scoring mechanisms, and structures of novel objects in the game apparatus.

1 . A game apparatus comprising:
 a. two or more rings, and   b. two racker units, each said racker unit including:
 i. a backbone configured as an essentially vertical pole, 
 ii. legs attached at one end of the vertical backbone to position the racker unit on the ground and at the desired angle of inclination for game play, and 
 iii. six or more pegs attached to the backbone. 
   
     
     
         2 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising 8 rings, four for each team. 
     
     
         3 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pegs are positioned at at least three different heights on the backbone. 
     
     
         4 . The game apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein one top peg is positioned essentially vertical at a top of the backbone. 
     
     
         5 . The game apparatus of  claim 4 , where three of the middle pegs are positioned on the backbone below the single top peg that is positioned at the top of the backbone. 
     
     
         6 . The game apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein two of the bottom pegs are positioned on the backbone below the three pegs positioned on the backbone. 
     
     
         7 . The game apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the three pegs positioned below the single ped at the top of the backbone are evenly spaced around the backbone. 
     
     
         8 . The game apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the two pegs positioned below the three pegs on the backbone are positioned on either side of the backbone. 
     
     
         9 . A method for playing a game wherein rings are tossed at the game apparatus of  claim 6 , comprising counting the following points based on where each ring lands:
 top Peg: 7 points, middle pegs: 5 points each, bottom pegs: 3 points each, quadrants on the ground between a pair of the legs: 1 point each, and leaner points for a leaning ring that is leaning on a peg or quadrant at the end of a turn, wherein the leaner points are the number of points awarded for the quadrant or peg that the leaning ring touches.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein an opponent's ring in the same quadrant cancels the point for a ring in that quadrant and also scores no points for being in that quadrant. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein an opponent's ring on the same peg cancels the points for a ring on that peg and also scores no points for being on that peg. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein leaner points cannot be canceled. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each team tosses three rings per turn. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the teams alternate tossing the rings, with the leading team tossing first in each round. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the game concludes when a team first reaches 21 points. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein all three rings are thrown by both teams in the final throwing round even if 21 points is reached before all six rings are thrown and the team with the highest score after that round wins. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein once 21 points is reached there are no more throws except that if the first tosser of the round reaches 21 points with a particular throw, the second tosser is entitled to one more throw so that both teams have had the same number of throws at game's end.