Bean bag
Encyclopedia
A bean bag is a sealed bag containing dried bean
s, PVC
pellets or expanded polystyrene
, with various applications.
Bean
Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae used for human food or animal feed....
s, PVC
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
pellets or expanded polystyrene
Polystyrene
Polystyrene ) also known as Thermocole, abbreviated following ISO Standard PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry...
, with various applications.
Games
- Bean bag toss (sometimes called cornhole in the Ohio Valley of the United States), is a game similar to horseshoes and quoits, played with bean bags and two goals.
- FootbagFootbagA footbag is both a small, round bag, and the term for the various sports played with one – characterized by controlling the bag by using one's feet. Although often referred to generically as a Hacky Sack, that is the trademarked name of one specific brand.Footbag-like activities have existed...
(also known as Hacky Sack, a trademark) is a type of ball-shaped bean bag that is used to play various games. - Bean bags are also commonly used for jugglingJugglingJuggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
. - In gridiron footballGridiron footballGridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
beanbags are used to mark the point of a change of possession (where a puntPunt (football)In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
or kickoffKickoff (American football)A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
is caught, an interception is made, or a fumbleFumbleA fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
occurs) - Bean bags are often used for a game similar to dodgeballDodgeballDodgeball is any of a variety of games in which players try to hit other players on the opposing team with balls while avoiding being hit themselves. This article is about a well-known form of team sport with modified rules that is often played in physical education classes and has been featured...
where small square bean bags are slid across the floor with the object to hit the opposing team's players in the foot. The game is particluarly popular in American elementary schools as a safer alternative to dodgeball.
Innovative Uses
- Bean bags have been used to make ammunition for impact weapons, including riot guns.
- Clutching technology for robots makes use of bean bags.
- Smaller bean bags can be used to stabilize a photograph or video camera when a tripod is not available.