US1157913A - Game apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

H. C. TWIBELL.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FlLED JAN. 16. 1915.

1,157,913. Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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H. C. TWIBELL.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.'I6. 1915.

1,157,918., Patented (m. 26, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cu, WASHINGTON, n. c.

lr FlW t HARRY o. TWIBELL, or BnooKLYn, NEW YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. 26, 1915.

Application filed January 16; 1915. Serial No. 2,646.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. TWIBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the followingisa specification.

This invention relates to game apparatus and consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

The present invention is an improved one over the apparatus shown in my prior application for patent filed December 3, 1918, Serial No. 809,673.

Like my former, apparatus the present ap paratus is designed to be used for playing a game depicting or executing the plays usually made in the common game of base ball.

One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated which when used by opponents playing the game will require the exercise of considerable judgment and skill upon the part of the opponents to overcome one or the other and win the game.

vl/ith these objects in view the board of the apparatus is laid olf in the usual form of a ball field with bases and runner paths indicated thereon. Blocks are positioned upon the said board and serve to represent the in and out holders and these blocks are provided with pockets in which the ball may lodge when it is driven over the field.

A ball pitching device is mounted upon the board and it includes a ball directing run-way'pivotally mounted and means for turning the run-way. The run-way isv concealed from view by an arched shield and means is provided for striking the ball when in the run-way to cause the ball to move along the same and fly over the board toward the home plate. is also mounted upon the board and carries a bat which when said device is operated may strike the ball if the proper judgment and skill is used on the part of the player operating the device. Means is provided whereby the said players may shift the bat verticallv during the operation of the batting device and thus cause the bat to strike a high or low ball. A target device is located behind the batting device and car ries a target member which if struck by the ball when pitched and upon the refusal of A batting device the bat to strike at the ball indicates a strike. The usual rules of the game of baseball may be applied or followed as the apparatus is used for portraying the game and when the player who operates the batting device is I put out according to the usual rules of baseball he assumes the operation of the pitch ing device. The player who previously operated the pitching device assumes the operation of the batting device. Means is provided upon the board for keeping count of the score, the number of balls and strikes and put-outsmade. The board is further provided with means for determining the magnitude of a hit whether it be a single, double or triple or home-run and therefore the batting average of a player may be determined and maintained.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the board of the game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the target device. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the ball pitching device. Fig. 4 is a similar View of the ball batting device. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the ball pitching device cut on the line 5-5. of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the ball batting device cut on the line 6..6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail view ofan end portion of the shaft used for projecting the ball from the device. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a piece used in the capacity of a base runner during the progress of the game.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings the game apparatus comprises a board including an upper plane member 1 and a bottom 2 having upstanding flanges 3 bounding the edges thereof. The edges of the plane member 1 except that edge adjacent the battingdevice (hereinafter to be described) are spaced from the inner surfaces of the flanges 3 and the under surface of. the said, plane member is spaced from the upper surface of the bottom 2 as best indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

Pockets. 4: arev provided at the near or forward edge of the board and partitions 5 extend from the sides of the said pockets 4: to the flanges 3 beyond the edges of the plane member 1 as most clearly indicated by dotted lines at the right of Fig. 1 and the said flanges serve as means for directing the ball (hereinafter referred to) into the pockets 1- when the ball passes over the plane member 1 and beyond the edges thereof and fallsinto the space between any two of the adjacent partitions 5. The pockets 4: are provided with score numbers or characters 6 which may be used to indicate the value of the hit made when the ball enters the respective pockets; for instance a single is valued at 18, a double at 28 and a triple at 38; Home-run is indicated by the characters I H. R. and a foul ball is indicated by the word Foul in the pockets 4 which receives the ball from the plane member 1 when the ball falls from the edge thereof outside the foul line. By this arrangement it is apparent that a batting score or average may be maintained and the valuation of each I player determined. The plane member 1 is provided in the vicinity of its near or forward edge with openings 7 under which are turnably mounted disks 8 carrying suitable numbers which may be observed through the opening 7 when these numbers are brought within the same. These disks may be employed for the purpose of keepingthe score, keeping a record of the number of balls and strikes pitches and indicating the number of put-outs made in any one inning.

the blocks 10 positionednear first and third bases are provided with two pockets and consequently if the ball should strike a pocket at one side of the plane member 1 and rebound to the other side thereof it may lodge in one of the pockets of the block positioned adjacent first and thirdbases. If the ball lodges in any pocket of any block it indicates that the batter is out. If the ball is struck by the batting device and goes beyond the edge of the plane member 1 and eventually enters the pockets 4: which represents a single hit the piece 12 or similar piece shown in Fig. 8 is placed upon first base of the diamond to indicate that the said base is occupied by a runner. If the batting device strikes a ball and causes the same to enter the pocket which is indicative of a double bagger the piece is positioned on second base. Likewise if the ball enters the pocket 4 indicative of a triple the piece is placed on third base and if the ball enters the pocket indicative of home-run the disk 8 is operated under the opening 7 to show that one run has been made in the'inning. If pieces are upon the bases and single or double hits are made the said pieces are advanced along the bases in their regular order in the event that a batter is given. first base or takes any base as the result of a hit.

The batting device includes the following elementsar-k shaft 13 is journaled in the flanges 3 of the board and extend transversely under the plane member 1. The end portions of the said shaft project beyond the outer sides of the said flanges and are provided with pins is: which may be used for turning the shaft. The shaft 13 is provided with alternately disposed intermediate portion 15 which at times is adapted to encounter stops 16 (see Fig. 3) upon the bottom 2 of the board. The shaft 13 is journalcd in bearings 17 see Fig. 3 also mounted upon the bottom of the board and one end of a spring 18 is connected with the portion 15. The other end thereof is connected with the bottom 2 of the said board. The spring 18 is under tension with a tendency to normally hold the portion 15 of the shaft 13 in contact with the steps 10 as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The portion 15 is provided at a point ap proximately midway between its enrs with an upwardly disposed extension 19 which carries at its forward face a pin best shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings. A plate 21 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 22 (see Fig. 5) to the bottom 2 of the board and a block 23 is mounted upon the said plate 21. Handles are connected at their inner ends with the plate 21 and the outer ends of the said handles project beyond the outer surfaces of the side flanges 3 of the board. The block 23 is provided at its upper side with a groove or runway 25 having an inclined bottom 26 best shown in I 5 of the drawing. An are shaped shield 27 is mounted upon the plane member 1 and is located over the block 23 and conceals the same from view. The shield 2'? is provided at its upper portion with an opening 28 through which a ball 29 may drop into the groove 25 of the block 23. Means is provided at that end at which the lower portion of the bottom 26 of the groove 25 telminates with a barrier 30 which extends transversely across the groove and is spaced from the bottom 26. After the ball 29 has been dropped into the groove 25 through the openin 28 it runs down along the inclined bottom 26 of the groove and lodges against the forward portion of the barrier and immediately in advance of the pin 20 as best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

The mechanism just described constitutes the pitching or ball delivering device of the apparatus and it is apparent that when the shaft 13 is turned so that the pin 20 is moved away from the ball 29 the spring 18 is stretched and when the said shaft is released the tension of said spring comes into play whereby the pin 20 is moved swiftly toward the ball 29 and strikes the same and projects the said ball along the groove 25 and out over the plane member 1 toward the batting device to be explained hereinafter. The ballistic curve described by the ball in its flight from the pitching device to the batting device depends upon the strength of the spring 13 and the extent to which the said spring is stretched or elongated during the turning movement of the shaft 13 consequently the ball 29 may be causedto roll over the surface of the plane member 1 dur the major portion of its travel toward the batting device or made to pass by the batting device above the upper surface of the plane member 1.. At the same time the handle 2% may be moved whereby the plate 21 and block 23 are turned and thus the ball may be directed relatively close to the batting device or may pass by the batting device in a line comparatively remote from the same.-

@rdinarily the pin 20 will strike theball 29 at what is generally known in similar game apparatus as the center of the ball. A ball so struck will move in a straight line or direction from the ball delivering device to the batting device. When, however, the ball 29 is struck at one side or the other of the center thereof by the pin 20, which will occur after the block 23 has been turned, the ball will move in a curved path over the plane member 1 in a manner similar to the movement of a billiard hall upon a table, when what is termed as English has been imparted to the propelling stroke. fore it is essential to conceal theblock 23 from view in order that a batter may not observe the movement of the same and forestall the probable course of the ball over the plane member 1.

As seen in Fig. 1 of the drawing that part of the diamond 9 at which the second base is located is indicated upon the upper sur face of the arch shield 27. Consequently when a player arrives atthe said base the piece 12 is placed on top of the shield 27. In asmuch as the said shield is curved and arch shaped the ball when knocked by the batting device may strike the end or side of any of the blocks 10 and rebound or roll over the shield 2'? to the opposite side portion of the board. The paths which may be followed by the ball are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings I The batting device comprises a shaft 31 which is journaled in vertical position in the plane member 1 and bottom 2 of the board as best shown in Fig. 6, the upper portion of the said shaft projecting above the upper surface of the plane member 1. The shaft 31 is provided at its upper end portion and above the upper surface of the plane member 1 with a laterally disposed bat 32 which is fixed with relation to the said shaft 31.

There- An arm 33 is fixed to the intermediate portion of the shaft 31 and is disposed between the bottom 2 and the plane member 1 of the board and spaced from the said part as shown in Fig. 6. A spring 3a is connected at one end with one end of the arm 33 and at its other end with a fixedv part of the board and is under tension with a tendency to draw that end portion of the arm 33 with which it is connected toward the point where said spring is connected with the board. A hook 35 is pivotally connected with the bottom 2 of the board and adapted to engage hat end of the arm 33 opposite the end thereof to which the spring3 1 is connected. A stop 36 (best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing) is attached to the bottom 2 of the board and is located in the path of movement of one end portion of the hook 355. A spring 3? is connected at one end with the bottom 2 and at its other end with the adjacent end portion of the hook 35 and is under tension with a tendency to draw the adjacent end portion of the hook 35 toward the stop 36. A cord or other flexible element 38 is connected at an intermediate portion with the opposite end of the hoor: and one end of the said cord 38 projects beyond the board at one side thereof and is provided with a ring39 which may be used for moving the said cord 38 longitudinally. From the point of connection with the end of the hook the other end of the cord 33 is trained around a pulley 1-0 (see Fig. 1-) suitably attached to the bottom 2 of the'board and from the said pulley the cord 38 is extended to the opposite side of the board and is provided with a ring tl similar to the ring 39 which also may be used for moving the cord 38 longitudinally. A strip 412 is hingedly connected with the bottom 2 of the board and the lower end of the shaft 31 rests upon the intermediate portion of the said strip. The free end portion of the strip 42 projects beyond that edge of the board at which the pockets 4 are located as best indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

1 rom the above description it will be seen that by grasping the projecting end portion of the strip 412 and raising orlowering the same the shaft 31 may be raised or lowered in its bearings in the plane member 1 and bottom 2 of the board consequently the bat 32 may be positioned at any desired height above the upper surface of the plane member 1. When the parts of the batting device are in the position shown in Fig. 4: of the drawing the hook 35 is in engagement with one end of the arm 33 and the bat 32 is held at that side of the shaft 31 which is away from the pitching device. When the ball is pitched from the pitching device the player who manipulates the batting device pulls the cord 38 by using either the ring 34.- or 411 and consequently the engaging end of the hook 335 is moved awayi rom the arm 33 and 'home'plate of the diamond 9.

the said arm is released. The tension of the spring 34L then comes into play and the bat 32 is swung in an arc and assumes position transversely of the path of the ball and Strikes or misses the ball according to the judgment and skill of the player who manipulates the batting device.

A target device is located behind the bat ting device and comprises a frame 43 mounted upon the plane member 1 in a position as shown in Fig. lot the drawings. A target 44 is hingedly mounted upon the frame 43 and is preferably in the form of a thin metallicplate. The said target 4A is located in a line with the line of movement of a fair ball from the pitching device across the Therefore when a fair ball is delivered from the pitch ing device and passes over the home plate it will strike the target 44 in the event that the batting device is not operated so as to cause the bat S2 to strike the ball and drive the same out into the field. Should the ball be delivered from the pitching device and strikethe target 44 without the player manipulating the batting device to strike at the same this counts as a strike against the player who is operating the batting device. II" the ball is delivered from the pitching I device and arrivesat the target device with out striking the target 44 and in the event I that the batter does not strike at the ball this counts as a ball against. the player manipulating the pitching device. Therefore it will be seen that a game apparatus is provided in which the parts are so mounted and operated as to require the exercise of Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing considerable judgment and skill upon the part of the two opposing players using the apparatus. Furthermore the device may be used for demonstrating the diiierent plays possible to be made on a. baseball field and the apparatus may be made to show and keep an account of the score, the number of balls and strikes, the number of put-outs and the relative batting average or excellence of the players.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. A game apparatus comprising a board, a ball directing means movably mounted on the board, means for moving the ball directing means, means for impelling a ball along the directing means and a shield mounted upon the board and concealing the movement of the ball directing means.

2. Agame apparatus comprising a board, means for impelling a ball over the board, and a concealed ball directing means movably mounted with relation to the ball impelling means.

3. A game apparatus comprising a board, a block having a runway provided with an inclined bottom, a barrier disposed across the end of the runway and spaced from the lower end of the bottom thereof and means for striking the ball while in the runway to impel the same over the board.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY G. TWIBELL.

Witnesses:

Gno. A. BYRNE, JOHN A. DONEGAL.

the Commissioner of Patent-1.

Washington, D. C.

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