US975316A

US975316A - Game apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US975316A
Application number: US57974910A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold G Barrett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-08-30
Filing date: 1910-08-30
Publication date: 1910-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1927-11-08

Description

H. G. BARRETT.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION rmm 11011.21, 190s. nmwnwnn we. so, 1910.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

11, G. BARRETT.

I GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION IILED NOY. 21, 1908. RENEWED AUG. 30, 1910.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H e. BARRETT.

GAME APPARATUS. v AIILIOATION 31mm NOV. 21, 1908. RENEWED AUG. 30, 1910.

Patented Nov. 8,1910,

3 SHEBTSz-SHEE'I' 8.

HAROLD G. BARRETT, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS.

AI'PARATUS.

Specification or Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8,1910.

Application filed November 21, 1908,Serial No. 463,859. Renewed August so, 1910. Serial Ho. 579,749.

which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention 1s to provide a game apparatus for indoor use which can be employed for playing a game having all of the characteristics of.the outdoor game of base ball. Thus a board used marked off into a diamond and outfield with foul territory, and mechanical devlces are used to represent the fielders, basemen' and pitcher and catcher and the arrangement issuoh that a ball can be mechanically delivered and if struck by another mechanical device representing the batsman it may or may not be caught or fielded by lodging in one or another clip or pocket suitably designated to indicate the play. The pitching apparatus is such as to enable the player manipulating the same to vary the delivery of the ball and suit-able provision is made for the catching of the ball as it comes over the home plate straight or at varying angles or curving. The batting device will be under control of the other person playing the ame and will be so arranged as to provide ior his exercising judgment in the manner of offering at the pitched ball, according to his estimate as to whether or not it is going to cross the plate and, if so, how, and also to provide for calculating to meet the ball sooner or later, in its approach to vary the direction in which to drive it and further to provide for varyingthe force of impact to get difi'erentresults between a slow roll, corresponding with what is termed in the outdoor game laying down a bunt, and a hard drive. Suitable inscriptions will be employed on the board to indicate the. fielding positions and how many bases are to result from a ball escaping all of theclips or pockets which represent the fielders or basemen. The, bases will of course be indicated at the corners of the diamond and ifdesired playing pieces may be used to represent runners.

In the drawings which accompany and form -part of this specification Figure 1 represents a plan view ofa game apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View on an enlarged scale of devices used in the shortstop position; Fig. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale showin similar devices used at the second baseman?s position; Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a partial bottom plan view; Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of some of the devices which appear on a smaller scale in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a crossse'ction on the line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9

is a perspective view of one member of the baseball playing. field known as the diamond, squares being provided at the corners thereof to represent first base, second base and third base as indicated in F ig. 1, the

home. plate being similarly illustrated as a limited. laterally defined area though of The base lines somewhat different outline. will be indicated as illustrated by full and dotted lines I) and c in Fig. 1 and the area-0f the infield-as by shading d as well as spaces backof first and third bases representing the coachers boxes as by shading e Lines f are marked as extensions of the first and third baselines todivide foul from fair territory and the, foul territory is .appropriately indicated as upon the drawing. The pitchers "box is represented at the center of. the infield and apparatus is located at this point both to provide for the deliveryof" the'ball and for the fielding of the ball. The ball delivering apparatuscomprisesarod g on the under side of the board (see Figs t and 5) pivoted as at g to have a limited-movement sides wise. This rod is shown as a length of tubing and is vertically slotted as at 9 (Fig. 6) to accommodate an arm k which is pivoted .to the rod or tube and extends up through a slot it, in the board A. ,This arm has a forwardly-directed head-piece 71 which is adapted to strike the ball and drive it to ward the home plate, said head-piece being tipped with rubber as by'having a band hstretched around it. Normallythe arm is retracted, being connected by an elastic band It with a forward projection on the rod or tube g. A cord or wire 2' connected to the lower end of the arm and to a fingerplece or trigger 2" near the extremity of the rod g, provides for swinging said arm it in opposition to said elastic band.

At the front of the slot it there is fitted a piece j with a portion providing an abutment for the arm 71. and a portion set into the top of the board A and grooved longitudinally'in its upper side as shown at j. The

'ball I; is placed in this groove to be struck by the head of'the arm k. If the latter was to strike the ball always squarely in the middle such a groove might not be necessary but it is intended to provide for curving the ball by striking it to one side or the other of the center accordin to the will of the player. The pivoting of the rod 9 provides for this, its front portion being confined by a guide is which permits sufficient latitude of lateral movement. The extremity of the rod has a handle 9 and the player by taking hold of.

said handle can shift the rod as desired, at the same time having a finger on the trigger i. It will be obvious that the delivery of the ball can be varied both by reason of varying the point of impact and by varying the force applied to the arm or varying the speed of movement thereof. F nrthermore,

the ball can beplaced at different positions in the groove 9 and the delivery of the ball affected thereby. The desirability of the groove will be apparent when it is considered that in-many instances the ball will be struck to one side of the center and at the same time should be "projected toward the homeplate and not sidewise. It should be noted in this connection that the actin portion of the arm 71. when it strikes the bal b is moving toward the board. This is practicallyessential to the accomplishment of the result of causing the ball to curve on the surface of the board. When theacting portion of the arm strikes the ball the board or the piece j set in the board, offers sufficient resistance to prevent the ball being simply pushed off to one side, the sides of. the groove j constraining the ball to first move toward the home plate. Of course when the ball is struck to one side or the other of the center a twirl will-be imparted to it which, as the force impelling the ball toward the 'home plate diminishes, will cause the ball to curve on the surface of the board. By varying thepoint at which the arm strikes the ball,

and the force of'the blow, varying effects can be produced in the delivery of the ball, such as different directions and different degrees of mrving. In such case the point of impact fof the rubber-tipped end of the pitching arm is in rear of a vertical central transverse plane of the ball and to one side tin will plate as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

or the other of a vertical plane at right angles thereto, above a horizontal central plane of the ball, and the line or plane of movement of said tipped end if projected would intersect the surface of the board or of the' ball-rest at or near a point where the ball is in contact with. such surface. (In the 'appended'claimsthis characteristic is What is meant by the phrase movable toward the surface of the'boardillf This involves the. principle of the. so-called masse shot inbilliards, where the cue is directed downward toward the table and the cue-ball struck forcibly at such a point as above defined butvarying laterally to produce varying familiar effects in curving the ball on the surface of the table.

One form of batting apparatus here shown comprises a rotary post in (Fig. 10) in a suitable-bearing or socket m extending through the board A and secured thereto, a -horizontally-extending member at integral with the post mor appropriately secured thereto and preferably Inadein the form of a base-ball bat, and a depending arm m at the outer end of said member m and extending to within a very short distance of the top surface of the board A. This batdevice is so located that the portion at swing across the center of the home The horizontal portion at extends on both sides of the vertical member orpost m as shown and I have found that this form of batting device can be best controlled by applying the first and second fingers on opposite sides of the pivot in front of the horizontal portion m and the thumb on the rear side of the latter, about at the pivot point. This affords a delicate control of the freely oscillating batting device which is quite important considering the desirability of obtaining results as varied as those produced by the use of the bat in the hands of the player in the outdoor game, and as nearly as possible simulating the outdoor effect. To limit the swing of the bat there is secured to the lower end of the post m an arm m" which has a blade m at itsextremitv adapted to strike against buffer pieces n secured to the under-side of the board A, though this is not an essential feature and can be dispensed with altogether leaving the batting device without limitation as to swing. In the modification shown in Figs. 12 and 13 a yoke 0 is mounted on the board A and thebat 0' is mounted to swing in a vertical plane on the horizontal home .plate are arranged a number of lodg-- of an of the clips will count as when passing to one side and a passed ball strike-out is present. 'Furthermoret, ttlhe Lbjltla tus thou h it may mee 1e hill? iiiit sii nieet it that the ball Wlll batted into foul territory and of cour e the direction the ball goes;1n fair teriig tory will vary accordmg to the po nt-Halt which the batmegt-s 1t. There is thus c element of c ance in v bill will take as in an actual game of. base ball. Then of course the ball may go w de of the plate,-

e., may not cross any portion of it, and so provision is made for countmg balls, as distinguished from p and also for calling a passed ball or a F wild pitch, as when the ball is not caught after passing the plate. Furthermore, it is intended that should a the pitching apparatus strike the uprlght )ortion or iidered as having been hit by a pitched ball and entitled to take first base. The force with which the ball goes from the bat will of course vary according to-how soonthe ball is met and how fast the bat, is moved or in whatmanner. I

Behind the batting apparatus and the merits in the form of spring clips 0,- one Idlrectly in line with the center ofthe home plate for the lodgment of anyball which comes over the plate and is not offered at by the batsman-or. if offered at 1s m1ssed. Then on each side of said central cllp there are clips 0 for the lod lgment of balls which o wide of the plate. inscribed with the word Ball and the central clip with the word Str1ke, but of course if a ball lodges in one of the clips 0 after the batsman has offered at 1t it will count as a strike. A ball which goes outside a wild pitch when assin to the other side. Clips d are located in fdiil territory on both sides of the home plate for the lodgment of the ball when not met squarely by the bat. This occurrence would count the batsman out on a foul. Of course if the ball goes into foul territory but does not lodge in a chp, then the batsman is not out but merely has a strike called unless he already has two strikes. It is intended to cover the area of the \nfield and the out-field with similar clips to practically the same extent that the fielders and basemen in the regular outdoor game will cover ground. Thus two cl1ps e are located a distance in from first base and similar clips 6 are located to the right of second base and another pair of clips 6 to the'left of second base and then a pair of cllps e a suitable distance in from third base. In addition to this, clipsp are located on' e1th er side of the pitching apparatus. Thus it will be seen that there are ten clips in whlch a ball may lodge to indicate an infield play.

the direction the n delivered f o .lessened. As here shown two part mthe batsman is to be conpairs of

clips

8 and 8 are locate 'from the central longitudinal line. of the hese clips are shown "These. clips may be differently inscribed to vided with clips,'there being preferably our for each fielding position though of course this number may be increased if desired or airs-of clips are employed for each fielding position,

spaced a considerable distance apart. Thus a pair of clips 1* will be located in right field close to the foul line and another pair of clips 1" in a line from the home plate-midway between first' and second base fielding positions. For the center fielddaosition two equidistant field. The arrangement of the clips I? and-t to first base.

for the left field position is similar to the arrangement of the clips for the'ri 'ht field position. Around the edge of theboard A back of the outfield there is preferably. a; subdivision of a marginal area and in the different spaces there are inscriptions which govern the number of bases to be taken ac-- cording to. where the ball first lands when it strikes the rim of the board. Thus a ball passing the pitchers box and going over second base and between the pairs of center field clips lands in a space marked Home run and entitles the batsman to circle the bases. Other subdivisions of this marginal area are marked to indicate base hits, two

base hits and three base hits. Further provision may be made for home runs by locatingin the outfield at one or more places inclines w which, if the ball happens to run onto the same, will cause it to clear the rim of the board.

It will be obvious without further description that an apparatus constructed as above described provides for the playing of a game which will be governed by the same rules as the familiar outdoor game of base ball.

Any suitable form of loose playing pieces can be used to represent base runners and these will be moved about according to, the familiar rules of the game.

It is to be understood that the form of the Various members of the apparatus, the relative arrangements, the combined action, and the manner of inscription of the board, are things which can be variously altered as compared with what is here specifically shown and described, without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the in- 'vice movable toward the surface, 0

1. In game apparatus, the combination ofa suitable board, and a ball-delivering device movable .toward the surface of the board and adapted to strike the ball to one side; substantially as and for the purpose described. I

2. In game apparatus, the combination of a suitable board, and a ball-delivering device tipped with friction material and movable toward the surface of the board and adapted to strike the ball to one side; substantially as and for the urpose described. 3. In game apparatus, t e combination of a suitable board, and a ball-deliverin deboard and adjustable to strike the ball at different points; substantially as and for the purpose described;

4. In' game apparatus, the combination with a board having a grooved ball rest, of

a ball-delivering device movable toward the surface of the latter and ada ted to strike the ball to one side; substantia ly as and for the purpose described.

5. In game apparatus, the combination of a suitable board having a grooved rest for a ball, and ball delivering means comprising an arm operating back ofsaid rest movable towardflthe surface of the board and laterally adjustable to vary the point of impact against the ball; substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In game apparatus, the combination of a suitable board, a ball delivering arm movable toward the surface of said board, and

a support for the arm adjustable laterally.

to vary the point of impact of the arm against the ball; substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. In game apparatus, the combination of a suitable board having a grooved ball rest, a ball delivering arm back of said rest and movable toward the surface of the board,

and a support for said arm adjustable laterally to vary the point of impact against the ball; substantially as andv for the purpose j a board having a journal bearing or socket,

described.

8. In game apparatus, the combination of a board having an opening; a ball delivering arm projecting through said opening; a swinging rod on which said arm is pivoted;

the

, a board suitably means for retracting the arm; and means for advancing the same.-

9. In game apparatus, the combination of a suitable board, and a ball deliverin device movable toward the surface 0 the board and adapted to strike the ball to one side, combined with a batting device, the board being marked with an area over which said batting device works.

10. In game apparatus, the combination of a suitable board, and a ball deliverin device movable toward the surface 0 the board and adjustable .to strike the ball at different oints, combined with a batting device, the oard being marked with an area over which said batting device works.

11. In game apparatus, the combination of a suitable board having a grooved rest for a ball, and ball delivering means comprising an arm operating back of said rest movable toward the surface of the board and laterv 12. In game apparatus, the combination of a board having a playing surface with a de- 'fined'area indlcated thereon, ball delivering and twirling means on one side of such area,

and a (group ofball lodgments on the opposite si e thereof distributed transversely of the-board. I

.13, In game apparatus, the combination of marked off to represent a baseball field; a batting device; lodgments for the ball located variously over the board; and one or more inclines for the ball to run over when clearing the lodgments.

14. In game apparatus, the combination of a board suitably marked off to represent a baseball field; ball delivering means; a batting device; lodgments for the ball located variously over the board; and one or more inclines for the ball to run over when clearing the lodgments.

- 15. In game apparatus, thecombination with aboard and means for-projecting an object over the surface thereof, of a freely oscillatory batting device comprising an upright portion journaled on the board, a horizontal portion extending on opposite sides of the upright portion, and a striking portion extending at right angles to said horizontal portion to one side of the upright portion,

the latter constituting a handle.

i the horizontal portion to the other side of' 16. In game apparatus, the combination of both sides of said upright portion, and a striking portion projecting from said horizontal portion toward the board to one side of the uprightportion, the horizontal portion to the other side of the latter consituting a handle.

17. In'a toy base-ball game apparatus, the

ball will have a separate significance in the scoreof'the game.

18. In a toy baseball game apparatus, the combination of a board having a playing surface with a defined area outline thereon to indicatethe home plate, means for projecting aball over such surface toward said home plate, and a group of lod ments for such ball. arranged tra isversely o the board back of said home plate, one of said lodgments being .directly back of the plate and one or more being arranged on either side thereof, said ball lodgments being separated from each-other and each lodgment having associated with it an inscription to indicate the character of each pitched ball, so that each pitched ball will have a separate significance in the score of the game.

19. In a toy base ball game apparatus,the

combination of a board suitably marked off I torepresent a base ball field, a ball delivering device, a batting device at the home plate, and a series of devices representing fielders distributed about the field and each consisting of a ball catching and clamping means, said .means being transversely arranged with respect to the field to enableeach player to receive and hold the ball when projected from the batting device into the field on different lines radiating from the home plate, each clamping means having associated with it a plurality of exposed inscriptions indicating the plays that that player is usually capable of making in a' regular game, for the purpose set forth.

20. In a toy base ball game apparatus, the combination of a board suitably marked off .to represent a base ball field. a ball delivering device, a batting device at the home plate, and a series of devices representing fielders distributed about the field and each consisting of a ball catching and clamping means, said means consisting of a series of separate clips transversely arranged with respect to the field to enable each player to receive and hold the ball when projected "from the batting device into the field on different lines radiating from the home plate, each clamping means having associated with it a plurality of exposed inscriptions indicating the plays that that player is usually capab e0f making in a regular game, for the purpose set forth.

HAROLD Gr. BARRETT.

Witnesses:

ROBERT DOBBERMAN, LOUIS B. Enwm.