US1016084A - Game apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

P. L. MUNKER.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.16, 1911.

1,01 ,034, Patented Jan. 30, 1912 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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P. L. MUNKER.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T'.16, 1911.

Patented Jan. 30, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP L. MUNKER, OFNEW YORK, N. x.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30,1912.

Application filed October 16, 191i. Serial uo'. 655,061.

To all whom it may concern Be it knownthat I, PHILIP L. MUNKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at 429 Vest Twenty-ninth street, New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved game apparatus.

One object of the invention is toprovide an apparatus by means of which a game having the semblance of a base ball game may be played thereby affording an inter esting pastime.

Another object is to provide a game apparatus of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in construction and may be readily operated by any one to play the ame.

ith these and other objects in view theinvention consists of: certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1- is a plan view of my improved game apparatus; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the top part of the apparatus removed; Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional viewon the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view-of the pivoted defleeting member for preventing the return of the operating elements through their delivery chute or passage; Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of one of the game pieces.

In the embodiment of. the invention, I provide a shallow box 1 which is preferably of rectangular oblong shape and comprises side and end pieces 2 and 3 which arepreferabl'y formed of wood, a bottom 4 preferably formed of pasteboard secured to the lower edges of the side and end pieces and a top 5 which is also preferably formed of pasteboard and which is engaged with or set into a recess 6 formed in the upper edges of the side and end pieces as shown whereby the upper surface of the top 5 will be flush with the upper edges of the side and end pieces of the box. When playing the game the box is supported in an inclined position by a supporting plate 7 hingedly connected to the bottom of the box near its outer end as shown.

Arranged in the center of the box between the top and bottom thereof is a pair of longitudinally extending parallel partition strips 8 which form between themselves a passage or alley 9 the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. The strips 8 terminate some distance from the upper or outer end of the box as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 .of the drawing. Slidably mounted between the lower or inner ends of the strips 8 is a plunger 10 said plunger being secured to the inner end 'of an operating rod 11 which is slidably engaged with aguide passage 12 formed through the inner end of the box as shown. On the rod 11 between the end of the box and the plunger 10 is arranged'a coiled plunger projecting spring 13 which is adapted to be-compressed by the plunger when. retracted by its operating rod 11 so that when said rod is released the plunger will be forcibly projected in the passage 9 between the strips 8. The plunger when thus projected will come into engagement with a stop block 14 arranged and secured between the partition 8 a' short distance from the lower end of the boxas shown. The plunger when thus projected is adapted to forcibly drive a ball or spherical operating element 15 'up through the passage 9 and into the upper portion of the box from whence the ball will roll back through the box, thus coming into contactwith the game pieces of the apparatus as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Arranged across the upper end of the space 9 between the strips 8 is a ball deflecting block 16, said block having a curved or rounded outer surface and having formed on its upper end and inner side an attaching lug 17 which is pivotally secured between the strips 8 said lug being arranged at an angle to provide an inclined lower edge which is disposed in the path of the balls or operating elements 15 when shot up the passage 9 by the plunger 10, said balls when coming into engagement with the inclined lower edge of the lug'17 swinging the latter and the block 16- upwardly to -permit'the ball to pass whereupon as soon as the ball has passed, said block will drop back by gravity thus closing the upper end of the space or alley 9 and preventing the return of the ball through said space.

Arranged in the opposite sides of the second bases.

top of the box are formed apertures 32 the box between the strips and the sides. of the box are a series of parallel longitudinally disposed partition strips 18 which are spaced apart'to form a plurality of channels or alleys 19 through the box, said strips having their inner ends engaged with diago-.

nally disposed stop strips 20 arranged in the lower portion of the box between the strips 8 and the sides 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing. The outer ends of the strips terminate on an oblique line from the central strips 8.to the sides of the box, said ends 3 .being beveled on their outer 'corners' as shown. By thus arranging the strips 18 to form the channels or alleys 19 the balls 15 when driven through the alley 19 into the space above the outer ends of the partition strips will roll back through said space and down through one of the alleys 19 thus tripping the game member over this particular alley as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the space at the u per-end of the box is arranged a filling lilock 21 having a. curved segmental inner edge, said block having secured to the curved inner edge a centrally disposed semi-circular deflecting block 22. The blocks 21 and 22 are struck by the balls when shot through the space, causing said balls to rebound and roll back into the alleys 19 as hereinbefore described. .011 the bottom of the box adjacent to the upper ends of the next to the last alleys are arranged ball deflecting studs 23 whichinterfere with the movement of the balls and make their entrance to the last two alleys on either side of the box more difficult. The inner ends of the partition strips 18 have formed in their under sides passages 24 and in the adjacent portions ,of the strips 8 are also formed passages 25, said passages 24 and 25 permitting the balls when reaching the lower ends of the alleys 19 to roll down the strips 20 and into the main alley 9 and into position to be again enga ed by the plunger 'and shot or forcibly pro ected up the alley in the manner described. I

. The upper surface of the top of the box has its upper portion laid off to re resent a base ball field on which is depicted a diamond. On the diamond are indicated the position of the first base 26, a second .base 27 and a third base 28. In the top of edges of said openings being protected by metal eyelets 33. The openings 32 are each disposed above one of the alleys 19 between the partition strips 18 in the bottom of the box and over each of said aperturesis arrangeda game piece certain of which are intended to represent players while certain others are employed for indicating the plays. Each of the game pieces comprises a cylindrical block 34 to one side of, which is secured :1 depending member 35 which is preferably in the form of a screw having on its lower end a head 35" and threads on its other end, said screws or" headed shanks .extending through the apertures in the top of the box and projecting down into the alleys formed by the partition strips 18. The game pieces representing the players aredifierently colored from the game pieces indicating the plays and the game pieces indicating the difierent kinds of plays are also difl'erently colored. One of the player game pieces 36 represents the first baseman and is engaged with an aperture 32 arranged in the top of the box in the position usually occupied by the first baseman. Another game piece 37 is in like manner disposed in the position usually occupied by the second baseman. Another game piece 38 is disposed in the position usually occupied by the shortstop while still another piece 39 is disposed in the position occupied bythe third baseman. Similar game pieces 40, 41 and 42 we engaged with apertures arranged in the positions usually occupied by the right fielder, center fielder and left fielder. In the diamond adjacent to one side of the pitchers box 43 is arranged an aperture with which is engaged a game piece 44 which is intended toindicate the strikes. On

the opposite side of the pitchers box are member of which is. preferably double the length of the other game piece 34, said game piece 45 being provided with two shanks which project through the apertures 32 and are engaged with the adjoining alleys 19 below sa d aperture. By providing the game-piece 45 with two shanks, said piece is more frequently tripped by the operating elements or balls rolling back through the box. The game piece 45 is intended to represent the balls and for this reason is constructed so that the same will probably be more frequently tripped as there are always more balls than strikes recorded in a baseballgame, The game pieces 44 and 45 which indicate thestrikes and balls are difl'erentlyeolored from the other game pieces.

At points near the first and third bases are arranged game pieces 46 the shanks of which project down into the two outer alle'ys, said pieces being provided to indicate the foul lines of the field. At the lower end of thefield are arranged a series of game pieces 47 48, 49 and 50 which are intended to. indicate respectively a three base hit, a *two base hit, a one base hit and a home run.

These game ieces as well as the game pieces indicating the foul lines are difl'erentlyficolored as indicated. It will be understood that the shank ofeach of the game pieces projects through an aperture 32 in the top of the box and engages a'sep'arate alley and that when the ball, or operating element rolls down through any of the alleys the game piece whoseshank is disposedtherein will be rocked byg the passage of the ball, so that thecount or play represented by this time piece may be recorded.

On the top of the box belowthe base ball field and the lower row of game pieces are arranged a series of registering or recording dials, the dial '51 being arranged to indicate the number of strikes, the dial 52 being arranged to indicate the number of balls, the-dial '53 being arranged to indicate the number of outs. Belowthese dials are arrangeddials 54 and 55 which are provided to indicate the number of runs for for each-side or team, while between the dials 54 and 55 is arranged a dial .56 which is provided to indicate the of innings played. Each of the dials is provided with an indicating finger 57 which is pivotally secured to the top of the bo"x in any suitable manner and is adapted to be manually turned to co-act with the numerals of its respective dial. x

The ame is to be played by two persons and in eing pla ed the-ball lSz-Pllt in mo:

tion by means 0 the spring plunger 10 in" the manner described, said plunger shooting the ball up the alley 9 and into the upper portion of the box from which it rolls back down through one of the other alleys 19.

As the ball rolls down these alleys -.it trips one of the game pieces located over the same which'will indicat'e the play or score. If in thus rolling down the alleys the ball trips any of the game pieces representing the infielders or outfielders, thismovement will indicate the batter is out. If the game piece 44 is tripped it will indicate a strike. If either of the game pieces 46 is tripped it will indicate a foul ball which is recorded as a strike but not after two strikes are recorded. If three strikes are A recordedv before a put-out or hit, is made then the batter is out. The trippingof the large game piece 45 indicates the balls. If four balls are recorded before a put-out or. "a hitv is made then one of the pegs 31 which represent base runners is placed on the first base.

The tripping of any of the game pieces 47, 48, 49. or '50 entitles ,the batter w s many bases as is indicated by the game piece tripped and'one of the pegs representin the base runners is placed on that base.

I there are an base runners onthe bases they are move forward the same number a series'ofdials ada of bases and a base runner reaching the home plate scores'a run. A base runner also scores a homemn from a second orthird base on a one base hit. Three outs constitute one-half of an inning at which time the next player takes his turn until three outs are recorded on his plays: which completes one iiming, and there are preferably nine innings to a game. No runs can be scored in an inning after three put-outs are recorded.- Suitable'rules or regulations 'for governing the baserunners are provided but a statement of these rules is not thought to be necessary. 7

From the foregoing description taken'in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood with out requiring a more extended explanation. Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of theadvantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is; 1 v 4 I A game apparatus comprising a box having a top on which is pictured a base ball field, a plurality of game pieces representing players and arranged-in the positionsusually occupied by the players in the field, a series'of game pieces representing theplays and scores madeby the players,

pe representing base runners and adapted to y e placed on the bases, shanks arranged on said game pieces, a spherical operating element adapted to engage said shanks and trip said game.pieces, means whereby said spherical operating and scores indicate by thegame pieces.

3. In a gameapparatus, a box hav ng a top on which is picturedv abase ball field, a

element is projected, and ted to reglsterthe plays series ofpartitions arranged in said box er sphericalgoperating element a apted to be pro'ec through sai alleys, a. plurality of game pieces representing. the

sin disposed in theplositions on the field usually occupied by t e players, a strike ,u .thebox and to roll back players, said pieces thetop to'form a pluralit of alleys,,a 125.

indicating game piece, a ball indicating game piece, a series of base hits, and home run indicating game pieces, means on said game pieces adapted to project through the cover of the box and into said alleys in position to be engaged by the ball rolling down the latter whereby the game pieces are tripped and the plays and scores thus indicated.

4. A game apparatus comprising a box having a cover on which is pictured a base ball field, a pair of longitudinally disposed partition strips arranged to form an alley,

a spring ball projecting plunger arranged in the inner end of said alley, a retracting stem secured to said plunger, a game piece tripping ball adapted to be projected through said alley and into the upper end of the box by said plunger, means to prevent the return of the ball through said alley, stop strips arranged diagonally across the box between said partition strips and the sides of-the box, a series of longitudinally disposed parallel partition strips arranged on the opposite sides of said central pair of strips to form a plurality of alleys down which said ball is adapted to roll after being projected into the upper portion of the box, said strips having formed in their inner ends alined passages through which and through the central pair of strips the return ball is adapted to roll back into the central alley, a plurality of game pieces arranged in the field pictured on the top of the box, said game pieces representing the players and projecting through the top of't'he box and into the alleys formed by the partition in the box and adapted to be engaged by the ball rolling back through the alley whereby said game pieces are tripped.

5. In a game apparatus, a box having a top on which is pictured a base ball field, a series of partitions arranged in said box below the top to form a plurality of alleys, asphericaloperating element adapted to be projected through said alleys, a filling block arranged in the upper end of the box, said block having a concavedouter edge adapted to receive and return the ball, a ball deflecting block arranged in the center of said concaved edge, deflecting studs arranged in the box near the upper ends of the outer alleys, a plurality of game pieces representmg players and indicating plays and scores, c

said game pieces being arranged on the top of the box, shanks connected with said game piecesand projecting down into the box and into posit-ion to be engaged by the ball rolling back down through said alley, and means whereby the scores lndicated by said game pieces are recorded.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIP L. MUNKER. Witnesses:

OSCAR A. FAULBORN, G. H. DE GLINDT.

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