US1080972A - Playing-surface. - Google Patents

Description

G. P. JACKSON.

PLAYING SURFACE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.1, 1913.

1,080,972, Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

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' FIG" GEORGE E. JACKSON, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

PLAYING-SURFACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1 91 3.

Application filed April 1, 1913. Serial No. 758,218.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon I JACKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Playing-Surfaces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to playing surfaces, and has for its object to provide a surface whereon a game piece may be projected, said surface being capable of being varied at will as to its contour, whereby the projection of the game piece toward a given point, such as a cup formed in the surface, may present varying problems.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a variation in position of the playing surface.

Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views.

In the said drawing the reference numeral 1 denotes an outer rigid frame, which may be of wood, metal or other suitable material, and which, while shown circular, may be of any desired configuration, such as oval, square, oblong or the like. Said frame is preferably braced by the grid 2 bolted thereto near the bottom, said grid supporting at its center a post 3. Fixed to said frame intermediate the height of the latter, but above said grid 2 and post 3, is a flexible playing surface, the same being composed of an underlying layer 4 of wire fabric and a top layer 5 of any suitable cloth material, such as billiard cloth, the two being attached to each other throughout their areas in any suitable manner. Disposed beneath said playing surface is a plurality of rods 6, the same being projected through the sides of the frame 1, in which they are rotatably mounted, and have fixed to their outer ends suitable hand wheels 7 whereby they may be rotated. Said rods are preferably supported at the center of the frame 1 by passing through apertures in the post i 3, as shown, and are shaped to provide a series of cranks 8 at intervals in their length, to which are connected links 9, which are in turn connected at their other ends to the underlying wire fabric 4 of the playing surface.

In operation, with the rods 6 turned to dispose their cranked portions in a horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 2, the playing surface will be maintained flat. But with said rods turned to shift their cranked portions toward a vertical plane, as shown in detail in Fig. 3, the playing surface will as sume an undulating configuration, which will be governed by the amount of shift imparted to the rods 6. It will thus be seen that the playing surface may be shifted at will from a plane surface to an undulating surface, and that the amount of undulation may be varied by the amount of rotation imparted to the rods 6. Further, while I have shown but two rods 6 disposed at a right angle to each other, and passing completely across the frame 1, it will be understood that three or more such rods may be employed, or said rods may be differently disposed, or may each terminate in the cen tral post 3. In fact, I contemplate any variation in the number, character and disposition of said rods, as well as any variation in height of the cranks 8 thereon.

I may also attach to the cloth 5 near the frame 1 a series of raised portions 10 to serve as tees from which the game pieces may be initially projected, as in the game of golf. And I also contemplate forming in the playing surface near its center a series of cups 11 which will serve as the objective,

,as do the holes in the putting greens in the game of golf.

The game pieces may be of any desired character, such as golf balls, and sticks such as putters may be used to project them.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A playing surface of flexible material, and means for shifting said surface into undulations.

2. A playing surface of flexible material, and means for variably shifting said surface into undulations.

3. A playing surface of flexible material normally flat, and means for shifting said surface into undulations.

4:. A playing surface of flexible material normally flat, and means for variably shifting said surface into undulations.

5. In combination with a frame, a playing surface of flexible material supported within said frame, and means for shifting said surface into undulations.

6. In combination with a frame, a playing surface of flexible material. supported Within said frame, and means for variably shifting said surface into undulations.

7. In combination With a frame, a playing surface of flexible material supported Within said frame, and cranked rods rotatable in said frame beneath said playing surface and connected at their cranked portions to said playing surface.

8. In combination With a frame, a playing surface of flexible material supported Within said frame, cranked rods rotatable in said frame beneath said playing surface, and links connecting the cranked portions of said rods to said playing surface.

v9. In combination with a frame, a play- GEORGE P. J AOKSON.

WVitnesses CHAS. BLAUVELT, J. F. VALIEANT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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