US1188646A - Amusement device. - Google Patents

Description

C. GREENSLIT & R. ROYAL- AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-H.1913. 1,188,646.

Patented June 27, 1916.

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0. GREENSLIT & R. ROYAL; AMUSEMENT DEV|CE. APPL|CAT|0N FILED SEPT-11,1913.

- Patented June 27, 1916.

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AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-11,1913.

Patented June 27, 1916'.

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CHARLES GREENSLIT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, AND ROSCOE ROYAL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBS TO THE BATTERY BALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN. i

' AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLEs GREENSLIT, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyaresiding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, both citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the followingis a full,

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to amusement devices and particularly to an apparatus whereby the American game of baseball can be easily and accurately played. However, while we shall describe our improvement entirely with reference to the American game of baseball, it will be understood that with suitable changes in construction, design, and nomenclature, the devices of our invention could be employed in connection with other contests, such as rifle matches, archery matches, shooting galleries, cricket, golf, etc,, and it will also be apparent that some of the features of the apparatus are susceptible of a broader use, such as signaling and registering generally. Accordingly it will be understood that the following" description, although confined to the useand arrangement of the invention according to the game of baseball, is intended to be illustrative merely, and not definitive of the limits of the invention. l v

Tn the patent to Culp, No. 1,018,409, dated Feb. 27, 1912, there is illustrated, described and claimed an apparatus for playing the game of baseball, comprising ayielding curtain, a bat movable acr oss said curtain,

and electric contrivances associated with various partsof the curtains and the bat, so that while one player shall pitch or throw baseballs at the curtain, another player, by the manipulation of suitable devices, may shift the bat in attempts, to intercept the ball, and electric devices will be actuated depending upon the relative success of the two players to expose indications corresponding roughly to the decisions of the umpire and the actual progress of a real base ball game. The mechanism of, this prior device was crude and unsatisfactory in certain respects, partly because of the difiiculty of keeping the fixed target mechanism in operative condition, owing to the fact that the Curtain was frequently torn away by the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June as, rare.

Application filed September 11, 1913. Serial No. 789,370.

ball, partly-by reason'of the'weight of the bat, and because of the difliculty of shifting the same, partly because of the great re-' bounding of the ball which caused it to miss the retrieving mechanism, and partly because of the unsatisfactory nature of the electrical contacts.

It is the main object of this invention to provide new and useful expedients whereby the above named difficulties may be avoided,

such as the provision of new and improved means for supporting the various targets;.

the provision of new and improved contact devices for those targets; the provision of a new and simplified form of movable target or bat; the provision of new and improved means for operating said bat; the provision of new and improved devices for returningthe ball to the players; 1 mechanism which can be readily packed into the provision of small compass and shipped or transported, and easily set up upon occasion; while further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

It is a well known fact that the interest in a baseball game centers particularly about the itcher and batter, and among amateur base all enthusiasts the positions of'batter and pitcher are most eagerly sought, the other positions being taken only upon sufferance or due regard for, fair play. However,

it has always been necessary in order that two persons should test their respective powers in pitching and batting to obtain the services of a largenumber of others for the purpose of fielding the ball. We have therefore striven to perfect an apparatus which can be set up at parks, pleasure resorts, bowling alleys, fairs, ex ositions, and the like, so aS to enable base all enthusiasts to test their respective powers withoutsuch outside assistance, the apparatus being easily transportable so as to enable its owner to follow the crowd.

In the present and most desirable embodiment, this apparatus may be conveniently divided into, A, target and its accessories by which the impact of the balls is received; B, the registering device or umpire by means of which the impact of the balls upon the target is recorded together 7 Tn the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, wherein one embodiment of our improved device is illustrated, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus; Fig. 2 is acentral, longitudinal, vertical, cross-sectional view through the target mechanism, retrieving mechanism, and' the associated parts; Fig. 3 is a plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical, transverse, cross-sectional' view I taken through the retrieving mechanism, the target being shown inelevatiom-Fig. 5v is a detail view of a portion of one of the targets, showing the contactin making devices; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the movable target or bat; Fig. 7 is a detail view-of one of they contactscarried by the movable target or bat; Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the bat-supporting member; Fig. 9, is a cross sectional view of the bat taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is a plan view of one of. the relays employed in the registeringmechanism or umpire; Fig. 11 is a'detail tit) view of a portion of the retrieving mocha-'- nism; and Fig. 12 is a diagram of the electrical connections employed. For purposes of clearness the Various general divisions of the apparatus will be described separately,

beginning with the first. At, Target mechanism-Supported in upright position, at the proper distance from the pitchers box 1 at right angles to the line drawn from that box, is a rectangular" frame-work 2, preferably of knock-down construction, having at its lower end suitable cross pieces? and adjacent to its upper end suitable brackets a and 5 respectively. Journaled between the brackets 4 is a horizontal roller to which is secured a curtain 7 of cloth or other suitable flexible material, the lower end of which is fixed to the cross piece 3. ,This' curtain is formed with an oblong aperture 8 of the shape and area within which pitched balls can be denominated strikes. Similarly journaled in the brackets .55 is a horizontal roller 9 upon which-is wound a suitable curtain 10 which falls immediately behind the aperture 8 and like the curtain 7 is attached to the cross pieces 3 3. The curtain 10 is preferably provided with a hood 11, also of flexible material, and

held in place by suitable springs so as to prevent balls thrown thereagainst from falling upon the floor behind the curtain, and cansing them to be delivered back through the aperture 8. These curtains are maintained intaut position by means of suitable springs (not shown) concealed in the rollers, ordinary shade rollers being conveniently employed for the purpose; and arrangements are provided whereby electric contacts will be made upon the rotation of these rollers when the curtains are displaced as by balls striking the same, For making this contact,

1 bodiment,

nieaeee with a helical groove 13 and the bracket is provided with an insulated flexible spring finger lthaving its free end projecting into said groove. Upon the rotation of the roller 9 the spring finger let moves laterally into contact with a fixed contact member and thus sets in operation the registering mechanism hereinafter described. This arrange ment causes a small displacement to make a. sufliciently long contact for the purposes of registration and prevents a heavy blow from distorting the. contact mechanism. Preferablythe finger 14L is arranged so as to tend to engage the fixed member 15, since this arrangement Causes a firmer and steadier contact to be made than if the cam action is relied upon to force the members together. Also the fixed member 15 is preferably made yielding so as to prevent any possibility of permanent distortion by reason of an unusually great displacement of the parts.

the"bat. In the present embodiment, thisbat-1s"p1voted upon a horizontal axis 1:

one side of the curtain 7 and is arranged to be swung up ordown across the aperture 8 to meet the expected direction of the balls delivered by the pitcher. Tn the present em 7 a trough shaped supporting member 18 is provided having parallel sides 19-19 and connected by a rigid end piece 20. This trough member is securely attached to a spindle 21 which is journaled in a box 22 carried by the upright 2 and has upon 1 its opposite end a sprocket wheel 23 engaged by a'chain 2% whose ends are connected by wires 2525' with a lever 26 supported adjacent to the batsm'ans position so as to en able the latter to shift the bat to intercept the balls delivered. The spindle 21 is also provided with an arm 28 tojwhich is secured a spring or like counterbalanc'ing device 29 by means'of which the bat may be held in any position to which it is moved.

Secured to the member 18, as -by means of links 30-30 pivoted to the sidesilt) thereof, is a beam 31, here shown as of metal rolled into tlshape and having its open edge presented toward the curtain. The links 30-80, being pivoted to the sides 19 of the trough member and to the sides of this ll beam, form a kind of parallel motion, the beam being normally held in forward position by means of a tension spring 32 secured thereto and to the end piece 20. This arrangement is adapted so that when the bat is struck by a ball at any point it may yield sufficiently to prevent any undue strain from being brought upon the apparatus.

ioo

- scription.

Yieldingly'secured to the beam 31 are a plurality of cushions 33-33, each of which is mounted upon- .a channel member 34 which straddles the beam-31 as shown in Fig. 2. These channel members are yield- .ingly mounted for parallel motion in any suitable manner as by the links 35-35 herein shown, and are yieldingly held away from the beam 31 by means of suitable springs 36. Contact members are arranged so as to be actuated by the shifting of the members 34 toward the beam 31, the arrangement shown herein comprising a pair of springs 37, normally held in separated position. as by the pressure against one of them of the button 38 (Fig. 7) but arranged to be brought into contact with each other upon the movement of said button away there from, the button-being connected to oneof the members 34. In the present embodiment, the portions of the bat are con nected so as, when hit by the ball, to register fouls, hits, or home-runs, as indicated in Fig. 6, though it will'be obvious that'the portions of the bat could bedifferently arranged or that difie'rent names or denominations could be given to them,

and that the shape and arrangement of the movable target could be changed entirely without departure from my invention. The mode of operation of the various targets will probably be clear without further de- B. Registering device or. umpire.- The wires over which the impulses are to be received are brought together to a central point and connected in a system whose arrangement and layout will depend upon the quantities to be registered, although in the present description we shall confine ourselves to an elucidation of its arrangement when used for registering'the'events of 'a' However, the variations. necessary to adaptthe registering mecha base ball game.-

nism for use with other games orthe annunciation of other quantities will readily occur to thdse skilled in the art. 1

For use with a base ball apparatus the.

registering mechanism is preferably contained within a cabinet 38, having upon its face the representation of a base ball dia mond, said cabinet being connected to the target mechanism by means of a suitable cable 39. provided with suitable annunciators, preferably small incandescent lamps indicated at 40 and the pitchers box may have a lamp 41. The face of the, cabinet may also hear at convenient locations other series of lamps as 42 for indicating the number of strikes;

43 for indicating ba1ls;" 44f0r indicating.

outs; and 45 for indicating runs.

Other annunciators than lamps may obviously be employed, but lamps are particur' larly' convenient from the fact that they The corners of the diamond are,

I arm 53 by hand.

automatically return to their previous condition immediately upon thecessation of the current through them. A great many 'expedients could be employed for actuating these annunciators upon the occurrence of contacts at the different parts of the target mechanism, but for purposes of complete- 'nes 1 have illustrated herein an extremely simple form of circuit, although it will be understood that any suitable or desired circuit arrangement could be employed within the scope of the .invention herein claimed.

One form of relay which can be employed in connection with the simple circuit here described is illustrated in Fig. 10, and the various connections in diagrammatic form in Fig. 12. The relay here disclosed consists of an electromagnet 48 having an armature 49 and provided with the usual contacts. J ournaledin the frame of the relay is a rock shaft 52 having secured 'to its outer end an arm 53 and to its inner end a finger '54'terminating at its end in a laterally turned tip 55 adapted to overhang the edge of the armature.

A suitable spring 56 coiled about the shaft '52 tends to rotate this shaft so as to bring the finger 54 into contact with a terminal 57 mounted within the relay frame but insulated therefrom. Normally the tip 55 will overhang the side of the armature and thus be maintained out of contact with the terminal57, but upon the energization of the magnets 48 the armature 49 will be displaced so as to permit the rotation of the shaft 52 by the spring 56 and thus make contact with the terminal 57. The arm 53 carries a button or indicator 58 which, by its displacement, indicates visually the fact that the magnet has been actuated,'each of those buttons or indicators carrying the appropriate term of the event which is recorded. In the present embodiment these relays are shown as mounted upon the exterior of the cabinet '38, and beside them are mounted switches as follows: 60 for,strikes, 61 for balls,

62 for runs, 63 for outsf, and 64 for home runs, said switches being adapted to coiiperate with contacts a, b, 0, respectively, connected with the individual lamps of the previously described series. Other switches This is particularly desirable in the.

ball

being constructed substantially as previously described. From the battery extends a main lead 70 connected to the various contacts 72, 73, 74 and 75 at the targets. From these contacts wires 76, 77, 78 and 7 9 respectively extend to the various relays. The finger 54 of each relay and the armature 49 thereof are connected in parallel and joined to one terminal of the corresponding magnet, the other terminal of the magnet being connected to the return main 80. The various Switches may also be connected to the re turn main 80, the various lamps being con nected to the opposite side of the battery as by the main 81., Also the main 70 is provided with a branch 82 connected with the terminals 57 of the various signals.

Supposing a contact to be made at 72 as by the-impact of a ball against the curtain 10: an impulse will pass from the battery by way of 70, 72, 76 and S49 to the. magnet of the relay S, thus causing the attraction of the armature 49 and permitting the swinging of the finger 54. This causes a change in theposition of the corresponding indicator 58, and may also effect the ringing of a bell 83 or a production ofsome other sensible signal, the actuation of this mechanism being continued by the circuit from the bat- 'tery through the branch 82 and contact 57,

since the contact at 7'2 is usually only momentary. Thereupon a player or attendant,

H noting that the indication is for a strike same an inclined shield 128.

will shift the switch 60 onto the point 60, thereby illuminating the corresponding lamp 42 The relay is then restored to its original condition by shifting the arm 53, whereupon the apparatus is ready for another operation. The method of keeping track of the various scores will probably be clear without further description.

0. Ball'retm'eoer.1n order to minimize the necessity foran attendant, we prefer to employ automatic means for returning the balls to the players, and have therefore devised the following improvements upon the apparatus illustrated and disclosed in the Culp patent, heretofore mentioned: To this end, we provide in front of the curtains 7 and '10, a basket or receptor comprising a canvas or other sheet 125 stretched within a horizontal, rectangular frame work 126, and

having at a suitable point an aperture 127 for the discharge of the balls which fall thereon. In order to provide a device which can be set up on top of a floor, suchas a billiard alley, and without the necessity of sinking any part of it, we suspend this receptor a convenientdistance above the floor as shown in Fig. 2, and place in front of the Beneath the aperture 127 we provide a conduit 130 whereby the balls are conveyed to the ele- This elevator comprises aframe or standard 131 messes having at its upper and lower ends sprocket wheels 1332 and 133, respectively, the latter being adjacent to the mouth ofthe conduit 130, as shown in Fig 4. Surrounding these sprockets is a chain 134 provided at intervals with projecting fingers 135 adapted to engage the balls as they emerge from the conduit 130. The upwardly moving leg of the chain is inclosed in a casing 136 which at the top merges with spout 137, and this spout discharges into a suitable trough 138 whereby the balls are returned to the players. For driving this mechanism, we pref-A erably employ an electric motor 140 supported upon a suitable art of the frame workand communicating by means of a belt 141 and countershaft arrangement 14?; with a pulley 143, aflixed to the sprocket 132. In connection with this sprocket we also preferably employ a third pulley or sprocket 144 secured thereto in one-way-driving-rela tion, as by means of the ball clutch 145, and

connected, by means of the chain 146 and wire 147 with the lever 148 adjacent to the pitchers bOX, so that, if for any reason, the electric drive should be impossible or inoperative, a manipulation of this lever will serve to setthe apparatus in operation and retrieve any balls which may be present at the far end of the apparatus. We find that with the arrangement illustrated and described a single manipulation of the lever 148 will impress a suflic-ient degree of speed upon the retriever mechanism to raise a considerable number of balls and return them to the players.

While we have described-indetail a specific use of our invention, it will be apparent that departures, both from the details and from the-use, may be made without exceed;

ing the scope of our inventive idea. Many such departures from the use have been suggested in the foregoing description, and many others will occur to any mechanic, while the possible variations in detail are so great that it is impracticable to describe them all. However it is thought that the construction and operation of our improve ments will be clear to'those skilled in the art withoutmore extended description.

I Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. Tn amusement apparatus, in combination, a pair of substantially vertical targets mounted one in front of the other, the foremost target being of flexible material yieldin'gly mounted and having an aperture arranged so as to disclose a portion of the rearmost target, said rearmost target also being yieldingly supported, a movable target mounted in front of said first target, electrical contacts carried by the respective first and said movable targets and adapted to be closed upon the impact of a missile thereagainst, and operative connections to said.

1 ing said finger and so as to be displaced upon the rotation of said.

movable target whereby the same may be operated from a distance to intercept misby said fingers, and means carried by. the

roller and engaging with one of said fingers upon the rotation of said roller for displacclosing the circuit through said contact devices.

3. In mechanism for receiving and recording theimpact of missiles, in combination, a frame, a roller carried thereby and having a helically grooved portion, a curtain wound upon said roller, movable fingers carried by said frame and projecting into said groove so as to be displaced upon the rotation of said roller, and electrical contact devices carried by said fingers.

- 4:. In mechanism for receiving and recording the impact of a missile, the combination of a target frame, a displaceable supporting device carried thereby, a flexible curtain secured to said supporting device, movable fingers mounted adjacent to said supporting device, electrical contact devices carried by said fingers, and cam means carried by said supporting device and operative upon the displacement of the same for bringing said fingers together closing the circuit through said contact devices.

5. In mechanism for receiving and recording the impact tion, a frame, a roller carried thereby and having a cam thereon, a curtain wound upon said roller, movable fingers carried by said frame and projecting adjacent to said cam roller, and electrical contact devices carried by said fingers. I, 4

6. In game apparatus, a movable target comprising a hollow beam, one or more movable sections carried by said beam and supported for movement toward and from the same, means yieldingly maintaining said sections in a position away from said beam, contact fingers carried by said beam, and means operative by the movement of said sections relatively to said beam for making and breaking the contact at said fingers.

7. In mechanism of the character described, the combination, with a. support and a pair of spring fingers carried thereby, said fingers having portions adapted to contact with each other and being arranged so as normally to make such contact, of a movable member carried by said support and adapted to be displaced upon the impact of a missile thereagainst, cam means normally maintaining said fingers out of contact with each other, and connections between said of missiles, in combinamovable member and said cam means whereby said cam means will be displaced upon the displacement of said movable member and the contact of said fingers permitted.

8. In impact registering mechanism, the combination, with a supportand a. spring finger carried thereby, of a fixed contact which said finger tends to engage, a movable member carried by said support, a camming device operatively connected to said movable member and adapted when moved in one direction to separate said finger and fixed contact, and yielding means connected to said movable member and normally maintaining said camming device in a position to hold said finger out of engagement with.

means connected to said movable, member and support and normally holding the same separated and simultaneously maintaining said cam device in the position it assumes when said contacts are separated, said cam being arranged so that upon movement of said member toward said support said -contacts shall touch each other.

10. In mechanism for receiving and recording the impact of missiles, the combination, with a fixed, yielding target supported in substantially vertical position, of a supporting member journaled at one side of said fixed target upon a substantially horizontal axis, an elongated beam connected to said supporting member and pro ectnection being of a nature to permit lateral vmovement of said beam while maintaining it always parallel to the plane of saidtarget, means yieldingly connecting said beam and supporting member whereby the former is yieldingly held away from said fixed target, electric contacts carried by different parts of said beam and by said fixed targets and adapted to be operated by the impact of missiles thereagainst, and means for swinging said beam across the face of said fixed it'arget.

all. In mechanism for receiving and recording the impact of missiles, in c0mbina tion, a movable target-comprising a support,

ing across the face of said target, such cona plurality of rigid members, links pivoted to said support and to said rigid members so as to permit the latter to move in a parallel manner, electric contacts adapted to be made and broken upon the displacement of said rigid members, and yielding means normally maintaining said rigid members at adapted to be actuated by the impact of a.

their point of greatest displacement from said support.

12. lln baseball game apparatus, in combination, a bat consisting of an elongated beam, a support therefor, means pivotally securing said beam to said support, U- shaped members straddling said beam and yieldingly secured thereto, springs connected to said members and to said beams and tending to maintain said members at a point away from said beam, and electric contacts carried by said beam and adapted to be made and broken upon the displacement of said members.

13. In game apparatus, the combination, with an upright target and contacts carried thereby, of an elongated supporting member pivoted upon a substantially horizontal axis at one side of said target, means connected to said member and extending to a distance therefrom whereby said member can be swung past said target, means connected to said member and tending to counterbalance the weight thereof, and contact members carried by said supporting member and missile thereagainst.

14; In baseball game apparatus, in combination, a bat consisting of a U-shaped metal beam, a support therefor, means pivotally securing said beam to said su port, U- shaped members straddling said l sides of said members and of said beam being substantially parallel, links pivoted to the sides of said beam-and members respectively, so as to permit said members to move toward and from the same, cushions carried by said members, springs connected to said members and to said beams and tending to earn, the

IIGSSBS.

maintain said members at a point away from said beam, and electric contacts. carried by said beam and adapted to be made a motor operatively connected to said apparatus, an inclined trough ada ted to receive saidmissiles from said apparatus and return them, and manually operated means also connected to said elevating apparatus for operatingthe same when desired, independently of the motor.

16. The combination, with game apparatus, of a retriever for missiles comprlsmg a receptor for said missiles, a spout adapted to receive missiles from said receptor, an endless chain mounted in inclined position and adapted to receive said missiles from said spout and elevate the same to a position higher than the players, an inclined trough adapted to receive said missiles and convey them to the players, means for auto matically driving said chain, and devices connected to said chain driving means and adapted to be moved manually to operate said retrieving ap aratus upon the failure of said automatica ly driving means.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto affix our signatures in the presence of two iwit- CHAS. -GREENSLIT.

ROSCOE ROYAL.

Witnesses:

FRANK X. SGHANT, HAROLD E. SMITH.

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