US1217908A - Game apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

C. B. BREWERKL H. E. HANES.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLlcAUoM FILED FEB.21, 1914.

1,21 7,908.' Patgnted Mar. 6, 1917.

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25 printed orf otherwise impressedl thereon lto UHD. SEMES CHARLES B. BREWER, or HYAfrTsvIi-JEE, MARYLAND, Ann HARVEY E.' iiaNEs, or" ,HEREDONNIRGINIAJ Y A v GAME` ArrERaTUs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

iippiication aiea February 21,191.4.` 'seriainasaaae5- j To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, CHARLES B. BREWER and HARVEY E. HANEs, citizens' of the United States, residing atv Hyattsville,

Prince Georges county, Maryland, and' The object of the invention is to provide` an inexpensive gameboaid 'ofthe class specified, the same being lined or marked olf to represent defined yand designated areas or zones contiguous to positions corresponding to the bases, home-plate and field-players,

etc., of the regular outdoor game ofbaseball.v

In addition, there are upstandingl pieces or elements'secured to the board at the bases,

etc. In the aforementioned Zones or areas, appropriate legends or designations `are indicate the plays of the players' or advances of a runner or runners. The action of the game is progressed andcontrolled by a movable piece, in the form of a ball, disk, or'the like, which is snapped, flipped or otherwise set into motion with the finger from the liome-platetoward the outfield.

A further object is to reproduce, so far as practicable, the various features of the game of baseball; and, to this end, the posi tions of the aforementioned upstanding pieces or elements are so predetermined and said pieces are so dimensioned that vthe movement and positioningof said movable pieces in relation to the spaces and areas bring into play a high degreev ofV skill and judgment. However,'the relative arrange-Y ment of the components of the gameboard is such that the element of chance and uncertainty enters into the game similarly as in the regular game of baseball.

The invention, in one aspect, resides in the board itself, marked olf andbearing appro-- priate designations and legends, as aforementioned, the similarly marked spaces having different meanings, that is, 'some of'them indicate the earned position to which both the batter and any runner than base may 'game and'l be entitled and, also, the play of the fielder', whetherhe has made an assist, aV ,putout, an .error, etc.; and also in the character and relative positionlmand varyingv vPatented Maip, 1917. 1

values, of the upstanding pieces mounted thereon, and, in addition, in the novely foi-ms ofplayer-coniponents; furthermore, in certain .novel features of. construction and aggroupment of parts, all as hereinafter more dfully, Aset forth andclaimed.4

vIn the'acc'ompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification 'and in which like letters of reference "indicate corresponding parts, we have exemplified an 'embodiment' of our invention. It is, however, obvious l and ive `wish it understood, that we do'not limit ourselves to this Vparticular embod`i` ment, since otherslv may be developed by a modification of lthat herein disclosed and yet be within the spirit of our invention and,

also, within the scope of the appended'- claims.-

In these drawings Figure l is a. view in plan of a gameboardy constructed in accordance with certaiiriV fea- -tures of our invention `Fig'. 2 is a view in Vvertical section, lon the line Qf-Figl, Y 4

@Figs 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate various forms of'movable elements utilizedy in playing the Fig. 7 shows an annular element also utilizedfin playing the game. Y

It is to be understood thatthe game may be'played by any number of pei-sons; but, generally, two would play it. y

As here exemplified,` the gameboard,

designated generally byy the reference-nu-V merall--is arranged to represent the defensive side or nine, while the movable pieces-,designated Q-"represent the ball and the offensive side or nine, There are, generally, nine of these movable pieces, representing regular players, in successive or simultaneous action-according to the development of the gameand one or more additional pieces to -represent substitute players, which are on the offensive part'of the time and on the defensive at other times. The board is lined or otherwise marked olf and,l in'soine instances, colored, to representadiamond' andoutiield 4. 1 These are e'mbraced'as` an 'inclosed' lfield by strips 5 secured to the" board and constituting ay rebounding` edge. These strips not only constitute guards but serve also as rebounding surfaces which become important features in the skilful playing of the game.

0n the surface of the board and at pre determined positions in reference to the positionareas of the diamond and outfield, upstanding pieces 6 are mounted. These are preferably made of wood; they are of a definite number; and they are disposed in a particular relative arrangement. They represent the defensive players in the field, and the ball 2 may be caused to pass between any two or more of them or to impinge against and rebound from their peripheries and, thus, be deflected at varying angles so that they will eventually reach preferred Vand desirable positions.

The laying` off of the board is such 'that there .is represented a first-base 7, a secondbase S, a third-base S), and homeeplate 10, and these respectively represent positions earned by the li atte1"-that is, the movable piece which is then in actionso that, if it reaches first-base, it becomes a runner Preferably and as shown, the position- Zones, areas, etc., laid out on the board indicate the positions attained by the batter, the movements of the runner or runners, and the efficiency of a fielder As already explained, these zones or areas bear arbitrarily-selected but descriptive legends and, forthe most part the respective position-Zones and areas, as represented in the accompanying drawings, are Strike or 1 Foul strike, marked 11; a Ball, marked 12 Batter out---double play if second base is occupied, marked 13; Sacrifice-batter out-leading runner advances one base, marked 14; Une base hit-all runners advance one base, 15; Struck by pitchedl ball 16; Strike-leading runner out, 17; Strike-leading runner advances one base, 1S; Une base hitwbut leading runner out, 19; Une base hit-all runners advance, 20; Batter flied out, 2l Passed ball, 22; One base hit for batter-runners advance only if forced-error for fielder, 23; Batter outudouble play if 1st base occupied, 2st; Batter out-double play if 3rd base occupied, 25; Batter out-double play if any base occupied, 26; Two base hit-but leading runner out-error for fielder, 27; Two bases for batter-ene base for runner unless forced-error for fielder, 28; Balk, 29; Gne base hit-all runners advance, 30; Batter out-double play if one base occupied-triple play if 2 occupied, 31; Ball if runner on 1st, steals 2nd and if 2nd not occupied, Ball, if runner on 2nd steals 3rd and if 3rd not occupied, 3; Ball if runner on 8rd Steals home, 34e; Batter flied outwrunners advance one base, except from 1st base, Batter flied out-runner if on 3rd scores, 36; Three base hiterror for fielder, 37; Three base hit, 38; Batter out, 39; Home run, d0.

The position-Zones and areas are so disposed relatively as to place a premium on the skill, judgment and foresight of a player of the game. As will be noted, some of the positionareas or ,Zones are accorded more than one significance and this is for the purpose of developing team-work, so called, and indicate to the player then at bat, that it is incumbent upon him to vnote whether there is then a runner on any of the bases and, if so, on which particular base, so that he may seek to attain va high degree of eiliciency in the game just as team-work in the matter of the regular game is necessary in a well-trained club in the regular gaine.

As particularly shown in liigs. 3, 4l., 5 and (i, there may be diiferent sizes and shapes of movable pieces representing the batters, so that a difference in the capacity of the different players is simulated. This dii'lerence in the size of the imtters--whicli when flipped immediately assumes the rle of a ball provides for an increased er decreased value according to whether it is large or small; and, thus, its ability to pass between the proximate upstanding pieces is correspondingly increased or diminished, Furthermore, the size of a piece determines its capability to remain close to the borderstrip to be counted as in a preferred space, such as the home runarea 40, for instance, Moreover, the capacity of the various defensive players is augmented or reduced by .the difference in the danger-zones or circles drawn around such player, and their different signiiications.

Another feature of the game is the provision of an encircling ring 41 adapted to be used as a substitute player of different size from one or more of those on the board in order to increase or diminish. the obstructions to the ball This can" be accomplished by providing ,additional disks or other shaped pieces of different size to bodily take the place of the regular ones or, preferably, by making the regular players of a minimum size and providing the ring ll1 for encompassing any particular player y" or players and thus increasing the size of the player. lVhere the ring l1 encircles a player in the field, it increases the extent of obstruction that is ordinarily 'presented by the en circledrplayer. The ring represents a substitute player. Two of these enlarged rings would ordinarily be provided in order that each side may have its own substitute player to place in position, when desired,

while the o-ne for the opposing side takes his turn at the bat. This provides a ready means of taking the pitcher out if the game is going too much against one side or the other. A better pitcher is put in the pitchers boX, for instance and as ns1-.moei

preferred positions. lf used defensively'in the field, it must subsequently be used de-y fensively at the bat in the inning which fol lows. This provides a means for penalizing its use and cautions one who plays the same to defer, until a late inning, using it defensively to the disadvantage of his oppo nent. A second ring of the same size is provided so that the opposing side may also have at hand a better pitcher while its duplicate is batting or running bases. lVhen the encircling rin-g is placed around the upstandingl element, representing the f pitcher, itis a substitute player, but more specifically a substitute pitcher, and it is asa substitute pitcher that it is ordinarily used. When so placed, even though the ball does not come in contact with said ring, it a'ects the pitcher by increasing the size of the zone which he protects and makes it more diflicult to get the ball past the pitcher.

The actual play of the game is for a person representing one side (the offensive side) to place the disk, or other object representing the batter, on the home-plate and flip the same with the finger toward the field, which thereupon becomes the balh The place, on which the disk lands, marks the play to which the batter is entitled, whether for or against him. Spaces are also arranged and marked so that certain of these give action to the runner either favorable or unfavorable. Certain of them also denote whether the outfielder has played well or poorly and whether his record is enhanced or has errors scored against him.

Each side at the bat, as in baseball, plays until three outs are scored against the side, when the other side comes in and the same v performance is carried out by it, and so on Obviously, the gameboard is susceptible of c a wide range of modification, without a de parture from the spirit and underlying principles of our invention.; hence, it is to be understood that the particular embodiment herein revealedis to be construed as merely illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

What we claim is:

1. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface marked to indicate a base-ball field divided into zones; spaced apart upstanding elements disposed upon said playing surface; and means, adapted to be associated with said upstanding elements `for varying the size of the Zones.Y

12. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface marked to indicate a base-ball' field divided into zones; spaced apart upstanding elements disposed upon said playing surface; and means, comprisingmembers adapted to be mounted on said upstanding clements, for varying the surface area of the zones.

3. Agame apparatus comprising a playing surface marked to indicate a base-ball field divided into zones; spaced apart upstanding elements disposed upon said playing surface; and means, comprising ring members having a rebounding surface Vand adapted to be mounted on said upstanding elements to vary the space between said upstanding members and accessibility to said zones.

4. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface marked to indicate a base-ball field divided into zones, and having a fixed point therein from which a movable playing-member may be projected into said Zones; upstanding deflecting elements disposed on said playing surface between said fixed point and certain of said zones; and means associated with said deflecting elements for varying' the accessibility of said playing member to said zones.

5. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface marked to indicate a base-ball field divided into zones, and having a fixed point therein from which a movable playing-member may be projected into said Zones; upstanding deiiecting elements disposed on said playing surface between said fixed point and certain of said zones; and means associated with saidv deflecting elements for varying the accessibility of said playing member to said zones; and an upstanding rebounding edge surrounding said playing surface and against which said playing member may impinge.

6. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface marked to indicate a baseball field divided into Zones, and having a Xed point therein Vfrom which a movable playing-member may be projected into said zones; upstanding defiecting elements .disposed on said playing surface between said fixed point and certain of said zones; and

means comprising members adapted to be mounted on said deiecting elements for varying the accessibility of said playing member to said Zones.

7. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface marked to indicate a base-ball field divided into Zones, spaced apart upstanding elements disposed upon said playing surface; means adapted to be associated with said upstanding elements for varying the size of the zones; and a series of playing elements of relatively different dimensions adapted to be projected toward said Zones.

8. A game device comprising a playing surface marked to indicate a base-ball field divided into rllones, and having a home plate from which a playing member may be projected into said zones; said field being also marked to indicate playing positions of a pitcher, first, second and third baseman, shortstop, right, left and center fielder, respectively, said positions being disposed centrally with relation to certain of said zones, an upstanding deflecting element disposed on said playing'surface in each pls/tying position, an upstanding rebounding` edge against which the slidable playingl member may impinge, and means adapted to be associated'with said deflectd ing elements for increasing and decreasing accessibility of the playing member into the zones when projected from the home plate.

9. A game device comprising a playing surface marked to indicate a base-ball field divided into Zones, and having a home plate from which a playing member may be projected into said zones; said field being also marked to indicate playing positions of a pitcher, first, second and third baseman, shortstop, right, left and center fielder, respectively, said positions being disposed centrally with relation to certain of said zones, an upstanding deflecting element disposed on said playing surface in each playing position, an upstanding rebounding edge against which the slidable playing member may impinge, and a member adapted to be placed upon a deflector element to increase the area of the playing cessibility to a Zone.

l0. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface marked to represent a base-ball field divided into Zones and having a home-plate from which a playing member may be projected toward said zones; said field being also marked to indicate playing positions of a pitcher, shortstop, first, second and third basemen, right, left, and center fielder, respectively; a plurality of said Zones surrounding each playing position and bounded by lines representing the circumference of a circle having a center in common with the center of each playing position; certain other of said zones being bounded by circular lines having a center common with the center of the home plate; an upstanding deflecting element disposed en said playing surface centrally of each playing position; an upstanding rebound edge surrounding said iield and against which 'the playing member may impinge; and members associable with said deflecting elements to increase the area of Vthe playing positions and hinder accessibile ity of the playing member to the zones when projected from the home plate.

ll. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface marked to indicate a base/*ball field7 divided into zones and having a fixed point from which a series of movable playing members may be projected toward said Zones, deflecting elements disposed in said playing surface between said fixed point and certain of said zones; means associated with said deflecting elements for varying the accessibility of said playing members to said zones, and a series of playing members of relatively diiferent dimensions adapted to be projected toward said zones.

ln testimony whereof 'we afiiX our signatures in presence 0f two witnesses.

CHARLES B. BREWER. HARVEY E. HANES.

Witnesses:

A. M. PAnKINs, EDMUND l-I. Panni'.

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

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