US1508117A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept; 9. 1924. 1,508,117

" I w. F.I'NIEMEYER cams APPARATUS Filed liar-ch .17. 1923 HOME RUN 292 BASE HOMERUN I BASE Patent Sept. 9, 19243 WILLIAM F. NIEMEYER, or BROOKLYN,

NEW YORK, THOMAS J. srrnaana, or BROOKLYN,

NEW roan.

GAME arranarus Application filed March 17, 1923. Serial No. 625.728.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. NIE- MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residin in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Game Appara tus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a game appara tus, and more particularly to an apparatus for playing baseball. I am aware that heretofore various devices have been designed for playing baseball and similar games, but in all instances of the same which have been 15 brought to my attention the manner in which the game is played and won or lost depends entirely upon chance and not in any degree whatsoever upon the skill of the players. For example, this type of game as customarily been played by spinning a wheel or pin or throwing dice or by a combination of both so that the element of chance isthe controlling one in playing the game. Furthermore, in games of this 25 type, which have heretofore come to my attention, while being used by diiierent teams or groups in playing the game one team is active while the other is inactive, and this naturally has a tendency to lessen 30 the interest in playing the game; whereas, in the use of my proposed game apparatus both teams or sides are actively engaged inplay as is the casein playing an actual game of baseball, so that the rules covering the 35 real game may be utilized and plays made to represent the actual plays in a real game of baseball.

In carrying out the invention the aparatus preferably comprises a playing to oard having a baseball diamond marked thereon, together with a plurality of'pegs and pockets which are utilized in playing the game to represent the players in certain positions and certain plays,the game being layed by difierent sides or teams with a all and cue, as will be hereinafter more particularly described. V

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a plan of a game apparatus made 50 in accordance with my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fig. 1. Referring to the drawing, the apparatus made in accordance with this'invention preferably comprises a base which may or 5 may not include a suitable stand for supporting the a paratus. In the base 10 there is a playing oard 11 upon the ufpper side ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0- of which there is a playing sur ace indioated at 12. It will be understood that the board member may be made of any suitable material and that with the playing surface. Indicated diagrammatically on the playing surface is a baseball diamond 13. This is made in the usual manner so as to indicate the path between the home plate and the several bases.-

This includes an alley designated at 1 1 extending between the pitchers box and the home plate. The diagram also includes the foul lines 15 and 16 extending from they home plate, as indicated.

Secured in the playing board I employ a plurality of pegs, and also in suitable positions in the playing board there are a plurality of recesses or pockets. The peg 17 is designatedto represent a batter in position at the bat adjacent the home plate. Behind the batter and at the'catchers station, or in the catchers position, there are pockets or recesses indicated at 18, 19 and 20. The pocket 18 is employed to designate a strike, the pocket 19 a ball, and the pocket 20 an out.

The bag at first base is indicated by a peg 21, and in a suitable position in the right field behind first and second base and outside of the diamond there is a pocket or recess 22 designated first base pocket. The second base bag is indicated at 23. Behind the second base position there is also a peg 24 designated second base, and adjacent the same a pocket 25 -designated second base home run. The position of the short stop is indicated by a peg 26 placed in the left field outside of the diamond. The third base bag is indicated by a peg 27, and the third basemans position is indicated by a peg 28 adjacent which there is also a pocket 29 designated third base home run.

The position of the right fielder is indicated by the peg 30 adjacent which the is a pocket 31 designated safe home run. e position of'the left fielder isindicated by a peg 34: adjacent which there is a pocket 35 which is also designated safe home run.

The apparatus as constructed is provided with a rail or cushion 36 surrounding the playing surface in inuch the same manner that the cushion surrounds a billiard or pool table so that the gamey be play the same is also the case are with a ball 37 made of ivory composition or other material by the use of a one 38. lit will be understood, however, that the game may be equally well played by making the rail of wood or metal and employ a rubber ball instead of a solid ball. It will furthermore be understood that the various pegs as hereinbefore described maybe provided with bores or recesses in order to receive figures representing the players if it is desired to use the same;- and also that the various 'pegs may be covered with rubber tubing or other similar material when a solid ball is employed or otherwise protected as may be necessary to prevent the same becoming broken or otherwise injured in the-use of the apparatus.

In pla ing the game with the apparatus hereinbe ore described, the players in turn on the team which is in the field play the ball with the cue from the position illustrated in the drawing in which the ball 37 is placed in the pitchers box so as to represent the pitcher-in the actual play of pitching the ball. Likewise the players on the team'at the bat take their places in turn at the batters station or position indicated at 17 Of course the various players may use their judgment as to the play which they would. attempt 'to make in much the same manner that plays are made in the actual game. For example, the player acting as pitcher may endeavor to pitch a strike. In so doing it is necessary to make the ball travel along the alley 14: and to lodge in the pocket indicated 18; or the player acting as pitcher may wish to pitch a ball in which event it is necessary to lodge the ball in the pocket indicated at 19;or in other instances the player acting as pitcher may wish to attempt to put out a player who has reached one of the bases and in so doing it is necessary to cause the ball 37 to lodge in the pocket designated 20. It will be noted that the station of the batter is so placed that the ball must just clear the peg in order to cause it to lodge in the pocket 18, and similarly in shooting the ball from the pitchers box the ball must be made to just clear the other side of the .peg representing the batter to lodge in the pocket indicated at 20. In playing the game should the player not succeed in causing the ball to lodge in either of these pockets of s eam? course it will strike the rail and rebound. It will then be the turn of the next succeeding batter to place the ball at the home plate, and by using the cue to make any play which he may consider advisable; for example he may attempt to make a base hit by causing the ball to lodge in the pocket 22, or he may attempt to make a safe home run by causing the ball to lodge in either of the pockets'3 1, 33 or 85, it being necessary in some instances to cause the ball to first strike the rail in order to accomplish this. It will then be the next succeeding players turn to act as pitcher and, for example, he may attempt to put the runner out by shooting the ball into the pocket indicated at 20.

. t is thought that the foregoing will serve the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the game may be played, and it will now be obvious that any one of the innumerable plays possible in an actual baseball game may be attempted in the use of this apparatus and that suitable rules may be arranged, based upon the actual rules of playing baseball.

1 claim as my invention:

1. A game apparatus comprising a board having a playing surfa e representing abaseball diamond thereon, a peg 'fixed .in position at the homeplate, and recesses or pockets in the playing surface behind the said peg in such positions that a ball struck by a one in the hands of a player and moved from a position designating the pitchers box must just clear the said peg on one side to be lodged in one of the said pockets and must just clear the peg on the other side to be lodged in another of the said pockets.

2. A game apparatus comprising a board having a playing surface representing a baseball diamond thereon, a plurality of pegs fixed in the said board to represent the bases and certain players, there being a plurality of recesses or pockets associated with the said pegs whereby when a ball is moved by a cue in the hands of a player from the home plate position it must clear one of the said pegs in order to lodge in a vrecess'or pocket associated therewith to ac- Mill

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