US1557489A

US1557489A - Amusement game

Info

Publication number: US1557489A
Application number: US670988A
Authority: US
Inventors: Verbeyst Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-10-26
Filing date: 1923-10-26
Publication date: 1925-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1942-10-13

Description

y 5 {Sheets-Skeet BY ATTORNEYS MZ r Figure 13 shows the hinged member connecting the moving arm of the ligure to the bat proper.

The device constructed within the scope of my present invention finds yspecial adaption' clean, healthy and interesting amusement, and those that playy-it can,...aside fromthe brisky physical exercise which they get, develop agood degr'ee of skill and accuracy in the art ofpitching balls. The device inaddition to being amusing is meant to provide the means for a physical exerciseand the means for developing a certainl degree .of skillin pitching baseballs.

Referring to the drawings, the human figur'e 20 represents a baseballv player inthe act of swinging a bat 21, which vbatis heldin the

hands

22 and 23 of the ligure 20. The hand 22 consists of a glove 25, which is merely used to cover the bat 21 at'theplacelwhere it is pivoted'.` The hand 23 also consists of a glove which covers the connection ofthe bat with the arm 26, the said arms being hinged as at 27 at the shoulderof the figure.

The means for pivoting the bat 21 vto-the figure are the following: A barf30, secured to the body of the figure 20, by means of boltsor rivets 31, and a' section of a ring 32 .which'is secured in any approved manner to the outer end of said bar 30. With the section of ring 32 cooperates a second section of a ring 33 which is held onthe first/ring section 32 by means of bolts 34 and 35. The bat 21 is clamped in place by means of these cooperating

sectional rings

32 and 33, and the bolts 34 and 35 which hold thesectional sections together. The bar 30 is provided with a socket 38 and the sectional ring 32 is provided with a stub 39 which'lits in said socket 38; and by means of thisarrangef ment the 'bat 21 is permitted to swing on its longitudinal plane. It is understood that any other approved method may be resorted to for pivoting the bat, the means just del scribed being only illustrative of an embodi ment. To the body of the figure 20 is also secured a `buffer plate 40 by means of a cross rod 41, and at its lower end to the bar 30. This ,buffer Vplate 40 is fast secured to the body and acts as a stopper for the bat 21 on its rearward movement. Another purpose ofthe provision of this buffer plate 40 will be described hereafter. i Y

The bat 21 adjacent its lower or grip end is formed with a hole `45 through which passes a stub 46 carried by the arm 26. Surrounding the stub 46, between the bat 21 and the arm 26, is a spring 47 `which acts as a cushion for the hat 21. A spring 49 is employed to urge the bat in its forward posi- To move the' arm 26, the

tion as shown in Fig. 5, and this spring is secured at one end to the bat 21 and at the other to the body 20.

As mentioned hitherto the arm 26 is hinged to the body as at 27 by means of theV hinge plate 50 which is fastened by screws, nails or any other means to the body, and which accommodates a hinge pin 51 carried by the arm 26.v By the aforementioned description it is seen that the bat 21 is caused to swing on the bar 30 when the arm 26 is movedor oscillated, and to simulate the movement of a bat, when operated by a baseball player,

recourse tothe springs

47 and 49 is had'which act as oscillation. damper-s amplifiers for the said bat. V

following mechvanism may be employed,A it being understood f that any other type ofgmechanism may be resorted to,to-move the said arm ywithout departing from the spirit of my invention; a motor 55 may be arranged at the base of the players igurelof the device, preferably l at its rear, as shown in Fig. 3, or onvthe back of this figure, -as shown'in Fig. 4. On theishaft of, this motoris arrangeda` gear 156 meshing with another. gear 57,' the latter gear being mounted 'in any convenient manner' on a shaft 58'journaled in a bearing or bearings 59. The fgear 57 mounts a cam 61 onwhich rides a trolley 62 held 'at the end .of a`rod63 by means of a bifurcated member 64. The trolley 62 is journaled on the -f shaft 65 carried by the bifurcated' member 64, and to this shaft 65 is secured a spring 66 the opposite end of which may be secured to4 any convenient place as at 67. vThis spring 66 urges the trolley 62 tol continually ride the cam 61. At the upper end of rod 63 ismounted a slotted .member 70 in which is pivoted thelower portion of an actuator 71whichis pivotally mounted on the body 20 by means of a shaft 72 and brackets 73. The upper end of the actuator 71 mounts a` pair of rollers 75 normally bearing against a plate 76 carried by the arm 26 at its under surface. Vhen the motor rotates, its rotation is imparted to the gear 57 and tothe cam 6,1, and as the trolley 62 rides the oam 61the rod 63 is forced into a reciprocating movement, the'periods of which vary with the various center to contour distances presented by the cam 61 at the point where the trolley 62 isV located, as it rotates. Thereciprocation of rod 63 causes the actuator 71 to oscillate on the shaft 72 and to move the arm 26 which is held pressed against the rollers 75'by the spring 49. The bat 21 occupies its foremost position when the trolley62 rides in the cam groove or depression 80, and occupies the innermost position, or the position against the buffer plate 40, when the trolley rides on the cam face pro-v jection 81. The bat swings from its fore-A most to its rearmost position once during '.bat is lgiven La 1Jmoveinent :simulating the z incitement of a fbat Vina-nipulatedlby a .jpl-ayer, and thereby gives :tos the nplayers, using the .ldevice, added interest in )hitting the lbat, since it is made more difiicult to behitiby the intermediate escillagtiens `between its 1 foremost` fand rearmost position Hayfingwdescribed the illustrated mechailnew describe "fthe indicating mechanism :through which the `:hits Scored A'byethe "pitched balls aga-inst `the bat are indicated '1T-he bat adjacent itsihittin-gf endAA is provided with l a longitudinallyextending leere JerirecessfS t and -a .plurality .off :th-rough "beres 86V `inter- Isecting the longitudinal gboreflhere are `:preferably Ateur bones :'86` in each cf VWhidh is slidably arranged la Vplug each lermcd with la head S88 and a lftapening Ipoint 89 fat the opposite zend. 'These plugs, lgforifthe `punpesecf 'identiicatiomfliauebeen marked, as shown "inifEig, ill, as, home basejiplug,

`-third 1baseV plug, `second base lplug, base `plug ythe `home base fpflugfbeing-arrangedgat Arthe upper or` cater @end lan'd the l fifnt'base lplugatgtheinnerlend. fEa'ch etfthese plugs --niayvlpreterably be? formed between ends -Wiitfh` an annular groove "19,"n -`vuliiell @norinall'ydays thepoint 1,91 OEE-alpin 92 actuatcdby ua `(spring P193 urging @said pin t92 toward the plug. The Jeenstrnctien @j ust idescribed slnot absolutely Inecessary because the leperaticniot thefp'lugs-can eiicientlytake place Without the aid of the pins 92,-especially ifA the `lplugs fit rather'snufgly `intoi the bores 86.` lifWlien la balllerfartidle pitched against the 'lbat'i hits l anyone of #these base plugs, Athe 1 `'base i-plughilt fis forced finwardly and the tapered fpdintdthe'reef closes-against the platesll @Whichwplates areffpart oit-"the felectrii'cal circuit te be` hereafter more speor at `the part yWherethepilates 95 lare fsecu-red r'is arranged e abufter'lQS which abats against the buifer iplate 40 every time fthe bat swings fully rearwardly soasto rprevent thelplatesf @from "hittingtagainstwthe said budfer plateffd. Tldfheneuer` *any acne of fthe ibase plugs has been ,pushed `inwardly by a pitched ball L er otherwise, the point A92E) carried lbyfeach pluggmeyesfbeyond the pl-ane of the face cfthefbuter 98 and iupon fthe ibat approaching.thezhulerrplate /idthefplug .fphigs idrixren inwardly .Laren-forced zent- -wardlyfandxheld-in rtlieioutw ard :position iby :lthe :pins v:91 wlzrieli, being urged in `one direction by the springs. 93,;ente1wintefthe @arg1-cave 90 and pheild .thef-.plagsin -place Luntil pressed `terihit ubyafthe 4pitched `ball. v '.:Elrem tlie .abone ,description `rit.vis-'seein thatffthe ibase aplrrgs f87 ,are normally =held 4as :sho/Wn Iin 31Fiigs;ef8.and lid, land zb-all they are vrfereed inwardly! :as f shouvn` ,in .'ili'gl 8,3 andpstay sin tl1et.:pos-itionuntilfthe swimgsuearmardflyiand hitslagainstithe Thunder' plate 40,f when ithe apoiiirts 99 .encounzteuing' tlierbui'er plate :416), force their ire- -spective ibase @lugs ldamwandly. into itlieir ncrmalposition. Y

Reiiereneei :is aiowlzahad f-te fthe le'lectrical ,fcireuit :and more :particularly te` FigsgfQ and `12,; 11kt" the ,fxtofore mantiene@,fareesecureda pluralitymf .rplatesler electrical contact-S1195 which ceinpi-rise 'fbus plates :100 l and lldltimstnbusiplate it@2,Aasecendcbus:plateflid thiudebns plate i104 land rhoznegelatel 105. of it-hese @platesf alle l1steparated and isolated teach l ether .wand all Aare farmed @with .greeves 196 4'in Which enter the tapered poitionsidlthecbase :.pliigs :when lhitamdrfenced inwardly. Y There as :aa'sourcelof .ielectricad feuer-gy d10, ione zsidelicgf which `iis connectedr athatcnfgh Ydivines lllpll-Zand ililz .toitheubus iplates 1.110@ 301. :Lillie: eppoeiteiaside et I:this,wsmrreeauf -zelectrieal energy ris econnectedfto `:commen .cenductor ;,-;moniccnductorfis Lcenzmected` to` `one terminal xiaaeachlamp "lllhe enter `temniinals Lof ithezlannps J1 17e-are cemented in theil lfollofwfing-@manner The damp indicating .irst base con the. drnimendiisiuednnected;tlrrou h nuire 5121, :ato 4fthe @laste 111025 athe damp l indicating .'secondb asefisfconnected, @through :wire '11122, te :pllatevll ,tithe lamp-r indicatinguthirdibase :as cennectedtlrrcugli :Wire 1123, tov fplate 'ft-Oel and the lamp ,-indicatingfthe heinebase `is leennectedthreugh vire A120, @to .lplate 1105. -i/srtlie plates `102,"f103, 1104, and M51 are .inorgmally dsconfnectedreinfstherbus plates "100 Iand r=10l,th'e fcurrentlrfrom "the sourcefcf elec- `trioalenergy linisunorma' ly Jprevented drain flowing Ftlrrough fthe lamps indicating the '-)respective bases, but :Whenever any one ed? the base plugs is forced iirwardlylthe respee- 'time bus plate is connectedltouthe adjaeent I amp plate and current :isyperrnittedato .ilow zthroughthe flamp untilfthe bat swings :fully rearwardly :and itheplugwclosing the l circuit .is vreturned:te nits :normal position as shown `4`in eitherFi-gsner '150. i As an illustration, fassumingthat a .pitched ball lhits 'the herne Aplate .ip liufg', Ithe saine establishesK a connecztien Jbetweenlthefbus plate i101 and fthe-plate f1105-and Vthus e :the current lfis caused tofletv flrgmuthe fseufrce olf `electrical :energy d10, tlrreuglh athewires 11M, :1.13, bus )dilate 1191,

)when @hit fby :a ,pitched '3.

` M631 .Oef lthe `ibat, las diene- 1- 61 in .wear 134 in the cam135may have abearf i said element against: accidental movement.

The trolley 137, the slottedmember 138 and j .man figure, swinging means pivoted to the vnot only amusing home base plug, plate 105 .aiid-.,wire 120, through the filament of lamp .117, lindicating the homebase, throughlthe common conductor 114, wire 115, 'back to the source of electrical energy 110. f. i Y.

' The indicating board 124,;representingthe baseball diamondon which thelamps are mounted, may be mounted on a stand 125 at any distance from the figure of the player. In Fig. 1, where this diamond is shown,the .bat is not shown connected with the. lamps 117l on the indicating boardso. as to avoid complications, butthe vdiagrammatical connection is well illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein vthe upper portion -off-the'bat and its electrical plates are shown connected with the lamps on the bases of the diamonds. -f

The wires connecting the battery with the plates 105 and' tlieilamp plates with the lamps 117 may Vbe arranged inl a group-or ina cable along the rear .of'the bat-and lalong the rear of vthe Fig. .20 andvfrom thence connected' to the lampson thediamond. VThis particular arrangement of the wires is not necessary to be shown, for any one skilled in velectrical wiring can understand the arrangement described, orI resort tooneofhisown.. A, v

In Fig. 4 is shown amodified form of the invention wherein themotor 55 is mounted on brackets 130 on the rear ofthe players figure 20. The shaft 131 of the. motor may be journaled atv itsouter Vend in bearing 132.

The shaft mounts avworm 133 which lmeshes with a'wormgear 134 carrying `a cam 135 shaped more or. less the same as the cam Fig. 3. f The shaft mountlng the worm inng on a bracket 135 securedA onthe body. 20.

the actuator 139 may. bepidentical in construction to the similar members described heretofore in connection' with the mecha- Anism shown in Figf3; but the rod 140 which The device may beinstalled in anyplace and the players desiring to use, it are given .a certain fixed distance from which they may pitch theirballs against tliebat which, being in continuous movement, is rather hard to be hit, yandtherefore the device is to train players 'in the art of pitching balls. Although the device has been principally Ydesigned for manually projecting articles againstvit, the same may be used in connecltion with a fixed ,projecting mechanism,

but also a fine medium support, movmg means pivoted on said supn'ient, and, if desired, a projecting mecha- .ni'sm,"onfthe principle of-a spring rifle, may be associated therewith for projecting, miny iature balls against the bat. l I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated examples constitute a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit `myself strictly to' theexact details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can be considerably varied without in the least ydeparting from'the spirit of the inventionas defined in the appended claims.

*,Ha'vingdescribed my invention, what I claim is: l

1. An amusement device comprising a human figure provided with means againstv which articles may be pitched, means to in- Sfdicate the accuracy with which thesaid articleshave been pitched against the said n. first'mentioned means', said last mentioned ymeans' comprising an yelectric circuit, an indicating device disposed adjacent to the said human figure, a sliding element closing said circuit when hit by the said pitched article yor articles, and spring means for holding the'- said sliding elements to hold the same against, accidental movement.

i.. 2.v kAn amusement device comprising a hu- .,manfigure, moving means pivoted on the said-,figure against which articles may be projected while the said means are movin -an electric circuit, an element on the said m'oving means for closing the said electric circuit, and spring means for holding the 3. An amusement device comprising a husaid figure, indicating means to indicate the hits lscored against the 'said' swinging means comprising an lelectric circuit a circuit closer, and spring means for holding the said circuit closer j againsty accidental move ment. j

4. An .amusement device comprising Va `support representing a human figure, a'baseball bat kpivoted on saidfsupport, and av plurality of indicatingmeans actuators carried bysaid bat; together'with indicating means actuated by said actuators.

5. An amusement device comprising a support, moving means pivoted on said support, a slidable member formed with a tapering' ,end carried by said moving means and indicating means actuated by Asaid slidable member.

6..An v amusement device comprising a port, a slid'ableplug formed witha tapered 4end carried by said movingmeans, and an 8f.; Alti amusement ,device-f colnprisiirglai slippers; a: pivctdpmembermtuafedtreason;

egt-La: :tassement device comprising on, said pivoted memberfbeingxformedwitii a plurality? orSubstantialtransversely sa pivot/edi gillend-ber adaptedi-tb coropfe'r'ate with.

Offeiulei or saidsiiaariemembersv1 i l0. An amusement device coinprisingEA suppc'rt, alban: secured tof said support,` `a

pi v'otedflfiiieinber,` spring forjl urging* themevng" -ar'm atl the pivoted memberin;y

oneldirection:

l2? Nn amusement device comprising a'." body-,- a niei'nberpivotedi thereto, au moving-3 arn' connected with?V said* pivot'cdf memb tot' swing the same, a spring; to urge thee ',arin- ,and` the pivotedfmember in one direction,

and`- a2l second Aspring .positioned between t'he arnr the pii'rotedi member andl acting a cusllicnbetween'the two;

lISAfn amusement device' comprising a support, a bar secured thereto, a baseball batlpivotedfto saidL ba, aimoving"arm,l a stu'bcarriedl'by said movingyarm and enige/tgl' ing said bat,` and a spring interposed:beL tweenltlie s'aid'lbat andsa'idf support for urging the bat and the arm in the one direction.

14. An amusement device comprising a support, a bar vsecured thereto, a baseball bat pivoted to said bar, a moving arm,- a stub carried by said moving arm and engaging said bat, a spring interposed between the said bat and said support for urging the bat and the arm in the one direction, and a spring surrounding said stub interposed between the arm'and the bat and acting as a cushion between the two.

l hat being support-,laf bracket pivotedr toi isaidi supportgf i a basebal'lfbat heldi'inlsaidfbracket, meansy 1 firma* lamdse'rnent device l` `comprising av j ofindicatin'g means connected with'said'tcirf- 1 eabyf* cuit, alplurality ofslidable plugscarri A. said'jf bat, andL Ineaiisi nythefibat tio"-` closej the circuit "to'f the indicating fmeans 'wheni either` diamond connected saidVcircilid! andi means passing through batj'fforl'closing tli'e' circuit toI any'onefoii gSaid indicating: means. 100W on tra miniature: ldammi-s r9? An amusement-f1; device comprising far .ambie baseball! bau assied-Taal;- Circuit;

indicatingf means and (af miniature? 'btsiel)"ajllY l i ,105eV passing'tlrroufgh batilfor closingftheV :circuiti diam'olidf 'connectedlwitli `saidfciredit;means teeny/rione of Esaid 11indicating; means on :the

the hat' fmvestca certain position. l

20; amusement devicel comprising a swtngablebat, a miniatureidiamcnd prbvid-ey l ed*witfhfanindicatingfmeansiat each base-'of` vided with an indicatinglnleanslatie-ach' base of the diamond, an electrical circuit for said indicating means, and means passing through bat for closing the electrical circuit to any one of said indicating means on the miniature diamond.

22. An amusementl device comprising a movable. baseball bat, an electrical circuit, a plurality of indicating means in said circuit, and means passing through bat for closing said electrical circuit on any of vsaid indicating means. A I t i r8.1` Ain Y amusement deviner comprisingzv actuating'i anyone oi" 'saidl indicating 1157 I said indicating means, and means for closing the electrical circuit to any one of said indicating means. f

24. An' amusement device comprising a pivoted baseball bat, an electrical circuit, a plurality of insulated electrical terminals ar- `ranged on 'said bat, and a plurality of switch means for establishing ythe circuit through said terminals and vthereby actuating an indicator. y

25. In combination with a' swinging baseballbat, an electrical circuit', and-means on the bat for-closing'said electrical circuit and actuating an electrical indicating means.

26. In combination with a `movable baseball bat, an electrical circuit, indicating means-in said circuit, and means on the bat for closing said electrical circuit on to'said indicating means. 1 27. In combination with they movable baseball bat, an electrical circuit, a plurality of indicating means arranged yon a. miniature baseball diamond, said indicatingmeans being connected in said electrical circuit, and a plurality of switching means on the bat for closing said' electrical Icircuitto either of said indicating means.l

28. In combination with a, movable bat, an electrical circuit, a plurality of indicating means arranged on aminiature baseball diam'ond connected within said electrical circuit, a plurality of slidable plugsv carried by said bat, and electrical terminals on the bat connected in saidele'ctrical circuit for establishing a flowof current through said indicating means wlienleither of said plugs is moved fromits normal position.

29. In combination with abaseballbat pivoted on a'support, an electrical circuit, a plurality ofelectrical terminals mount-ed on the-bat and connected. with said circuit, a plurality "of indicating means arranged away from said bat but electrically connected with said terminals thereon and with said circuit, and a -plurality of vslidable means adapted to electrically connect said indicating means with said terminals when moved in one direction.

30. f Anamusement device comprising fa support, a baseball bat pivoted to said'v supy.

port, a hinged arm connected With said bat,

a cam arrangement for moving v said arm on its hinge and thence said bat, and motor means for moving said cam' arrangement. Y

31. An amusement device comprising a support, a baseball batpivoted to said sup-y port, a moving arm connected withv said bat, a cam arrangement for moving said arm and thence saidbat, and motor means for moving said cam arrangement, together with an i electrical circuit and an electrical indicating means associated with said bat to indi-r ated by said motor, a pivoted arm, means between said pivoted arm and said cam ar-' rangement for transmitting the motion of said camarrangement to said arm, and al bat connected with said varm to be moved thereby. j y v,

33. An amusement device comprising a support, a motor, a cam arrangement actuated by said motor, a pivoted arm, means between said pivoted arm and said cam' ar-` rangement for transmitting the motion of said cam arrangement to said arm, a Ybat lconnected with said arm to be moved there- `by, electrical indicating means and Contact means on said bat for closing and vopening said electrical circuit. f

34. An amusement device xcomprising a' support, a baseball bat pivoted to said sup-i port, said bat being provided .with a plurrality of transversely extending bores, a slidable member arranged in each bore, electrical cont-acts carried by said bat and adaptedk to be shunted with respect to each other by either of said slidable members, an electrical circuit connected with said terminals, a.

plurality of indicating means in said circuit adapted to be-closed in a circuit by said slidable members, ainoving arm connected with said baseball bat tomove the same, and

motor means for intermittently actuating said arm.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciiication this y20th day of October, 1923.

MARTIN VERBEYS'l,