US1606157A - Parlor baseball game - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 9,l926. V 1,606,157

. W. J. ENNISSON PAHLOR BASEBALL GAME Filed Dec. 2. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 9 1926. 1,606,157

w. 'J. ENNISSON PARLOR BASEBALL GAME FiledDec. 2, 1921 .2 Sneets -Sheei. 2

/ VE/ TOR Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

WALTER JAY E NNTSSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

EARLOR BASEBALL GAME.

Application filed December 2, 1921.

This invention relates to baseball game devices and outfits and is in the nature of an improvement upon the game-board and outfit described and claimed in my first Patent No. 1,155,714.

In the game-board and outfit of my said patent I utilized a spinning or indicating device by which the batting, running and ball plays are determined, the result being largely a matter of chance and'providing little opportunity for the display of skill. Two indicating points or lines were used and itwas found that the players frequently confused these points or lines .with the result that the game did not proceed in the logical and real order, causing the players to lose interest. The indicator of said patent was also provided with different sets of running and ball numbers, one set used by the run- I ners and the other set by the other active players, and inasmuch as the contestants are alternately the runners andthe other active players, there was always confusion as to which set were to be used in any instance.

In said game-board outfit I provided colored buttons to represent the players of the teams which merely rested'upon the board. It was found that the buttons were frequently jarred from the positions in which they were placed, especially when the board was held in the laps of the contestants, with the result that considerable confusion and uncertainty arose. The contestants also frequently confused the runners and the basemen with one another by forgetting the color they were using at that particular time, and moved the wrong buttons, which re suit-ed in such an extent of uncertainty that a restart was frequently necessary.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved spinner or indicator for determining the batting, running and ball plays in which considerable skill and knowledge of the game can be exercised, in which the procedure more nearly approximates actual playing rules and actions, and which is exceedingly simple, and inexpens1ve.

A further object is to provide an improved Serial No. 519,474.

game construction-in which the likelihood of confusion of the runners and basemen is eliminated; in which accidental or 'unintenthe novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in claims.

- In the accompanying drawing, Figures .1 and 2 are plan views of the disk; Fig. 3 is a diametral section ofthe disk. Fig. 4 is a perspective plan view of game-board, and Figs. 5 and 6 are large views of men pieces. Fig. 7 is a representation of a ball piece to be employedin connection. with the gameboard. I i 1 In the illustrated embodiment the diamond in miniature is indicated upon the game-board A, the diamond being defined by small squares B, B,'B and B representing respectively the home second base and third base. The bases and plate, first base,

home plate are connected by lines a,each having three small intermediate runners positions a for breaking the line into four substantially equal sections. A chain of six stations 6 surrounds each base, over which chain the basemen are shifted in making their playsin a manner determined, by an indicator or spinner. The ball position stations 0 at the home plate, the batters boxcl, the catchers chain of six stations 6, the

pitchers boX of four stations f,.the three umpire stations g, the runners position. a,

the six chain stations offthe fielders posi-- tions it, i and j, and the six chain stations of the short stop position are provided with small holes, to receive small positioning pins or pegs in upon the bottoms of miniature players Z, m and a. The ball piece PB is employed to represent the positions of the real ball upon the-diamond, and because of its construction may be termed the peg ball, in contrast to the spinner ball SB, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This peg ball has a peg K similar in size, form and function to that of the players, and is adapted to be placed in the same holes occupied by the basemen and fielders of the out-team.

The position and movement of the players and the ball upon the board is determined by the position of the spinner ball SB upon to another in the direction oi the spinner when the disc D has ceased to rotate, the spinner ball then occupying two panels containing marginal numerals, and also located within a wider panel upon the outer rim of the spinner. These numbers are intended for placing the ball upon the diamond at the place indicating the field to which it has been batted, or the base to which it has been thrown, the position of the spinner ball determining those respective actions in accordance with the relative posi tions of the men and the peg ball upon the board at the time of a given spinning. Thus the large sectional numbers from 1 to '6 on the extreme outer circle of the disc may be employed exclusively for positioning the peg ball upon one of the similarly designated six positions of the fielders and basemen. At the same time as pointed out the spinner ball gives numbers with which the runners of both sides may advance either on the one side from base to baseor on the other side from number to number around the series of six numbered positions at each base and field until the ball is recovered.

At each successive spinning of the disc the base runner may be moved from one hole the home plate in accordance with the numbers thus selected by the spinner ball SB. 'The num bers upon the'ma'rgin ot the spinning disc and the similarly arranged marginal numbers adjacent thereto upon the portion of the spinner, because of the movement of one and the stationary position of the other, make it possible to predetermine practically all movements of a baseball game, which could not be done unless a part of these numbers were'permanently attached to the larger or sectional numbers 1 to 6, as shown, these numbers 1 to 6 being used for positioning the part of the marginal numbers having a partially permanent and partially variegated relationship therewith. The players Z are basemen and have a post suggestive of a baseman. The players m are used as batters and runners and represent a player running with arms" extending forwardly. These players m are provided with a notch m between theupper faces of the arms and the chest so as'to' receive and support a miniature bat in a characteristic batting posture. The bat maybe removed after the ball has been batted and the player starts toward first base. The runners and basemen are so difierent in appearance and-posture that the contestants rarely it ever mistake the-players and move the wrong one. The other players a have an appearance and posture suggestive of their duties so as to provide a very realistic setting, and I have found that this has a marked psychological eiiect upon the contestants and greatly increases the interest in the playing of the game. The pins or pegs upon the ball and players prevent their accidental or unintentional displacement from the positions upon which they are placed or to which they are moved.

The spinner or indicator for determining the batting and running and ball movements comprises in the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a. shallow, pan P'with a centrally upstanding pin p on the bottom wall. disk D with a spinning button 0 carried centrally thereof is mounted to rotate upon the pin 79. The annular portion of the bot tom wall 01" the pan surrounding the disk is divided into maj or and minor graduations Q, and g respectively. The major graduations are each a sixth of a circle in extent and minor graduations are each a fourth of a major graduation. The major graduations are marked consecutively from 1 to 6 and the minor graduationsare selectively marked with the numerals l to a and certain of these, as g, are given a special designation for a purpose to be explained hereinafter; The periphery of the disk is provided with graduations 1 having preferably the same angular value as the graduations These graduations are given selective values .ra ging from no value at all tothe value 4i and the values above zero are inscribed thereon.

lVithin the line or" these graduations the disk is provided with groups of six shallow depressions a which may be stamped or pressed therein, one group for each of the three bases, the three field positions and short stop. Sub-groups of two of each of these groups are connected together by arrows which extend to the graduations of the disk. These main groups are marked with distinguishing characters such as L, meaning left field, l, 2 and 3, meaning first, second and third bases, S meaning short stop, It meaning right field, CF meaning center field, and C meaning catcher.

The bottom wall or" the pan between the periphery ofthe disk and the flange or side wall slopes'slightly downwardly, as does also the peripheral portion of the disk, but in an opposite direction so as to provide a shallow trough between them toward the bottom of which the spinner ball SP tends to roll. The graduations of the disk and the minor graduations of the pan are preferably marked oil by small ridges t, which are preferably formed by pressing them. from the material(preferably metal.) of the pan and disk. These ridges form semi-pockets for clearly defining the various positions 01 the spinner ball. ,VVhen the disk is rotated,

the ball in the trough is given a spin around the pan and the position lll'WlllCll it stops determines certain of the plays.

For an extended explanation oi the manner in which the game is played, reference may be had to my said prior patent, and the explanation herein given willbe directed to those features which are modified by the present construction changes. I

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1,. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, and a disk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate within the pan close to and flat against the bottom, said pan having in the annular portion surrounding the disk two sets of graduations with indicia thereon, said disk having graduations and indicia on its periphery cooperating with sets of graduations oi the annular portion in determining plays on the game-board.

. 2. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, a disk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate within the pan close to and flat against the bottom, said pan having in the annular por-'' tion surrounding the disk two sets of gradu ations with indicia thereon, said disk havin graduations and indicia on its periphery cooperating with sets of graduations of the annular portion in determining plays on the game-board, and also having on its face a plurality of shallow depressions arranged in groups, one group for each field position.

3. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, a disk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate within the pan close to and flat against the bottom, said pan having in the annular portion surrounding the disk two sets of graduations with indicia thereon, said disk having graduations and indicia on its periphery cooperating with sets of graduations of the an nular portion in determining plays onthe game-board, and'also having on its face a plurality of shallow depressions arranged in groups around the same with arrows running from sub-groups of each group to the graduations of the periphery.

4. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, a disk 0t less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate v within the pan close to and flat against the bottom, said pan having in the annular portion surrounding the disk two sets of graduations with indicia thereon, said disk having graduations and indicia on its periphery co-operating with sets of graduations oi the annular portion in determining plays on the game-board, having on its face a plurality of shallow depressions arranged in groups around the same with arrows run ning from sub-groups of each group to the graduations of the periphery, and a small spinner ball to be batted around the pan and into one of the depressions to determine to what field position the game ball should be moved. v r

5. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, a disk of less diameter thali the pan mounted to rotate within the pan close to and flat against the bottom, and a small ball in said pan, said pan having in the annular portion surrounding the disk two sets of graduations with indicia thereon, said disk having graduations and indicia on its periphery co-operating with sets of graduations of the annular portion in determining plays on the game-board, the annular portion of the pan and the peripheral portion of the disk forming a shallow annular trough to carry the ball into contact with both the disk and pan and spin it when the disk is rotated. 1

6. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, a disk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate within the pan close to and against the bottom, and a small ball in said pan, said pan having in the annular portion surround- .ball into contact with both the disk and pan and spin it when the disk is rotated, the

graduations of both disk and pan having radial ridges to form lines of demarcation and semi-pockets.

7. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, and a disk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate within the pan close to and fiat against the bottom, said pan having in the annular portion surrounding the disk major graduations, and also minor graduations adjoining the periphery of the disk, said disk having peripheral graduations co-operating with the minor graduations of the pan in determining certain of the plays on the game-board. 1

8. An indicator for baseball game devices comprising a shallow pan, and a spinner disk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate horizontally therein above the bottom wall, said pan having major and minor graduations around the periphery of the disk, certain of the minor graduations having characteristics distinguishing itfrom the others of the minor graduations, the

peripheral portion of the disk having grad- 9. In a baseball gamedevice, a board having thereon a representation oi a miniature diamond, and a miniature player having the suggestive characteristics of a runner an 5 also having means to receive and removably support a miniature bat in a manner suggestive of a batter. V

10. In a baseball game device, a board having thereon a representation of a minia- 1 ture diamond. and a miniature player having the suggestive characteristics of a run ner with forwardly disposed arms and also having a notch between the upper side of the arms and the chest for receiving and removably supporting a miniature bat in a 15 manner suggestive of a batter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7

WALTER JAY ENNISSON.

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