US1667147A - Game - Google Patents

Description

April 24, 19 2s. 1,667,147

S. T. FARRELL GAME Filed Jan. 23. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l [NVEN TOR.

SYDNEY 7- FARRfu 1 ATTORNEY.

April 24, 1928.

S. T. FARRELL GAME Filed Jan. 25. 1925- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

SYDNEY 7.- FARRELL Z; ATTORNEY.

April 24, 1928.

S. T. FARRELL GAME Filed Jan. 23, 1925 5 Sheets-Shoot 5 /N VENTOR SYDNEY r FARRELL ATTORNEY i rprovided which Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

1 PATENT OFFICE.

'S-YDNEYHTEMPLETON FARRELL, or NEwTomMAssAoHUsE'r'rs.

GAME.

Application filed Tanuary The invention to be hereinafter described relates to games and more particularly to a miniature, indoor baseball game.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, such baseball games have been designed princi pally with respect to the performance-of the pitcher and batter, and with little or no consideration to the performance ofv the base runners, fielders] and 'other phases of the game. V I

One of the purposes of this invention, therefore, is to simulate as fully aspossible in a minature, indoor baseball game, the plays and conditions of the actual, outdoor game. In accomplishing this, consideration is given to the different plays whi ch can be made when any one of the eight possible base conditions exists. These conditions are as follows: (1) bases clear, runner on first, runner on second, (4) runner on third, (5) runners on first and second, (6) runners on second and third, (7) runners on first and third, and (8) runners on first, second and third.

' In the present instance of the invention,

the possible plays for the different base eonditions are presented by short descriptions on a chart and cooperating withthischart is a device which is adjustablcin response to or in accord with each new base condition, thereby to selectfrom the chart a group of plays, any one of whichis possible when such base conditions exists. Also a device is mine by chance which play of the selected group of plays shall bethe next play.

Each play is given in such a way that every player who figures in the playeither offensively or defensively, is given credit for what he does as in a regularv game. -Imp0ssible plays or any which would be foreign to the regular game cannot occur.

The game comprises the above and other devices, a description of which will hereinafter appear.

, One good form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings,whereinzv Fig. -1 is a perspective view of the device for selecting'groups of plays possible for the different base conditions; p 5

Fig. 2 is an end elevationof the device shown 1, portions being broken away,

may be operated. to deter- 2a, 1925. Serial-No. 4, 2 22.

Fig. 3 i's'a plan of the dial and indicator device; 7

Figs. 4 and 5 plays on one section of the chart, the union of the portions of the chart in said figures being indicated by dot and dash lines in said figures;

I -Fig. 6 on an enlarged scale is a develop. ment of the marked surfaceof the base condition indicator; and

Fig. 7 is a plan of the board having the baseball diamond, the dial and pointer, the score slatesand other devices thereon.

Referring to the drawings, the baseball game shown therein as illustrative of one good formof the invention, as stated, comprisesa device for selecting groups of plays on a chart which are possible for vdifferent base conditions. This device includes a support 1 (Fig. 1) on which is mounted a chart 3 igs. 4 and 5) presenting brief descriptions of numerous plays which arearranged in groups, there being. 24 plays which are possible for each of the eight above-menti oned baseconditions, making a totalof 192 taken together. present the g on the chart, each of which lines contains twelve plays. The 192 plays presented in Figs. 4 and 5,.occupy one section of the chart, and a similar collection of plays occupies another section of the, chart. The

plays of thetwosections are the same, but the printing of the descriptions thereof is so disposed that the descriptions may be read by opponents sitting at opposite ends of the chart; The horizontal lines of plays on the section of the chart shown are designated by the letters a to p. These same lines would appear on the opposite section of the chart, but in-the order b to p, a, reading from the line nearest the end of the chart toward the center of the chart, that is, therownearest the end of the chart would correspondto row b-tappearing in Figs. 4 and'5, and the row nearest thecenter of the chart would corre Qspond to row a a appearing in said figures.

A slide 5 isover the chart, and comprises a plate 7 secured to runners9 having grooves at the lower edges thereof mating with ribs at the upper edges of rails ll on the support 1. The plate is aperturedtodisclose groups of plays onv the chart, and injthe present stance, above each of the opposed chart sections are elongated apertures 15 and 17. On the plate adjacent each aperture 15 is a series of playidentifying numbers 1 to 12, and on the plate adjacent each aperture 17 is a series of play identifying numbers 13 to 24, the second series in effect constituting a continuation of the first series.

Suitable means may be provided to adjust the slide relatively to the chart, in the present instance, comprising a pairof racks 19 meshing with gears 21 on a shaft 23 mounted in bearings on the support 1. At opposite ends of the shaft are cup-shaped wheels 25 having knurled peripheries. End portions of the shaft 23 project beyond the gears 21 away from the sides of the slide and have spools or drums 27 fast thereon, each marked with the eight base conditions as appears on an enlarged scale in the development of the surface of spool appearing in Fig. 6. Each of the spools is received by a shell 29 having an aperture 31 through which the base conditions may be exposed one at a time. The printing of the base conditions on the spools is so disposed that it may be read by the opponents sitting at opposite ends of the chart. A pair of fingers 33 project up from the base and have portions overlying the slide plate, in order to hold the runners down onto the rails and to prevent the racks 19 from gettherein will disclose the plays on the chart which are possible when the bases are clear, Next Wlll be described a convenient device which is operable to determine by chance which play of the group of plays selected as above described shall be the next play.

This device comprises a dial 35 (Fig. 3)

which may be marked with radial lines divid'ing the dial into spaces 37. Some of these spaces may be marked with numbers from 1 to 24 corresponding to the numbers onthe slide, and others of these spaces may be marked with the words Bali and Strike. The dial has circular lines which form sub-divisions 39 of the spaces between the radial lines. Each of the numbers and each ef'the wordsmay appear in three different positions. For example, the number 14 may appear in one of the spaces between the radialjlines and in the two sub-divisions of said space formed by the circular lines, and in thesub-divisions the numbers face in opposite directions. The arrangement of thediamond to their the numbers and the words is such that they can be easily read from any angle.

At the center of the dial is a button 41 through which passes a pin 4-3, and mounted thereon is a pointer 4L5 which may have a flexible element or whisker 17 of rubber or other suitable material, At the juncture of the radial lines with one of the circular lines referred to, are pins The construction is such that when the pointer spins, the whisker will wipe past the pins, and when the pointer comes to rest, it will always be in a position between a pair of pins.

The spaces between the radial lines are of unequal widths, the widest divisions being marked Ball and Strike. The narrower divisions are marked with numbers identifying plays, and the widths are determined withconsideration to giving the harder or more unusual plays the narrowest spaces. In other words, the width of the spaces is proportioned to the difiiculty of the plays.

After the slide has been adjusted to select from the chart thegroup of plays possible while a certain base condition exists, the pointer is spun and allowed to come to rest,

and the number or word at the space indicates the play which is to be made. If

or Strike, such play ismade without reference to the chart, but if the'poinl'cr stops at a space marked with a number, reference is had to the corresponding number on the slide, and the play indicated thereby on the chart is the next pla'y to be made.

To enable ready visualization of the plays, a miniature baseball diamond 51 may be laid out on a board 52 or other suitable support, and have the-positions of the players and the umpires indicated thereon. At opposite sides of the diamond are. the players benches 53 which will be occupied by'the players in the order in which they come to hat. The players ofeach team may be represented by checkers 55, nine in number, and having the numbers 1 to 9 on the tops thereof. hen a play has been determined as above described, the checkers representing the runners in the play are placed on "the diamond in their proper positions, and on the next play the checkers are moved on, new positions resulting from the play. I

To record the balls, strikes and outs, tallies 57 may beset in recesses in the board and be adapted to turn on pins'59. .These tallies are in the form of buttons having points adapted to register with suitable numbers on the board adjacent to the buttons. 7

Back of the players benches and at the left of the tallies are spaces 61 which may the pointer stops at a space marked Ball 1 be considered to represent the grandsta'nds" for the spectators watching the game;

The dial 85'referred to may be desirablyset in a recess in the board on which the diamond is marked, and directly to theleft thereof. The pin 43 on which the pointer is mounted may be set in theboard, and the pins 49 past which the pointer whisker wipes may also be set in this board. i

In order that the opponents playing the game may readily keep the score, a pair of slates 63maybe set in recesses in the board at opposite sides of the dial,-and at the left of the diamond. These slates are lined and marked with data whereby the score may device comprisingithe chart and slide may' be placed in the opposite side of the box. These sides may beconnected by hinges, so

that when it is desired to play the game, the sides of the box may be opened so .as to disclose the devices therein. hen the gamev is not in use, the sides may be closed and retain all of the devices of the game. Since the box is not a part ofthe invention, it has not been-considered necessary to show the same in the drawings.

To further eXplaint-he. manner in which the game is played, one ofthe base condition indicators is adjusted'so as/to disclose bases clear in the shell aperture of the indicator, since the game always starts with bases clear. This adjusts the slideto a'position in which any of the twenty-four plays may be made which are possible under this base condition.

lines aa and 2 5 on the chart shown in Figs. 4; and 5. o I 1 v 1 p ,To determine which of these twenty-four possible pla'ysshall be theflnext play, the

pointer is spun on the dial. If it comesto rest at the space on the dial numbered 12,

reference is made to'the 'play on the chart' identified by the n'urnbe'rlQ' on the slide, and

this is found to be two base hit, batter takes second. Then the checker numberedl .is

placed on second base on the'sdiamond to show that this playhas been made. I a v v I As stated, the slide should be adjusted in response to each new base condition. Therefore, there is a runner on second base, the slide must be adjusted; The indicator is turned until Runner on second appears at {the aperture in the indicator shell. This ad justment of the" slide discloses thev plays appearing on'lines 0'0 and gg on the; chart.

Then the pointer is again givena spin, and

if it stops at the space numbered 15 on the dial, reference is made to the description of the play on the chart identified by number These twenty-four plays are 'pre-j sented' by the brief descriptions appearingin bescored, since the side .isout beforev the man-iscaught off base. The presence of a since the bases are no longer clear and 1 This play.

115011 the slide, and this is found to be batter out, third base to first base, runner on second advances tothird base. Since the slide to a position to disclose the twentyfour plays'which may be possible under this base condition. a

If after the pointer is given a spin it comes to rest at. a space on the dial marked Ball, reference to the chart is unnecessary, and the tally registering balls is adjusted to point to 1. Similarly, if the pointer after being given a spin comestorest at aspace on the dial marked Strikef,referencev to the chart is unnecessary, and the strikes is adjusted to pointto 1."

Thus, in this fashion the game is played it until one of the sides has three outs. Then the other side comes to bat. Each event of the game may be recorded on the slates.

To facilitatescoring of the plays, the parts of certain of the descriptionsof plays may be graphically differentiated, This may be accomplished by underscoring portions of the descriptions of the plays, or it may be accomplished by printingsuch portions in red and black ink- 1 a To further facilitate scoring of the plays,

certain of the descriptions of plays may be.

accompanied by code indicia. The presence of an asterisk in a space containing a description of a play-signifies that if two men "are out] and two strikes are on the batter, the second part of the play is not to small square in asp ace containing a descrip-.

tion ofa play signifies that if less than two men. are out before the play described is started, the batter: should be credited with a sacrifice hit. The presence of a small circle CODlZaIDIHg a cross m 'a space containing .a

description of a play signifies that if there are any out before the playdescribed is started, the run is not to be counted.

I In order'to illustrate the use of the differentiated portions of the descriptions of certain of the plays and the code indicia in certain of the spaces, the followingexample may be considered; V a 1 ()ne of the. most'difiicult plays to score reads on the chart as ,f ollows,-d ouble play,

runner onfirstand ,batter out, 213. to S. S.

to 1 B., runner on second takes third, runner on third. scores. A circle containing across appears in the s pace in which thissplay is described. 7 '7 covers following situation during a game, There are threezm'en on K assist.

bases. The man at bat hits a ground ballto the second baseman. The second baseman scoops it up and tosses it to the shortstop who covers second. This forces out the runner occupying first base before the play started. In the meantime the runner on second has a big lead off that base and makes third safely, and the runner on third also having a big'lcad, safely reaches home and scores a run. However, the shortstop after making the put-out on the man running from first, seeing that thereis no chance to catch the other two runners, throws the ball to the first baseman in time to put out the batter and complete a double play.

If there is nobody out at thetime this play occurs, the entire description of the play in the space would be coi'isidered, and the play would be scored as follows. The batter would be charged witha turn at bat. The second baseman would be credited with The shortstop would be credited with a put-out and an assist. baseman would be credited with a put-out. And the runner on third would be "credited with scoring one run.

On the other hand, if'there is one man out at the time this play occurs, the entire description of the play appearing in the space in question would be taken into considera tion, and the entire play would be scored the same -as above, with the exception of.credit ing the runner on third with a run. This is signified by the small circle containing a cross at the end of the description'of the play, which refers to the code or rule given above stating that if there are any out before this play is started, the run does not count. Since one man is already out before the play is started, the double play makes it three out, and 'therefore,the side which has been at bat is retired, and the run does not count.

If there' should be two out when the play in'question occurs, only the underscored portion of the description of the play is considered. This would make the play read as follows. Runner on first out, 2 B. to- S. S. The play would be scored as follows. Batteris charged with'a turn at bat. Second baseman is credited with an assist. And shortstop is credited with a put-out?" This put-out being the third out of the inning would retire the side at bat without any further play. It is in a caseof this kind that the underscored portion and the remaining portion of the description of a play features, as it will not be necessary to read the whole play in order to see at once which is the first man to be putout in any double play, and what player makes the put-out and assist when there is one.

' While the invention has been described more particularly with respect to a baseball game, it will be'un'derstood that 'som'e features thereofar'e applicable to othergames.

The first It will be understood'that the inventionis not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. In agame, a chart having numerous plays described thereon, an adjustable slide over the chart having elongated apertures and numbers along and adjacent to said apertures, said slide being adjustable in response to each new play condition to disclose a through said apertures only plays on the chart which are possible while such play condition exists. V

2. In a game, a chart having numerous plays described thereon, a slide over the chart apertured and adjustable to disclose different groups of plays which are possible when different play conditions exist, and means for indicating the'different play conditions. v

3. In a baseball game, a chartihaving nu merous playsdescribed thereon, means adjustable in response to each new base condition to select only plays which are possible when such base condition exists, and means for determining the adjustment of said means including a spool having the different base conditions marked thereon.

4. In a baseball game, a chart having numerous plays describedthereon, means adjustable in response to each new base condition to select only plays which are possible when such base condition exists, means for determining the adjustment of said means including a spool having the diiferent base conditions marked thereon, and a shell receiving said spool having an aperturef through which said different base conditions may be seen one at a time. i

5. In a baseball game, a chart having numerous plays described thereon, a slide over the chart apertured and adjustable to disclose diflerent groups of plays which are possible when difierent base conditions exist, andmeans including a rack and gear for adjusting said slide to. present the proper group of plays for each base condition.

6. In a game, a support, a chart onsaid thereon, and a slide having runners movable. along said support, said slide being 'apertured and adjustable to disclose difresponse to each new play condition and support having numerous plays described ing numbers identifying the'plays of the group; and a device having numbers corresponding to the aforesaid numbers, and means to select one of said numbers by chance, thereby to determine which one of the plays of theselected group of plays shall be the next play.

9. In a baseball ame, a chart having numerous different pIays described thereon, means adjustable in response to each new base condition to select a group of plays on the chart, any one of which is possible when such base condition exists, said means having numbers identifying the plays of the group, a dial having thereon numbers corresponding to the aforesaid numbers and having marked thereon the words Ball and Strike, and a pointer adapted to be spun and come to rest at one of said numbers or words, thereby to determine which play shall be the next play.

10. In a baseball game, a chart having arv ranged thereon eight groups of descriptions ,of-plays corresponding to the eight possible base conditions, the description of plays of each group being possible for a particular base condition, and selective means to render saidgroups singly visible on the chart.

' 11. In a baseball game, a pair of charts,

each having arranged thereon eight groups of descriptions of plays corresponding to the eight possible base conditions, the descriptions of plays of each group being possible for a particular base condition, and said charts being disposed to be read by two persons facing each other.

12. In a baseball game, a dial divided into spaces, some of which bear numbers while others bear, the Words Ball and Strike, said numbers and words being marked on the dial in a plurality of positions in each space to facilitate reading of the same'from any angle, and a pointer rotatably 1 mounted on'the dial and adapted to be'spun and to come to rest at any one of said spaces.

SYDNEY TEMPLETON FARRELL. e

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,667,147. Granted April 24, 1928, to

4 SYDNEY TEMPLETON FARRELL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; Page 3, line 86, before the word "strikes" insert the words "tally recording"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conformto the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of May, A. D. 1928.

i M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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