US1917700A - Game - Google Patents

Description

July 11, 1933. Q L CLARK 1,917,700

GAME

Filed Feb. 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 11, 1933.

GAME

Filed Feb. 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 5 6 7 .9 0 /2 5015/5 17/53/920 2/22 2324252677262? 5/52 as5e 7 8594w/4z 4;-

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Patented July 11, 1933 FATE ()Fl lCE CURTIS LUBIN CLARK, F EDDY, TEXAS GAME Application filed February 17, 1932. Serial No. 593,593.

This invention relates to game apparatus and has for its object the provision of an apparatus by the use of which there may be played a game closely simulating the game of basketball. The invention seeks to proyide an apparatus in which a ball may be manipulated by levers extending to the sides of the board or apparatus and so directed as to be deposited in a goal basket, and another object of the invention is to provide a game board of such form that it will direct the ball thereon into certain, definite positions at which will be located devices corresponding to the members of a basketball team. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully described, the novel features being particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse section onthe line 33 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of one of the lever systems by which the ball 1s manipulated,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged screw.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a board 1 which is the equivalent of the playing field and 1s supported in any convenient manner, as by a frame 2 which will enclose the space below the board and will support the board above the floor or a table. Disposed upon the board, and rising therefrom, is an upper frame 3 which is preferably rectangular, as shown in Fig. 1, and has its sides formed of reticulated material, such as wire netting, as indicatedat 4:, whereby the position of the ball maybe easily noted and the movements of the same may be observed. Upon the end wallsof this upper frame 3 are secured baskets 5 which are the equivalent of the goal baskets used in the court game and may be secured in any convenient manner. In the upper edges of the side walls of the frame 3 notches 6 are formed at regular intervals along the length of the side walls and a counter 7 is provided to rest detail of a tension upon the upper edge of each side wall and is formed with a central depending tooth 8 to seat within any one of the notches 6. The notches are numbered consecutively from one end of thewall to the opposite end 5 thereof and the counter is shifted from notch to notch as the game progresses and goals are scored. 7

In the upper surface of the board or floor 1 are formed depressions 9 which tapering; all directions toward their centers, one of the depressions being located at the center of the board and extending from side to side thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. At opposite sides of the medial longitudinal line of the board, within the central depression, are located levers 10 which fit in openings 11 provided therefor and extend in opposite directions from their pivots, as shown in Fig. 1. Each lever is pivoted, as at 12, be tween its ends and to one end is pivoted the upper end of a. link 10 which eXtends downwardly through the opening 11 and is piv- Oted at its lower end to a k y lever 14: which extends outwardly through a vertical slot 15 in the side of the lower frame and is provided with a push button or key 16 at its outer free end. The key lever is pivoted at its inner end to a bracket 17 secured upon the side of the lower frame and a retractile spring 18 is anchored at its upper end to the frame or to the underside of the board 1 and has its lower end connected with the key lever. Thekey lever is provided with a lug or bracket 19 and a tension screw 20 is 8 engaged through said lug, said screw having the lower end of the spring 18 attached thereto so that by adjusting the screw the tension of the spring may be regulated. The free end of the playing lever 10 is expanded or enlarged to form a head or scoop 21 the upper side of which is concave, as shown at 22, to form a seat for the playing ball, inclicated at 23. A key. lever isprovided for each position in the game and, of course, a playing lever 10 is provided for each position, the playing levers being disposed in the board at points corresponding to the positions assumed by the several players in the court game, and the several keys are marked with letters or other characters, as shown in Fig. l, designating the positions which are manipulated or controlled by the respective key levers.

Upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the side and end walls of the upper frame rest at their lower edges upon the board 1 but are not secured thereto, and may, therefore, be removed when not in use so that the apparatus may be shipped or stored in knocked-down form to economize space. On the outer faces of the end walls are secured bracing posts 25 which have their lower ends extended below the lower edges of the walls to seat in stirrups or bails 26 secured on the end edges of the board, the end walls being thereby held against dropping from the board. In the inner faces of the end walls, adjacent the side edges thereof, are vertical grooves which receive the end edges of the side walls, as shown at 27. When the frame is to be dismantled, the sides are lifted from the grooves in the ends and the sides removed by lifting the posts 25 from their seats, as will be understood.

In playing the game, a small rubber ball is employed and it is tossed into the central depression or position of the board to come to rest upon the seat 22 of one of the central playing levers 10. The opposed players are located at opposite sides of the apparatus and will manipulate the keys at their respective sides so as to impart an upward swinging movement to the respective playing levers so that the ball which may rest upon a lever will be thrown upwardly and toward the end of the apparatus, the object, of course, being to deposit the ball in the goal basket. The device is conducive to considerable entertainment and players quickly be come absorbed in playing the game. lVith little practice, they may become quite expert in manipulating the key levers so as to impart to the ball just the proper impetus to project it into the basket or pass it to a pocket or lever representing a player on the same team, and it will be noted that the several playing levers are located upon lines such that, when they are respectively rocked, the ball resting thereon will be projected in the general direction of the proper goal basket, the levers corresponding to the guards being so positioned that the ball will be thrown away from the adjacent basket when such levers are manipulated while the other levers will direct the ball toward the basket. The key levers respond very quickly to a push imparted thereto and should be manipulated with a snapping action, the retractile springs returning them instantly to their upper normal positions, and the slots 15 in the sides of the floor frame constitute guides for the levers so that they will be caused to move in rectilinear paths. A key lever and connection is provided for each playing lever and they are independently manipulated. The apparatus is very simple and compact and may be made in various sizes and will provide harmless amusement for old and youn Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising a playing field having depressions in its surface, rocking arms pivotally mounted intermediate their ends in the depressions and formed with substantially circular terminal heads the upper faces of which are concave to receive and support a ball, goals supported above the playing field at the ends thereof, and means below the playing field for mani pulating the rocking arms whereby a ball rest ing upon an arm will be tossed toward a goal.

a 2. A game apparatus comprising a playing field having playing positions designated thereon, goals supported above the playing field at the ends thereof, rocking members pivotally mounted intermediate their ends in the playing field at the designated playing positions and each provided with arms of different lengths, the long arms being formed with substantially circular heads having concave upper faces adapted to support a ball, operating levers below the playing field, and connections between the operating levers and the short arms of the rocking members whereby a rocking member may be mani pulated to toss a ball thereon toward a goal.

3. A game apparatus comprising a playing field having playing positions designated thereon, goals supported above the field at the ends of the same. rocking members pivotally mounted intermediate their ends in the field at playing positions, and each provided with arms of different lengths, the long arms being formed with substantially circular heads having concave upper faces adapted to receive a ball, key levers fulcrumed below the playing field and extending to the sides thereof, links connecting said operating levers with the short arms of the rocking members whereby the rocking members may be manipulated to toss a ball toward a goal,

and a retractile spring attached to the operating levers and anchored above the same whereby the levers and rocking members are normally held in positions of rest.

In testimony whereof I aflir; my signature.

CURTIS L. CLARK. LL.s.J

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