US1929757A

US1929757A - Football game

Info

Publication number: US1929757A
Application number: US594439A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sargent Edgar Haskell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-02-23
Filing date: 1932-02-23
Publication date: 1933-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1950-10-10

Description

E. H. SARGENT Oct. 1-0, 119.33.

FOOTBALL GAME Filed Feb. 25. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 10, 1933. SARGENT 1,929,757

FOOTBALL GAME Filed Feb. 25. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 10, 1933. E. H. SARGENT 1,929,757

FOOTBALL GAME Filed Feb. 23, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE 1,929,757 FOOTBALL GAME Edgar Haskell Sargent, Evanston, Ill. Application February23, 1932. Serial No. 594,499 10 Claims. (01.273-94) The present invention pertains generally to football games. More particularly, the invention pertains to that type of football game which is designed to be played by two contestants or players and comprises a board in the form of a football field and two teams of eleven men each.

One object of the invention is to provide a football game of this type which follows, andclosely resembles in play, the outdoor game of football,

and is a closer approach to the latter than previously designed football games, in that the men which form the two teams are designed to be pushed over the board in the execution of plays by means of pushers in the hands of the two contestants.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a football game of the last mentioned character in which the men embody fiat bases whereby they are supported in substantially upright positions,

manipulation of the pushers upon the bases, they may be tilted or upset for tackling, diving or blocking purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide Afurther object of the invention is to'provide a football game of the aforesaid type in which each team embodies a man which may be sub- 40. ",tituted for a backfield man, during the execution of a kicking play,'and is so constructed that one leg is free with respect to the base and may be used, by flipping the fingerrthereagainst, to kick an object representing a ball.

A still further object of the invention isto provide a football game of the type and character heretofore specified wherein the bodies of the men are inclined forwardly. so that they areproperly constructed and arranged for tackling purposes and in order that in the execution of forward pass plays, the ball may beplaced thereagainst and flipped with the finger towards an objective. V

In addition, itis contemplated as one of the objects to the invention to provide a football and are so constructed and balanced that by game which is generally of new and improved construction and may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost, and in which the play is determined solely by manual manipulation of the men.

Other objects of the invention and the various characteristics and features of the present game will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter'set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the con clusion hereof. V

.In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and. in 79, which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a football game embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective showing the manner in which the men are manipulated or moved by the pushers in scrimmage plays; 7

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank of the type which is used in connection with the formation of the men;

Figure 4 is a side view illustrating the manner in which a man may be manipulated by a pusher to tackle a man of the opposing team; I

Figure 5 is a, perspective of one of the kickers; j

Figure 6 is a perspective showing the manner 5 in which the kicker is manipulated by a flip of the finger to effect a kick of the ball; and

' Figure '7 is a perspective illustrating the manner in which a forward pass may be made by flipping the ball with the finger across the back of one of the men.

The football game which forms the subject matter of the invention is designed to be played by two contestants or players and consists of a board Band a team A of men and a team B of 5 U men. The board isadapted to be laid upon a card table 9 or like supporting member, and isformed of cloth or fabric so as to form a slightly resilient supporting surface for the men. It is square in conformation and is numberedand lined on the top surface thereof so as to represent a foot ball field. Elastic bands 10 serve to keep the a board taut and connected to the table 9. 7 These bands extend across the corners of the board and are adapted to underlie the corners of the table, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. A pair of H-shaped members 11 form goal posts for the field. These members are located beyond the end zones of the field similarly to the goal posts for a regular football playing field, andhave 11 ,l

braces or supports 12 at the lower ends thereof so as to hold them in an upright position. During play of the game, the goal post-forming members 11 are preferably moved to one side of the playing field so as not to interfere with manipulation of the men.

The team A consists of seven linemen 13, four backfield men 14 and a substitute kicker 15. The linemen 13 correspond to the center, guards, tackles and ends of a regular football team; The backfield men 14 are similar in design and construction to the linemen 13 and correspond to the half-backs, quarter-back and full-back of a one of the rear corners of the base 17, and is attached to a flap 23 which extends upwardly from, and is formed integrally with, the rear end of the base. The other leg extends forwardly from the trunk 20 and embodies a foot 24. The

latter is cemented or otherwisesecured to the front cornerof the base which is diagonally opposite the corner to which the rearwardly extending leg extends. The knee parts of the legs 19 are bent as at 25, so as to give them a lifelike appearance. The trunk 20 and the head 22 are coplanar and are inclined upwardly and forwardly so that the center'of massthereof is located over the foot .24. The arms 21 are bent at the shoulders and elbows so that they extend forwardly in the manner illustrated in the drawings.

The blank 16 is cut or stamped from any suitable type of comparatively tough sheet material, such,

for example, as strawboard, and is shaped to form the base 17, the body-part 18 and the flap 23. The flap 23 is cut at one end thereof so as to form the foot 24 and disconnect the latter from the. base. It is bent on'the line 23 so that it extends vertically andis colored or designed at the other end thereof so as to form a foot for the leg which extends rearwardly from the trunk 20. The foot 24, after being severed or cut from the base, is cemented or otherwise secured in the proper position on the top face of the base. The kicker 15 is adapted, during kicking plays, to be substituted for one of the backfield men 14. It is exactly the same in construction and design is the linemen l3 and the backfield men 14 of the team A except thatthe forwardly extendingleg thereof is not attached to the base in order that it may be used, as hereinafter described, to kick a flat,oval-shaped member 26 representing a ball.

The. lineman and backfield men of the team A are'adapted to be moved or shifted over the board 8 by a pusher 27. The latter is adapted to be held by one of the contestants or players and embodies at the front end thereof an abutment-forming urface 28 and a comparatively thin, blade-like extension 29. The abutment-forming surface 28 is adapted to be brought into engagement with the fiaps 23 when the pusher is manipulated so as to shift the men. The extension 29 under- .ies the V abutment-forming surface 28 and is adapted to be inserted under the bases so that it is possible, during pushing of the men by the pusher, to upset the men for tackling or blocking purposes. By virtue of the fact that the men are constructed so that the legs thereof are 'connected to diagonally opposite corners of the bases, and the trunks of the body-parts are inclined forwardly and upwardly, the men are so balanced that they may be readily upset. To advance a man, the extension 29 of the pusher is inserted under the base and the abutmentforming surface 28 is brought into contact or engagement with the flap 23. Thereafter, the pusher is. moved forwardly with the result that the man is caused to slide over the board. If it is desired to have the man dive forwards or sideways for blocking or tackling purposes, the

pusher is raised so as to upset the man in the proper direction. The ends and backfield men of the team A have marked on the bases and backs thereof different numerals or indicia 30 so that they may be identified in connection with the play.

The team B consists of seven linemen 31, four backfield men 32 and a substitute kicker (not shown), and is manipulated by the other contestant or player by means of a pusher 33. The linemen and backfield men of the team B are similar in construction and design to the linemen and backfield men of the team A, and consist of substantially fiat, rectangular bases 34 and body parts 35. They are preferably colored differently than the men of the team A so that the contestants or players may readily distinguish the two teams. The pusher 33 is similar in design to the pusher 27 and is provided at the front end thereof with an abutment-forming surface 36 and a thin, knife-like extension 37. The ends and backfield men of the team B are provided with different numerals or indicia 38 on the bases and backs thereof.

The game is designed to follow as closely as 2 possible the rules and play of regular football.

If desired, the game may be played as follows:

Kick-0 7 A coin is first tossed to determine which contestant or player has the choice of kicking or receiving. The contestant having the team which is required or has been selected to kick off, lines his men on their own forty yard line. The contestant or player having the team which has been required or selected to receive, arranges his men in any desired formation on or behind their own forty-five yard line. The contestant having the kicking team substitutes his kicker for one of the backfield men and effects a kick of the ball into the territory of the opposing or receiving team by first placing the ball on the board and against the free or swinging leg of the kicker, and then flipping the leg by the finger. The latter action serves to project the ball down the field. In the event that the ball strikes one of the men of the receiving team, it is presumed to be caught by the man that isstruck. If the ball lights within the field without touching one of the men of the receiving team, the contestant or player having charge of such team moves, by manipulation of his pusher, one of the men so that it touches the ball in order to have that man effect the catch. If the ball lights in the end zone, the contestant having the receiving team may elect to have one of his men run with the ball or to put the ball in play on his own twenty yard line. After kicking the ball, the contestant having the kicking team replaces the kicker for the man for whom the kicker was substituted and when ready, gives the pushers; the defensive player or contestant attempting to movehis men down the field so as to tackle the offensive man having the ball, and the offensive contestant attempting to block out the men of the defensive teamand to advance the 1 ball carrier down the field as far as possible.

When the ball carrier is blocked or upset by a man of the defensive team, the play is concluded and the ball is deemed to be downed at the farthest point to which the ball carrier has advanced. In

manipulating the defensive team, the contestant or player having such team may, by manipulation of his pusher, upset his men so asto block or knock down the men of the defensive team, thatis, the team that has kicked the ball. In

Zmanipulating the men of the defensive team, the

contestant or player having such team is able-to tackle or bring down theball carrier by moving one or more of his men into the path of movement of the ball carrier and then upsetting his man or men so as to knock the ball carrier to the board.

Scrimmage After the kick-off, the contestant having the defensive team arranges his linemen so that the bases thereof are on, or in back of, the line of scrimmage, and places his backfield men in, any desired defensive position. Thereafter, the contestant having the oifensive team arranges his mediately thereafter saying the word go. At

the word go, both contestants are permitted to move their men, the defense attempting to tackle the man of the offensive team whose number has been called, and the offense attempt;- ing to block the defensive men and to advance the runner. In executing the play, the contestants move their men, one at a time, by manipu lating the pushers, as hereinbefore described and as shown more particularly in Figure 2 of the drawings. When the man of the offensive team who has been designated as the ball carrier is blocked out or tackled by a man of the defensive team, the play is concluded.

Forward pass A forward pass may be made at any time and from any formation by the offensive team. The pass play is started by the contestant having the offensive team calling out the number of one of the backfield men who is supposed to make the pass, and announcing go. At the word go, the two contestants start to move their men the same as though ascrimmage were taking place. In orderv to prevent the supposed passer from being tackled, the contestant having the ofiensive team says pass. This informs the contestant having the defensive team that the player to whom the ball was supposedly passed at the start of the play, isto pass the ball. After the word pass, the men eligible to receive passes (ends and backfield men) are moved into a position wherein the contestant having the offensive team desires to have the pass completed. At the same time, the contestant having the defensive team moves his men into defensive positions and deemed to be completed.

flipped with considerable accuracy.

so as to upset, if possible, the expected receivers of the pass. When the man desired by the offense to receive the pass is moved to the desired location or position, the contestant having the offensive team calls the number of the intended pass receiver and. announces pass to indicate that the ball is in the course of travel from the passercto the receiver. Immediately upon announcing the number of the receiver and the word pass, play is discontinued by both contestants. team then places the ball on the back of the passer, as shown in Figure '7 of the drawings, and flips the ball with the fingers towards the receiver. If the ball hits the receiver, the pass is If the receiver is missed but an opponent, that is, a man of the defensive team, is struck, the pass is deemed to be intercepted. If the ball touches the ground before touching either the pass receiver or an opponent, the pass is deemed to be incomplete. By virtue of the fact that the heads of the men are coplanar with the trunks, the ball may be In the event that the pass is intercepted, play is resumed when the contestant executing the pass takes his pusher in his hand. Under such circumstances, the contestant of the intercepting team endeavors, by manipulation of his pusher,

to advance, as far as possible, the man having intercepted the ball.

Punt

A punt is executed by the contestant with the offensive team calling the number of the backfield man to Whom the ball is supposedly passed from the center'and announcing go. At the word go, both contestants start to move their men and the contestant having the defensive team may tackle the offensive player whose number has been called until the contestant having the offensive team calls kick. After the The contestant having the offensive word kick, the contestant having the offensive team, that is, the team that is executing the kick, moves his men down the field to cover the receiver of the kick, and at the same time the contestant having the defensive team moves his men into position to block the kick. The kick itself is effected by the contestant with the kicking team substituting his kicker for the man whose number was first called. After placement of the kicker on the spot formerly occupied by the removed man, the kickers right leg is held in a raised position, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, and the ball is placed on the foot. By snapping 'the kickers leg with the fingers, the

contestant with the kicking team causes the ball to be projected down the field. The play is-con-' is based upon strategy and manual manipulation of the men instead of chance.

If desired, the game may be-used to demonstrate plays in connection with the coaching of a regular football team.

The herein described game may be manufactured at alow and reasonable cost, inasmuch as The invention is not to be understood as re-' stricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I vclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a game of the character described, the combination of a board with afootball field marked thereon, and a plurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in any and all directions over the board in connection with the execution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said men consisting of fiat, substantially rectangular bases, slidable over the board and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases and simulating in appearance regular football players, and having said bodyparts arranged and constructed so that the centers of mass thereof overlie the front portions of the bases in order that during pushing, the men may be readily upset for blocking or tackling purposes by tilting them forwardly.

2. In a game of the character described, the

-eombination of a board with a football field marked thereon, and a plurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in any and all directions over the board in connection with --the execution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said men consisting of bases slidable over the board and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases, and being balanced and constructed-so that they may be readily upset during pushing thereof forblocking or tackling purposes, the men of the two teams that form the backfield men having different numerals or indicia on the bases thereof so that they may be selectively designated by the players as ball carriers.

3. In a game of the character described, the combination of a board with a football field marked thereon, and a plurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in any and all directions over the board in connection with the execution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said men consisting of bases slidable over the board and body-partsextending upwardly from the bases and simulating in appearance regular football players, and having said body-parts so'arranged and constructed that the centers of mass thereof overlie the front portions of the bases in order that during pushing of the men by the players the men may 3e readily upset for blocking or tackling purposes by tilting them forwardly, the men of the two teams forming the ends and backfield men hav ing different numerals or indicia on the bases and backs of the body-parts in order that they nay be selectively designated by the players as ball carriers or in connection with the plays,

4. In a game of the character described, the combination of a board with' a football field marked thereon, and a plurality of men forming Jwo teams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in any and all directions over the board in connection with the execution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said men consisting of bases slidable over the board and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases, and being balanced and constructed so that they may be 'tion of forward pass plays;

5. In a game of the character described, the

combination of a board with a football field marked thereon, and a plurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in any and all directions over the board in connection with v the execution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said men consisting of bases slidable over the board and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases and simulating in appearance regular football players, said bodyparts being balanced and arranged with respect to the bases so that the men may be readily upset, during pushing thereof, for blocking or tackling purposes, and having the backs thereof inclined forwardly and rearwardly so that forward'pass plays may be executed by placing a fiat, ball simultating member thereagainst and flipping it with the fingers.

6. In a game of the character described, the combination of a board with a football field marked thereon, a plurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in any and all directions over the board in connection with the execution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said men consisting of bases slidable over the board and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases and simulating in appearance regular football players and having said body parts arranged and constructed so that the centers of mass thereof overlie the front portions of the bases in order that during pushing, the men may be readily upset for blocking or tackling purposes by tilting them forwardly, and pushers adapted to be held by the players and used in connection with pushing and ,forward'tilting of the men.

'7. In a game'of the character described, the combination of a board with a football field marked thereon, a plurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in any and all directions over the board in connection with the execution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said men' consisting of bases slidable over the board and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases and being balanced and constructed so that they may be readily upset by pushing thereof for blocking or tackling purposes, and pushers for pushing the men adapted to be held by the players and having thin, blade-like parts at the front ends thereof for disposition under the bases and use in connectionwith upsetting of the men.

8. In a game of the character described, the combination of a board with a football field marked thereon, a plurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in any and all directions over the board in connection with the execution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said men consisting of fiat, substantially rectangular bases slidable over the board and provided with upstanding flaps at the for pushing the men adapted to be held in the 'rear ends thereof and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases and simulating in appearance regular football players, and having said body parts so arranged and balanced with respect to the bases that during pushing of the menby the players they may be readily upset for blocking or tackling purposes, and pushers for use by the players in pushing the men adapted to be held in the hands of the players and having fiat surfaces at the front ends thereof for engage-'- ment with the flaps at the rear ends of the bases of the men.

9. In a game device of the character described, the combination of a slightly resilient, fabric board with a football field marked thereon, a plurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in any and all directions over the board inconnection with the execution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said men consisting of bases slidable over the board and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases and being balanced and constructed so that they may be readily upset during pushing thereof for blocking and tackling purposes, and pushers hands of the players and having thin, blade-like extensions at the front ends thereof for insertion between the board and the aforesaid bases and use in upsetting the men.

10. In a game of the character described, the combination of a board with a football field marked thereon, and a plurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in any and all directions over the board in connection with the execution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said men consisting of flat, substantially rectangular bases slidable over the board and body parts extending upwardly from the bases and simulating in appearance regular football players, the legs of the body part of each man extending one forwardly and one rearwardly and secured to diagonally opposite corners of the base and being bent and arranged so that the weight or center of mass of the body part is substantially over the forwardly extending leg in order that the man may be readily upset for blocking or tackling purposes.

EDGAR HASKELL SARGENT.