US2083850A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

G. E. MACY GAME APPARATUS June-15, 1937.

Filed Aug. 29, 1932 In yenfbr GemyetI/Vacy Patented June 15, 1937 UNiTE TA'EE 4 Claims.

vide a game apparatus ior playing a manner of tennis or ping-pong with a tethered ball; to provide such apparatus requiring a certain amount of skill for playing same; and to provide such apparatus involving the skill and exercise ordi- -narily acquired in ping-pong or tennis games play.

Fig. 2 shows a paddle of the type used for playing the game.

Fig. 3 shows anenlarged partly sectioned detail of a swivel device from which the tethered ball. is suspended.

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of a goal.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of a goal.

In the form shown in the drawing, my improved game apparatus comprises a vertical member I, mounted upon a cross or stand 2 and having a ball 3 suspended from its top by means of a flexible tether or string 4. Goals 5, laterally spaced from the vertical member 1, are supported by means of downwardly extending membus 6, which in the form shown, are removably secured in the extremities of the cross members forming'the stand 2.

At the top of the vertical member I, a swivel or pivoting member I is provided for supporting the ball 3. The swivel 1 comprises a wire bent to form a helicalcoil 8 having a pair of relatively widely spaced, substantially horizontal turns 21. An upright rod or cylindrical member I0 having a head II on its upper end, is placed axially through the coil 8 and secured in top of the vertical member I.

The wire from which the swivel l is formed, projects downwardly from the uppermost turn 9 of the coil 8, and is curved so as to extend downwardly from the plane of the uppermost turn 9,

the downwardly projecting portion terminating in a vertical loop Ill. The other end of the wire forming the swivel I terminates in the bottom" most turn 9 of the coil 8 and turned upwardly so that the square end of the wire will not ride or bear against the top of the vertical member l, the upper surface of which is preferably rounded to provide a better appearing surface.

The purpose of curving the downwardly pro jecting portion of the swivel I is to prevent the tether from wrapping around the swivel arm, as would be possible were the arm horizontal. Thus if the tether 4 should for any reason tend to wrap around the arm, it will immediately slide downwardly and off from the same, so thatthe ball 3 will always hang free for immediate play.

The pole or vertical member I may be made of any suitable material, such as wood, steel tubing or pipe, and may be made either in one piece or in sections. The tether or string 4 which supports the ball 3 should be flexible, and no heavier than is necessary to provide suflicient strength to withstand the strain of play. The string or tether may be made of cotton, silk, or any other suitable flexible material.

The ball 4 may be made of celluloid or rubber,

or any other suitable material that would provide sufiicient liveliness, as would be found in the usual ping-pong ball or tennis ball. The size of the ball is proportioned according to its use in either an outdoor or indoor game, and according to the size of the rackets or paddles used to put the ball in play.

The ball may be attached directly to the string or tether, or may be enclosed in a cloth or net bag and the bag attached to the string or tether, either by means of a hook or by tying the string or tether through a loop on the end of the bag.

The goals may be made of any desired shape, so long as they are proportioned so that the ball will be readily received Within them, and they preferably comprise a loop or ring formed of wire mounted on suitable supporting members so that they may be supported in proper relation with the base 2 and the vertical member I, either directly from the base 2 or from the ground or surface upon which the apparatus is set up.

In playing the game, either rackets, paddles or the players bare hands may be used to strike the ball, and it is the object of the game to drive the ball in such a way that it will enter one of the rings or goals and be retained thereby. The length of the tether or string 4 is such that the ball is held suspended a short ways above the base of the vertical member I, and the goals 5 are so positioned that they are within the limits of the possible movement of the ball 3 as allowed by the tether 4.

In the form shown in the drawing, the equip-- ment is arranged with two goals positioned diametrically opposite each other, and the game is played by two players, the server and the receiver, standing on opposite sides of the vertical member or pole, with the goals to the right and left of each player.

The game is started by one player, the server, hitting the ball so that it does not touch any of the equipment until it has passed in front of the receiver. Thus in serving, the server attempts to make the ball pass over one ring or goal and enter the other ring as it swings back in an arc towards him. The receiver attempts to hit the ball as it passes in front of him, thus preventing a score by the server, and at the same time drive the ball directly into either ring or goal.

The players continue hitting the ball and try-- ing to drive it into one of the goals until one is successful or until the ball becomes dead. Whenever a score is made in one of the goals, or the ball becomes dead through a fault or foul, another serve is made. A score is made for the player who last hit the ball when the ball passes through or into either goal from any direction, except when the server hits the ball directly into a goal before the ball has completed a half circle, in which case a score is made for the receiver. In all cases, the ball must be hit with the racket or hand in order to count. A score is counted for the receiver if the server when serving causes the ball to touch any of the equipment before the ball has completed a half circlethat is, before it has passed through the receivers territory. A score is counted for the opponent of the player who touches any of the stationary equipment with his paddle at any time. This score does not make the ball dead, but the play continues. A score is counted for the opponent of the player who permits the ball to wind around his hand or paddle and thus become dead, that is, when the ball does notunwind itself of its own accord. Any effort to aid the unwinding loses the point for the faulting player.

Game is.10 points, and the player who first makes 10 points Wins, or in case of a tie of 9--9 (deuce), the one who makes two successive points thereafter becomes the winner. The serve changes as soon as either player is ahead five points, and the receiver becomes the server.

The score may also be counted as in tennis, in which case one player serves a full game before the serve changes.

It is apparent that this game may be made in any size, depending upon where it is to be used. The indoor game is preferably made with a thirty inch pole, while for the outdoor game, a nine foot pole or larger is used, depending upon the number of players. The indoor and outdoor games are the same in principle, but merely vary in size of equipment and methods of support.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the hereindescribed game provides a novel form of entertainment requiring almost the same skill as tennis or table tennis, at the same time having the advantage of a tethered ball which cannot be lost or driven away from the playing area. Many games have been devised which use a tethered ball for play. However, these prior games do not require and develop the skill in the player that is necessary to drive the tethered ball into one of the goals, and the present game' most nearly approaches the type of play that is had in the usual tennis or ping-pong games.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

I. A game apparatus comprising a base, a vertical member mounted on said base, a tethered ball suspended from said vertical member, and a goal comprising a closed loop spaced laterally from said vertical member and disposed in a plane radial therefrom, said goal having laterally proj ecting arms diverging from said radial plane and secured at their ends to said base.

2. A game apparatus comprising a base, a vertical member mounted on said base, a ball suspended from said vertical member on a flexible tether, and a goal comprising a closed loop spaced laterally from said vertical member and disposed in a plane radial therefrom, said goal comprising a wire bent at its middle and twisted to form said closed loop, said wire having its ends extending laterally from one side of the vertical axis of said loop and diverging symmetrically from the plane thereof, said wire ends being secured in said base.

3. A game apparatus comprising a base, a vertical member mounted on said base, a tethered ball suspended from said vertical member, and a goal comprising a closed loop spaced laterally from said vertical member, said goal having downwardly extending diverging arms removably secured in spaced sockets in said base and disposed beyond the limits of the movement of said tethered ball.

4. A batted ball game comprising a suspended tethered ball, and a pair of spaced goals each comprising a vertical loop supported by downwardly extending supporting means disposed beyond the limits of movement of said tethered ball, said loops being oppositely disposed laterally relative to the center of suspension about which said ball moves and with their planes substantially radial thereto, and said loops being positioned to intersect the imaginary spherical surface defined by the paths of movement of said ball about this center of suspension. GEORGE E. MACY.

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