US2087445A - Game and exercising device - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1937. M. D. PRICE GAME AND EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1957 Patented July 20,1937

UITED 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a game and exercising device and more particularly to a game embodying projectiles adapted to be thrown towards targets.

It is the object of the present invention to combine features in a game from which may be derived a great deal of fun and amusement While presenting a mild form of exercise to the participants. The present invention contemplates a projectile composed of a weighted element and an extension connected thereto by a universal joint fitted with means to stabilize the flight of the projectile as .a unit through space, as the projectile is thrown by a player. The invention furthermore contemplates the provision of one or more targets of special design towards which the projectiles are directed in order to make possible a scoring system for gauging the skill of the players in order to impart to the game the element of interest incident to competition in the course of playing it.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a projectile of special design capable of withstanding the hard usage to which it is put in the course of play of the game in accordance with the present invention.

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide a target embodying distinctive features which render it practicable for use in the outdoors.

Other objects and purposes will appear from a more detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one arrangement of the game as played in accordance with the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, with a part in elevation, of the projectile forming part of the game;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation with a certain part in section of a different embodiment of a projectile;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of another embodiment of a projectile;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the upper extremity of the target;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view with certain parts in elevation of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a different embodiment of the target from that shown in Figure 6.

In Fig. 1 is shown thegeneral arrangement of the play of the game in accordance with the present invention. This game requires a reasonable amount of skill, presents a mild form of exercise and lends itself to competition to make it a very interesting pastime. The game may be played by any number of players ranging from one upwardly. In its simplest form, the players standing at a target l mounted upon a standard 2 throw projectile units at a distant target 3 mounted upon a standard 4. These standards may be spaced 50 to 100 feet apart, depending upon the strength and skill of the players and the weight of the. projectiles. These projectile units are composed of a weighted element 5 to which is connected a shaft 5 having a feathered element I mounted thereon at a point displaced from the weighted element 5 in order to stabilize the flight of the projectile through space. A bell 2l-22 is mounted upon each of the targets I and 3 which is the equivalent of a bulls-eye in a conventional target, and the target frame as Well as its supporting standard is sub-divided in sections in order to render possible the scoring of points upon passing through or striking the target at points other than the bulls-eye.

The frames l and 3 may be circular as shown Q in Fig. 6, rectangular as illustrated by frame 13 in Fig. 8, or of any other desired outline and are preferably closed. The frame is mounted about four feet above the ground upon the standards 2 or i which may be imbedded in concrete. The standards may be subdivided in sections as indicated by lines 2a and ist, which may be painted in different colors, in order to make possible a desired scoring system. For example, if the projectile is thrown into the circle or square and the bell -22 is struck so as to make the same spin and ring the player receives a score of 10 points. If the projectile passes through the frame without causing the audible signaling device to spin and ring, the player may receive 5 points. If the player strikes that portion of the 7 standard supporting the frame above the lines 2a.

and 4a respectively, the player is entitled to 3 points, and he may be entitled to a like score if g the sides of the frame are struck without the projectile passing therethrough. Finally if the player strikes the standards below 2a and 411. he is entitled to only 2 points. It is understood that any other desired scoring schemes may be devised.

The projectile units may be formed of solid spherical weight elements 5 (Figs. 2 and 3) or may be hollow as illustrated by element l5 in Fig. 4. These weight elements may be of any desired material such as hard rubber, iron, steel, brass,

at the end of the jacket 5.

copper or any suitable composition materials. A cavity orrecess is formed in the external surface of the weight element 5 across which is fitted a pin ii. A jacketed rod 6 is joined to the weight element 5 by hooking the end 8 of the former around the pin ll, thereby attaining a universal joint between the rod and the weight element so that the rod may assume freely any position with respect to the weight in the course of travel of the projectile through space. The shaft or rod 8' is covered with leather or some other durable material of light nature. The leather casing 6 may be stitched upon opposite sides with strong durable shoemakers thread and in the course of sewing such threads at 9, stabilizing vanes 7 may be incorporated into the jacket extending through the plane of the longitudinal axis of the shaft 3'. manner of the feathered end of an arrow, and maybe formed of Angora goat hair or the hair from the mane or tail of the horse or of other strong and durable fibrous substances. The

stitching 9 maintains these feathered portions in place upon the shaft extending freely from the weight element ii.

In Fig. 3, the feathered portion '5 is connected In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. l the feathered section is disposed intermediate the two ends in order to permit a convenient grasp of the projectile at the end opposite the weight element without interference from the vanes l. The purpose of the vanes or feathers is to stabilize the flight or travel of the projectile through space.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5 the weight element 25 is streamlined and may be either hollow or solid, depending upon the material of which it is formed.

The weight elements are so proportioned that they range from two to five pounds in weight and may be even heavier. In the course of play, the projectile is grasped by a player at the end of the rod 5 opposite the weighted end and is swung at arms length with the ball near the around until suflicient speed of motion is imparted to the projectile. The player then releases it in the direction of the target and particularly towards the bell mounted upon the frame on the target. The projectile travels with a direct and graceful movement towards its destination. Each player may be equipped with at least four projectiles which may be designated as comets, and the game as'a whole may be known as Comet.

In the form of game as described above the projectiles are thrown with the motion of quoits 0r These stabilizing vanes operate in the horseshoes and not unlike the throwing of balls in bowling. The invention may be practiced as described above in which the play takes place between two fixedly displaced targets or it may be played upon any golf course or similar public park, in which instance the targets are placed successively. This form of game may be known as Comet Golf and the targets may be spaced at desired intervals. Thus, such targets may be placed at the greens of golf courses or they may be planted indiscriminately for cooperation with projectiles thrown, without any relation to the greens of a golf course. In this type of play only one projectile is used by each player.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are shown details of doublewalled audible signalling devices composed of the walls 2! and 22 mounted for rotation around one. of the bars of theframe I or E3, and agong 23 ments may be employed and the targets may be fitted with a plurality of bells.

While I have described my invention as embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specific manner for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various. modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A projectile comprising a weight element having a recess in the body thereof, a pin extending across said recess, a rod having the end thereof hooked around said pin in Said recess whereby said rod is freely movable with respect to said weight element, a jacket for covering said rod, and a stabilizing vane for said projectile extending from said jacket in the plane of the axis of said rod.

2. A projectile as set forth in claim 1, wherein the-jacket is formed of sections of leather stitched together and said stabilizing vane is formed of hair incorporated into said jacket at said stitching.

3. A projectile as set forth in claim 1, wherein the jacket is formed of sections of leather stitched together and said stabilizing vane is formed of a strong, durable, fibrous substance incorporated into said jacket and held in place by stitching and situated near the end of the projectile most remote from the weight element.

MITCHELL D. PRICE.

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