US2126628A - Game device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 9, 1938. J. A. FIONDELLA GAME DEVIG E Filed N v. 26, 1957 INVENTOR.

MC ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNITED STATES GAME.

DEVICE Jean A. Fiondella, East Haven, Conn. assignor to Milton Bradley Company, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 26, 1937, serial No. 176,439

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in game devices and is directed more particularly to devices for use in playing games with a ball and the like.

The principal objects of the invention are the provision of a device which is adapted to be manually engaged by the player in such a way that a ball or the like may be readily caught or retrieved while in the air. The device is so constructed that it may be swung in the air so as to discharge or propel a ball or the like disposed therein and is so arranged that the ball is releasably held at the bottom thereof until it is desired to discharge it.

While the rules of the game may be varied in many ways, preferably there are two players, each provided with a device of the invention. A ball or similar object is bounced on the playing surface by one player and the other attempts to catch it with his device while it is in the air whereupon he then propels or discharges the ball with his device toward the other player who then must, if he can, retrieve and discharge the ball with his device, the players then repeating the procedure.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View to explain how the device of the invention may be used;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the device of the invention with parts in section;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional View through still another modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail the invention will be fully described.

The device of the invention, indicated by 2, broadly includes a receptacle 4 and a handle 6 attached thereto. The receptacle may be variously constructed but it consists primarily of an elongated more or less bell-shaped tubular member having an open end indicated by 5.

This open end 5 is of a diameter only slightly greater than the ball indicated by B which is adapted to be received thereby and discharged therefrom. The side walls of part 4 taper downwardly to a closed end which is still nearer the diameter of object B and in this way the ball will contact the side walls of the receptacle when received and, both while going into the receptacle and while being discharged therefrom, it is thus possible to exert considerable control over the movements of the ball.

A bottom wall member 8 extends across and closes the rear or bottom end of the receptacle 4 and it may be joined thereto in various ways. The handle 6 may be either secured to the closed end of the receptacle or to the bottom wall in some suitable manner.

Preferably the receptacle 4 is formed from a rolled sheet of metal. The forward or outer edge thereof may be rolled back upon itself as shown so as not to be sharp or unsightly.

The playing piece B may be a resilient rubber ball. As stated the inner diameter of the receptacle not only tapers downwardly but it is not greatly larger in diameter than the ball so that it is in contact with the side walls substantially throughout its diameter when it is being discharged by the swinging of the device in the air.

With reference to Fig. 2, the device may be provided with a cup-like member I2 adjacent the pad I0 for releasably retaining the ball until it is desired to discharge it. In this form of the invention, the member l2 may be similar to a rubber suction cup of the right size and shape to releasably engage the innermost portion of the ball.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown another form of retaining means.

Here a receptacle 14, similar to 4, has an open upper end l5, and a handle l6 extending from its lower end. A pad 20, like member In previously described may or may not be provided.

In any event there is a pad member 22 having flexible fingers 24 extending inwardly as shown. Preferably this means takes the form of a molded member of rubber or rubber-like material with the fingers 24 extending therefrom in such a way as to yieldably engage the sides of the ball B when disposed Within the receptacle.

The fingers 24, being yieldable, of course, permit the ball to fall to the bottom of the device and then they tend to snap back into horizontal position to impinge the ball. Then when it is desired i to discharge the ball, the device may be swung so that the weight of the ball bends the fingers upwardly so as to allow the ball to go out the open end.

When the resilient pad ID or 20 is used, it preferably consists of sponge rubber or the like adhesively secured to the bottom part of the receptacle. This tends to cooperate with the abovedescribed releasable retaining means and prevents the ball from unwontedly bouncing out of the receptacle but will, instead, give the player an opportunity to properly swing the device for the propelling movement. Further, the pads tend to deaden any objectionable noise which might otherwise occur by the balls bounding against the bottom wall of the receptacle.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a receptacle 26, similar to the receptacles 4 and H, with spaced ribs or corrugations 28 extending lengthwise of its inner surface. These ribs may be formed in various ways but are so spaced apart and arranged that the ball or other object B naturally falls between two of them as it starts rolling. Thus, the ribs 28 act as rails to guide the ball in a straight path so as to facilitate accurate control thereover.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A game device of the class described comprising in combination an elongated tubular receptacle having downwardly tapering walls and an open end and lower end wall, the said receptacle adapted to receive a ball in its opened end, means extending from the said end wall for manually grasping the said receptacle, a resilient pad on said end wall to receive the impact of a ball, a pad member on one side of the wall of the said receptacle having yielding means for engaging and urging the ball against the opposite side of the wall cooperating therewith to frictionally and releasably hold the same.

2. A game device of the class described comprising in combination, an elongated tubular receptacle having downwardly tapering walls, an open end and a closed end wall, a yielding finger member extending inwardly from one side of the inner wall of the said receptacle adapted to be urged downwardly by a ball in its passage to the said closed end wall and adapted to return to its inward position so as to impinge the ball after it has reached the said closed end wall.

JEAN A. FIONDELLA.

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