US2409547A - Game - Google Patents

Description

. Oct. 15, 1946. s. s. cox EI'AL 2,409,547;

. GAME Filed larch 20, 1944 5 Shouts-Shot 1 I w fl M 10,41 I ||||1|||| k v wm. m w w a ww V 1.. M M w m wmV a L a M. 1W y s Q 6. 9 Tm ..K ma. 0 0 O O T J mm 0 009 M C. 0 o do? EH O 0 w FT, 9 5A1]. F Q 4 Z Z G 0 O 0 ma E /04 O 0, 5 3 Z 7 5 Q. 0 O. o i a? d d m i z 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 15, 1946. s. s. cox E-TAI;

GAME

Filed March 20, 1944 Oct. 15, 1946.

G. s. cox ETAL 2,409,547

GAME

Filed March 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sht 5 OOOOOOOOOG OOOOQOQOOO -OO0O0OOOOO" Z4 Z6 28 30 32 34 Z3 Z5 Z7 Z9 3/ 53 35 I N V EN TORS 650/2 5 $7 C'ax.

BY f/v/L 154N054 Patented Oct. 15, 1946 GAME George S. Cox and Emil J. Sande], St. Louis, Mo.; said Sande] assignor to said Cox Application March 20, 1944, Serial No. 527,293

3 Claims.

This invention relates to games and has special reference to a ball rolling game employing but a single ball with which to play any of several types of games for which score can be kept as the game progresses, such, for instance in base-ball, foot ball, and similar score recorded games.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ball rolling type of game, wherein the single ball used in playing the game is to be projected by a ball projector up an inclined path to and upon an inclined playing surface of a ball rolling panel, the ball first entering an initial ball rolling zone at the elevated end of the playing surface of the inclined ball rolling panel, then entering a ball shifting zone where the ball seeks an interrupted circuitous path, and finally enters a scoring zone from where the ball is discharged to a return passage below the scoring zone for return to an initial starting position adjacent the ball projector.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ball rolling game, employing but a single playing ball and which game can be played by any number of persons playing in rotation, and, wherein each person playing the game may be entitled to a selected number of shots or play before the next person plays.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means wherein impact with the ball for projecting the same to and upon the playing surface of the ball rolling panel can be positively selected by the player.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means for setting a trigger of the ball projector at a selected position to effect the desired impact so that when the trigger is released the ball will be projected at a speed uncontrolled by the player otherthan a positive setting of the trigger.

A further object of the invention resides in the feature that after the position of the trigger of the projector has been selected and set, the ball will not be projected until the trigger has been released by the player, and, if the player has set the trigger in any position other than the last of the selectable positions which effects the great est of impact strength, the player can, if he chooses, reset the position of the trigger for greater impact strength of the projector without fear of projecting the ball before resetting of the trigger has been perfected.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby When the ball is discharged from the playing surface, the score made can be visibly recognized at the discharge opening for the ball in the score zone.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of means for automatically closing the ball discharge opening in the playing surface 1 of the score zone prior to projectingthe ball and during the setting of the ball projector trigger at a selected position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a game that is of interest to children, as well as adults, which is simple in operation, comparatively inexpensive in cost of manufacture, and a game board on which more than one class of game can be played by merely selecting the class of game to be played and score thereof to be individually recorded as the game progresses.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more fully apparent hereinafter from the detailed description of the invention in the following specification and finally defined in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized, and, in which drawings like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the severalviews:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a ball rolling game embodying the features of our present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan fragmentary view of the lower half of the right hand portion of the game apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of Fig. 2, taken on line 3--3 thereof.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of fragmentary view of the upper half of the right hand portion of the game apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of Fig. 4, taken on line 55 thereof.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of Fig. 2, taken on line 6 -6 of Fig. 2.

Fig'. 7 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of Fig. 2, taken on line 1-4 thereof.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the panel or board of the ball rolling game with parts thereof removed.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the score indicators.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional elevation of the game apparatus taken on line Ill-40 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the invention, we employ a tray-like member designated, generally, as I, having the bottom 2, the side walls 3 and 4, and the upper and lower end walls 5 and 6, respectively.

A suitable panel, or plate l having its upper surface serving as a playing surface is suitably mounted, or supported within the tray-like member l a suitable distance below the upper edge of the tray-like member. The panel, or plate 1 is supported in a suitable inclined position, as will be apparent from Figures 2 and 5.

The playing surface of the panel, or board 1 is divided by imaginary lines transversely thereof into an initial ball rolling zone 8, a ball shifting lower portion of the playing surface of the board,

1', while zone 9 occupies the remaining, or intermediate portion of the playing surface of the board I.

As shown, a portion of the right hand side of the panel, or board 1 has a narrow section thereof cutaway to provide a right angular edge for the board, the edge portions being designated H and 52, so as to provide a gap or open space between the cutaway edge portion of the board I and the side wall 4 of the tray-like member I, the purpose of which will be described more fully hereinafter.

A suitably curved playing ball guide rail member i3 is disposed at the upper end portion of the board I and projects upwardly from the playing surface of the board and forms a wall bounding the upper margin of the ball rolling zone 8. The guide member i3 extends from adjacent the cutaway edge portion l2 of the board- '5 and the side wall 4 of the tray-like member I to the opposite side wall 3 of the tray member I and the end of the ball guide member i3 adjacent the side wall 3 is suitably curved, as at I4, terminating in a straight leg portion [5 extending a suitable distance in the direction of the side wall 4 of the tray member 1.

A suitable ball guide plate 16 extends a suitable distance above the playing surface of the board 1 and is secured to the cutaway edge portion H of the board 7. This plate also extends below the board I and rests on the bottom 2 of the traylike member I. A suitably curved arm I! projects from one end of the guide plate It. This arm seats upon the playing surface of the ball rolling zone 8 opposite the curved end It of the ball guide rail I3 to prevent a ball projected to and upon zone 8 of the playing field or surface from directly returning to its initial starting point, as will be more clearly apparent hereinafter. As clearly illustrated, the guide rail 13 and the curved arm I? extending from the guide plate l5 serve to define three sides of the initial, or starting zone B.

The ball shifting zone 9 is studded with a series of suitably staggered ball engaging members des ignated, generally, as l8. These members each comprise a cup shaped member l9 having a flat top 2!) to provide a feather edge 2! and the lower edge of each member is flanged outwardly engaging the lower face of the playing board, or panel 1 after the members 19 have been press fitted in openings 22 in the panel, or board 1. There are several rows of the ball shifting members on the playing surface of the board I and each row runs transversely of the board, but staggered relative to each other in the direction as a right angle thereto.- The ball shifting members H] are spaced at distances apart sufficient only to allow the playing ball to retain sufficient rolling speed, as it is batted about by impact with the ball shifting studs.

The scoring zone If), which is below the ball shifting zone, relative to the incline of the board I, is provided with a series of ball guiding channels, or races, designated 23, 24, 25, 26, 21', 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,34 and 35. The said channels or ball races are suitably spaced apart in parallel relation and they run longitudinally of the playing surface of the board 1. Each ball guiding channel or race terminates at its lower end in a suitable ball discharge opening 36,

The means for indicating or visibly displaying each score as it is made by a playing ball, at the point the ball passes through a ball discharge opening will now be described. Said score indicating means is substantially right-angular in form having two arms designated 31 and 38. In

one embodiment of the invention, as shown in Fig, 1, there are thirteen score indicators, and they are designated generally, as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L and M and will be hereinafter referred to as such. Each score indicator serves a dual function, that of visibly displaying the score made by the playing ball, which ball is designated 39, and of which there is only one employed in playing the herein-described game, and closing its respective ball discharge opening.

The arm 31 of each score indicator serves to cover its respective ball discharge opening 36 from the lower side thereof, while the arm 38 of each score indicator serves to cover its respective ball discharge opening 36 from the top side thereof, as the playing ball is discharged through the opening and simultaneous therewith visibly display the score made by the ball directly over the ball discharge opening. The arm 31 of each indicator is pivotally or hingedly supported in the side 3 of the tray-like member I and the lower portion 48 of the guide plate I6. Each score indicator is so balanced, due to the location of its pivotal connection in spaced relation to arm 38, as at 4|, that each indicator will remain in either of its positions, unless moved in one direction by the playing ball 39, and in the other direction by indicator setting mechanism later described.

The means for projecting the playing ball 39, and the indicator setting mechanism for closing the ball discharge openings from the bottom side thereof after being opened by a discharged ball and displaying the score made over the top of the opened discharge opening on the arm 38 of the score indicator moved by the playing ball 39, will now be described.

First, the means for projecting the playing ball 39 comprises a projector device consisting of a suitable housing designated, generally, as 42, having aside wall 43, the front and rear end walls 44 and 45, respectively, and the top wall 45. A suitable impact member, or plunger 41 is slidably mounted in aligned openings 48 formed in the end walls of the housing 42, and is controlled in its movement in one direction, the ball impact direction, by a suitable spring 49 connected at one end to the plunger 41 and at its other end to the end wall 45 or other stationary part of the-device. The forward end of the plunger 41 normally projects suitable distance beyond the front end wall 45 and is provided with a suitable playing ball impact head 50. The plunger 41 is provided with a set of suitable openings designated El, 52 and 53 and it is also provided with an upright handle 54 passing upwardly through a slotted opening 55 in the top wall 46 of the housing 42 for sliding the plunger back to starting position against the action of the spring 49.

A trigger designated, generally, as 56, is employed for both holding the plunger 41 in its selected set position and for releasing the plunger for projecting or shooting the ball 39 to and upon the playing surface of the panel or board 1.

The trigger 56 comprises'a handle 51 pivotally supported against the inner face of the side wall 43 of the housing 42, and the lower end thereof is provided with an offset extension to form a dog 58, the free end of which is designed to'seat in the selected opening in the plunger when setting the plunger preparatory to shooting the playing ball 39., The handle 51 of the trigger 56 is normally tilted rearwardly and the dog 53 downwardly and rearwardly so that the dog 53 can be lifted to ride on the top surface of the plunger, and, by gravity, fall into selected plunger openings during the setting operation of the plunger 4'5. The handle 51 projects upwardly through a slotted opening 59, in the top wall 46 of the projector housing 42 so that it can be easily moved forwardly by a push with a finger to release the plunger for ball impact movement. As is manifest, the strength of the impact movement of the plunger is controlled by the tension of the spring 49, which, in turn, is controlled by the dog opening in the plunger in which the dog 58 is seated. Therefore, the player can set the plunger i! in anyone of three positions by the dog 58. More or less plunger holes can be used, if so desired. v

In order to bring the playing ball 39 back to starting position after leaving the playing surface through any one of the discharge openings 35, there is provided suitable inclined floors 60 and 6| below the panel I, and which floor 6! leads to a side outlet opening 62 in the lower portion 40 of the. guide wall IE5 adjacent the plunger head 56 when in advanced position and ready to enter compartment 63 in which the projector housing 42 is located when the plunger 4'! is retracted.

Leading upwardly in compartment 63, from a point adjacent the plunger head when retracted, is an inclined floor or ball race 64 which merges at its upper end, as at 65, with zone B of the playing surface of the panel I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The means for resetting, or returning the score indicators A to M, inclusive, when moved from normal or non-score position, comprises a rod 66 pivotally supported by the side wall 3 of traymember I and lower portion 40 of the guide plate It and the side wall 4 of the tray-member l. A pair of suitable upwardly inclined arms 61 are secured to the rod 66 near the ends thereof. A suitable cross-piece 68 connects the upper ends of the arms 61 and passes through an opening in portion 40 of the guide plate I6, which crosspiece is adjacent the back face of the arm 31 of any score indicator that has been lowered from normal position by a ball discharged from the score zone I0, and thereby displaying thescore made on arm 38 which has then moved directly over the opened ball discharge opening 36 to cover the same. One end of arm 61 located in compartment 63 is provided with a cam arm 69 which is actuated by a sliding cam secured to the rear end of the plunger l! each time the plunger Al is reset prior to projecting the ball 39 to and upon zone 8 of the playing surface of the panel 1.

When playing the game, the player pulls the plunger, or ball projector 41 back by means of the handle 54 until the trigger dog 58 drops into the hole representing the position of the plunger selected by the player. In doing so, the playing ball 39 will follow plunger head 50 and lie in engagement or contact therewith. As previously explained, any score indicator arm 31 that may be in an inoperative position within its respective ball discharge opening open from the underside thereof will be moved into operative position as the plunger 41 is moved into its selected playing position. Next, the player gives the trigger handle 51 a forward touch which lifts the trigger dog 58 from the selected plunger opening allowing the spring to contract and thereby suddenly moving the piunger 41 forwardly, and thereby shooting or projecting the ball 39 up an inclined track or floor 54 to and upon zone 8 of the playing surface of the panel 1. Upon reaching the playing surface of zone 3, the ball follows the curved guide rail i3 and if sufficient force has been exerted against the ball 39, it will follow through to the far end of the guid rail and be directed toward the opposed curved arm ll of the guide plate It from where it will travel toward the shifting zone 9. If the ball falls short of following the ,full course of the guide rail l3, it will then move or roll into the shifting zone 9.

When the ball 39 reaches the shifting zone 9, it is shifted about an uncontrolled circuitous path by coming into contact with any of the studs in the path of travel of the ball due to the inclined position of the panel 1, and in leaving the shifting zone 9, the ball will finally seek one of the score channels designated 23 to 35, inclusive, and, upon rolling to the lower end of the channel selected by the ball, it will drop through the ball discharge opening at the lower end of the channel, and on the inclined floor 69 and then onto floor 6| below the panel I and return to a p0si-. tion in front of the plunger head 53. As the ball falls through any of the ball discharge openings, the weight of the ball will move the arm 31 of the indicator, closing the opening'from the bottom thereof, and thereby causing the arm 38 bearing score data to move downwardly in an arcuate path and close the ball discharge opening through which the ball passed, from the upper side thereof, and the score data can be then visibly read on the upper surface of the arm 38. The upper surface of each indicator arm 38 bears the different scores and as the score is displayed the player can take the score down by placing it on a piece of paper, as each player should keep his, or her own score.

In one embodiment of the invention, each arm 38 of the indicators will bear three different types of scores, namely, first, a base-ball score; second, a foot-ball score; and, third a number score. Other score data, however, can be placed on the indicator arms, as is manifest.

In the following illustration for the sake of brevity, various game scores, in one embodiment of the invention, are indicated on the back face of each arm 38 of the indicators, as follows:

Example Number Base ball Foot ball game Indicator A 1st down 1 Indicator B 2d downs 2 Indicator 0-- 3d down. 3 Indicator D. 4th down 4 Indicator El. 1 yard 5 Indicator F N. Out at second 2 yards 6 Indicator G Out at th1rd 3 yards 7 Indicator EL. Out at plate- 4 yards 8 Indicator I... Out at home 5 yards 9 Indicator J Foul ball 6 yards 10 Indicator K Out left field 7 yards ll Indicator L .v Out right field. 8 yards .l 12 Indicator M Out center field.-. Touchdown 13 In playing a base-ball game, on player can 7 play or have shots until he is out, then the next From the foregoing description, it willbe apparent that we have provided a game that Will hold theinterest of the players, which is simple to play, and, which can be played with any number of players, two or more.

From the foregoing description, it is to be understood that a simple device for the purpose has been disclosed, but it is to be understood that we do not desire to restrict, or limit ourselves to the verydetails of the construction shown and described, which is merely illustrative, it being obvious that changes, not involving the exercise of invention may be made without conflicting or departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A ball projector for a ball rolling game of the class described, comprising, in combination with an inclined ball race leading to a ball rolling surface of a game board, of a housing adjacent the lower end of the inclined ball race, a plunger having a ball impact head mounted in openings in opposed walls of the housing, a plurality of spaced openings in said lunger, a spring for controlling the movement of said plunger in one direction, a handle for manually moving the plunger in the opposite direction, a trigger pivotally supported by the housing, said trigger including a handle and a dog, and said dog adapted to engage in a selected opening in the plunger when the plunger is manually retracted to set the same, and said dog being released from engagement with the selected plunger opening by finger pressure against the trigger handle to cause the plunger to be moved in the opposite direction under the action of said spring.

2. In a ball projecting device of the class described comprising a housing, a ball impact memher having a plurality of openings therein slidably mounted in openings in the end walls of the housing, a spring for controlling the ball impact movement of the impact member, an upright handle projecting from the impact member and passing through a slotted opening in the top wall of the housing for retracting the impact member to a selected starting position against the action of the spring, a pivotally supported trigger having an ofiset extension to form a dog for engagement in a selected impact member opening to hold the impact member in its retracted position until the dog is released from engagement with the selected opening by forward pressure on the handle.

3. In a game ball propelling device having, in combination, a housing, a flat plunger mounted in openings in opposed walls of the housing, said plunger having a plurality of spaced openings, resilient means connected at one end to the housing and at its opposite end to the plunger, a member connected at its lower end to the plunger and projecting upwardly through an opening in the housing for retracting the plunger against the action of the resilient means, a trigger pivotally supported in a Wall of the housing and projecting upwardly through an opening therein, and an offset member on the inner end of the trigger adapted for engagement in a predetermined opening in the plunger to control the striking force of the plunger imparted to the game ball when the upper end of the trigger is moved forwardly to release the offset member from engagement with the selected. plunger opening to free the plunger to the action of the resilient member.

GEO. S. COX. EMIL J. SANDEL.

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