US2437745A

US2437745A - Mechanical pitching and batting device for baseball games

Info

Publication number: US2437745A
Application number: US709298A
Authority: US
Inventors: Irvin N Jacobs; Herbert C Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-11-12
Filing date: 1946-11-12
Publication date: 1948-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1965-03-16

Description

I. N. JACOBS ET AL March 16, 1948.

MECHANICAL PITCHIN AND BATTING DEVICE FOR BASEBALL GAMES Filed Nov. 12, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l 3nvcutors I lnvnv N Jacobs Henberf C Jones March 16, 1948. JACOBS r AL 2,437,745

MECHANICAL PITCHING. AND BATTING DEVICE FOR BASEBALL GAMES Filed Nov. 12, 1946 I s Shee ts-Sheet 2 w g lu Juncntoxs lr' vin N. Jacobs '81; Herber'f C. Jones Gttornegs March 16, 1948. 1. N. JACOBS ET AL. 2,437,745-

MECHANICAL PITCHING AND BATTING DEVICE FOR BASEBALL GAMES Filed Nov. 12, 1946' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lhmentors In vm N. Jacobs 9 Herber'f 6. Jones Gttornegs Patented Mar. '16, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.437,!45 MEo AmoALri'rom G Ann amine. DEVICE FOR BASEBALL GAMES Irvin N; Jacobs, Kansas City, Mo., and Herbert G; J ones; Easton; Kans. Application November 12, 1946, Serial Nb. 709,298

ing and which result in scores corresponding to the scores of a well-played ball game; to provide a common actuator for individually cocking the pitching and batting mechanisms and which will operate to cock one of the mechanisms should the other mechanism remain in cocked position"; to provide a backstop mechanism for automatically returning the balls which are ejected by the pitching mechanism and missed by the batting mechanism as in the case of a ball or strike; and to provide a playing held in association with the pitching and batting mechanisms for scoring the plays when the ball is struck by the bat of the batting mechanism.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, we have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

7 Claims. (01. 273-439) Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game device embodying the features of the present invention, a part of the playing field being broken away to better illustrate the mechanism covered thereby.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1 illustrating the ejection ofa ball by the pitching mechanism and striking thereof by the batting mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the backstop or ball-catching mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective View or the keys for actuating the pitching and batting mechanisms and the lever for cooking the mechanisms preparatory to setting up a pitch.

Fig. 5 is a section through the tripping k'y' housing on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a section through the tripping key housing on the line 61-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the pitching mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an outer perspective view of the pitching mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the pitchin mechanism as it appears when removed from its enclosure and from the game device.

Fig. 10 is a similar view of the batting mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section throng-lithe batting mechanism on the line 11- of Fig. 10.

2 Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of the rods which connect the cooking lever with the p ttin gnd pitching mechanisms and particularly illustrat ing the connections whereby the mechanisms are simultaneously cocked a single lever.

Referrin'gmore in detail to the drawings: L I A l designates aballgame device; embodying the features of the present invention and which irrcludes a substantially rectangular playing field or site 2 formed on a board 3 that is supported by its marginal edges from a ledge 4 providedon the inner side of a rectangular iramet The name 5 d s d i d: enejciedby ends 8 and 9 so as to form an enclosure for the various actuatin i e' hanisms'; their operating levers and the interconnections ,therebetweeh; haven e i mi s a an s i l ng rial support l0 which ei'ctends parallel withth'e side members 6 and lend providesa mounting for a pitching mechanism li and a batting mechanism 12. The pitching mechanism is best illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusiveand comprises a frame-like housing [3 having spaced side members l4 and I5 connected by a; top l6. The framelike housing I3 is attached to thelongitudinal support ID at a point spaced from the end mem bar 8' and at an angle with respect to the board 3 to give an upward pitch to the ball when it is discharged therefrom as later described, the angle being adjusted by pivotally mounting the side member [4 on a fastening device I! and securing it in adjusted angular position by a fastening device I 8that extends through anarcuate slot l9 therein as best shown in Fig. 7. By loosening the fastening devices the name [3 may be" shifted to provide the required traverse of the ball in the direction of the batting mechanism.

, Oscillatably mounted between the side men. bers of the frame on a cross shaft is a 2| having its upper portionprojecting through an; opening 22 in the top l5 and fromwhich a lever or hammer 23 projects to contact a ball ejecting p e 24 b y mounted. in a br :5 Qsi s the rear endo'f a ball ejecting barrel 25, which barrel is supportedat its rear end in a. bracket 21 thatis carriedon the side member M. The barrel 26 is supported within an opening 28 of the bracket by a set screw 29 that ispassed through an opening 39 in the bracket and threaded into an opening 3! of the barrel and a" registering socket 32 in the closure block as shown in Fig. '7.

Balls 33 to be projected are loaded into the barrel through a tubular magazine 34 extending upwardly from an openingforme'd in the upper portion of the barrel. The, plunger 24 is normally retainedjn retracted poisition byya coil torsion spring; 35 having one end fixed to the bracket 22; as indicated at 3B and which has its other end terminating in a laterally extending arm 31 which 3 projects loosely through an opening 38 in the head 39 of the plunger 24. The disk is actuated in a clockwise direction to cause the hammer 23 to strike the plunger and eject a ball from the barrel by coil springs 40 having one end fixed to the disk at a point ahead of and below the axial center of the disk as indicated at 4| and which have their opposite ends hooked into openings provided in a bracket 42 that is carried by the side wall I4 as best shown in Figs. '7 ands.

The disk is retained in cocked condition against action of the springs by a pawl 43 that is pivoted on a screw 44 carried by the side member l4 and which has a latch end 45 adapted to engage against the shoulder 46 formed by a notch 41 provided in the periphery of the disk as shown in Fig. 7. The opposite end of the pawl has a laterally extending apertured ear 48 passing a rod 49 which is reciprocably supported in an opening 50 that is provided in the bracket 42. The pawl 43 is urged into latched position by a coil spring having one end engaging the bracket 42 and the opposite end engaging the ear 48 to retain the ear in contact with a nut 52 on a threaded end of the rod as best shown in Fig. '7. The rod 49 extends rearwardly from the bracket 42 and terminates in an eye 53 which is engaged with a hooked end 54 of a tripping lever 55 that extends rearwardly and connects with the tripping or actuating key of the tripping mechanism later described. The pawl is normally retained in position to engage the shoulder 46 of the notch 41 when the disk is turned in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 by means of a cocking lever as now to be described.

The shaft 20 projects through the side member I5 and fixed thereto is an arm 56 that is pivotally connected as at 51 with an angle-shaped bracket 58 that has one leg extending laterally and provided with an opening through which the threaded end of a cooking rod 59 is projected, the cocking rod being adjustably fixed to the bracket 58 or the bracket by jamb nuts 60 and 6| engaging the respective sides thereof.

The batting mechanism [2 is also attached to the longitudinal supporting member of the pitching mechanism but is spaced inwardly from the rear member 9 of the frame to accommodate the ball catching device 62 to be later described. The batting mechanism is best shown in Figs. and 11 and includes a base frame 63 having spaced

sides

64 and 65 connected by a top plate 66. The side 64 is attached to a lateral offset 6'! on the longitudinal support I0 so that the bat 63 of the mechanism will be in line with the bail projected from the pitching mechanism. A bat 68 is adapted to swing transversely across the path of a pitched ball and in a substantially perpendicular plane. The bat is, therefore, pivotally mounted on a post 69 that is adjustably threaded in a threaded opening 10 of the top plate 66. The bat has a tail portion (I that extends through a slotted end 12 of the post and is pivoted therein by a fastening device such as a cotter pin 13 that extends through registering openings in the post and tail portion II of the bat as will be well understood. The striking end of the bat is relatively wide, somewhat concave and has a mat 14 fixed to the concave face thereof, which controls the direction that the ball is driven when struck With the bat. The tail portion of the bat is pivotally connected by a cotter pin with the upper end of alink 16, which link extends downwardly through a slot H in the top 66 and pivotally connects as at 18 with an oscillatabledisk '4 19 similar to the disk previously described, the disk 19 being mounted on a shaft 80 that extends across the base frame 63 and has its ends suitably mounted in openings in the

plates

64 and 65.

The bat is supported in cocked position by a pawl 8| similar to the pawl previously described and which is pivotally mounted on a screw 82 carried by the side plate 64. The pawl has a latch end 83 that engages a shoulder 84 formed by a notch 86 in'the periphery of the disk. When cooked the disk is released in latching engagement with the pawl by a coil spring 88 that is connected with a screw 89 located in the face of the disk eccentrically of the shaft 80. The opposite end of the spring is hooked to a bracket 99 similar to the bracket 42 previously described. The disk is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction to effect cocking thereof by an arm 9| and the arm is connected with a rod 92 in the same manner as the rod 59 previously described. The pawl BI is shifted out of latching position to release the bat to the action 01' the spring 85 by means of a rod 93 similar to the rod 49. The rod 93 is reciprocably supported in an opening 94 of the bracket 90 and has a threaded end 95 extending through an opening 96 in a laterally extending ear 9'! on the tail portion of the pawl 8|. The threaded end of the rod carries a nut 91 that engages against the rear face of the ear. The pawl is retained in latched position with the ear in contact with the nut by means of a coil spring 98 sleeved over the rod and having one end engaging the ear and the other end engaging the bracket 90 as best shown in Fig. 11.

The rod 93 extends rearwardly from the bracket 90 and terminates in an eye 99. The rods 59 Y pitching and batting mechanisms.

and 92 are guided in suitable openings in a plate I00 that extends laterally from the longitudinal support as best shown in Fig. 2 and are actuated in a forward direction to simultaneously cook the This is effected by a lever IOI which is pivotally mounted on a pivot I02 that is carried on a bracket I03 that is mounted on the inner side of the front frame member 8 as best shown in Fig. 4. The

- lever I0| includes an upwardly extending portion that projects through a suitable slot in the board 3 and carries a handle I04 by which the lever is rocked on its pivot. The lower end of the lever projects downwardly and pivotally connects with the laterally extending terminals I05 and I06 of links I01 and I08 that extend forwardly and which are provided with upwardly extending eyeshaped terminals I09 and 0 that pass the free ends of the

rods

59 and 92 therethrough and which abut against coil springs III and H2 sleeved on the respective rods and which have ends abutting against collars H3 and H4 adjustably fixed to the rods by set screws H5 and H6 (Fig. 12). Thus, when the lever I 0| is moved retractively, the eyes I09 and M0 on the ends of the links I01 and I08 are shifted on the terminal ends of the

rods

59 and 92 and engage the springs III and H2 whereupon the springs are compressed until suificient power is provided to effect I forward shifting of the

rods

59 and 92 to'cause leave the endsof the springs III and II 2 so that the disks remain'in latched position and the disks are free to operatev when released by their respective release mechanisms now to be described.

I20 and I2I designate keys reciprocably mounted in bearing openings I22 and I23 in the top plate I24 of a housing I25, The housing also includes side walls [26,. I21, I28 and I29, the wall I29 being suitably attached to the inner face of the frame member 8' at a point alongside of the bracket I03. Fixed to and. projecting from the inner face of the side walls I26 and I21 are cars I30 and I3I having openings coaxial with the bearing openings I22 and I23 to mount extended shanks I32 and I33 of the keys. Mounted transversely of the housing in front of the plungers is a shaft I35 carrying rocker arms I40 and MI having lower ends I42 and I43 piovtally connectedwith laterally extend terminals I45 and I40 on the shanks of the keys whereby downward movements of the keys effect rocking movement of the levers. The keys are normally retained intheir upper position by coil springs I41 and I48 sleeved over the shank extensions and having ends engaging respectively against the ears I30 and I3I and against the keys as shown in Fig. i. The keys and shank extensions have sufiicient clearance in their hearing openings to accommodate for arcuate movement of the rocker arms. The upper ends I49. and I50 pivotally connect lateral terminals I-I and I52 on the rod 55 and a rod I53 having a hooked nd I54 engaged with the eye 99 of the-rod 93.

The catching mechanism; 52. includes an open front housing I56-havinga concave bottom I51, sides I58 and I50 converging toward. a rear wall IBEI and a top I6I. Extending across the front of the housing near the front edge of the top is a rod I62 supporting: a frame I63 carrying an openbottom fabric pocket or basket I64 that for-ms a backstop to check the speed of the balls and cause them to drop through a bottom opening I65 of the pocket into the concave bottom I51 for dischar e through an opening I66: The catching mechanism thus described is mounted over a suitable opening ll'l5l7h8&bQfl;11d-;3i The opening I63 is located over a chute I61 that. slops downwardly toward the frame member 8 where, it empties the balls into a drawer I'BB'th'at is slidably mounted over the end' ofthe chute and: is. adapted to be withdrawn through an opening I69 in the membarb.

Located at various points on the playing field, for example in positions-- relating to the playing positions in a-regulationba-ll game, are a plurality of U-shaped pockets I having opening sides I1I directed toward the batting mechanism so that balls struck by the bat may roll therethrough to signify a hit; for example, a one-base hit, two-base hit, three-base hit, or a home run.

Mounted at one corner of the playing field is a block I12 having rows of openings I13 and I14 for inserting pegs I and I16 to indicate the score as the game is being played. The opposite corner is also provided with a similar block I11 having a single row of openings I18 for receiving a peg I19 indicating the innings played.

The pitching magazine 34 and barrel 26 may be enclosed in an open front box I80 and have an opening I8I in the top I82 thereof to expose the inlet to the magazine.

Assuming that the game is constructed and assembled as described, the play is as follows:

The cooking lever IOI will be moved retractively on its pivot I02 to shift the lower end for- 6 wardly, thereby moving the rods I01 and. I00'so that the eye terminals I09 and III! thereof on gage the springs III and H2 to shift the rods and 92 simultaneously in a forward direction.

- The rod 5-9 rocks the shaft 20 through the arm 56 to move the disk 2I of .the pitching device in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig, '1) and load the springs 40, which are retained under load since the latch end 45 of the pawl has dropped into the notch 41 and is engaged by the shoulder 46 when the disk tends to reverse rotation. The springs 40 are thus retained in stretched condition with the hammer 23 of the disk away from the head 39 of the plunger 24.

The other rod '92 actuates the latch disk '19 in a similar manner so as to tension the spring 88 and effect engagement of the latch end 83 oi the pawl 8| with the shoulder 84. In this position the link 16 has moved downwardly to raise" the bat 68 above the path ofa; ball to be ejected from the pitching device.

A ball is then placed. in the magazine 34 and it rolls into engagement with the'inner end of the plunger 2c. The player then depresses the keys I20 and I21 in such sequence to cause ejection of the ball and striking of the bat with the ball. Upon pressing the key I-2I, the key rocks the lever I4 I and moves the rod retractively against action of the spring 5I- toeffectdisengagement ofthe latch end of the pawl from the shoulder 46 whereupon the springs 40 come into play. and

turn the disk in a clockwise direction to drive the hammer 23 into contact with the head 3Q' of the plunger whereupon the plunger ejects the ball from the barrel 25 in the direction of the batting mechanism.

The bat is released when the key I20 is depressed which operates the lever I 42- and shifts the rod 153 rearwardly against action of the spring. 93 to release the latchv end 83 of 'the'pawl' 81. Upon release of the disk; the springiiil'turns' the disk 16 to raise the'li'nk 1'6 anda'llow'thebat' to drop across the path of the ball; 11" the keys are operated in proper sequence, the bat strikes the ball and the ball is propelled across theplaying. field. Ii. the ball lodges in one otthe p'ockets I10, the play is scored as a one-base'hit; two bas'e hit, three-base hit or-home run; depending upon-- which ofthe pockets the ballenters. If the-hair fails to enter any one of the pockets-the-playisscored as an out.

Should the player failtooperate the keysin proper sequence to efiect' ahit and the lball passes the bat, theball is countedastr-ike. The ball is caught i'n-the basket I64--and is directed throug-h the opening I=-iritmtl'ie chute I GT." The ball then rolls down the chute to the drawer I68. The drawer is opened and the ball removed for replacement into the magazine tube 34 for another play. The keys are again operated and the play continues until the player has had three outs.

The score and innings are kept by means of pegs and peg holes at the corners of the playing field in accordance with the rules of the game.

From the foregoing it is obvious that we have provided a mechanically operated ball game device that is of simple construction and which is operated mechanically to give action and interest encountered in regulation games of baseball.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a ball pitching mechanism, a ball batting mechanism in the path of a ball ejected by the pitching mechanism, cocking means for each mechanism, a common actuator for said cocking means, and separate trip means for independently releasing said mechanisms in variable sequence,

2. In a device of the character described, a spring-actuated ball pitching mechanism, a spring-actuated ball batting mechanism in the path of a ball ejected by the pitching mechanism, latch means for each mechanism for retaining said springs in loaded condition, cooking mechanisms for loading the springs of said mechanisms, a common actuator connected with the cocking mechanisms, and separate and independent means for releasing each latch means.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a ball pitching mechanism including means for containing a ball to be ejected, a plunger for ejecting the ball from said means, an oscillatory hammer, means for supporting the hammer in position to strike the plunger, spring means for actuating the hammer, manual means for moving said hammer to cocked position and loading said spring, latch means for retaining the hammer in cocked position, a spring-actuated batting mechanism in the path of a ball ejected from said barrel, means for cooking said batting mechanism with the spring thereof in tension, a common actuator for the cooking means and said hammer and spring loading means, separate and independent means for releasing said latch means and for releasing said spring of the batting mechanism.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, pitching and batting mechanisms, each including an oscillatably mounted member for effecting actuation of said mechanisms, springs for driving said members in actuating directions, a latch for each member for retaining the springs in loaded condition to actuate said members, a crank arm connected with each member, a pivotally mounted cocking lever, links connected with the cooking lever, rods connected with said cranks, and lost motion resilient connections between the links and rods.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, pitching and batting mechanisms, each including an oscillatably mounted member for effecting actuation of said mechanisms, springs for driving said members in mechanism actuating directions, a latch for each member for retaining the springs in loaded condition to actuate said members, a crank arm connected with each memher, a pivotally mounted cocking lever, links connected with the cocking lever, rods connected with said cranks, lost motion resilient connections 8 between the links and rods, and separate means for independently releasing said latches.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, pitching and batting mechanisms, each including an oscillatably mounted member for effecting actuation of said mechanisms, a spring for energizing each of said members, a latch for each member for retaining the springs in loaded condition in retracted position of said members, crank arms connected with said members, a pivotally mounted cocking lever, links connected with the cooking lever, rods connected with said cranks, lost motion resilient connections between the links and rods, separate means for independently releasing said latches, a spring tension key for releasing each latch releasing means, a rock lever connectedwith each key, and rods connecting the rock levers with said latches.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, pitching and batting mechanisms, each including an oscillatably mounted member for efiecting actuation of said mechanisms, springs for energizing said member, a latch for each member for retaining the springs in loaded condition, crank arms connected with said members, a pivotally mounted cocking lever, links connected with the cooking lever and having spring engaging terminals, rods connected with said cranks, springs on said rods, means for anchoring the end of said springs to the rods in the direction of said crank arms for retaining the other ends of the springs in position for engagement by said terminals, separate means for independently releasing said latches, a spring tension key for releasing each latch, a rock lever connected with each key, and rods connecting the rock levers with said latches.

IRVIN N. JACOBS. HERBERT C. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 861,843 Heitmann July 30, 1907 1,102,948 Norton July 7, 1914 1,107,776 Gadbois Aug. 18, 1914 1,168,829 Sheppard Jan. 18, 1916 1,595,185 Granger et a1 Aug. 10, 1926 1,793,969 Simmons Feb. 24, 1931 1,988,191 Donato Jan. 15, 1935