US2488919A - Baseball game - Google Patents

Description

NW, 22, 31949 G. H. MANSFIELD fi a BASEBALL GAME Filed March 20, 1946 INV ENT OR.

A 6.1 4% A M/VWQQ Patented Nov. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES T F FICE BASEBALL GAME George H: Mansfield, Cuyahoga Falls, bit);

Emma G. Mansfield executrix of said George H. Mansfield, deceased Application Mammal, 1946, Serial No. 655,729

2 Claims; 1

This invention relatesto amusement devices, especially to parlor devices for simulating the play of a well-known game, such as baseball,

Heretofore'a great variety of amusement-devices'have been provided which attempt to simulate the action, excitement, and enjoyment of-the popular outdoor games, such as baseball,- but the majority of such gamesprovide only spinners, or cards for determining'the action of the game. Since physical action and skill are theieatu-res of baseball which led to its present popularity,- none of the spinner or chanc'etype of game really makes the parlor adaptation of the national sport; baseball, a very satisfactory substitute for the real game. Or, if a ball is actuall struck in the game, it requires too much space; or'is-unsateto play in the parlor.

It is the object of'this invention to overcome the foregoing and other objections to known types of baseball ames and to provide a novel, exciting parlor baseball game closely paralleling'--the--real game.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simulated baseball game wherein the skill of the participants determines the results of" the game.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simulated, parlor baseball game which provides a maximum of' exercise and excitement for the players.

Another object of the-invention is towpro'vide a parlor baseball game that can be :p1ayed by any number of players, for example, as many persons as the regular outdoor game.

Yet another object is to provide a baseball game which may be played with safety in the parlor or other rooms of homes.

The foregoing objects of the invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds, are achieved by poviding a frame, or base having a replica of a baseball diamond thereon, a ball tied to the frame for limited, free movement with relation thereto, a resilient support mounted on the frame for positioning the ball preparatory to putting it in play, a back board or fence board carried by the frame in spaced relation to the ball support, and means for knocking the ball off its support and towards the back board, which has means thereon for engaging with the means tying the ball to the frame and thereby indicating what action is to be taken by the players due to such hitting of the ball.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying 2 drawing which is ap'e'r'spective viewof a" base: ball game embodying my invention;

More'specifically, the drawing shows a baseball game id'which includes base-board, o'rrrame member il that has a replica oiabaseballdim' mond appearing thereon. The defensive team may be represented by figures printed on the base ii -or by actual movable cylindrical men I2, as desired. The offensive team is represented by a plurality of men l2 that are placed in a row on one side of the field,- as shown, to simulate their dugout; The men E2 are placed iii the batte'rs box and then advanced around the field, or re turned to-their dugout, dependent on their results when in action, as the game proceeds.

A bal1 it of suitable composition, such as that used in soft ballmanufacture, or, cor iveniently the ball can be of wood, and is secured byqa strong, light-weightcord M, or other adaptable means to the base i i in the vicinity-of the pitohers box. A wooden button M may be used to facilitate connecting the cord to the base. The ball 93 is prepared for action by positioning it on one end of a resilient spring it, the lower end of which is secured to the base in the vicinity of home plate. The upper end of the spring is normally of larger diameter than the remain'der'ofrthe spring to-provide a ready seat'for the ball when preparing to putthe ball inplay.

An end-board, or. back-fence board I 6, made from plywood or other satisfactory material, is secured to the base ll, as by being positioned in a slot formed therein, and it preferably extends upwardly from the base at substantially a right angle thereto at the edge adjacent the outfield of the ball diamond. Preferably the board [6 is removably received in the slot or other holding means so that in storing or shipping the game the board is removed and positioned flat on the base. The board it has a plurality of notches ll out in its upper edge while :a plurality of apertures or cut-out sections 58 are 'formed in it. Both the notches ii and the apertures lfi represent actions occurring in a ball game with the apertures 53 representing more desirable actions, such as a home run, three base hit, double, and single, as indicated on the drawing, since, as will be seen, it is more 'diificult to put the ball l3 through an aperture than it is to associate the ball with a notch H by driving the ball over the top of the board It and having the string 14 engage with a notch and suspend the ball over the board. The actions represented by the notches, or by the solid portions of the board 16 3 are best indicated by a printed notation thereof on the board.

A .bat 24 of comparable size and composition to the remainder of the game is provided to strike the ball l3 from its perch on the spring l5. The tie string l4 prevents the ball from flying away from the base H and breaking any adjacent furnishings so that the game does not prove injurious to any furniture or bric-a-brac in its vicinity.

I prefer to make the central aperture 18* of the board l6 represent a home run so as to give the players a central target of appreciable worth. However, a ball striking against the solid portion of the board H5, or not over the notched portion thereof ma be called an out or a strike. I prefer that such hits be strikes so that good control must be exercised by the player to obtain the reward of a base hit or he will soon strike out.

In play, it will be seen that the player, or players, on one side individually take the bat in hand and carefully knock the ball 13 towards the board 16. If the ball goes through one of the apertures 18, the string M clearly indicates which aperture the ball passed through while the string engages with a notch I? after the ball is knocked over the board Hi. When the resultant action is on a new player comes to bat until he is retired and the team at bat changes, of course, with each series of three outs. Each team may have one or more players, as will be understood. A regular game of nine innings length may be played and a score board is usually formed on the base If for noting the scores produced. It may be desirable to place a special slate board or other easily cleaned board on the base H for use as a score board. Obviously the men l2 are moved onto and around the bases as the game is played and this adds interest to the game. Men may be placed in the coaching boxes to give more realism to the game.

Tying the ball to the base not only renders the game parlor-safe but it also provides a novel and indisputable proof of the action to result from any hit of the ball.

It will be seen that an exciting, skillful game is provided and that the objects of the invention are realized.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, I have specifically illustrated and described my invention, it will be understood that I am not 4 limited thereto or thereby, but that the scope of my invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising a substantiall rectangular frame having a replica of a baseball diamond formed thereon, a baseball, a resilient spring support for said ball carried by said frame in the vicinity of home plate, flexible cord means secured to said ball and to said frame so as to permit free movement of said ball over the entire area of said frame but to limit its movement away from said frame, board means having a plurality of apertures therein, said board means being associated with the outfield end of said frame and extending upwardly therefrom, said board means having notches formed in its upper surface with the notches representing Various actions in a baseball game as do the apertures formed in said board, and bat means for knocking said ball off said support and through one of said apertures in said board, or over said board to suspend it over one of said notches by said flexible cord means, or to some other point so as to simulate a baseball game by taking the action indicated by such position of said ball.

2. In a parlor baseball device comprising a base having a ball support thereon and a ball secured thereto by a tethering means; a back board, said back board having a plurality of apertures therein for receiving and passing said ball therethrough and having a plurality of immediately adjacent notches formed in its upper edge for engagement with the means tethering said ball to said base, said notches and apertures all having indicia associated therewith for an action in a baseball game.

GEORGE H. MANSFIELD.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 429,585 Reifi June 3, 1890 536,176 Austin et al Mar. 26, 1895 697,574: Walenta Apr. 15, 1902 819,212 Filler May 1, 1906 1,087,587 Kennedy Feb. 1'7, 191% 1,511,921 Vance Oct. 14, 1924

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