US2832596A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1958 D. c. BROWN GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. July 23, 1956 FIG. 4.

I N VEN TOR DWIGHT 0. BROWN TTORNEY A ril 29, 1958 D. c. BROWN 2,332,596

GAME APPARATUS Filed July 23, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5.

| INVENTOR DWIGHT 0. BROWN United States Patent 2,832,596 GAME APPARATUS Dwight C. Brown, Arlington, Va. Application July 23, 1956, Serial No. 599,624 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-85 My invention relates to a game apparatus in which the basic action involved is similar to the sport of ice or field hockey.

One object of the invention is to provide a game of this type with novel component parts so designed, proportioned and arranged as to make playing of utmost interest due to the realm of skillful manipulation involving physical, muscular and mental coordination which can be developed from playing experience and which enhances competition and amusement.

A second object of the invention is to provide a game of this kind, with novel and unique construction features and with various detachable components that make such a game apparatus easier and more economical to package, distribute and assemble, thus adding to its attractiveness for marketing purposes.

Another feature of the invention'is the provision of the bottom or playing deck sloped toward the center which causes the ball used in play to roll within reach of the strikers, thus minimizing the instances of dead ball (not within reach of a striker) which would he often when utilizing a flat playing deck.

A still further feature of the invention is the novel design of the striker plate which has a curved face for facilitating difficult angle or bank shots and fiat sides which make it possible to pass the ball between plates on one play stick, and cupped or recess features on the back side to hold the ball so that it can be flipped back into play after being hit out of the box-like structure.

Another feature of the invention is the use of a mechanical ball starter or shooter which maintains continuity of competition and increases game excitement.

The game apparatus may be described generally as an open-type rectangular box-like structure or receptacle, with or without folding legs, with bottom playing deck sloping toward the center from the two ends, such structure being equipped with two detachable goals located at the two ends farthest from the center, playstick controls installed at right angles to the goals to which are attached convex shaped striker plates having limited horizontal lateral movement and 360 circular movement, a mechanical starter and a Ping-pong type ball which is used in a similar manner as a puck in the sport of ice hockey.

Referring to the drawings for a more complete disclosure of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the game apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detail View of a striker plate,

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the ball starter on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of another form of the game apparatus, and

Fig. 6 is a detail view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The apparatus consists of a rectangular box 1 having longitudinal sides 2, transverse ends 3 and a bottom 4 that slopes from the ends 3 toward the center to provide 2,832,596 Patented Apr. 29, 1958 a transverse valley 5 which causes the ball to roll within reach of centrally located striker plates.

Slidably and rotatably mounted in the sides 2 are the play sticks 6, each provided with a handle 7 at one end and a. stop pin 8 at the other end.

Securely fastened to the play sticks 8 are metal striker plates 9. Each striker plate may be formed of sheet metal, plastic or other suitable material, and has a loop 10 that slides on and surrounds the play' sticks and is secured thereto by a screw 11 that tightens the loop in place. This construction facilitates packaging with the play sticks placed within the box. The diameter of the loop is slightly smaller than the diameter of the play stick, thus. tightening of the screw draws the lap end of the loop toward the back of the striker plate and tight against the play stick.

The simple and easy method of afiixing the striker plates to the play stick by tightening of one screw makes it possible and practical to package and ship the game partially unassembled with the play sticks placed loose in a diagonal position inside the box-like structure. To assemble, the play sticks are inserted in holes in one side of the structure and the striker loops are then slipped on the play stick and secured in position by tightening the screw. The play stick is inserted through the other side of the box structure and the stop pin inserted at end of play stick opposite handle. The striker plate has a convex face 12, somewhat flat sides 13, a concave back 14, .and is open at the bottom. The concave back is of a size to receive the ball 17.

At each end 3 of the box 1 are apertures 15 and a detachable goal 16 in the form of a receptacle for receiving the ball 17 in play.

Along the line of the valley 5 and at the central point of the sides 2 are mechanical ball starters 18 which project into the apertures 19 in the sides 2. The starters are carried by leaf springs 20, one end of which is secured to the side 2 and the other end interposed between'the starter or plunger 18 and a handle 21 and held in place by the screw 22.

In the form, Fig. 1, the two central playing sticks have three striker plates 9 with the concave backs 14 facing each other. The two end playing sticks have one striker plate each and the concave backs face each other. With this arrangement (Fig. 1) it will be seen that the concave backs of the two central sets of striker plates on each side of the valley 5 face the valley.

In Fig. 5 there are six play stick controls, as contrasted with four play stick controls in Fig. 1. The two end playing sticks 6 have one striker plate 9, the two central playing sticks 6a have five striker plates 9, and the intermediate playing sticks 6b have three striker plates 9. in the six play stick game, it is desirable to have the convex face of two central sets of striker plates and the end sets face the valley 5. With the intermediate sets, the concave face of the striker plates face each other.

The game can be played by two or more persons, the number of players being determined by the number of play stick controls installed in the box-like structure. As a player may operate one or more play sticks, a side or team may consist of one player or two players, when a four play stick game is used, and one, two or three players when a six, play stick game is used. The two playing teams face each other and the direction of play is to the left of each team.

In the four play stick game each side or team has two play sticks, one designated as goalie or guard for defensive play, and the other play stick designated as a forward for offensive play. When only two players are engaged in the four play stick game, one on each team or side, each player controls his respective goalie or guard play stick with his right hand and normally controls j? the forward play stick with his left hand. The striking surface of both goalie striker plates face toward the center of the game apparatus. The striking surface of the three striker plates on the forward play sticks face toward the nearest goal, i. e to the left of each player when in positionfor play.

The six play stick game has three each play sticks controlled by each team or side. In addition to the goalie and forward play sticks incorporated in the four play stick game, the six play stick game has two center play sticks, one for each team or side. The striking surface of the striker plates on the two center play sticks face toward the exact center of the game apparatus facing the respective team goal.

In beginning the game, the ball isdropped on the circular marked spot 17' or shot along the valley 5 by the starters 13 and thus put in play. After a team makes a goal, the ball is given to the opposite team which puts it into play by use of the starters 18.

The object of the game is to manipulate the play stick handle in various combinations of turning, sliding, twisting and flipping movements to cause striker plates to contact and move the ball, projecting it in a straight, diagonal or otherwise movement toward and into the team goal.

I ciaim:

l. A game apparatus comprising a playing deck, side and end walls, said end walls being provided with ball receiving pockets, the ball adapted to be impelled over the playing deck, a series of play sticks extending transversely above the playing deck and provided with striker plates, the playing deck having plane unobstructed surfaces sloping from the end walls toward the center to provide an unobstructed transverse valley at the center into which the ball will normally roll during play, the

series of play sticks comprising a pair of parallel central sticks, one on each side of the valley, the ball when in the valley being within reach of the striker plates on each of the central sticks.

2. A game apparatus comprising a playing deck, side and end walls, said end walls being provided with ball receiving pockets, the ball adapted to be impelled over the playing deck, a series of play sticks extending transversely above the playing deck and provided with striker plates, the playing deck having plane unobstructed surfaces sloping from the end walls into the center to provide an unobstructed transverse valley at the center toward which the ball will normally roll during play, the series of play sticks comprising a pair of parallel central sticks, one on each side of the valley, the ball when in the valley being within reach of the striker plates on each of the central sticks, and ball starters for shooting the ball along the line of the valley, and carried by the side walls.

3. The game apparatus of claim 1, in which the striker plate has a convex face, flat sides and a concave back.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,903,254 Bishop Mar. 28, 1933 1,934,381 Slosson Nov. 7, 1933 2,203,990 Heymer June 11, 1940 2,215,687 Carter Sept. 24, 1940 2,507,258 Kohler May 9, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 378,846 Italy Feb. 26, 1940 1,046,992 France July 15, 1953

Images