US2932516A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1960 PENNER 2,932,516

GAME APPARATUS Filed June 18, 1958 INVENOR.

United. States Patent M GAME APPARATUS Herbert Penner, Turpin, Okla.

Application June 18, 1958, Serial No. 742,923

1 Claim. (Cl. 273-105) My invention is directed to the novel construction and arrangement of a vertically disposed adjustably mounted game board, including a novel support therefor in the form of a rigid frame; the board, being conveniently called a backboard, is adapted to be employed in playing various games under rules formulated to vary the playing of games based upon the throwing of a ball, such as for example a volley ball, through the central opening in the backboard.

My improved backboard may preferably be employed as in a game usually played indoors in which each of two teams endeavors to toss an inflated ball through an elevated goal, in the present instance, a central opening in an adjustably elevated vertically disposed backboard, defended by the opponents.

An object of the invention is found in the provision of game apparatus comprising a pair of similar, spaced apart, frames each consisting of an upwardly extending vertically disposed tubular post member, a laterally extending tubular base member supporting said vertically disposed post member, a tubular angularly disposed brace member having one end connected to a medial portion of said post member and its opposite end connected to said base member, and a vertically disposed backboard vertically adjustably mounted upon the upper portions of said vertical post members, including a pair of tubular sleeves, secured to the backboard, slidably mounted upon said post members and adapted to be vertically adjusted in selected elevated position on said post members, and means for locking said sleeves on said post members in vertically adjusted position.

The various features of novelty whereby the present invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of the invention and its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of game apparatus embody ing my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the game apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the backboard; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

-As shown in the accompanying drawing, my improved game apparatus, generally stated, comprises a backboard 10, a tubular supporting frame generally designated by numeral 11, and means for adjustably supporting the backboard in vertical position upon the supporting frame.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the supporting frame 11 is preferably constructed of tubular elements consisting of a pair of cooperating, adjacently disposed but spaced apart supporting frames of tubular pipe material each comprising a vertical post member 11 a base member 11 extending laterally from the bottom of the post member 11*, and an angularly disposed brace member 11 having one end connected to a medial portion of the post member 11 and its opposite end connected to the 2,932,516 Patented A t. 12, 19 0 2 base member 11. I also preferably provide a lateral stabilizing tubular member 11 disposed. transversely to and interconnecting the two base members 11 This Supporting frame 11 may be secured to the floor of a game room in any suitable manner as by bolts or clamps not shown.

The backboard 10 may be made of any suitable material such as plywood and is provided with a circular opening 10* which is preferably provided with a circular reenforcing and wear-resisting angle iron 13 to protect the circular edge of the opening in the plywood board.

The backboard 10 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced vertically disposed angle irons 14 arranged facing back to back on opposite sides of the central opening 10 the angle irons 14 being preferably bolted to the backboard as by bolts 15.

Means for adjustably supporting the backboard 10 in vertical position upon the upper portions 11 of the post members 11 includes a pair of short tubular sleeves 16 mounted adjacent the angle iron legs 14 that extend rearwardly perpendicularly to the backboard. 10; the sleeves 16 being secured to the legs 14*, as by welding at 16, and having an interior diameter adapting the sleeves for slidable movements upon the upper portions 11 of the post members to thereby permit the backboard to be vertically adjusted upon the supporting frame 11 into selectively elevated positions.

As shown in the drawing, the apparatus also includes locking means for securely retaining the backboard 10 in a selectively elevated position and such retaining means is more clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 as comprising one, or preferably two, spring-pressed pins 17 slidably carried on each of the angle irons 14 and adapted to be slidably projected into registrable openings 18 spaced vertically in the adjacent sides of the upper portions 11 of the post members :11.

Assuming that only one locking pin 17 is employed in each sleeve 16 and angle iron 14, each such locking means may be more specifically described as consisting of the cylindrical pin 17 having a collar 17 secured thereto in its medial portion, a Z-bar 20 welded to angle iron 14 and having a perforated leg 20 through which the pin 17 slidably extends, a coil spring 19 disposed between the leg 20 and the collar 17 and a head 17' on the outer end of the pin by means of which the pin is adapted to be moved outwardly against the pressure of spring 19 to withdraw its inner end from the opening 18 in post member 11 to thereby release the sleeve =16; the release of both sleeves permitting movement of the backboard into a different elevated vertical position.

While I have shown the circular angle iron 13 applied to the backboard with its leg 13* disposed on the rear face of the backboard, it is obvious that such application may be reversed so that the leg 13* extends over the front face of the board.

I claim:

Game apparatus comprising a vertically disposed backboard having a centrally disposed transverse opening therein; a pair of vertically disposed angle irons mounted relatively back to back on the rear side of the backboard in laterally spaced positions, one on each side of said opening, for reenforcing the backboard; a vertically disposed tubular sleeve secured to each of said angle irons; a supporting structure for the backboard comprising a pair of similar laterally spaced frames each consisting of an upwardly extending vertically disposed tubular post member slidably engaged with said sleeve, a laterally extending tubular base member supporting said vertically disposed post member, a tubular angularly disposed brace member having one end connected to a medial portion of said post member and its opposite end connected to said base member; said backboard, angle irons, and sleeves 3 being vertically adjustable as a unit upon said post mem- References Cited in the file of this patent bers into selected elevation; and means for locking said sleeves on said post members to maintain the backboard UNITED STATES PATENTS in adjusted elevated position comprising a plurality of 507,098 Bates Oct. 24, 1893 vertically aligned spaced openings in the upper portions 5 "1,543,7 1 1 Hoisington June 30, 1925 ,of said post members, and spring-pressed pins carried 2,144,148 Gross Jan. 17, 1939 on said angle irons normally extending into a selected 2,201,865 Kriekard May 21, 1940 one of said openings in said post members through open- 2,379,572 Gibson July 3, 1945 ings insaid sleeves registering with said openings in said 2,547,747 Kenney Aug. 4, 1953 post members. 10 1

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