US2935322A

US2935322A - Toy adapted to strike a ball positioned therein

Info

Publication number: US2935322A
Application number: US717515A
Authority: US
Inventors: Almoslino Hans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-02-25
Filing date: 1958-02-25
Publication date: 1960-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 1977-05-03

Description

y 1960 H. ALMQ'SLINO 2,935,322 7 TOY ADAPTED T0 STRIKE A BALL POSITIONBD THEREIN Filed Feb. 25, 1953 Array/vans TOY ADAPTED TO STRIKE A BALL POSITIONED TEREIN Hans Almoslino, Hollis, N.Y.

Application February 25, 1958, Serial No. 717,515 10 Claims. (Cl. 273-96) This invention relates to a novel toy and more particularly to a toy which is adapted to strike and propel a ball positioned therein.

There is a need for a toy which will strike and propel a ball positioned therein by a simple movement of the hands which can be readily accomplished by children of all ages. At present there are a number of toys which are designed to propel a ball by batting it or which have rather complex mechanisms and require somewhat complex movements on the part of the user to strike a ball positioned therein. After much experimentation I quite unexpectedly developed a rather simple combination of elements which provides a toy which is adapted to strike a ball positioned therein and yet is very simple from the mechanical and operating standpoints.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a ball striking toy which is simple to construct and readily operated by users from all age groups.

nited States Patent pocket or net 8 is preferably formed from a relatively non-resilient and stiif material so that it will maintain substantially any configuration that it attains whether supported in that position or not. An example of a material that is suitable for use is ordinary light gauge cloth impregnated with a resinous or plastic material such as a plastic table cloth. It is also preferred that this pocket or net 8 have an aperture 9 formed in the base thereof adapted to provide a nesting place for the ball 0 10, such as an ordinary Ping-pong ball, when it is in It is another object of this invention to provide such I a toy which will not only propel the ball in practically any desired direction but is also adapted to catch the ball if the user wishes.

It is another object to provide such a toy which can be inexpensively manufactured from known materials.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be recognized while reading the following description in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of this toy with a ball in position to be struck;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the toy and ball just after the latter has been struck;

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective View of another embodiment of this toy; and

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the toy showing an alternative method of connecting the paddle to the. handles.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the handles 1 which are grasped by the user when holding or actively using this toy are pivotally connected at opposing ends of a crossbar or spacer member 2. These handles 1 are connected intermediate their ends so that the inner ends or relatively shorter portions of these handles 3 extend to one side of the crossbar 2 and the relatively longer portions 4 extend to the opposing side of the crossbar and are adapted to be grasped as shown. A frame 5 is attached to the crossbar 2 and extends over the inner ends 3 of the handles 1. Preferably this frame 5 is formed of metallic wire in a substantially circular configuration as shown with the ends thereof turned downwardly and extending through the crossbar 2 to provide the pins'6, 7 for pivotally attaching the handles 1 thereto.

It will be appreciated that the crossbar 2 and frame 5 may be formed of a single piece with the handles 1 being pivotally attached at spaced positions to this composite thus in effect eliminating the crossbar as a separate member.

"A shallow pocket or net 8 is suspended within the frame 5 with its periphery attached to the frame. This the position to be struck.

The paddle or striker means 11 is positioned with its unattached or free end 12 beneath this aperture 9 and its attached or base end 13 positioned between the inner ends 3 of the handles 1. The paddle 11 is attached to the handles 1 in this position in a free swinging manner by means of at least 2 strings or cords 14 which extend through the base 13 of the paddle 11 and are attached at their opposing ends to the handles. These strings 14 pass through the paddle 11 at points disposed laterally along the base thereof and are attached to the handles 1 in such a manner that the points of attachment to the handles of the string nearest the crossbar 2 are at least as low and are preferably lower than the points of attachment to the handles of the next adjacent string. With attachment the free end 12 of the paddle 11, due to its weight, hangs at an angle beneath the pocket before the ball 10 is struck. The weight of the free end 12 of the paddle 11 thus tends to cause this end to swing down away from the aperture 9 which causes the slack strings 14 to move out of parallel, which causes the inner ends 3 of the handles 1 to move toward each other as the strings pull them and which causes the outer ends 4 of the handles to move away from each other. When the user wishes to strike the ball 19 and propel it out of the toy he moves the outer ends 4 of the handles toward one another thus moving the inner ends 3 apart. This causes the strings 14 to tighten and tend to parallel one another. As this happens the free end 12 of the paddle 11 is moved upwardly beneath the pocket 8 and strikes the ball 10 nesting in the aperture 9. Thus by this simple movement of the users hands toward each other the simple mechanism of this invention is activated to strike the ball and propel it out of the toy.

Although the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is illustrated as requiring two hands, one on each handle 1, to press the handles toward one another and release them to operate this toy it will be appreciated that the relatively longer portions of the handles may be curved toward one another at their outer ends so that both handles may be grasped in one hand and the toy can thus be operated by a one-handed squeeze and release. It is also possible to shape the longer portions of the handles in such a manner that they curve toward one another adjacent the crossbar and then spread apart so that the user has the option of grasping them in one hand where they converge or using two hands placed at the outer ends.

Fig. 3 shows a portion of another embodiment of this toy wherein one of the handles 1 is integrally attached to the crossbar or spacing member 2 and is likewise relatively rigidly interconnected to the frame 5. The other portions of this toy are the same as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and described above. With this embodiment the user holds the toy with the stationary or non-pivoted handle 1 and simply pushes or hits the other handle toward this stationary handle to strike the ball with the paddle. This embodiment may be preferred by some users as it may give the user a sense of greater stability when holding the integrally attached handle and also it suggests to the user the possibility of having one hand free except while actually strikingthe ball while running or performing g mma other activities with the toy although it will be recog nized that the embodiment having both handles pivotally connected can be used in this same manner; j

Fig. 4 shows another means for connecting the paddle 11- to the inner ends 3 of the handles 1. Here instead of using at least two strings the paddle is attached by means of pins 15 extending from opposing sides of' the paddle through apertures in the handles 1 having diameters somewhat larger thansaid pins and at least one string 14 extending through the paddle displaced along the longitudinal axis of the paddle and attachedrto the handles. Washers 16 are attached to the ends of the pins 15 extending to the outside of the handles 1 to prevent the paddle becoming disengaged from the handles. With this means of attachment the paddle is in effect pivotally connected to the handles and when the string 14 is tightened and. tends to parallel the pins the free end of the paddle is brought up against the pocket. It is also apparent that the paddle may berpivotally or hingedly attached to the crossbar or spacer member .2 to function in the same way with at least one string extending from the paddle and attached to the handles.

It is important that the pocket 8 be shallow and preferably be formed of a relatively stiff and non-resilient material. \Vith this construction and theaperture for the ball to nest in it is possible for the user to swing the toy and strike the ball out of the toy with a dual swinging and striking motion to thus add the propulsion of the toy in much the manner of a lacrosse stick to the propulsive force of the striker. With this nesting arrangement it is also possible for the user to run with and jog the toy without having the ball fall out of this pocket. Further, using these materials and this configuration the shallow pocket will retain its convex position as struck, as shown in Fig. 2, after the paddle has dropped away from its striking or supporting position and the toycan then be used to catch the ball with this pocket acting as a deadening member while it is returning to ball nesting position due to the force of the ball landing therein. If the pocket is made of more springy material there 'is a much greater chance that the ball will bounce back out of the pocket during such a catching operation.

"It will be noted that this toy substantially retains the appearance of a racquet which can however be used to hit and catch a ball. This retention of a racquet-like appearance in all positions of the pocket is desirable and is due to the fact that this pocket is shallow and yet is adapted to catch a ball due to the deadening action of this pocket without need for sides on the frame or a deep pocketed net.

' Having thus described my invention I claim 1. A toy adapted to strike a ball positioned therein comprising a crossbar, a pair of handles pivotally attached intermediate the ends thereof adjacent opposing ends of said crossbar, a substantially circular frame attached to said crossbar and extending above the inner ends of said handles, a netpositioned within and attached to said frame, said net having an area slightly larger than the interior of said frame whereby a shallow pocket is formed by said net, said net having an aperture therethrough at the base of saidpocket, a paddle disposed '3. A toy adapted to strike a'ball positioned therein comprising a crossbar, a pair of handles pivotally attached to opposing ends of said crossbar with a relatively shorter portion of said handles extending inwardly from said crossbar, a frame attached to said crossbargextending away from the relatively longer portions of said handles, a shallow pocket of woven material within said frame, said pocket having an aperture at the base thereof, a paddle, one end of said paddle extending between the relatively shorter portions of said handles and the opposing end extending beneath the aperture in said pocket, and at least two strings extending transversely through said paddle and attached at opposing ends to said handles, said strings being so attached to said handles that the unattached end of the paddle is moved upwardly against the bottom of the pocket when the relatively shorter portions of the handles are moved apart to tighten the strings.

4. The toy of claim 3 wherein the pocket material is relatively non-resilient so that it will maintain substantially the configuration it attains when struck by the paddle after the paddle falls away from it.

5. A toy adapted to strike a ball positioned therein comprising a pair of handles, a spacer rnember'positioned between said handles intermediate the ends thereof, said handles being pivotally connected to opposing ends of said spacer, member, a frame attached to said spacer member, a shallow pocket formed of relatively nonresilient material disposed within said frame, said pocketrhaving an aperture in the base thereof, a paddle,

posed between the inner ends of said handles, rods 'ex-t below saidaperture, the base of said paddle being positioned between the inner ends of said handles and at least two strings extending between the inner ends of said handles and through the base of said paddledisposed tending out from opposing sides of said paddle through said handles to pivotally attach the paddle between said handles and at least one string extending through said paddle and attached to said handles whereby the free end of the paddle will move upwardly against the pocket when this string is tightened by moving the inner endsof the handles apart.

6. The toy of claim 5 wherein the pocket material is relatively non-resilient so that it will maintain substan tially the configurationrit attains when struck by the paddle after the paddle falls away from it.

7. A toy adapted to strike a ball positioned therein comprising a crossbar, a pair of handles, one of said handles pivotally attached intermediate the ends thereof adjacent one end of said crossbar and the other handle integrally attached intermediate the ends thereof to the opposing end of saidcrossbar, a substantially circular frame attached to said crossbar and extending above the inner ends of said handles, a net positioned within and attached torsaid frame, said net having an area slightly larger than the interior of said frame whereby a shallow pocketis formed by said net, said net having anaperture therethrough at the base of said pocket, a paddle disposed below said aperture, the base of said paddle being positioned between the inner ends of said handles and at least two strings extending between the inner ends of said handlesand through the base of said paddle disposed from one another along the longitudinal axis thereof, said string nearest the crossbar being at least as low as the next adjacent string whereby the free end of said paddle will be moved upwardly and strike the net adjacent the aperture therein when the inner ends of the handles are moved apart to tighten the 8. A toy adapted to strike a ball positioned therein comprising a crossbar, a pair of handles, one of said handles pivotally attached and the other handle integrally attached to opposing ends of-said crossbar with a' relativelyshorter portion of said handles extending inwardly from said crossbar, a frame attached to said crossbar extending away from the relatively longer portions of said'handles, ;.a shallow pocket of woven material said frame, said pocket having an aperture at the base thereof, a paddle, one end of said paddle extending between the relatively shorter portions of said handles and the opposing end extending beneath the aperture in said pocket, and at least two strings extending transversely through said paddle and attached at opposing ends to said handles, said strings being so attached to said handles that the unattached end of the paddle is moved upwardly against the bottom of the pocket when the relatively shorter portions of the handles are moved apart to tighten the strings.

9. A toy adapted to strike a ball positioned therein comprising a pair of handles, a spacer member positioned between said handles intermediate the ends thereof, said handles being pivotally connected to opposing ends of said spacer member, a frame attached to said spacer 15 member, a shallow pocket formed of relatively nonresilient material disposed within said frame, said pocket having an aperture in the base thereof, a paddle, the free end of said paddle being disposed beneath said aperture and the opposing end of said paddle pivotally attached between the inner ends of said handles, and at least one string extending through said paddle and attached to said handles whereby the free end of the paddle will move upwardly against the pocket when this string is tightened by moving the inner ends of the handles apart.

10. The toy of claim 9 wherein the pocket material is relatively non-resilient so that it will maintain substantially the configuration it attains when struck by the paddle after the paddle falls away from it.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 898,350 Foster Sept. 8, 1908 1,463,726 Ruttmann July 31, 1923 2,201,802 Steiner May 21, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 959,858 France Oct. 10, 1949