US2988360A

US2988360A - Recreational device

Info

Publication number: US2988360A
Application number: US680848A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oscar J Lambiotte
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-08-28
Filing date: 1957-08-28
Publication date: 1961-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1978-06-13

Description

June 13, 1961 o. J. LAMBIOTTE RECREATIONAL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1957 FIG.

FIG-.3

INVENTOR.

OSCAR J. LAM BIOTTE FIG. 2

AT TORNE Y June 13, 1961 o. J. LAMBIOTTE 2,988,350

RECREATIONAL DEVICE Filed Aug. 28, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 120 1% FIG. 8

FIG. 9

F I G 7 INVENTOR.

OSCAR J. LAMBIOTT'E ATTORNEY June 13, 1961 Filed Aug. 28, 1957 O. J. LA MBIOTTE RECREATIONAL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 128 FIG. l2 FIG. I3

\f J L. //8 A429 H /29'-\ .0

0 (/20 CD :I: In

Eff

F|G.lO F|G.l! F|G.|4

5am I x SIR '13 INVENTOR.

OSCAR J. LAMBIOTTE FIG. l5

ATTORNEY 2,988,360 RECREATIONAL DEVICE Oscar J. Lambiotte, 410 W. 1st St., Mishawaka, Ind. Filed Aug. 28, 1957, Ser. No. 680,848 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-105) The present invention relates to a recreational device and structure therefor.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a recreational device which requires the same muscular motions and coordination as those used in the games of golf and baseball, but which can be played in a limited area either outdoors or indoors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a recreational device of the aforesaid type which assists the player in improving his game of golf and baseball and which can be played under adverse weather conditions and either day or night.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structure for playing games involving bodily movements similar to those used in golf and baseball, which can be varied in size to satisfy space requirements for the individual players.

A further object is to provide a multiple purpose recreational structure which can easily be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools and can readily be folded into a compact bundle for transporting to various locations.

Another object is to provide a structure of the aforesaid type which can be changed in size by adding to or removing from the structure standard, interchangeable sections and which can be shaped into booths and multiple unit enclosures.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my amusement device and structure therefor;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the joints of the frame of my structure;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the joint shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of another one of the joints of the structure frame;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of one of the members of the joint shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the member shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the member shown in FIGURES 7 and 8;

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of another one of the members shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of the member shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of the member shown in FIGURES 10 and 11;

FIGURE 13 is an elevational view of a splicing member for the frame of the present structure;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the splicing member shown in FIGURE 13; and

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary elevational view of the wall construction of my structure.

In the illustration of my recreational device and structure numeral designates a game panel opposite the front opening of the structure,

numerals

22 and 24 side walls joined at their rear edges to the sides of the game panel, and 26 the top joined on three sides to the upper edges of the two sides and the panel.

United States Patent 0 F 2,988,360 Patented June 13, 1961 ice The game panel is constructed of canvas or other strong flexible material and contains a number of holes which serve as targets for the golf or base ball knocked or thrown by the player standing in the front of the structure or a short distance forward of the front. The panel shown contains a center hole 30, four

holes

32, 34, 36 and 38 vertically arranged on the right side of the center hole and four holes 40, 42, 44 and 46 vertically arranged on the left side of the center hole. These holes are so spaced vertically that they serve as a range indicator to the player which is particularly useful when the device is being used as a practice court for golf or baseball. The holes are all connected with a ball return hole 48 by

chutes

50, 52 and 54 formed of the same material as the panel and sewed or otherwise securely joined to the back of the panel as shown in FIGURE 3. In order to indicate whether the ball hits one of the target holes, a paper target may be placed over each hole and in addition to this or as an alternative a metal hell or gong may be hung on suitable fixtures behind each target hole to signal each hit to the player. After a hit is made through one of the target holes, the ball drops down through the respective chute and rolls through hole 48 into the playing area.

Panel 20 is supported by a rigid frame consisting of four

tubular members

56, 58, 60 and 62, preferably of aluminum or steel, joined together at their four corners. The panel is laced to the tubular members by a cord 64 looped through grommets 66 along the edges of the panel and looped around the tubular members in the manner shown in FIGURE 15. The grommets, which are of metal or plastic, are spaced at suitable intervals along the sides of the panel and are sewed or otherwise attached to the panel edges which have preferably been doubled over and sewed to give added strength to the panel where the grommets are attached. When the structure is being used as an open air game device a border of netting 70 is preferably inserted between. the panel and the tubular member so that the air can pass freely through the structure. This netting is sewed along its inner edge to the edge of the panels and is laced at its outer edge to the adjacent tubular member, as seen in FIGURE 15. To assist in retaining the panel taut and to prevent it from sagging from repeated blows from the ball, a plurality of resilient members urge the panel outwardly. FIGURE 15 shows a rubber strip 72 secured to the edge of the panel and fastened to member 58 by a metal hook 73 secured to the end of the strip. These strips are placed at the corners and along the sides of the panel. When the structure is being used as a booth or the like where free circulation of air is not desired, the netting can be omitted and the panel pulled tight against the tubular member. When the canvas is laced tight against the tubular members the corner is closed and elfectively keeps out the rain and wind.

The two

sides

22 and 24 and top 26 are constructed in the same manner as panel 20, i.e. they each consist of a panel of canvas or other suitable material laced to tubular members either with the edges pulled tight against the members or with the edges spaced from the members and a strip of netting inserted between the panel and the adjacent member. Side 22 is shown composed of a panel 75 of a vertically striped canvas material supported by tubular member 58, which also supports game panel 20, and by

members

74, 76 and 78. Side 24 which is composed of the same material as side 22 consists of a panel 80 supported by

tubular members

60, 82, 84 and 86. The two side walls are held rigidly in position by a connecting member 88 extending across the upper front of the structure and joined to the upper front corners of the side walls. The top consisting of a panel 90 and constructed in the same manner as the side Walls is supported by tubular members 56, 7'4, 88 and 82. It is seen that since the game panel 20 and

panels

75, 80 and 99 are laced to tubular members 56, 58 and 60 a continuous structure is created between the panels which forms an effective stop for the balls used in the games and, if the panels are drawn tightly against the tubular members without the netting, an enclosure which will effectively keep out the rain and wind is formed.

The tubular members are joined together to form a rigid structure by the joints shown in FIGURES 4 through 12. The joint shown in FIGURES 4 and for joining

members

74, 76 and 88 consists of couplings 92,- 94 and 96 held securely together by a bolt 99 extending through matching holes in the ends of the couplings. Each coupling has a shank 98 with a reduced diameter portion which slips into the end of the respective tubular member and is held therein by a bolt 102 extending through aligned holes in the tubular member and shank. Both bolts 99' and 102 are secured in place by winged nuts 14M and 106, respectively. When the present structure is disassembled for moving it is necessary to remove only bolt 99 from this joint and all three members 74-, 76 and 88 are disconnected. It is not necessary to remove bolt 102 when the structure is being moved. The joint shown in FIGURES 6 through 9 is employed in connecting

tubular members

56, 58 and 74 or

members

56, 60 and 82 and consists of

couplings

106, 108 and .110 held together by a bolt and

winged nut

112 and 114. Each of these couplings has a shank 118' with a reduced diameter portion 120 for slipping into the ends of the tubular member where they are held by bolt 122 and winged not 124. The details of the three couplings are clearly shown in FIGURES 7 through 12 and these couplings like the ones comprising the joint in FIGURE 4 have flat

sided extensions

126 and 128 which ar'e'shaped to the angle desired for the tubular members.

The tubular members are standard parts and are cut to construct certain sized structures. However, it is sometimes desirable to enlarge the structure, and in order to avoid having to furnish all the various lengths which might be needed, the extension joint shown in FIGURES 13 and 14 is employed instead. The construction and use of this type of joint are similar to those in the other joints, i.e. it consists of a flat portion 129 having a hole 13% therein for receiving a bolt to attach a coupling such as the one shown in FIGURES l0, l1 and 12, and shanks 132 for slipping into the ends of the tubular members where they are held by bolts inserted through holes 1 34:

One of the advantages of the present structure is its versatility. It can be used as" a cabin, tent, sales booth, cabaiia, or bath house with showers and lighting equip ment, and these units can be used either alone or as companion cabins in conjunction with the game features previously described. Further, it can be used to' form multiple unit structures all connected to form a rigid construction. the multiple unit structures, a common member, such as

upright members

76 or 84, is used as a support for both units and a

second member

74 or 82 is connected to the upright member. A number of different variations in the structure are possible with the present coupling and tubular member construction. In using the structure as a cabana, cabin or tent, a draw curtain 140 is preferably used to close the front, and in using it as a sales booth or amusement device a valance 1'42 and panel 144 thereabove may be used for the name of the game or for advertisement. The structure is also sufficiently strong to support other game devices on the front, such as a basket ball practice goal and backboard mounted on the frame at the corners.

When the structure is to be used as a cabafia, bath house, tent or cabin a panel similar to

panels

22 and 24 may be placed across the front and secured tothe tubular members in the manner shown in FIGURE In joining the tubular members to form and flap doors" of conventional construction, such as illustrated at number 146 in FIGURE 2, may be provided in one or more of the panels. For these uses the game panel would normally be replaced by a panel similar to

panels

75 and 80.

While a number of modifications and variations have been mentioned, various other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A recreational device, comprising a generally rectangular frame of tubular members demountably joined together at their ends, a panel of canvas supported by said frame having a plurality of holes forming goals for receiving balls driven or thrown by a player, means of canvas secured to the back side of said panel forming channels for recovering said balls and delivering them to a discharge hole on the front side of said panel, netting material forming a border on said panel and attached to said frame, a plurality of resilient means connecting said panel to said frame, a generally rectangular frame of tubular members demountably joined together attached to" and extending forward from said first mentioned frame, the forward ends of said frames being spaced from one another to form an open front for said structure, a panel of canvas in each of said forward extending frames supported by said tubular members, netting material forming a border on said last mentioned panels and attached to the respective forward extending frames, a tubular member demountably joined to the upper front corners of said forwardly extending frames to hold them in rigid spaced relation, a top panel of canvas supported by the upper tubular member of each frame, netting material forming a border on said top panel and attached to said upper tubular members, a draw curtain across the opening between said last mentioned panels under said last mentioned tubular member, and a valance supported by said last mentioned tubular member and a panel disposed thereabove. V

2. A recreational device, comprising a generally rectangular frame of tubular members demountably joined together at their ends, a panel of flexible material supported by said frame and having a plurality of holes forming goals for receiving balls driven or thrown by a player, means of flexible material secured to the back side of said panel forming channels for recovering said balls and delivering'them to a discharge hole on the front side of said panel, netting material forming a border on said panel and attached to said frame, a frame of tubular. members demountably joined together attached to and extending" forward from said first mentioned frame, a panel of flexible material in each of said forward extending fr'ames supported by said tubular members, netting material forming a border on said last mentioned panels and attached to the respective forward extending frames, a tubular member demountably joined to the upper front corners of said forwardly extending frames to hold them in rigid spaced relation, a top panel of flexible material supported by the upper tubular member of each frame, netting material forming a border on said top panel and attached to said upper tubular members, a draw curtain across the opening between said last mentioned panels under said last mentioned tubular member, and a valance supported by said last mentioned tubular member and a panel disposed thereabove. I

3. A recreational device, comprising a generally rectangular frame of tubular members demountably joined together at their ends, a panel of flexible material supported by said frame and having a plurality of holes forming goals for receiving balls driven or thrown by a player,1means of flexible material secured to the back side of said panel forming channels for recovering said balls and delivering them to" a discharge hole on the front side of said panel, netting material forming a borderon said'panel and attached to said frame, a frame'of tubular members demountably joined together attached to and extending forward from said first mentioned frame, a panel of flexible material in each of said forward extending frames supported by said tubular members, netting material forming a border on said last mentioned panels and attached to the respective forward extending frames, a tubular member demountably joined to the upper front corners of said forwardly extending frames to hold them in rigid spaced relation, a top panel of flexible material supported by the upper tubular member of each frame, and netting material forming a border on said top panel and attached to said upper tubular membeta.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS