US3059931A - Propelled ball game - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 23, 1962 Filed Sept. 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Shea l Roberto f? Gare/a INVENT OR ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1962 Filed Sept. 13, 1961 R. GARCIA 3,059,931

PROPELLED BALL GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

l l v I /0 v0 /4 PLAYER CLUB Robe/f0 R. Gare/'0 BMW ATTORNEY United States Patent Otilice 3,959,931 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 3,959,931 PROPELLED BALL GAME Roberto R. Garcia, 1255 th St., San Bernardino, Calif. Filed Sept. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 137,793 3 Claims. (Cl. 273--127) This invention relates to a propelled ball game and has for an object to provide a game or game apparatus wherein a ball is propelled a substantial distance to a target station, and wherein the score achieved by the player depends on his skill in successfully propelling the ball through the target in the minimum number of strokes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a game apparatus wherein a plurality of target stations are provided and arranged to be placed at predetermined distances from each other, together with a ball and a mallet for each player so that each player may propel his ball through the target in accordance with the rules, and be credited with appropriate score.

A further object of this invention is to provide a propelled ball game which may be played on any appropriate surface such as a lawn or other grassy area, or even on a paved surface of any nature or playground surface which is of suitable size to enable the target stations to be placed at predetermined distances, whereby the player may exercise mental and physical ability in propelling the ball through the target in acocrdance with the rules, yet the entire equipment is comparatively inexpensive, thus making the game available to people of low income.

A further object of this invention is to provide a propelled ball game utilizing targets having sufficient difficulty to necessitate skill and ability in playing the game, thus providing a challenge to the players, whereby the players may increase their skill by practicing the game.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a propelled ball game utilizing a plurality of substantially identical targets placed at predetermined positions relative to each other so that a player may propel a ball to each target in its turn, and be credited with a score appropriate to his skill in properly propelling the ball onto the target. In brief, the game apparatus of this invention includes a plurality of comparatively inexpensive targets, a ball and a mallet for each player, with the size of the ball in such relation to the size of a target hole in the target as to provide a challenge to the player of the game.

With the above and related objects in view, the present invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the sections of this game.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

:FIG. 3 is a front edge view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view, partly broken away, of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a mallet used in this game.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary View of the mallet, at a right angle to FIG. 6, showing the mallet head.

FIG. 8 is a plan view, showing a layout of the game using at least three stations.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a score card for this game.

There is shown at 10 a target station for the propelled ball game of this invention. The target station 10 will be formed substantially as shown, of any suitable material such as wood, Fiberglas, high impact plastic, metal, hard rubber, or other suitable material.

The target station 10 is provided with a target fiat 12 at its highest elevation, and approaching this target flat 12 is a front incline 14 formed into a tapered channel by fences 16 and 18 at each side thereof, the inclined channel 14 tapering from its bottom end 20 to its upper target flat end 22.

Two side approach inclines 24 and 26 extend from opposite side edges of the target station 10 to the same target flat 12, and each of these side approach inclines 24 and 26 are similarly formed into tapered channels by means of channel bars or fences 2S and 36* on the incline 24, and 32 and 34 on the incline 26, these channels similarly being tapered from their bottom entrance ends to their target flat upper ends.

In the target flat 12 there is provided a hole 36 of a size that is but slightly larger than the size of a ball 38, preferably of hard rubber or other suitable material, which is being propelled up one of the inclines 14, 24 or 26 into the target hole 31: on the target flat 12, by means of a suitable mallet 49. The mallet 46 consists of a shaft 42 having a handle 44 at one end and a mallet head 46 at the other end.

The target hole 36 leads to a discharge tunnel 48 and the discharge tunnel 48 leads to the meeting line 50 at the top of two discharge inclines 52 and 54, leading to the same two opposite sides from which the tapered approach channels 24 and 26 extend. To insure that the ball coming out of the tunnel 48 goes down one or the other of the discharge inclines 52 or 54, there is provided a bar or fence 56 and 58 on the opposite side of each incline, the meeting line 51 of course, being substantially below the target fiat 12.

it will be noted that each of the approach channels may have an approach arrow 61, indicated thereon, indicating them as target approach channels, while the discharge channels 52 and 54 are similarly provided with arrows pointing downwardly in the discharge direction at 62. In addition, discharge channel 52 is provided with the numeral l at 64, and the discharge channel 54 is provided with the numeral 2 at 66, the discharge channel 52 being on the right hand side of the target station as viewed from the front approach channel 14, while the discharge channel 54 is on the left side.

Between the channel or fence bars 16 and 28 of the front approach channel 14 and left approach channel 24, there is provided a dead end incline 6t; and similarly, on the opposite side between the channel bars 13 and 32 there is another dead end incline 70. Obviously, if the ball enters either of these dead end inclines, it would be deflected or prevented from reaching the target fiat 12 and target hole 36 by the fact that these fence bars meet in an acute angle at the target fiat 12 and prevent the entrance of the ball thereto.

At 72 in'FlG. 9, there is shown a score card for the game, marked up to show the score achieved by a player when playing the game in compliance with the rules. First, however, it may be pointed out that while the target stations and balls and mallets may be made of any suitable size, the preferred dimensions are approximately as follows, which dimensions are given merely as illustrative and not as restrictive, in connection with the apparatus.

The width of the target station across its back is approximately twenty-two inches. From front to back, it is approximately sixteen inches. The target flat 12 is approximately four inches, and the target hole 36 is ap proximately one and seven eighths inches in diameter, while the hard rubber ball 38 is approximately one and three quarters inches in diameter, thus being slightly smaller than the target hole 36.

At the entrance end, the front approach channel 14 is approximately eight inches, including the fence members 16 and 18, while the side approach channels 24 and 26 are approximately six inches at their entrance ends and, of course, all three approach channels taper from their entrance ends to their target flat ends.

The discharge channels 52 and 54 are approximately three inches in widths. In one size, the mallet 413 is thirty six inches in overall length including the eight inch handle at 44, the mallet head 46 being likewise four inches from end to end.

Obviously, the size, width and length of the mallet, may be varied, particularly for different sized players, and mallets may be provided in several suitable sizes both as to length of shaft and also as to length and thickness of the mallet head and mallet face. Some widths may be larger, and others may be smaller.

To play the game, three target stations 10 will be arranged in an isoceles triangle formation as illustrated in FIG. 8, with the target stations 14 approximately one hundred feet apart. A starting point on the playing ground to the first target station i similarly one hundred feet away. The target stations should be arranged as illustrated, so that the front approach channel or incline 14 faces the direction from which the player approaches. The starting point is shown at 74, the first target station is lo cated at 76, one hundred feet away from there, the second target station is located at 78, one hundred feet from the target station at 76, and the third target station is shown at 30, again one hundred feet from the second target station 78. The rules are as follows:

This propelled ball game can be played between three players individually or in groups of three.

Each player has the right to three rounds alternating at three shots at each station 10. One round consists of hitting or propelling the hard rubber ball 38 from the starting point 74 (which measures a distance of one hundred feet) to the first station 76, with a mallet 46 three feet long.

If the ball 38 enters the hole 36, the player is credited with fifteen points and may proceed to the next station 78 from where the ball stopped. If he fails, he can propel the ball 38 the second time from where the ball stopped, if successful, he is credited ten points. If he should fail again he is entitled to a third and final shot at that station 78. If the ball 33 should enter the hole 36, the player credits five points. If he fails, he will take the ball and place it a distance of twelve inches on the left side of the first station 76 and from there he should proceed to the second station 78.

The three stations have an exit hole on the rear part. If the ball goes out on channel 52 with the number 1, the player is credit one extra point. If the ball goes out on channel 54 with the number 2, the player credits two extra points.

Upon making a hole in any of the stations with the first shot or second shot, the player may proceed immediately to the next station from where the ball stands, or may wait until each of the other players have completed the same target station.

The ball is placed a distance of twelve inches on the left side of the station only when the player fails to make a hole within the three entitled shots at each target station.

All three target stations consist of three inclined entrance channels leading to the hole, and may be shot from any of them without altering the score. The three stations have an exit hole on thefront with two channels, one marked number 1 and the other number 2 which lead to the sides of the stations.

Channel 52, with the number 1 may produce an extra point and leads to the right. Channel 54, with the num her "2 produces two extra points and leads to the left.

This may be played in any area, but the distance be- 4 tween stations must be the same as the distance measuring from the starting point and the first station.

Of course, the rules can be varied as desired. As an alternative, for instance, all the players may be required to finish the first station before any one of them proceeds to the second station, etc., or each player may have one play in turn. Obviously, other rules may be devised for this game, and the target stations may be increased in number and placed at varying distances to provide a greater challenge to the skill of the more experienced player.

Each player will keep his score on a score card such as shown at '72 in FIG. 9, which has been marked up to show a typical score. Thus, in the first round, the player entered the target hole on his first shot and Went out the channel bearing the number 1 for a score of sixteen. On the second round, he failed to enter the target at all in his three strokes, as indicated by the three lines drawn to the outside of the circle, but not entering the circle, a score of zero for the second station. On the third station, as indicated, he missed his first two shots as shown 'by the lines drawn to the outside of the circle, and then got his ball into the target hole on the third shot and it Went out by the channel with the numeral 2 for a score of seven points, five for getting in on the third stroke, two for going out in the channel with the numeral 2, making a total score on his first round of twenty-three points.

On his second round, he achieved a credit of thirty-four points, on the third round, a credit of forty-four points, for a total of one hundred and one points, the game, in this case, being considered as consisting of three rounds of all the target stations.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and described the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a game apparatus, a target station for a propelled ball, a plurality of approach inclines on said station leading upwardly from an edge thereof, each of said inclines having an edge over which a propelled ball may enter to travel up said incline, an elevated target flat in said station having a target hole for the ball therein, a fence member dividing each incline from its adjacent incline, a plurality of alternate inclines of said inclines being triangular in outline whereby said fence members at the inclined sides of said triangular inclines provide dead ends causing a propelled ball entering thereon to be returned from said target station, others of said inclines being quadrangular in outline, said quadrangular inclines leading to said target flat permitting the propelled ball traveling thereup to approach and enter said target hole.

2. The target station of claim 1, and a further pair of quadrangular inclines leading from opposite edges of said station to a meeting line at their upper ends at an elevation below said target flat, and a discharge tunnel lead ing downwardly from said target hole to said meeting line of said oppositely extending inclines, thereby providing target station discharge inclines.

3. The target station of claim 2, the diameter of said target hole being substantially less than the dimension of the smallest side of said target fiat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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