US3879037A

US3879037A - Simulated baseball game

Info

Publication number: US3879037A
Application number: US412719A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Cooke
Original assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates Inc
Current assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates Inc
Priority date: 1973-11-05
Filing date: 1973-11-05
Publication date: 1975-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 1992-04-22

Abstract

A simulated baseball game having a bat capable of being rotated in a horizontal plane, wherein the bat is mounted on the baseboard on the ''''home base'''' portion thereof. Three divergent tubes lead from a backboard to a pitcher''s mound for simulating different types of pitches. The mechanism comprises three tubes each with its own propelling mechanism and ball loader. Scoring is obtained by having the hit ball fall thru a hole in the baseboard.

Description

O United States Patent 1 [111 3,379,o37

Cooke Apr. 22, 1975 [5 SIMULATED BASEBALL GAME 2.246 l l5 6/1941 You 373/89 2.682.409 6 l9.4 -7. 89 [75] Inventor: Richard Cooke. Brockville. Ontario. 1775A 2x956 52a n 273189 Canada 3.525.525 8/l970 Ridcout 273/89 [73] Assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates, Inc.. I

New York Primary [:xammerR1chard C. Pmkham Assistant E.\'aminerHarry G. Strappello [22] Flled: 1973 Almrney, Agent, or FirmRichard E. Nanfeldt [2l] Appl. No.: 412,719

[57] ABSTRACT A simulated baseball game having a bat capable of [52] US. Cl. 273/89 [51] Int. Cl. A63f 7/06 being rotated in a horizontal plane wherein the bat 58 F ld is h 273 88 89, 90 mounted the basebwd base" 1 e 0 can tion thereof. Three divergent tubes lead from a back- [561 2: 3:; Ell /ZZZ$11?T123hiiisii llififis l flfi yP 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS tubes each with its own propelling mechanism and ball loader. Scoring is obtained by having the hit ball fall I'CW 1.526220 2/1925 .loscphson..... 273/89 mm a hole m thfipaseboard' 1.941429 1/1934 Jacobs 273/89 6 Claims; 2 Drawing Figures 44 42 l6 & 32 46 x v 33':

w i 4 A. 56 56 o J o do 0 O a O O M our 1 L I: o 52 SCOREBOARD "5 iNNlNGliQ57aSX vlslTom I I PLAYI" /2 22 2a 26 20 I4 l SIMULATED BASEBALL GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device which enables two or more individuals to play a simulated baseball game. Apparatus which allow individuals to play a simulated game of baseball are quite popular. Devices of the pinball type have been employed in which a ball is propelled by means of a spring-loaded ram. the ball coming to rest in a trap to indicate the result. Other games employ batting and pitching mechanism to further simulate the actual variation of the game. Some games employ slots or openings around the perimeter thereof to determine the results of a ball propelled by any of the previously described variations. Various examples of the games shown by the prior art are illustrated by the following U.S. Pats: U.S. Pat. No. 3.534.962 issued Oct. 20, 1970 to A. H. Singleman; U.S. Pat. No. 2.749.l 22 issued June 5. 1956 to H. G. Barrett for'SIM- ULATED BASEBALL GAME: U.S. Pat. No. 3.148.882 issued Sept. 15. 1964 to J. Zimmerman for a Baseball Game-Board Device; U.S. Pat. No. 3.381.961 issued May 7. 1968 to .I. R. Wright; and U.S. Pat. No. 2.775.457 issued Dec. 25. 1956 to F. F. Balbos for Simulated Baseball Game.

The latter is. I believe. the only one of the aforesaid patents which shows a means forvarying the means for delivery or pitching of the ball" to further simulate one of the games variations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have invented a novel simulated game of baseball comprising in combination a frame of'four upright walls forming a border. an inclined baseboard supported between said walls. said baseboard being inclined in only one plane. a bat pivotally mounted on the baseboard adjacent one of the walls and directed to swing horizontally over a homebase. three pitching tubes having openings towards the bat for directing a ball at the bat. and means for propelling the ball out of one of the pitching tubes whereby variably directed pitches may be directed at the bat. A number of holes are placed in the baseboard to determine the result of a hit ball. Additionally. several ramps are positioned adjacent the wall at the end opposite the bat for balls to go over the wall as home runs. Means for returning the hit balls to a trough are provided. In addition. a scoring device is provided comprising a revolving disc having four right angled platforms thereon for mounting pieces. mounted on the baseboard having the bases indicated under the platform at equidistant distances and means for removing and holding pieces which have been fully rotated on the platforms.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel simulated baseball game;

It is another object of this invention to provide a simulated baseball game having a means for varying the delivery of the pitch;

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a baseball game having means for recording the position of players on the bases;

Still another object of this invention is to provide a simulated baseball game having means for returning the balls to a collection point.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the brief description of the drawings and preferred embodiment which follow.

LII

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I of the drawings is a top view of the simulated baseball game according to this invention; and

FIG. 2 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of the baseball game taken vertically through the approximate center of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings. a flat inclined baseboard 12 is shown in face view and is roughly rectangular in shape with markings. holes, and other paraphernalia mounted thereon. The baseboard I2 is shown inclinedly mounted in FIG. 2 to a frontwall l4 and a rear wall 16 with the incline being downwardly from the rear wall 16 to front wall 18. In addition. sidewalls 18 are located along the side of the baseboard 12 and act to retain the ball within the baseboard area.

Imprinted on top of the baseboard 12 is a simulated baseball diamond having a homebase 19 centrally located near the front wall 14. A bat 20 is mounted on a pivoting rod 22 so as to swing in the plane of the baseboard 12 over the home base area. Below the baseboard 12 the bottom of the bat rod 22 is connected to a horizontally swinging lever 24 having a knob 26 mounted on its tip the bat lever extends through an opening in the front wall and enables the player "at bat" to swing the bat by moving the lever. A slot 28 is located behind the homebase for missed balls to fall through onto a collection board 30 mounted a spaced distance below the baseboard 12.

At the rear wall 16 of the game. three pitching tubes 32, 34 and 36 are mounted one above the other to the top of the rear wall. Each of the pitching tubes is similarly constructed and the description herein of one of the tubes is intended to apply to the others. Each tube extends or hangs over the outside of the rear wall and has a ball propelling means and loading means mounted at this end. The ball propelling means comprises a piston 40 sliding in the tube. a dowel 42 attached to the back of the piston and extending through a hole in the end of the tube and a button 44 attached to the dowel outside tube a spring 46 is coiled around the dowel between the piston and the tube end. The rear side of the tube between the end and the back of the piston 40 is open. Slides 48 are positioned on the i backroll 16 with each downward end open to each of the tub openings 50. Balls placed in any of the slides would fall into the adjacent tube when the piston is drawn back towards the end of the tube. thereby loading the tube. Release of the button at this point propels the ball down the tube and initiates a pitch in the game. The three pitching tubes'diverge away from their vertical plane and are curved away from each other. They each open at a position denominated herein as the pitchers mound 52. Each of the pitching tubes at their exit points on the pitchers mound 52 is directed some- .what differently and tendto direct a pitched ball in a different direction toward the home base and the bat. Thus it is readily apparent that the person at bat is not aware of which tube is being used until the ball exits the tube.

At various points in the diamond holes denominated. out" holes are located. each hole having a stop 54 to stop the ball and allow it to fall through the "out" hole.

Adjacent the rear wall. a number of holes are also positioned each with a printed marking stating the result of the ball entering that particular hole and approximating the difficulty of the shot with its result. Home run ramps 56 are also provided leading into their particular hole. All the holes enable a ball to fall through the baseboard and onto the collecting board which slopes down to a collecting trough 58 on the outside of the rear wall 16.

Also mounted on the baseboard 12 at one side adjacent the front wall 14 is a scoring device 60. The scoring device comprises a revolving disc 62 mounted on a pin 64 which also causes it to turn. Four arms 66 are mounted at equidistant spaces on the disc 62 each arm having a platform 68. A circular diagram showing four bases equidistantly spaced is printed below the scoring device whereby the platform can pass over each base and appropriately marked. A wire catch 70 is mounted above the home base point and is adapted to grasp and hold a piece standing on the platform as the platform passes beneath it. For convenience. a scoreboard is shown and printed on the baseboard to record the score during the game.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention and wishing to cover those variations and modifications which would be apparent to those skilled in the art but without departing from either the scope or spirit thereof. what is claimed as new is:

l. A novel simulated game of baseball comprising: a frame of four walls; a baseboard communicating with said frame. said baseboard having a baseball diamond marked thereon. with points approximating a pitchers mound and a home base. a bat pivotally mounted on the baseboard and directed to swing horizontally over the homebase point; swing means for swinging the bat; three pitching tubes mounted on said frame. wherein said three pitching tubes diverge awayfrom their vertical plane and curve away from each other; three said pitching tubes leading from a rear wall forward to said pitchers mound, three said tubes vertically aligned at said rear wall and each of three said pitching tubes having an individual opening both at the rear wall and at the pitchers mound directed towards homebase the in- 4 dividual openings of said tubes at said pitchers mound being transversely spaced apart and". means for propelling a ball down each of the tubes from the rear wall to the pitcher's mound. wherein the ball is propelled towards the hat.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein said means for propelling a ball comprises: a piston mounted in each of said three vertically aligned tubes; a dowel attached centrally to a rear of each said piston and extending through said rear opening of said three tube 5; a button connected at the other end to the dowel; a biasing spring coiled around said dowel; three vertically placed slides communicating with each said rear opening of each said tube; and said ball inserted in a top of one said slide and falling downward into said tube.

3. The game according to claim 1 wherein said baseboard is inclined upwardly away from the bat whereby balls roll towards the homebase side. said baseboard having an opening behind the homebase area for balls to fall through, and means for collecting said balls in a trough mounted below the means for propelling the ball through pitching tubes.

4. The game according to claim 2 wherein said baseboard is inclined upwardly away from the bat whereby balls roll towards the homebase side. said baseboard having an opening behind the homebase area for balls to fall through, and means for collecting said balls in a trough mounted below the means for propelling the ball through pitching tubes.

5. The game of claim 4 which additionally comprises: a rotating disc mounted on said baseboard; each platform being able to support a piece. said disc and said platform being mounted over a four base circular diagram having a home basepoint on said baseboard; means for rotating said disc; a wire catch mounted over said home base point wherein said platform passes beneath said wire catch; and said wire catch engaging said piece.

6. The game of claim 4 wherein means for collecting the balls comprise an inclined collecting board mounted below baseboard and inclined towards said trough.

Claims

1. A novel simulated game of baseball comprising: a frame of four walls; a baseboard communicating with said frame, said baseboard having a baseball diamond marked thereon, with points approximating a pitcher''s mound and a home base, a bat pivotally mounted on the baseboard and directed to swing horizontally over the homebase point; swing means for swinging the bat; three pitching tubes mounted on said frame, wherein said three pitching tubes diverge away from their vertical plane and curve away from each other; three said pitching tubes leading from a rear wall forward to said pitcher''s mound, three said tubes vertically aligned at said rear wall and each of three said pitching tubes having an individual opening both at the rear wall and at the pitcher''s mound directed towards homebase the individual openings of said tubes at said pitcher''s mound being transversely spaced apart and; means for propelling a ball down each of the tubes from the rear wall to the pitcher''s mound, wherein the ball is propelled towards the bat.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein said means for propelling a ball comprises: a piston mounted in each of said three vertically aligned tubes; a dowel attached centrally to a rear of each said piston and extending through said rear opening of said three tube s; a button connected at the other end to the dowel; a biasing spring coiled around said dowel; three vertically placed slides communicating with each said rear opening of each said tube; and said ball inserted in a top of one said slide and falling downward into said tube.

3. The game according to claim 1 wherein said baseboard is inclined upwardly away from the bat whereby balls roll towards the homebase side, said baseboard having an opening behind the homebase area for balls to fall through, and means for collecting said balls in a trough mounted below the means for propelling the ball through pitching tubes.

4. The game according to claim 2 wherein said baseboard is inclined upwardly away from the bat whereby balls roll towards the homebase side, said baseboard having an opening behind the homebase area for balls to fall through, and means for collecting said balls in a trough mounted below the means for propelling the ball through pitching tubes.

5. The game of claim 4 which additionally comprises: a rotating disc mounted on said baseboard; each platform being able to support a piece, said disc and said platform being mounted over a four base circular diagram having a home basepoint on said baseboard; means for rotating said disc; a wire catch mounted over said home base point, wherein said platform passes beneath said wire catch; and said wire catch engaging said piece.