US546003A

US546003A - chapman

Info

Publication number: US546003A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1895-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1912-09-10

Description

(No Model.) 3 SheetS-Shet 1.

M F. M. CHAPMAN. BASE BALL INDIUATING APPARATUS.

k No, 546,003;

ATTORN EY3.

Patenged $gpt. 10, 1895.

wnugssas:

BSheets-Sheet 2* (No Model.)

A F. M. CHAPMAN. v BASE BALL INDIGATING APPARATUS.

No. 546,003. Patented se t.-1'0, 1895.

WITNESSES:

ATTOBN EYS.

. Apparatus; andI do hereby declare the folview's howing a plan of a portion of the platothers skilled in the art to which it appertains ball-game-display apparatus of that classic trolled signals and automatons or figures, the

showing a modification of the arm which moves the carriage, the latter in this instance arm with the carriage mounted thereon in a changing the color of the cap of the automa ENiiTE 'rn-Tns FRANK ll/L CHAPMAN, OF NEWV YORK,

N. ,Y., ASSIGNOR TO STELLA F. CHAP- MAN, JOSEPH WV. JEFFERSON, AND TZHOMAS JEFFERSON, OF SAME PLACE.

BASE-BALL-INDICATING APPARATUS.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,003, dated September 10, 1895. I

I Application filed May 23, 1895.? Serial No. 550,378. (No modeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M. CHAPMAN,3. citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the countyof New York. and State of New Yorlghave invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Ball-Game-Display lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in which, by means of various electrically-conprogre'ss of a game base-l)all, for instancecan be represented on the stage of a theater, on the front of a building, or in any other place or position desired.

The invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, such as will be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claims," and illustrated in accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the invention. Fig.2 is a detail view showing a cross-section of the stage and theplatform mounted thereon, and also several of the automatons and the mechanism for operating the same. Fig. 3 .is a detail form. Fig. 4 is a detail View showing the plan of the carriage on which the moving automaton is to be mounted. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail View being shown turned beneath the platform. Fig. 7 is a detail showing the means for look ing the sleeve on the arm. Fig. 8 shows the position to show the-automaton, and Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the mechanism for ton.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the platform on which the diagram of a base-ball field is represented and on which the automatons design ati ng the players I are mounted.

any desired position.

This platform is inclined so as to give the spectators as good a View of the same as is possible. It is obvious that a platform of any suitable construction may be used and that the same may be arranged in The automatons A, A A A A A A A and A respectively, designate the players in their respective positions in the field. All of these except the 6o figure A, representing the catcher, are fixed incandescent electric lamp WV is supported and is connected with a separate electric circuit to, controlled at the central station S by 'a suitable switchfor instance, a push-button. At the lower part of each automaton a similar lamp R, but red in color, is supported. It also has a separate circuit 0", which'leads to the central station S and is there controlled by a switch. The purpose of these lamps is to indicate good or bad plays on the part of the player represented by the automaton car- I rying the said lamps. In the present instance a white light indicates a good play or caught ball and a red light the contrary-a bad or muifed ball. Other lamps are used to indicate the nature of the balls knocked by the player at the bat. In elevated positions above the out-field white lamps W and red lamps R are suspended, and also outside of the foul-lines white lamps W and green lamps G are suspended in elevated positions. It is to be observed that these lamps are generally arranged in pairs. In the out-field a white and a red lamp are placed in close proximity to each other in each subdivision of the said territory, and outside of the foul-lines a 9:: white and a green one are located. On each side of the diamond a foul-flag F is placed and above the same a green light G is suspended. The white lamps are designated upon the drawings by the unshaded circles, 5 the red lamps by the blackened circles, and the green lamps by the halt-shaded circles.

As it has been stated, all the automatons designating the players in the field are stationary except that indicating the catcher. no A mechanism is provided in this instance for moving this player, so that the catcher can be mounted in the rear of the ways and havhips and knees, and are attached at the feet ing a weight 0 attached to its free end. When it is desired to move the automaton forward, it is done by an attendant placed below the platform for the purpose and secured by him in any suitable manner. This figure may,

however, be moved by a mechanism electrically controlled by the operator at the central station S.

Movable automatons are provided for presenting the players at the bat. (See Figs. 2 and 3 more particularly.) In the platform A ways I) b are made and conform to the shape of the diamond. and have mounted thereon the automatonsB B, representing the batter or base-runner, as the case may be. Each carriage consists of the block b, to which is pivoted the cross-bar b Interposed between the cross-bar and the block is a washer or sleeve of such a thickness or length as to give the proper off-set of the cross-bar to the block. To the under sides of the ends of the cross-bar the wheels 13 b are journaled. Each of these wheels has a flange b projecting from the lower edge of the periphery of the same. This flange may be made integral with the wheel or it may be a disk of greater diameter than that of the wheel, journaled on the same pin or shaft. Projecting from the upper face of the crossbar 19 is a standard 11 having attached to its upper end the loop I). In this loop is journaled the wheel 19 which has its periphery corrugated. The axle of this wheel has its ends extended and formed into cranks 19 12 A second standard 12 extends upward from a bend of the loop and has secured to the upper end of the same the body of the automaton The legs of the latter are hinged at their to the crank-arms b '0 so that a rotation of t he wheel b will cause the automaton to simulate the motions'of running or walking in its movement around the diamond. The carriage rides on the inner edges of the Ways 1) b. The peripheries of the wheels b 19 contact With the vertical face of the edge, and the wheel I) travels on the upper face of the ways.

The corrugated periphery of the latter wheel causes it to positively rotate, and thereby move through the intermediate mechanism the legs of the automaton. The flanges b b on the wheels Z2 b form guides, and together with the wheel b serve to keep the carriage in its proper position on the edge of the platform.

The means for moving the carriages in their In these ways carriages D D move ways consist of the arms D D, pivoted at theirinner ends to a central point. Each arm has formed in its upper portion a groove cl, in which is mounted the block b of a carriage, so that the block can be easily moved in or out from the pivotal point of the arm. The carriage is drawn in against the edge of the platformjby the spring (1, attached at one end to the said carriage and at the other to the inner end of the arm on which the carriage is mounted. This elastic connection allows it to move freely back and forth on the arm as the latter travels around its pivotal point to move the carriage, and consequently the automaton mounted thereon, from base to base, around the diamond. The arms D D, on the ends of which the carriages are mounted, are four in number, and are respectively attached at their ends to the upper ends of the sleeves d d (see Fig. 2,) and are bent upward at their outer ends, so that they all lie in substantially the same horizontal plane. These sleeves are journaled one upon the other, and the innermost one is journaled on the spindle d firmly fastened to the stagefloor at its lower end and t0 the platform A. Each of the sleeves cl d is made fast at its lower end to a gear-wheel cl. Each gearwheel is driven independently of the others by a pinion d which in turn is driven by an independent electric motor d". Each motor is connected by a separate circuit (Z with an electric generator (i These circuits are respectivel y controlled by switches or push-buttons d 03'', located at the central station, so that the operator at that point can cause any one or more of the arms to move, as he desires. As shown, the arms can only be moved in one direction, but by using any of the well-known reversing mechanisms the arms may be caused to move in either direction.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8adifferently-constructed arm is shown. In this instance it consists of the cylindrical extension E, which has mounted thereon the sleeve 6. The latter is slotted at e longitudinally and at e transversely. These grooves connect at theouter end of the former. With these grooves the pin 6 registers. Interposed between the inner end of the sleeve 6 and the enlargement e of the extension E is a spring 6 Normally this spring is compressed by moving the sleeve 6 inwardly, the pin 6 passing along the slot 6 during such movement. By turning the sleeve so that the pin passes into the transverse slot e the former will be locked. On the sleeve 6 a second sleeve 6 is splined and has mounted thereon the carriage D. The carriage in this instance is pressed against the edge of the platform by the spring e connecting the sleeve 6 with the inner end of the sleeve e. The outer end of the latter is provided with an arm 6 and its outward movement is limited by the removable screw or flange e To the under side of the platform A, at suitable points, catches e e are located in such a manner that any one of them can be moved into the path of the arm a The latter on coming in contact with one of the said catches will turn the sleeve e until the latter will then be forced outward by the spring e until it is stopped by the flange 6 v This movement of the sleeve 6 will allow the spring a to draw the sleeve e free from the pin on which it is splined, which will allow the automaton by its weight to drop through the opening in the platform and disappear from the view of the audience. The catches e are operated by an attendant beneath the platform, and an automaton can be made to disappear at any of the bases, or between them, to indicate that the player it represents is put out. It is obvious that these catches can be provided with means whereby they may be operated from the central station.

when it is desired to remove an automaton from the arms shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the spring connection of the carriage to the arm may be released and the carriage slipped off of the grooves d. Suitable apertures, similar to that shown in Fig. 2, may be provided adjacent to the several bases for this purpose. To place the automatons in position upon the arms in this form of the invention, the carriages on which they are mounted are simply slipped upon the ways in the arms and the spring connection made with the arm. To place the automaton in position in the form shown in Figs. 6, 7, ands, the screw or flange e" is removed and the sleeves carrying the carriage slipped over the cylindrical extension E and properly secured in position under spring tension, as hereinbefore described.

The central station S, from which the several mechanisms-are controlled and operated, has a switchboard s, which is an exact reproduction, upon a reduced scale, of the field. The position of the players are respectively indicated by the pairs of push-buttons or switches, colored white and red, respectively, 11 12 13 14 15 A16 17 A18, and 19 which correspond, respectively, to the automatons A', A A A A A A A and A in the field. As one team or the other takes the field, it may be indicated by changing the colors of the caps of the automatons. top of the cap of each automaton is made in two colors, as shown in Fig. 9. To the top of the cap on the line where the two colors divide a cloth cover X is attached, which only covers at any one time one-half of the cap. The free edge of the cloth is attached to a bail 0c, hinged at its ends to the sides of the cap, so that it can be turned so as to cover either the front or rear part of the-cap. The

opposite faces of the cloth forming the halfcover to the cap are the same colors, respectively, as those of the cap, so that when the cover is on the front partof the cap the outer face of the cloth of the same will be of the same color as that of the uncovered portion of the cap. When the cloth is drawn over the The rear portion of the cap, it discloses the color of the front of the cap, which corresponds with the color of the side of the cloth now exposed, so that the color of the cap may be readily changed from white to red, or vice versa. The bail is operated by the string 00 and the spring 00 located at the pivotal point of the bail. The string passes fromtthe automaton to beneath the platform, where it can be operated by an attendant stationed there.

Then the string is pulled,it operates the bail ter, and is connected at its lower end by the cord y to the floor of the platform, so that when the automaton is moved toward first base the bat will be jerked from its hands.

The wires forming the circuits leading to the lights are strung and arranged in any manner suitable in the premises. They pass through the flooring and the bodies of the automatons to their respective lamps. In the case of the automaton A, representing the catcher, the wires must be so strung as to allow for its movement. In the case of the pitcher A the wires are passed through the spindle (1 which is made hollow for the purpose.

. The operation of the device is as follows: The names of the players and their respective positions are given by the usual score-cards or indicating means. Assuming the automatons to be in their proper position, one being mounted at the homeplate on a carriage, the operator receives notice at the central station through the telegraph of the several plays as they are made, and as the notices are received the plays are indicated by means of the differently-colored lamps and the movements of the automatons. The operator receives notice that the batter is up and that the pitcher is ready to deliver the ball. This he indicates by pressing the switch connecting the circuit leading to the white lamp in the pitchers hands, thereby causing a white light to appear in the hands of the automaton representingthe pitcher. The delivery of the ball is indicated by the light disappearing from the pitchers hands and the appearing of a similar light in the catc'hers hands, provided the ball is not struck by the batter. If the ball should be muffed by the catcher, it would be indicated by the red light at his feet. If the ball should be struck by the batter say, a fly ball to the center field-it would be indicated by the white light from the lamp W suspended over the center field. If the fly should be caught, say, by the center-fielder, it would be indicated by a white light appearing in his hands. If he should muff it, the red light would appear at his feet. If the ball should be knocked against or over the fence, this would be indicated by either of the red lamps R suspended over the extreme IIO limit of the field where the ball is to be represented as going over and beyond the fielders. Suppose a ground ball should be knocked. This would be indicated by the batter starting for first base and a white light appearing in the fieldershands who fielded the ballsay, the short-stop. The short-stop would then throw the ball to the first-base man. This would be indicated by a white light disappearing from the short-stops hands and reap pearing in the hands of the first-base man, provided the latter caught the ball. If the white light should appear in the basemans hands before the runner reached there, it wouldindicate that the batter was put out. If it appeared afterward, it would indicate that the runner was safe. If the first-base man should muff the ball thrown to him by the short-stop, this would be indicated by a red light at the feet of the first-base man. If a runner should be put out between the bases, or at either of them, this would be indicated by the automaton disappearing in the ways. If a foul ball should be knocked,say, into the left field, this would be indicated by the white light W ,located there, and immediately followed by the green light G, located near the foul play. If the foul should be a fiy and be caught, say, by the right-fielder, this would be indicated by a white light in his hands. Fouls back of the catcher are indicated in the same way by the white and green lights located there. It is obvious that any combination of plays can be thus indicated and in their proper sequence. It is also obvious that the arrangement of lights described may be used without the automatons-as, for instance, in an exhibition board before a building. The apparatus is also adapted for exhibiting the results of various games and. sports, such as foot-ball, horse-racing, and numerous other events.

I have describeda particular form of carriage for supporting the moving automaton, but my invention is not limited thereto, as any form of carrier may be used which would perform the objects of this invention.

Having thus described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform having a diagram of the field represented thereon, the differently colored lamps mounted thereon to indicate the positions and play of the players, the variously colored lamps suspended above the platform to indicate the course of the ball, the electric circuits leading to the said lamps, and means for controlling the said circuits, substantially as described.

2. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform having a diagram of the field indicated thereon, the differently colored lamps mounted on the said platform to designate the positions and plays of the players, the switch board having the field and. positions of the players diagrammed thereon,

and the electric circuits leading from the switch board to the lamps, substantially as described.

3. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform havinga diagram of the field indicated thereon, the automatons mounted on the same to represent players, the differently colored lamps supported by the said automatons, the electric circuits leading to the said lamps, and means for controlling the said circuits, substantially as described.

4. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform havinga diagram of the field indicated thereon,the automatons mounted on the same to represent the players, the differently colored lamps attached to the said automatons to designate the plays made by the players, the differently colored lamps suspended above the platform to indicate the course of the ball, the switch-board having the field and the positions of the players diagrammed thereon, and the electric circuits leading from the switch board to the lamps, substantially as described.

5. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform having a diagram of the field indicated thereon, the different colored lamps mounted on the said platform to designate the positions and plays of the players, the switch board having the field and positions of the players designated thereon by the push buttons, and the electric circuits leading from the push buttons to the lamps, substantially as described.

6. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform having the diagram of the field indicated thereon, the stationary automatons mounted thereon to designate the players in the field, the differently colored lamps supported by each of the automatons to indicate the differentplays made by the same, the movable automatons designating the runners, the variously colored lamps suspended above the field to indicate the course of the ball, and the electric circuits leading from a central point to the said lamps, substantially as described.

'7. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform, the ways formed therein, the carriage mounted in the said ways, the arm and the sleeve rotatablymountedon the said arm and connected with the said sleeve, substantially as described.

8. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform, the ways formed therein, the arm, and the carriage rotatably mounted on the said arm and moving in the said ways, substantially as described.

9. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform having a portion thereof formed in the shape of a diamond, the carriage riding on the edge of the said portion, the automaton mounted on said carriage, and the automatic mechanism for moving the carriage away from the edge of the platform, substantially as described.

[ITO

10. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform having a portion thereof formed in the shape of a diamond, the carriage riding on the edge of the said diamond, the moving arm connected with the said carriage, the latter having play longitudinally on the said arm, and the spring connecting the carriage with the arm to cause said carriage to bind on the said edge, substantially as described.

11. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform, the ways formed therein, the arm, the spring pressed sleeve mounted thereon, the sleeve splined on the first mentioned sleeve, and the carriage secured to the said last mentioned sleeve and adapted to be moved in the Ways, substantially as described.

12. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform, the ways formed therein, the arm, the spring pressed sleeve mounted thereon, the mechanism locking the sleeve to compress the spring, the sleeve splined on the first mentioned sleeve, the carriage attached to the second sleeve and adapted to be moved in the said ways, the spring connecting the two sleeves, and the automatically operated mechanism adapted to unlock the first mentioned sleeve, substantially as described.

13. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the moving arm, the pin proj ecting from the periphery thereof, the sleeve mounted on the said arm and having grooves formed in the same adapted to register with the said pin to lock the sleeve relatively to the arm, the spring pressing the sleeve outwardly on the said arm, the sleeve splined on the first mentioned sleeve, and the carriage secured to the second sleeve, substantially as described.

14. In a ball game display apparatus, the combination of the moving arm, the pin projeeting from the periphery thereof, the spring pressed sleeve mounted on the said arm and having grooves formed in the same adapted to register with the said pin and thereby lock the sleeve-relatively to the arm, the lever projecting from the end of the said sleeve, and the catch adapted to engage with said lever and thereby turn the said sleeve and unlock the same relatively to the arm, substantially as described.

15. In a game display apparatus, the combination of the platform, the ways formed therein, the arm, the sleeve mounted on the said arm, the frame pivoted to the said sleeve, and the wheels mounted in the said frame and adapted to ride in the said. ways, substantially as described.

16. In a game display apparatus, the com- I bination of the platform, the ways formed therein, the sleeves mounted on each other and on a common spindle, the independent mechanism driving the said sleeves, the arms attached to the said sleeves, and the carriages pivoted to the said arms and moving in the said Ways, substantially as described.

17. In a game display apparatus, the combination of the platform, the moving arm, the sleeve mounted on the said arm, the framework pivoted to the said sleeve, the vertical Wheel journaledin the said framework having cranks formed in the ends of its shaft, and the automaton supported on the said framework having its legs hinged at the knees and hips and pivoted at the feet to the said cranks, substantially as described.

18. In a game display apparatus, the combination of the automaton, the cap having the reversible cover mounted thereon, and mechanism for operating the said cover to change the color of the headwear of the automaton, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

19. In a base-ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform, the lamps mounted thereon in positions to designate the directions taken by the ball in play and flashed to indicate the course of the ball, the electric circuits leading to the said lamps, and means for controlling said circuits, substantially as described.

2O. In a base-ball game display apparatus, the combination of the platform having a diagram of the field indicated thereon, the differently colored lamps mounted on the said platform in positions to designate the directions taken by the hall in play and flashed to indicate the course of the ball, the electric circuits leading to the said lamps, and means for controlling said circuits, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. FRANK M. CHAPMAN.

Witnesses:

ALFRED T. GAGE, W. P. BOTELER.