US691299A - Ball-playing device. - Google Patents

Description

No. 69I,299.- Patented Ian. 14, I902. J. s. STEVENS.

BALL PLAYING DEVICE.

(Applica tion filed. May 15, 1901.)

(No Model.)

rm: Norms PETERS co, mom-Lune" WASHINGTON, D, c.

UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

JOSHUA S. STEVENS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BALL-PLAYING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 691 ,299, dated January 14, 1902.

Application filed May 15, 1901- Serial No. 0.301. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSHUA S. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohi cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ball- Playing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and improved device adapted to be used in playing ball, and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description.

My invention is illustrated in a more or less diagrammatic manner in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of .the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4: 4, Fig. 1, with parts omitted. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5, Fig. 4, with parts omitted. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6 6, Fig. at, with parts omitted.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

I have illustrated in the drawings a simple construction, so as to make my invention clear; butit is of course understood that such construction may be greatly varied in many particulars.

As illustrated in the drawings, I provide a suitable stop A, for the ball or other missile used by the player. This stop may be of any suitable construction and is preferably made adjustable in some convenient manneras, for example, by hinging it at the point A. When made adjustable, I prefer to provide the supports B, which permit the stop to be held in various positions. This stop may be provided with any suitable marking or sets of characters, and I have shown it in Fig. 3 as provided with the ordinary bulls-eye target. Beneath the stop I provide a suitable receiving device C for receiving the ball or other missile thrown at the stop. Said stopis preferably forwardly inclined,so as to prevent the ball'from flying outwardly so far as to miss the receiving device. Associated with the stop is a ball or missile returning device,which automatically returns to the player the article thrown at the stop. This returning device may be of any suitable construction, and for purposes of illustration I have shown one of the simplest forms. This construction consists of a confining device D, containing a suitable projecting device, which, as illustrated, consists of the spring E. This spring is attached to an engaging piece F, arranged to engage the ball or other missile. The confining device D is connected with the receiving device 0, so that the ball automatically rolls from the receiving device into the end thereof, so as to come within range of the projecting device. In front of the projecting device I provide an exit-opening G, through which the ball or other missile is projected. Some suitable means is provided for setting the projecting device from the point where the player is located. This result may be obtained in any desired manner. When the projecting device consists of a spring, it may be set by providing a suitable connection H, attached to or near the engaging end of the spring and passing back around the pulley I, and thence forward to within easy reach of the player. A suitable releasing device is provided, adapted to be automatically operated by the ball, so that when the ball rolls into position to be returned it automatically acts upon the releasing device, thus causing the projecting device to act. This releasing device may be of any suitable description and wouldvarywiththe conditions. Ihaveshown a simple form which consists of a pivoted part or latch J, held in place by a suitable spring K and located within the path of the ball as it enters the confining device. device is also provided with a limiting device whichlimits itsforward movement. Asherein shown, this limiting device consists of the cord or wire S. I prefer to make the projecting device adjustable, so that the force with which the ball is returned can be varied as desired. This may be done by providing an adjustable part L, which engages the end of the spring. By adjusting this part it will be seen that the tension of the spring may be varied. The force with which the ball is returned may also be varied by providing a series of releasing devices located at different points along the confining device or by providing means so that the releasing device or latch .I may be moved to different positions. It a series of latches J are used, for example,

The projecting the retaining-springs K might be pivoted, so that the ones not used could be moved to one side to permit the latch to fall down out of the way. It will thus be seen that any desired tension of the spring could be obtained by using the proper releasing device. I may also provide means for indicating the efficiency of the player. For example, I may provide beneath the stop aseries of partitions M, between which are located the movable bottoms N, (see Figs. 5 and 6,) thus forming a series of receptacles with trap-doors or movable bottoms. Associated with these partitions may be any suitable characters, such as numbers or the like. These may be arranged in any desired manner, audit will be seen that as the ball strikes different portions of the stop it will fall between different partitions. These characters or figures might be arranged so that when the ball strikes nearl the bnlls-eye the player receives more to his credit than when it strikes at some point far ther away. All these details may be arranged; in any manner desired.

I prefer to arrange the device so that the figures or characters are normally concealed and are automatically exposed by the ball, falling in between the partitions. As herein; illustrated, the bottoms N are hinged to the cross-pieces 0, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) which crosspieces are fastened in a suitable frame and support the partitions M. The partitions M are preferably provided with hinged pieces; or indicators P, which carry the numbers orf characters, and suitable actuating devices; are connected with the bottoms N, so that when the bottom moves downwardly the indicators P will be moved so as to expose the characters. As herein shown, the bottoms N are provided with the projecting arms Q, which engage the indicators and move them about their hinges, as shown in Fig. 5. A suitable counterweight or other retracting means is associated with said bottoms, so that they automatically return to their normal position. A suitable spring or the like R may also be associated with the indicators, so as. to automatically return them.

. I have described in detail a particular construction embodying my invention; but, as hereinbefore stated, the parts may be greatly varied in many particulars and some of the parts omitted and others used with parts not herein shown without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not limit myself to the construction shown.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: hen the device is set up ready for use, the player takes his stand at a suitable distance, regulated by the conditions and circumstances, and throws the ball at the stop. When the ball hits the stop, it is thrown downwardly into one of the receptacles and, striking the bottom N, moves said bottom downwardly and passes through into the receiving device 0, at the same time exposing the characters or figures corresponding with the receptacle into which it falls, as shown in Fig. 5. These characters can then be noted and a score kept, if desired. The bottom then automatically returns to its normal position, and the ball rolls along into the confining device D. The ball then passes over the releasing device J and moves it so as to release the projecting device, which eugages the ball and projects it through the opening G, returning it to the player. The player then sets the projecting device by pulling upon the cord or connection H, so as to contract the spring until it engages the releasing device, so as to be held thereby. This operation may then be repeated. It will thus be seen that this device maybe used by expert base-ball players for training purposes or that it may be used as a game by a number of persons, a score'being kept, as in any ordinary game. If used by one person for training purposes, the score'may also be'kept, if desired. It will further be seen that the stop A may be adjusted to correspond with the force with which the ball is thrown and that the projecting device may be adjusted to return the ball with any force desired. In some instances it is only necessary to project the ball with sufficient force to insure its returning to the player; but in other cases it is desirable to project itwith great force, so as to give the player the practice of catching as well as throwing. In this event it will of course be understood that the releasing device may be modified to insure the release, regardless of the tension of the spring. These features may of course be readily adjusted and the position of the confining device D varied in any desired manner so as to permit this latter result.

In the specification and. claims I have used the terms ball and ball-playing device; but I wish it to be understood that I use these terms to mean any missile which maybe used by the player.

I claim 1. A ball-playing device, comprisinga stop which stops the ball, a receiving device into which the ball is received, and a projecting device which forcibly projects the ball toward the player.

2. A ball-playingdevice, comprising a stop which stops the ball, a receiving device into which the ball is received, a projecting device which returns the ball to the player, and means within the reach of the player for setting said projecting device.

3. A ball-playing device, comprising a stop which stops the ball, a receiving device for the ball associated with said stop, a projecting device in proximity to the receiving device, and a releasing device associated with the projecting device and adapted to beactuated by the ball, so as to release the projecting device when the ball is in proximity thereto.

4. A ball-playing device, comprising a stop which stops the ball, an indicating device which indicates the score made by the player, a receiving device for the ball, and an automatic projecting device for forcibly projecting the ball toward the player.

5. A ball-playing device, comprising a stop for stopping the ball, a receiving device into which the ball is received, and an adjustable projecting device for returning the ball to the player.

6. A ball-playing device, comprising an adjustable stop forstopping the ball, a receiving device into which the ball is received, and an adjustable projecting device for returning the ball to the player.

7. A ball-playing device, comprising a stop for stopping the ball, a projecting device for returning the ball to the player, a confining device therefor, a releasing part associated with the projecting device and adapted to be actuated by the ball, a receiving device for the ball, and means for conducting it therefrom to the projecting device.

8. A ball-playing device, comprising a stop for stopping the ball, a series of receptacles associated therewith and having movable bottoms, indicators associated with said receptacles and adapted to be actuated by the ball when it falls into said receptacles, a receiving device beneath the receptacles, a projecting device associated therewith and adapted to return the ball to the player.

9. A ball-playing device, comprising a stop for stopping the ball, a receiving device into which the ball is received, a spring for returning the ball to the player, a confining device for said spring connected with the receiving device, so that the ball may automatically roll into proximity to said spring, a releasing device for the spring actuated by the ball, and a resetting device controlled by the player for resetting said spring.

JOSHUA S. STEVENS.

Witnesses:

HOMER L. KRAFT, FANNY B. FAY.

Images