US772344A - Game apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

. PATENTED 0CT.18,19'O4.

E. J. DUPEIRB.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED no.1, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- N0 MODEL.

0 D N A T S D N QozuF IN THE BLEACHERS IS A HOME HUN.

BLEACH EH5- 1% human PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

E. J. DUPEIRE.

' GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET F- G v3 N0 MODEL.

human;

UNITED STATES Patented October 18, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,344, dated October 18, 1904. Application filed December 1, 1903. Serial No. 183,851. (No'modeL) To a, wlwm it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, EDWIN J. DUPEIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to game apparatus;

and it consists in the peculiar and ad vantageous apparatus, hereinafter described and claimed, with which a game having all of the interesting and exciting features of the regular game of base-ball may be played by two persons or teams.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of the game-board comprised in my novel apparatus, the same being shown with lettering omitted from some of the divisions of the diamond. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe bat forming part of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan view of the portion of the board bearing the diamond and illustrating the lettering in the divisions thereof, and

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the dart embraced in the apparatus.

Because of the smallness of the scale of Fig. 1 of the drawings inscriptions germane to the game are omitted from some of the divisions in said figure. It will be noticed, however, that the divisions shown in Fig. 1 without inscriptions are shown in Fig. 3 as provided with inscriptions.

Similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings, referring to which A is the board of the apparatus, B the bat, and O the dart.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the board A is provided with a field a, a space Z) of rightangle form bordering the inner corner of the field and hearing, by preference, the words Grandstand, a space 0 bordering one of the outer sides of the field and bearing, by preference,'the inscription, In the bleachers is a home run. Bleachers, a space d bordering the other outer side of the field and bearing, by preference, the inscription, Over the fence is a home run. Fence, a diamond 6, located in the inner corner of the field, divisions f, representing the bases of the diamond, divisions 9, representing the stations or positions of the players constituting the nine that is in the field in contradistinction to the nine that is at the bat, and divisions it, into which the space between the spaces 0 and (Z and the foul-lines of the diamond is divided. The divisions j, which, as stated, represent the bases of the diamond, bear inscriptions germane to the game of base-ball in general and to their particular location in particular, as do also the divisions g and h. The latter divisions are formed by fine lines z', which diverge from the inner corner of the division f, representing the home plate, and extend therefrom to the outer sides of-the field a, and finediagonal lines which extend entirely across the field and are disposed at right angles to the middle'line of those first mentioned. In forming the divisions h as just stated the entire area of the field a is occupied by divisions each of which bears an inscription appropriate to its particular location with reference to the game of base-ball as regularly played.

The bat B (shown in Fig. 2) may be of any construction suitable to the purpose of my invention without involving a departure from the scope thereof. Iprefer, however, to make said hat of paddle form and of such size that it may be conveniently wielded with one hand.

The dart which I prefer to employ. in my novel apparatus comprises a body is, preferably of wood, a barb or point Z extending from the forward end of the body, and a vane, preferably a feather, extending from the rear end of the body and having for its purpose to cause the dart when in flight to assume a position with its point foremost, so as to enable the said point to enter the board and hold the dart thereon until the same is removed by one of the players.

In playing the game of base-ball with my novel apparatus the board Ais secured in an upright position on a wall or other suitable support, and a person representing the team at the bat takes a position at one side of a line drawn or an object placed to represent the home plate, while a person representing the team in the field takes a position about five feet at the opposite side of the home plate with reference to the support bearing the board A. The firstmentioned party wields the bat and the second-mentioned party delivers the dart representing the ball in such manner that the same falls slowly on or adjacent to the home-plate. Incident to the fall of the dart the batter strikes at the same and, if he is successful, drives the dart against the board, in which it will fix itself. The inscription in the particular division f, g, or it in which the point of the dart is fixed indicates the play made subsequent to the striking of the dart with the bat. For instance, if the dart is embedded in' the division representing the position of the catcher of the team in the field, it is understood that the batter knocked afoul which was caught by the catcher and that in consequence the batter is out. If the dart is fastened by the next batter inthe division f, representing the home plate, it is understood that such batter has made a fine home run and a score for his team. If the next batter up fixes the dart in the division 9, representative of the position of the pitcher of the team in the field, it is understood that the said batter knocked a liner to the pitcher, who caught it on the fiy, and thereby retired the batter. In the event of the next batter up fixing the dart in the division 7L bearing the inscription Caught with left hand by pitcher. Out, it is understood that the said batter is out. This making three out, the side represented by the person at the bat is retired, and thereupon said party changes places with the pitcher, when the operation described is repeated until the side represented by the last-mentioned party is retired, and so on until the full nine innings of a game of base-ball are completed.

IVhile I have described the game as played by two persons, each representing a nine, I desire it clearly understood that the game may be played by any number of persons on a side, so long as the sides are numerically equal.

It will be noticed by reference to Figs. 1 and 3 that the inscriptions in the divisions f, g, and it and in the spaces 0 and (Z provide for almost any contingency that may happen during the progress of a regular game of baseball and that in consequence the game is calculated to hold the interest and afford considerable amusement to adults fond of the game of base-ball, as well as boys. Considerable skill is required to bat the dart in such a way as to place it in a particular division of the field, and this enhances the interest in the game and makes it a more lasting source of amusement.

The rules governing the playing of the game are similar to those common to the regular game of base-ball-that is to say, first, three strikes are out; second, three fouls are out; third, three pitched balls falling on the home plate, whether struck at or not, are out; fourth, four pitched balls not struck at, but falling outside the home plate, gives the batter a base on balls; fifth, with the bases full a base on balls scores the player on third base, or, in other words, forces in arun; sixth, with players or runners on first base and second base a base on balls advances the said players, with the result that the bases are filled, but no run is scored; seventh, with runners on the second and third bases a base on balls fills the bases; eighth, with first and third bases full a base on balls advances the runner on first to second and fills the bases; ninth, with only one base full a base on balls advances a player only when he is on first; tenth, all batted balls striking outside the foul lines are fouls; eleventh, a ball remaining fixed to the bat, as sometimes happens by reason of the bat striking the point of the dart, or not remainingin the board A long enough to enable the players to determine where it struck, is no play and does not count, and, twelfth, a ball fixed in aline on the board, between divisions thereof, is no play and does not count.

Incident to the progress of the game the positions of the players of the batting team on the bases may be carried in the minds of the players, or, if preferred, disks of pasteboard differently colored or otherwise differentiated may be used to represent the opposed teams, and when one team is at the bat disks representing its players may be pinned on the board A as the players are advanced on the bases.

I have entered into a detailed description of the apparatus constituting the present and preferred embodiment of my invention in order to impart a full, clear. and exact understanding of the same. I desire it understood,

however, that such changes or modifications may be made in practice as fairly fall within the scope of my invention as claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

The herein-described game apparatus comprising a board representing a base-ball field and having divisions representing the three bases and the home plate and divided by fine cross-lines, and by fine lines radiating from the inner corner of the home plate throughout the area of the field into divisions, and provided in each of the divisions with an inscription germane to the game of base-ball and appropriate to the particular location of the division in the field; said board being adapted to be used in an upright position, and

a dart separate from the board; the said dart In testimony whereo1 I have hereunto set having a sharp point, whereby it is adapted, my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- IO when projected against the face of the board, nesses.

to stick in one of the divisions thereof and thereby denote the play made by the party EDWIN DUPEIRE' projecting the dart, and this without liability Witnesses:

of sticking on any line, equidistant between ANDRE DONOMANT,

two divisions. AMOS J. FORD.

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