US870041A - Game apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 870,041. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907. G. E. I. LUNDBERG.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 28' 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COCO

No. 870,041. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907. C. E. I. LUNDBERG.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED rm.2a. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL E'. I. LUNDBERG, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of-Letters Patent.

Patent ed Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed February 28. 1907. Serial No. 359.922-

designed to provide an apparatus for playing indoors the popular game of base ball and presenting all the phases and excitement incident to the outdoor game, particularly when the players are skilled in the delivery and batting of the ball andin the manipulation of the field pieces.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the-following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms andconditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, -in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the game apparatus embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the corner portion of the board.provided with the bat and home base. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the corner portion of the game board equipped with the projecting means, whereby delivery ofthe ball to the batsman is effected. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the bat.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the.

following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. The board 1 may be of any size and is approximately square and about three feet each way. The infield is.

located at one corner of the board and is inclosed be-. tween the lines 2, 3, 4, and 5. The home base is located at one corner of the infield and is represented by means of a stripe painted, or otherwise provided upon the board. At each of the corners 2, 3 and 4 squares are provided representing the bases, the square 3 being first base, the square 2 second base, and 'the square 4, third base. A square 7 is located on the line 24 a short distance from the square of second base 2 for reception of the runner on second base so that no ob-' The corner of the board adjacent to thexhome-base is the board when-playing to get the best results.

The line 5-4 is similarly projectedto 9 The foul linesare cut away, the guard fitted thereto constituting the back stop.

The bat 12 consists of a strip of suitable length and width and may be of any material. The striking face of the bat is preferably covered with felt, or some such like material to deaden the blow, or impact of the bat with the ball, and to deaden the sound. The bat is thickened at one end, at 13, and has a pin 10 in line with the thickened end 13 and projected from the lower edge of the bat to enter an opening or cut away portion 30 in the board. This opening 30 is of a size to permit of the pin 10 having a limited play, whereby' the bat may he slid half an inch, more or less, upon Pieces of. leather, felt or like material 31 are attached to the lower edge of the bat to prevent marring the surface of the board by movements of the bat thereon.

In manipulating the bat the enlarged portion at one end of the same is grasped between thethumb and forefinger of the hand and the bat both shifted laterally and swung about its pivot to strike the ball projected toward the same.

The board at the corner diagonally opposite to the bat and home base is cut away and the guard, or inclosing means 10, is set in a short distance from the corner portion of the board so as to leave a platform 14 exterior thereto to form a support for the hand and to receive the ball projecting means.

An opening 15 is provided in the guard 10 to receive the ball 16, the latter consisting of a sphere, preferably of steel. The ball is adapted to be projected by suitable means, such as a rubber band 17 which is drawn outward'and suddenly released. The rubber band or elastic 17 is arranged opposite the opening 15 and exterior to the guard and is supported upon two pins 18 let into the guard and located upon opposite sides of the opening 15, or said rubber band may be supported by other means. It is understood that the ball may be deliveredby striking the elastic 17 {the latter serving to modify the force of .such blow to. such an extent as to prevent a too rapid movement of the ball across the board Circles 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and25 are imprinted, or otherwise supplied 'to'the surface of the board and represent the space on which the fielders, such as the first, second andthird basemeu, theshort stop, the

right, left and center fieldersran be moved. Upon consist of a flange according to the construction of the board. The sole purpose of the guard is to prevent displacement of the ball from the board-either when struck by the hat or when rebounding when delivered from the pitchers position. Said guard is lined with felt or some like substance on the inside, so as to deadcn the sound when the ball hits the guard.

It is to be understood that the batter is provided with a number of game pieces, usually 4, the same being indicated by the reference numeral 27.

The following is a description of playing the game and the value of the respective pieces.

1. The pitcher sits back of the ball and tries to ,shoot the ball over the home base. home base 5, it constitutes a strike, but if it goes to one side of the home base 5, it constitutes a ball. I

2. If the ball is hit anywhere outside of the foul line, it constitutes afoul, which also constitutes a strike. If the ball goes no further than the infield, it also constitutes a foul for the reason that otherwise, the batter can hold the .bat still, and the ball will generally stop in the infield. If the ball goes to the guard or stops in the outfield without touching a game piece 26, it constitutes a fair hit, or one base hit.

3. The gamepieces 26 may be moved anywhere inside of their respective. circles by the pitcher; if he succeeds in having a game piece touch the ball after it is batted by the batter it constitutes an out, but if the pitcher moves the game piece outside of the circle and touches the ball with said game piece, or if the ball hits any part of the pitcher "s clothing, or hand, it gives the batter a two base hit. If the ball touches one game piece and bounds off and touches another game piece, it constitutes a double out, providing there is a man on a base, the man supposed to be batting and the man on first base or nearest the same being out; triple out the same way. The game pieces can be placed anywhere in their respective circles with the exception of the center fielder, which must be placed to the side so as to allow the pitcher to shoot the ball to home base.

4. The batters game pieces 27 are the same size as game pieces 2 If a fair hit is made one of his game pieces is put on first base, it another fair hit is made that man is put on second base (this man is put on the square marked 7 instead of the real second base 2 so that it will not be in the way of the pitcher when he shoots the ball) and another man isput on the first base.

If the pitcher throws four balls before the batter is out, the man goes to first base as in regular base ball). If the pitcher gets three strikes on the batter he is out.

If the ball goes over the- There are three outs to an inning, after which the pitcher bats and the batter goes to pitch (shooling the ball) 11' the ball is batted through. the opening between the strips 15-it constitutes a home run; all men on buses coming in.

When a man makes the circuit and touches home base it counts one score for the batter.

lt will be seen that this is very much like the regular outdoor base ball game. The pitcher who is skilled in shooting the ball over the base and is quick to judge where the ball is going and can get his game piece in theway quickly can keep the batters score very low. And the batter who has a good eye can place the hall where he is more apt to make a safe hit preferably within the circles of first, second, third basemen and short stop but without hitting said men, will make more scores as the pitcher will have to be exceptionally quick to stop the ball when ll goes near those circles. Consequently, it will be seen that the skilled man will win nearly every time.

Hllving thus described the invention. what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination of a board, game pieces upon the board, a bat mounted upon the board and having a shift able pivot, and means for delivering a ball to the but,

2. The combination of a board, game pieces upon the board, the said board having an opening formed therein, a but provided with a pivot pin received loosely m ithin the opening to admit of the pivot point of the bat being shifted. and means for delivering.- a bull to the hat.

3. The combination of a board having an opening formed therein, game pieces upon the board, a bat having one. end thereof enlarged and the enlarged portion being formed with a pin received loosely within the opening in the base, and means for delivering a hall to the hat.

4. The combination of a board, a guard surrounding the board, one portion of the guard being spuced from an edge of the board to provide a rest for the hall and having an opening formed therein, game pieces upon the board, a hat mounted upon the board, and means outside of the guard for delivering a ball through the opening of the before mentioned opening therein and adapted to deliver a ball through the opening to the bat.

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

CARL E. I. LLTXDIFERG. [L.S. I

Witnesses:

C. R. SIMMONS, E. R. ENNIS.

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