US959402A - Game apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

W. A,; SULLIVAN. GAME APPARATUS. APBIAIOATION FILED AUGA, 1909.

959,402 Patented May 24, 1910.

INVENTOH' WITNESSES;

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WILLIAM A. SULLIVAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24;, 1910.

Application filed August 4, 1909. Serial No. 511,158.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. SULLI- VAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, Richmond Hill, borough of Queens, county of Queens, and State of New, York, have invented a new and Improved Game Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a game apparatus, and it has for its object to provide an apparatus having amember supporting a ball, which is adapted to be moved laterally by a baseball bat in the hands of a player, there being means which is adapted to indicate the force of the blow as the bat is brought suddenly into contact with the ball.

Still other objects of the invention will appear in the following complete description.

In this specification I will describe the preferred form of my invention, it being understood that the scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my apparatus in position for use; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the drum, the radially disposed arms, and the shaft to which they are secured; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that a vertical frame 5 is provided, the frame 5 being mounted on a base 7, a pulley or block 8 being secured at the top of the vertical frame 5, over the sheave of which is disposed a cable 6, this cable 6 being secured to a weight 9, which is normally disposed in close roXimity to the base 7. The top of the side of the vertical frame 5 is divided into four spaces 10, the upper division being marked Home, the division thereunder being marked 3, and the other two divisions being marked 2 and 1 respectively.

To the vertical frame 5 are secured lateral frame members 11, which are spaced apart, in the outer terminals of which'is j ournaled a shaft 12. A drum 13 is secured to one end of the shaft 12 near the bearing in one of the lateral frame members 11. To this drum 13 are secured oppositely disposed radial arms 14, the planes of the radially disposed arms 14 being disposed substantially at equal distances from the planes of the laterally disposed arms 11. To the outer terminals of the arms 14 are secured balls 15, which are preferably manufactured as are baseballs, in order that as nearly as possible the effect produced by the sudden contact of a baseball bat with one of the balls 15, will resemble the effect when a baseball is hit by a bat in the outdoor game of baseball. As stated, one of the terminals of the cable 6 is attached to the weight 9, the other terminal of the cable 6 being secured to the drum 13 at its side.

In using my invention the player takes a bat, indicated by the dotted lines 16, and strikes the lower ball 15, which causes the arms 14: to revolve, thereby winding the cable 6 on the drum 13 and raising the weight 9, the force of the contact of the bat 16 with one of the balls 15 being indicated by the height to which the weight 9 is lifted by the cable 6, which is wound on the drum 13. If the weight is lifted to the top of the vertical frame 5 opposite the reading Home, the play is called a home-run, while if the weight is lifted opposite one of the spaces indicated by the numerals 1 2 or 3, the play is called a one, two, or three-base hit respectively.

In using my game apparatus, the weight slides up the frame'to a height corresponding to the blow given one of the balls 15 by the bat 16 and the weight slides down the frame when the force exerted by the bat on the said ball has been spent, until the cable is unwound from the drum, when one of the arms 14: will be disposed downwardly, thereby holding one of the balls in position to be struck toward the vertical frame by the bat. When the apparatus is to be used indoors, or where a short post is desired, the weight is increased and the drum 13 is decreased in size, which permits the ap paratus to be used in substantially the same way as where the vertical frame 5 is much longer, but, as will be understood, this construction with the short frame, the heavy weight and the small drum permits the apparatus to be used indoors, or where a tall frame is inconvenient. When a short frame is used, the lines separating the bases 1 2 3 and the space designated Home CIT at the top of the frame are placed closer to gether.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a game apparatus, a vertical frame, a weight adapted to travel relatively to the frame, pulleys secured to the top of the vertical frame, lateral frame members spaced apart and secured to the verticalframe, a shaft journaled in the lateral frame members, a drum secured thereto, an arm also secured to the shaft, and a cable secured to the weight, the cable extending over the pulley and having a terminal secured to the drum.

2. In a game apparatus, a vertical frame, a weight adapted to travel relatively to the frame, a pulley secured near the top of the vertical frame, lateral frame members spaced apart and secured to the vertical frame, a shaft journaled in the lateral frame members, a drum secured to the shaft, two radially disposed arms secured to the shaft, balls secured to the arms at their outer terminals, and a cable secured to the weight, the cable being disposed over the pulley and having a terminal secured to the drum.

3. In a game apparatus, a frame having a member adapted to support a cable, a weight adapted for traveling relatively to the frame, a shaft journaled in the frame and extending outwardly therefrom a distance above the ground, an arm secured to the shaft, a ball secured to the arm near its outer terminal, and a cable secured to the weight, the cable being disposed over the member of the frame and being adapted to be wound on the shaft, there being marks on the frame separating a portion of its outer surface into divisions on which are marked 1, 2, 3 and Home respectively, the weights in connection with the said marks serving to indicate how hard the ball is struck by a bat in the hands of a player.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM A. SULLIVAN.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR G. SULLIVAN, G120. F. ScULLY.

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