US994963A - Game apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

L. 0. SUTTON.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 16,1910.

Patented June 13, 1911.

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GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED M1016, 1910.

Patented June 13, 1911.

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GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DBG.16,191`0.

994,963, Patented June 13, 1911.

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,Le/7V, dllozuslJ APPLICATION FILED DEO.16, 1910.

l L. 0. SUTTON. GAME APPARATS.

Patented June 13, 1911.

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L. 0. SUTTON.

GAMB APARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 16,1910.

9945963. j Patented June 13,5'1911.

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lg/wi S14/UWC@ y "UNITED STAWENT OFFICE Louis o. SUTTON, or4 WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

i lGrAIldCE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 13, 1911,

`Application led December 16, 1910. Serial No. 597,601. y

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it .known that I, LOUIS O. SUTTON, a citizenof the United States, residing at lVill mington` in the county of Newcastle and 5 State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game pparatus, of which the following is a specili-` cation.

Hy invention relates to improvements in gaine apparatus, an object of the invention being to provide an improved game `table 'designed especially for playing the game of baseball, and which will automatically record on the board by means of electric lights, the

- representation of a. base ruimer moving along the base lines. and at the several bases.

A further object is to provide an improved table indicating thereon the representation of a baseball field with` the base lines transparent, andv electric lights un'der the base lines and at the'bases, said lights included in circuits which are closed by the movement of-cue balls in accordance with the movement'of the latter. `A further objectis to provide a game board or table having av cushion against which cue balls are adapted to be driven by means of the ordina-ry cue, and provide electric contacts in circuit with electric lights, said contacts moved together by the ball as it is deflected from the cushion, so as to cause the illumination of certain of said lights.I A further object is to provide a game apparatus of this character in which openings are provided in the board or` table through which the cue balls pass when said balls fail ^to engage the contacts above vreferred to, and in` which position said balls record outs in .10 the game of baseball, and provide below said openings, alleys joining a common alley for the care of the balls passing throughsaid openings, said openings being located on the field at the positions ordinarily occupied by the players.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangement of hallways, electric contacts, metal balls, gates, and-electro-magnets controlling the passage of the balls down the hallways in accordance with the contact closed b v the cue ball, giving to the representation of the diamond or base paths the ap pearance of a runner moving along the-base Vlines from base tovbase, such impression being causedv by the regular and successive Lview .of the ballways.

lighting and extinguishing of the lights in the path. i

A further object is to provide improved means for releasing intothe several hallways a single ball at a time, and permitting said ball to move in the hallway a distance equal to the distance around the base paths in accordance with lthe particular contact closed b v thecue ball, and permitting balls which illuminate thelights at any of the bases to move in a proportionate distance on the base lines, such as a player would ordinarily 'move in an ordinary game of baseball in response tothe kind of hit. recorded by the closed contact.

A further object is to provide improved ballways for metal balls, said metal balls adapted to close electric circuits as they move along the hallways, causing the successive illumination of lights in the base lines, and provide limproved means for returning the balls to their hopper or supply chamber.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangement of electric circuits whereby all of the several operations are automatically performed to release the several circuit closing balls, and control their movement down their several hallways in accordance with the contacts closed by the cue balls, and automatically closethe electric circuitsv of the lights in the base path and at the bases.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction andl combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be,Y more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. f

In the accompanyingv drawings: Figure l, is a plan view illustrating my improvements. Fig. Q, is a view in longitudinal section. F1g. 3, is a view in cross section. Fig. 4, 1s an inverted longitudinal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is a sectional p lan Fig. 6, is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7, is a sectional plan view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.,Fig. 8, is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of aportion of the hallways showing one of the electrogmagnetic gates.\/ Fig. 9, is a view in cross section through Fig. 8. Fig. 10, 1s a long1tud1- nalsection illustrating onan enlarged scale one of the contacts closed bythe cue balls.

Fig.y 11, is an enlarged sectional view at right angles to Fig. 10. Fig. 12, is a diagram showing the arrangement of electric circuits between the several contacts and the electro-magnetic gates. Fig. 13, is a diagram showing the electric circuits between the several contacts in the hallways and the lights in the hase lines. and Fig. 14, shows anfordinary cu'e and cue balls with which the game is played.

The game apparatus ,comprises a boX-like body havinga bottom 1, sides 2, 2, ends 3,

anda top t, the top 4 constituting the lfield which islocated a distance below the upper edges ot the sides and ends to connethe cue balls on the iield during the playing of the game. rlhe body is preferably supported on suitable legs 5, and is of approximately the same size as an ordinary billiard or pool table. On the top or table 1. transparent strips 6 are inserted representing the base lines of ordinary baseball diamonds, which connect transparent squares 7 which l shall term bases. Beneatheach base, and beneath ,the transparent strips 6, are electric lights 8, and for convenience of description l shall hereinafter refer to these lights as base line lights and base lights. ,n At one end of the table is a delecting cushion 9 which is oit general heart shape cut under as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, and adapted to be struck by an ordinary cueball 10a when operated by an ordinary cue 11a illustrated in Fig. 14.

Backof the representation yof the diamond, and at points which would ordinarily be occupied by players on an'ordinary baseball iield, openings 10 are provided in the top 4 blocks 11 being located back of said openingsto serve as abutments, and ther walls of said openings removed from said blocks, being beveled or inclined to more effectually direct the cue balls into the openings. Below the several openings 10, chair,

nels or passages 12 are provided which inoline downwardly to a common passage 13,

and the latter discharges through an opening 14, so that any cue ball which may fall through any of said openings will pass into a receptacle 15 provided for their reception outside of the table.

Below the top or iield 4L, but located within the box-like body, is an inclined table 16, which comprises a hopper 17 at its upper end with which a series of longitudinal hallways communicate. rFliese hallways I have given diiierent reference characters for convenience of description. rllhere are four main hallways which l number 18, 19, 20, and 21, respectively which extend from the hopper or chamber 17 throughout the length `of the table and discharge into a transverse chute 22. ln addition to these hallways, a fifth hallway 23 is proeef/1,963

chute 22, and from the latter directed through a passage 26 to a conveyer 27. This conveyer 27 is constructed to elevate the metal halls hack into the chamber or hopper 17, and may be operated by any suitable mechanism (not shown).

The table 16 is composed of non-conducting material, and its hallways are of general V-shape containing metal contact plates 28 in its opposite faces spaced apart, insulated from each other, and yet connected in electric circuits with the several lights 8 under the base line 6 and bases 7. A diagram or these elect-ric circuits is shown in Fig. 13 illustrating the several independent circuit wires 29 connecting the lights 8 with the contact plates 28, and all of said circuits are electrically connected with a supply main 30, and in this diagram the bases corresponding to the bases of the iield are indicated in line, and not as they actually appear on the field. t

At the entrance or upper end of the-ballways 18, 19, 20, and 21, where they communicate with the hopper or chamber 17, elcctro-magnetic gates 31, 32, 33, and 34C respectively are located. lin the hallway 18 at a point distant from the hopper onefourth of. the ylength of the hallway, and at the point o'f communication between the ballway 18, and the branch Aballway 2t, two of such electro-magnetic gates 35 and 36 are provided, the gate 35 controlling the direct passage down the hallway 18, and the gate 3G controlling thepassage down the branch ballway 24. At a point half way down ballway 19, is an electromagnetic gate 37, and at points three-quarters of the way down hallways 18 and 20 are electro-magnetic gates 38 and 39 respectively. Fach ot these electro-magnetic gates as ll term them comprises a bracket 40 of general bowed form supporting an electro-magnet, the core of which extends through the bracket 40, into the path of a metal ball 25 far enough to hold the ball against movement down the hallway, hence these gates are adapted to hold the balls in positions on the contact plates 28 in the several hallways to close the electric circuits which illuminate the lights below the bases. For example, gates 35 and 36 hold a ball in position to close thc contact and light the firstbase light. `Gate 37 holds a ball in position to light the second base light, and gates 38 and Y39 hold a ball in position to light the third base light. i??

These several electro-magnetic gates or electro-magnets, which constitute the operative element of the gates,- are controlled by electric-circuits indicated diagrammatically in F ig. 12, and these electric circuits are adapted to he closed by the weight of the cue ball to raise the armature or gate as will hereinafter appear.

In the sides 2 and ends 3 of the box-like body which project above the top or eld`4, recesses or grooves/41 are provided for the reception and passage of the cue balls, and said passages incline to a pocket 42 at one end of the table, so that these balls which do not enter the openings,`10 are returned for further use. At the entrance to these grooves'41, vertically movable platforms are located, and are given separate reference characters for clearness of description.

The sides 2 at points in line with the first and third hase lines of the diamond illustrated by the transparent sections 6, are curved or projected inwardly as shown at 42a, so that balls which do not come inside of the lines 6, in other words, foul balls are deflected back into the field. Between these inwardly projecting portions 42a, and thev playing end of the eld, and aty both sides of the table, are two platforms and at the player end of the table are three of these platforms making seven in all. The yfirst two platforms or those adjacent the representation of a diamond, lt give reference characters 43 and 44 respectively, and these platforms are what l term t one hase hit platforms. rll`he adjacent platforms 45 and l 46 which extend from the ends of platforms ends upon pins 50, around which coiled springs 51' are provided normally spacing contacts 52 and 53 apart. As the cue ball in order to pass into the grooves 41 must pass over one of these platforms, the weight ,of the ball will be sufficient to move the contacts 52 and 53 together to close the electric .circuitin which said contacts are included to operate the several electromagnetic gates as will he explained.

ln playing the game, the cue isutilized to direct the ball against the cushion 9, and owing to the peculiar shape of the latter considerable science is necessary to direct the ball. The object, of course, is to direct the hall over one of the base hit platforms and prevent it from passing into any of the openings 10. lrVhen,the ball passes into the openings 10, the scorer records one out. When it passes over a base hit platform, a. metal ball 25 will be released so that the lights 8 will be illuminated in succession and give the /appearance of a hase runner moving along the base lines from one base to another, and-this operation of the metal balls is controlled by the electro-magnetic gates through themedium of electric circuits shown in Fig. 12, and which will now be described.

ln the following description, it is to he understood that referring to the several platforms, that -this reference includes the electric contacts which form a part of said plat forms.

As the magnets 37, 38, and 39 always operate simultaneously with any one of the. magnets 31, 32, 33, and 34, and with either magnet 35 or 36, the said magnets 37, 38 and 39 are included in a multiple arc circuit 54, which includes magnet 35, and magnet 31, and by means of branch wires 55 includes magnet 36. rl`he wires of circuit 54 are connected by wires 56 and 57 with the first base hit platforms 4-1 and 43 respectively, and these circuits are connected by branch wires 58 with the line wires 59. Included in the circuits of the wires 56, 57, and 54, is the magnet. 31 which controls the release) f of metal balls from hopper 17 into the ballway 1S. rThe two base hitplatforms 45 and 46 are connected by wires 60 with wires 61, which connect with the branch wires 55, andinclude in the electric circuit the electromagnet 32 which controls the passage of balls from the hopper 17 into the hallway 19. The three basehit platforms 47 and 48 are connected by wires 62 with the branch wires 55, and include in the electric v'circuit the magnet 33 which controls the passage of halls from the hopper 17 to the hallway 26. The home run platform 49 is connected by wires 63 with the branch wires 55, and

includes in the elect-ric circuit, the magnet 34 which latter controls the passage of balls from" hopper 17 into hallway 21. Each of these circuit wires 60, 62, and 63, like wires 56, are connected by branch wires 58 with the line wires 59, and all of these several circuitsare normally opened and held open by means of the springsl of the several platforms. Y

In playing the game, a cue ball is placed upon the ield, and is Astruck hy the cue to strike the ball against the cushion 9. rfhe object, of course, is to English the hall in a desi-red way so as to make itescape the several openings 10, and pass over at least one of the platforms, preferably those highest in value, and due to the location of the openings 10, the difficulty of directing the ball over the higher value platforms is proportionately increased, for example, it being easier to direct the ball over the one base hit platforms 43 and 44,' and then over the two base hit platforms 45 and 46, etc.

We will assume that when the cue ball is struck, it ,is deflected badkvvard into fair ground escaping the projections 42a, and passes over thepla'tform 43, making a base hit to right iield. As soon as the ball dcpresses the platform 43, the electric circuit Will be closed so as to momentarily energize magnets 31, 35, 37, 38, and 39, and a metal ball 25 Will therefore be released doWh ball- Way 18, but the core of magnet 35 Will have descended before the ball reaches that point, so that the ball Will be stopped by the core of the magnet, or by the electromagnetic gate as this is referred to. As the metal ball passes down the ballvvay 18, it Will successively close the electric circuits which include the contact plates 28, and cause the lights 8 under the transparent strip 6 be` tween the home plate and the first base to be successively lighted, and as long as the ball is held by the magnet 35, it Will maintain illuminated the light under the rst bascplate 7. We will suppose that the nextcue ball Which is shot against cushion 9' is deiiected, so that it passes into one of the openings 10. rllhis Will record one out and the base runner on first base Will not advance. We Will assume that the next cue ball Which strikes cushion 9, passes over first base hit platform 44, Which `Will be a single to left field'. When this happens, platform 44 will close the electric circuit between the Wires '56, causing magnets 31 and 35 to be energized as Well as the magnets 37, 38, and 39 which are always energized at every operation of any platform. rllhe metal ball 25, which was held by magnet 35, Will roll down hallway 18 as far as the magnet 38, and the lights under the base paths between the lirst and second, and second and third will be successively lighted, which Will give the appearance ofabase runner running from rst `to third base, and thethird base light Will remain lighted. At the same time a second ball Will enter hallway 18, and roll down to the magnet 35, causing the lights under the base path between home plate and first base to be successively illuminated, giving the appearance of a runner going down toV first base,V and the lirstbase'light will remain jlighted. lllhe field Will then show a man on rst and a man on third base. We will now suppose that the next cue ball Which strikes Acushion 9 passes over the'home run platform 49. When this occurs, the circuit Will be closed through the wires 63 energizing magnet 34, and magnets 36, 37, 38, and 39. llt Will therefore be noted that the magnet 35 vis not energized, but magnet 36 is, which permits the ball to roll through the hallway 23 throughout the length of the jtable, and

the ball against magnet 38 to'roll down ball- Way 18 to the end of the table. At the same time, the ball Whichis permitted to enter ballway 21 by reason of energizing magnet eef-rees 34 Will pass throughout the entire length of the hallway 21.` This movement of the balls Will cause the successive illumination of the lights below the base paths, so that'it'will give the general impression of the man on third base running home, the man on first base running around home, and the ba ter encircling the-base paths. The scorer will, of course, record three runs. if the next tivo cue balls enter holes 10, the inning will be over for that player. The next player then uses these cue balls Which are delivered into the receptacle 15. Cue balls Which do not pass through the openings 10 are guided into the pocket 42, and are used over and over again.- The several metal balls as they pass throughout the table, enter the chute 22 and are directed back by the passage 26 to the head of the table into the path of movement of a conveyer 27, which latter is operated by any suitable mechanism (not shown) to convey the metal balls upward into the chamber or hopper 17 for reuse.

ln playing this game, the electro-magnetic gates are so arranged that the normal play on a baseball diamond as the result of base hits is recorded electrically on the representation of the baseball diamond. ln other Words, if a man is on first base, a single Will place him on third. 1f he is on first base, a double, triple, or home run Will carry him all the way home aheadbf the batter who will stop on the base paths in accordance With the hit he makes. -lf a runner is on second base, a single Will bring', him home. rllhe auxiliary ballvvay 23 with its electromagnetic gate 36 is provided so that a base runner on first base Will be driven all the Way home ahead of a batter making more than a single for in such event as above eX- plained in connection With the several circuits, magnet 36 Will be energized to allow a ball to pass doWn the ballWay 23, While the magnet `35 prevents the ball from .passing down hallwayn 18. .Any ball T.vhich strikesr the side lines before passing over first or third base is a foul. lf such ball eventually falls into the one of the pockets 10, it is a -foul out. lf the ball stops on the field, it

would simply record a strike, and three ofy such strikes would be out. A great many combinations of plays may be made on "the board, and rules laid down for certain positions in Which the ball stops. 1f such `positions entitle the player to hits according to the rules, the several platforms may be manually depressed so as to properly register on the board, but the invention is of course not limited to the particular rules employed.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described Without departing from my invention, and hence l do vnot limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A game apparatus, comprising a field.

` transparent base lines on said field, lights vbelow said base lines noinially extinguished,

and cue ball coiitiolled means for successively illuminating the lights below the base lines and at the bases, substantially as described.

2. game apparatus, comprising a field, transparent base lines on said field', lights below said base lines normally extinguished, a cushion on said field, a ball adapted to euga'ge said cushion, and means operated by said ball successively illuminating the lights below the base lines and the bases, substantially as described.

3. ln a game apparat-us, the combination with a field, transparent base lines on said field', transparent basesk at the ends of said base lines, and electric lights below said base lines and bases, of a cushion at one end of said field baclrof one of said bases, a cue ball adapted to be moved against said cushion, openings in said field for the reception of said ball, and electric contacts ou said field adapted to be operated by said ball and controlling the Aillumination of said lights, substantially as described.

4. ln a game apparatus, the combination with a field, transparent base lines on said field, transparent bases at the ends of. said base lines, and electric lights below said'base lilies and bases, of a cushion at one end of said field back of one ofsaid bases, a cue ball adapted to be moved against said cushion, openings in said field for the reception of said ball, means below said field controlling thev illumination of said lights, and means on saidfield operated by said ball for controlling the operation of the first-mentioned means, substantially as describedu 5. ln a gaine apparatus,'-the combination with a field, transparent base lines on said field, transparent bases at the ends of said base lines, and electric lights below said base lines and bases, of a. cushion at one end of said field back of one of said bases, a cue ball adapted'to be moved against said cushindicating base lilies, transparent pieces at ion, openings insaid field for the reception of said Lball, means below1 said field controlling the illumination of said lights, and electiic circuit-closing means on said field operated by said ball for controlling the operation of the first-mentioned means, substantially as described.

6. In a game apparat-us, the combination with a field, transparent strips on said field the juncture of said base lines indicating bases, electric .lights below said base lines ected back over said field, said field havingv openings therein to receive said ball, passages below said openings, a common passage into which all of said first-nientioiied passages empty, aiid electric means operated by said ball for illuminating certain of said lights under said base lines and bases, substantially as described. p

7. ln a game apparatus, the combination with a field, transparent strips on said field indicating base lines., transparent pieces at the-juncture of said base lines indicating bases, electric lights below said base lines and bases, andI an elastic cushion on said field back of one of said bases, of'a ciie ball adapted to engage' saidcushion and be defiected back over said field, said field having openings therein to receive said ball, passages below said openings, a common passage into which all of said first-nientioned passages empty, electric means below said field controlling tlie illumination of said lights, and electric means on said field operated by said ball for controlling the operation of the first- -mentioned means, substantially as described.

8.` in' a game apparatus, the combination with afield, transparent strips on said field indicating base lines, transparent pieces at the juncture of said base lines indicating bases, electric lights below said base lines and bases, and an elastic cushion on said field back of one of said bases, of a cue ball adapted to engage said cushion and be deflected back over said field, said field having openings therein to receive said ball, passages below said openings, a common passage into which all of said first-mentioned passages empty, electric contact-s, vertically movable platforms on said field depressed by saidba'll to close said electric contacts,

and electric circuits in which said contacts are included Acontrolling'the operation of said first-mentioned means, substantially as described.

. 9. A game apparatus, comprising the representation of a baseball diamond, lights along the base lines and at the bases, ineansl .of said metal ballsinto and through said hallways, cue .ball operated electric contacts controlling the operation of said gates,

and metal contacts in said hallways in electric circuit with said lights, substantially as described.

10. A game apparatus, comprising a field,

"transparent base lines" on saidfield, lights below said base lines normally extinguished,

means for successively illuminating the lights below the base lines and at the bases, said light controlling means comprising an inclined table having a plurality of ballways, a chamber at the upper end of saicl table, metal balls in said chamber, electromagnetic gates controlling the passage of said metal balls into and through said ballway's, eue ball operated electric contacts con- 10 trolling the operation of said` gates, and] saliese `metal contacts in said hallways in electric name to this specication in the pres-ence of 15 two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS 0. SUTTON. Witnessess GEORGE DoRsnY, Jin?, TLEMAS SMITH.

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