Game of skill

Application filed November 27, 1313. Serial No. 264,338.

To dll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Otto Chapman, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at “Marchwood,” Beach Road, Mordialloc, 5 Victoria, Australia, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements, in Games of Skill, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of a game of skill 10 and amusement to be played either indoor or out-door. The game consists in drawing a sliding element, termed herein a “runner” from one position to another by means of a traction cord ancl winding device said ac15 tion being performed by one or more batsmen or basemen while the scouting players are chasing a ball struck by the batsman or baseman.

The game can be played like cricket or 20 baseball or with some of the features, of each game, the runner or runners being caused to travel between wickets on a straight pitch or between the bases of a diamond.’ If played on a straight pitch on 25 a table the apparatus, apart from a bat and ball consists of winding devices, either arranged at opposite ends of the pitch or at one end, to which devices are respectively connected the ends of a traction cord in the 30 length of which is interposed the runner. .

By winding the cord on one device it is unwound off the other whereby the runner will slide along the table in either direction according to which winder is rotated by 35 hand. According to this game a value is attached to each complete movement of the runner between bases.

Practical forms of the invention . are depicted in the accompanying drawings 40 whereof—

Figure 1 is a plan showing the apparatus in position on a table;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan showing a modified arrangement of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the winding devices;

Fig. 5 illustrates in elevation two forms 50 of the runner.

Referring to these drawings each winding device may consist of a reel or drum 1 erected to rotate on a vertical spindle 2 provided on a base plate 3 which may be 55 weighted to retain its position on the table T, or fixed by clamps 4 to the table or be provided with hooks at its outer encl to engage the edge of the table top or be fixed by screws to the table.

By preference the opposed ends of the 60 plates are formed with recesses 5 which may be termed “home bases” for the runner 6.

Suitable means such as a crank handle 7 is employed to rotate the drum and the base plate is preferably provided with a short 65 standard 8 formed with a guide eyelet 9, or provided with a pulley, through which the traction cord 10 passes from one drum to another. The runner 6 may have a wide base and be provided with a ball bearing 11 70 on its under side as in Fig. 5 to minimize friction with the table.

A suitable design for the “runner” is a round knob 13 formed with a circular flat base 14 as shown in the left hand , side of 75 Fig. 5, It will be obvious that the runner may be designed to any desired shape such, as the head ancl shoulders of a man, and further it may travel from point to point clear of pitch or ground contact. 80

The other elements used in the game consist of a bat, club or racket 15 and a resilient or celluloid ball 16, though the bat or the like might be dispensed with ancl the ball struck by hand. 85

Furthermore if desired the apparatus may comprise an adjustable horizontal bar 17 supported upon standards 18 under which bar the ball is delivered to the batsman as in Fig. 2. 90

The game may be played somewhat on the combined lines of cricket and baseball ancl as an illustration a player stands near each device both being on the same side and one being the batsman. Opposing players 95 scout except one who bowls along the pitch position of the table at the batsman and when the ball is struck the batsman or his copartner according to the home base position of the “runner” 6 at the time, en- 100. deavors by quickly operating one of the winders to move the “runner” from one home base 5 to the other in order to score a run or point. The object of the opponents is to strike the “runner” with the ball while 105 said “runner” is between the home bases in which case the batsman is out and another takes his turn till the side is disposed of.

In the arrangement according to Fig. 3 the winding devices 1, 1, are provided on 110 one base at one encl of the pitch ancl the cord passes around pulleys or through eye1,329,291 lets formed in short standards 19 on a base at the other encl of the pitch. With this arrangement either the batsman or his copartner operate the runner. Furthermore two runners may be used and caused to slide in opposite directions in which case the winding devices are duplicated.

It will be readily understood that the rules of the game might vary considerably ₅the essential elements of the invention being the winding devices with the cord and “runner” and the raised horizontal bar 17 if required. This bar may be supported on the standards by being simply slipped through holes 20 in said standards which are placed the desired distance apart and are provided with suitable bases 21 to maintain them in upright position on the table.

When this horizontal bar is used it is placed in suitable position across the pitch and the bowler must pitch the ball on the table so as to make it bounce under the bar without touching same, the rules involvingpenalties to the pitcher for unskilful bowling.

It will be evident that by adjusting the height of the bar on its standards that the amount of skill necessary to play the game can be varied.

The standards supporting the bar might 30 be fixed to the surface of the table or attached by clips to the edge thereof and the bar might be supported on pegs, hooks or the like on the standards.

In lieu of the horizontal bar or in con- 35 junction therewith a fiat board 22 may be placed in suitable position across the pitch upon which board the pitcher must bounce the ball before same reaches the batsman.