Game apparatus.

Application filed May 26, 1909.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

Serial No. 498,391. .

To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, Edward P. Meeker, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, New Jersey, have invented cer5 tain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to a game apparatus, particularly one designed to play a game 10 similar to baseball.

For a full description of my invention, its merits and the way to use the same, reference is had to the accompanying description and drawings.

Although the specific details of the mechanism of my invention fiiay be varied without departing from the spirit thereof, neyertheless the preferred embodiment is shown in the drawings, in which—

Figure 1 is a perspective of the entire playing board; Fig. 2 is a section of the same on line 2—2 Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section through line 3—3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section through line 4—iFig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section through line 5—5 Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a section through line 6—6 Fig. 5 ;· Fig. 7 is. an enlarged plan view of the pitching device ; and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section showing the preferred mounting of a playing-man,

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 indicates the entire playing board which may be of any convenient size, and preferably of the shape shown. Around the edge of the board is constructed a raised flange l^a to resemble 35 the inclosing fence of a baseball field, and also to keep the playing ball within the limits of the board. The board is marked off into a playing diamond 2, and also by means of lines 4 into an out field. The 40 lines 4 represent, in the ordinary baseball field, the foul line. The outer field is preferably marked off by concentric circles 5 into segments, which segments are employed in framing up the rules of the game 45 to determine whether a one base, two base or three base hit is made., Although various rules may be applied to this game, in the present instance it is intended that when the ball comes to rest inside the first concentric 50 circle, the batter is to be credited with a one base hit, inside of the second circle and outside of the first a two base hit, and so on, and outside of the outer circle'in the locality of the flag 6 a home run. Inclined surfaces ⁵⁵ 7 leading upwardly from the surface of the board are preferably disposed at convenient places adjacent the out field fence .but spaced therefrom for the purpose of assisting the batter in making a home run. A rule may be made in the use of the game 60 that the ball rolling up an incline 7 and over the fence gives the batter credit for a home run. Since the inclines 7 are spaced a slight distance from the fence, the ball will need sufficient momentum to carry it 65 over the gap, for otherwise it will drop short of the fence and. count only for a three base hit or less.

At the usual positions of players in the field devices 3 are located representing the 70 playing men, and these are preferably mounted by means of pegs 3^a set in holes 3^bformed in the board, such as shown in Fig. 8. Several of these holes are provided to give-each playing man a limited adjust- 75 ment. I also prefer to make these playing men of some pliable material,, such as soft lead, in order that they may be bent into various shapes for most effectually forming stops to the ball when it is rolled out in their 80 direction. Adjacent each playing man, including the pitcher and catcher, is a recess 11 formed in the board large and deep enough to receive the playing ball 26 should it chance to lodge therein. Also around 85 each player is described a circle ll^a, the object of this circle being that a rule may be made in playing a game that a ball coming to rest within this circle gives the player a put out. It is also intended in the rules' 90 designed for the use of this game, that a ball rolling into one of the holes 11 is the same as if caught by an out field player putting the batter out, and it is obvious that various modifications of the rules may be made with 95 respect to men being on base, and so on, when this happens.

The two operating parts of this game consist of the mechanisms for operating the pitcher and batter, which will now be de- 100 scribed. In the pitcher’s box of the diamond is' formed a recess 11, shown more clearly in Fig. 6, and at the bottom of this recess is located a tappet 22 fixed to a rocking rod 23, mounted in bearings in the lower 105 part of the playing board. The rocking rod 23 extends beneath the board outwardly to one side thereof, and upon the end is formed a knurled knob 25, or any other convenient finger operating part by which the rod. 23 HO may be rocked in its bearings. Also preferably coiled around the rod 23 is a spring 24, s

968,249 shown more clearly in Fig. 5, which tends to turn the rod to keep the tappet 22 down in the recess. Immediately in front of the recess 11 is an indented plate ll^b, upon which 5 the playing ball 26 is adapted to be placed for receiving its initial blow. It is obvious that when the knob 25 is turned against its spring the tappet 22 will strike against the ball 26 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, 10 and send it rolling toward the. batter 10.

The mechanism for operating the batter 10 is shown more clearly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The batting device is pivoted in the playingboard at. 10* (Fig. 3) and has fixed at its 15 lower end a pinion 14. Engaging with the pinion 14 is-a longitudinal sliding rack 15* fixed to a rod 15, which slides in. suitable guideways at the lower part of the playing board. A coil spring 17, abutting at one 20 end against a collar 15” of the rod and. at the other end against the main body of the board, is provided to normally throw the rod inwardly in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. A pivoted latch 20 actuated by a 25 spring 21 tends to catch the rod 15 when it is pulled outwardly and hold it in its outward position against the force of the spring 17. A convenient knob 16 is fixed to the outer end of the rod 15, and a cushion 30 18 is preferably inserted in the inner guideway for the rod to form an abutment therefor. It is obvious that when the rod 15 is pulled outwardly against its spring it will turn the batter 10, which is provided with a 35 bat 13 extending therefrom, around in position for batting, and'that the latch 20 will hold it in this position.

In playing the game one player operates the rod 23 to send the ball 26 rolling toward 40 the· batter, and this may be done with different degrees of force, according to the will of the player. The other player controls ’ the latch 20 and may release the same with his finger at any time desired, upon which 45 the batting member 10 will swing around on its pivot and if properly timed to the speed of the approaching ball, the projecting rod 13 will strike the same. As before stated, various rules may be made to suit the play50 ers based upon the movement of the ball 26 when hit and its final resting place.