US918799A - Game-board. - Google Patents

Description

W. E. UHF-LAND.

GAME BOARD.

APPLIUA'IIOH rum) D110. 22. 1908.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

m R. K E M N R E O VU T N T E /A F W a W v. w B

WALTER E. UHRLAND, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GAME-BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 22, 1908.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial No. 468,743.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I ,WALTER E. UHRLAND, citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful lm rovements in Game- Boards, of which the fo owing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in game-boards," and it consists in the novel details of construction more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention; and Fig. 2 1s a vertical longitudinal section taken through the hinged arm or bat by which the play-ball is struck.

The object of the present invention is to construct a ame-board in which an imitation base-bal game can be played iii-doors, the same conforming in details as near to the natural game as is possible with any artificial or substitute means restricted to a limited s ace.

A furt er object is to provide a board on which the game may be played by two, four or any even number of ersons; one in which chips or disks are emplbyed to indicate the runners or batters, and one possessin other features of construction the purpose 0 which will be best apparent from a detailed descri tion of the invention which is as follows:

eferring to the drawings, B. represents a board or platform having a marginal circumscribing ledge or wall 1, along two sides of which are formed in the board a row of twenty depressions or pockets 2 the corner pocket being counted as belonging to either row. On the wall 1 over the last or outer three ockets of each row is marked the word Fou the remaining designations starting with the left hand end of the series, being marked over the successive pockets as follows23B Q,O,2B,HR O 1 SB,O,1B,O, 2B,O,]l3 O,1B,0,1B,0,0,2B,1B o, O1SB,1B,(),1B,(),1B,3B,O1SB,1 B,O,1B,O,HR.

From the inner of each set of foul pockets and disposed arallel to the respective sides of the board (which is preferably square) are lines a a, which meet at a point at which the batter or striker is supposed to be stationed as resentl to be explained. Leading from eacli of the ines a c, at suitable distances from the ends thereof, and drawn at right angles thereto are lines I) b which intersect or meet at what constitutes the second base ocket 2 B, the meeting points of the lines li b with the lines a (1, indicating the positions of the first base ocket 1 B, and the third-base pocket 3 fourth base bein without a pocket since the bat plays over t is base as presentl to appear. Between the lines I) and t e adjacent sides of the board, are conveniently marked off by lines at x, y y as shown, outer sections or areal divisions S, O, O, S O, O, S, immediately adjacent to the ockets 2, and an inner series of divisions (l S S, 0 located adjacent to the diamond formed by the lines a a. b b. Along the lines a: m, are marked off the ri ht field pocket R F, and left field ocket LT, respectively, the centerfield poc at C F, being at the point of intersection of the lines a: m. Between the second and third base pockets on one of the lines I) is the short-stop pocket S S, and at the corner of the board behind the striker is the catchers pocket C. The lines I) b with the lines a a mark off a square which is divided by the diagonal play-ball line d into two sections marked each with the letter O. The designations S and 0 mean respectively safe and out and will be presently referred to.

Mounted ad'acent to the corner or point of intersection o the lines a a is a bearin or block 3 provided with a pin 4 about whic is free to oscillate the arm or bat 5, the free end thereof being provided with a lateral offset or head 6, which as it swee s along the board, leaves a space between t e arm and the surface of the board, for the free assage or rolling therethrough of the half or marble m used in the game. The runners representing the players on opposite sides are indicated by chips or disks n colored on one side in the present illustration red the opposite side of the chip being without any s ecial color or left uncolored. The designations O, S, 1 B, 2 B, 3 B, H R, O 1 S B, mean respectivel T out, "safe, 1 base hit, 2 base hit, 3 base hit, home run, "out on first basesteal a base.

To play the game an intimate knowledge of out-door base-ball is not absolutely necessary, an understandin of the main terms employed being sufficient. With the explanation of the meaning of the designations already given, the operation of the device as shown, the

may be described as follows: Sup ose two ersons are playing the game, and t e runner identified by the red chips is at the hat. The pitcher (the op osite player) rolls the ball or marble along t e play-line from second base toward the base occupied by the striker or runner who with his hand swings the bat or arm 5 toward the right or across the base (this being at the intersection of the lines a a). If he strikes the ball thus rolling toward him and b the impact drives the ball say into one o the ockets 2 identified by the designation 1 1% that means that he has made one base hit or a run to the first base, and accordingly a red chip is placed at the first base pocket 1 B. If he fails to strike the ball and the latter rolls under the arm 5 (through the space formed by reason of the offset or head 6) that is counted as one ball, and should four such failures follow successivel so as to result in four balls, it would entit e the runner to make a base. Of course the failure to strike a ball is due to the failure of the pitcher or person rollin the ball to pitch it over the base across whic the head 6 of the bat sweeps, and corres onds to the failure of a itcher in an actua out of door game to pitc the ball over the plate, when, upon four such successive failures the striker is entitled to his base. Assuming a striker at the first base, a fact indicated by placing a red chip at such base, and assuming that on the next rolling of the ball the striker at the bat likewise sends the ball into a pocket marked 1 B. This will entitle such second striker to first base, and the previous striker to a base, or to second base, a fact indicated by moving the chip which was at first base to second base, and placing a fresh chip at the first base. Again sup ose a striker should send the ball into a poc et marked 3 B; this would entitle him to three bases, and if on the next strike he made a one-base hit, the chip on the third base would be called in and a complete run would be indicated for this chip, a second chip being placed at the first base pocket 1 B to indicate the making of a base it A ain should the batter drive the ball intoa oui ocket,eachfoulwouldcounta strike against h1m,for the first two fouls 'ust as it does in the natural game. If the atter drives a ball into a pocket marked H R, it entitles him to a home run; if he sends it into a pocket marked 0 1 S B, it means he is out on rst base, but that the man (or chip) at the first base steals the next or second base, or that a man at any given base steals the next following base. Again, suppose the striker drives a ball into a pocket on the board marked R F, it means that the man in the right field has caught the ball and the striker is out; if the ball lands in ocket C F, it means the man at center field as can ht the ball, and the striker is out, and so on t rough the remaining pockets in the field, including the catchers )ocket behind the bat marked meaning t at the catcher has cau ht a foul and the striker is out. Again, shou d the ball roll beyond the diamond into one of the field s aces marked 0, the striker is out, meaning t 'iat one of the field men caught the ball; if it lands in one of the divisions marked S, he is safe" indicating that none of the field men caught the ball. The diamond above referred to is the space between the four bases, bounded by the intersecting lines a a b b.

It will be seen from the foregoing that almost every phase of the natural game may be imitated. Of course not all, but enough to make the parlor game interestin Two persons may play it as described, t e player at the bat continuing until all the chips colored to represent his side are exhausted in either making their bases, or are counted out according to where they land on the board after impact. Thereu on the opponent takes the bat and the first atter does the rolling of the ball m, utilizing a set of different colored chips, or he may use the same chips which are colored differently on their opposite faces. Of course if four persons play, then two take one side and two the opposite side as obvious. The ball should always be rolled along the playline (1, otherwise it is apt to pass behind the head 6 under the arm 5, and count against the roller or itcher who, if he rolls four such balls entltles the striker or batter to a base run.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A base-ball game-board com rising a four sided platform having a boun ing wall or ledge extending above the face of the platform, a diamond marked off on the platform with sides parallel to the edges of the platform, ockets formed at the first, second and third bases of the diamond, a series of pockets formed along two sides of the wall respectively arallel to the lines connecting the first an second base pockets, and second and third base pockets, the said wall bearing marks op osite the respective contiguous pockets desi nating the result of a given stri e of the bal projected into the pocket, an arm pivoted to sweep over the latform and having a terminal lateral head bearing against the platform and s acin the arm a suitable distance from the ace 0 the platform for the free passage of the ball therethrough, the board being rovided outside of the diamond with poc ets properly designatin and defining the ositions of the center fielci left field, ri ht fiel d, and pockets defining the position 0 the short-stop and catcher, substantially as set forth.

2. A base-ball game-board having a diamond marked thereon, a contiguous series of divisions representing safe and out positions for the ball, an outer series of similar divisions contiguous to the first set of divisions, two outer rows of pockets disposed along corresponding contiguous sides of the board, and wells projecting above the board adjacent to the pockets and bearing inscri tions designating the result of a given stri e of the ball rojected into the pocket, the Foul poo ets being positioned adjacent but exterior to, an extension of the outer bounding sides of the diamond.

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

WALTER E. UHRLAN D. Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, T. EVANS.

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