Improvements in Mechanical Ball Games.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES MOTT HALLOWELL, of 31, Nassau Street,
New York, U.S.A., Lawyer.]
Improvements in Mechanical Ball Games.
I, REGINALD WALTER BARKER, of Monument Chambers, King William
Street, London, Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists of a new and useful improvement in mechanical ball
games.
My invention is especially applicable to a miniature game of base-ball which
will preserve the essential elements of the field game of base-ball, so that the
miniature mechanical game may be played under substantially the same rules as
the field game.
A specific apparatus by which the game of base-ball may be played in miniature
according to my invention is represented and described as follows, with reference
to the drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of the game board upon which the miniature
ball-field is laid out, the mechanical players being shown in their respective
positions.
Fig. 2 is a perspective drawing of one of the mechanical players.
Figs. 3 and 3 show the mechanical bat in its two extreme positions.
Fig. 4 is a perspective drawing of one of the movable players or pawns.
In Fig. 1, P is a trough or chute suitably supported above the game-board. As
herein shown it has its upper and larger end resting in a slot A in the back board
or centre field fence and its lower end terminating at or near the square or pitcher's
box (marked 1,) the chute or pitcher being free at all points, so that it may be
moved both to vary its inclination and also to the right or left, either bodily or
radially, about the pitcher's box 1, to thereby vary not only the speed at which the
ball is delivered to the bat, but also to vary the direction in which the ball shall
approach the bat. For purposes of further description the trough or chute P, or
its mechanical substitute, will be called the "pitcher." B represents a bat pivoted
on a pin in the game board in such a position that it may swing horizontally over
the square or home plate (marked 2). This pivot may be located conveniently
near one end of the bat B. E is a spring to actuate the bat. It is here shown as
fastened to the bat so that it is in a state of tension when the bat is detained by
the trigger T, Figs. 1 and 3. The tension of the spring E is to be sufficient to
swing the bat across the home plate 2 when the bat is released from the trigger T.
KKK Fig. 1, are pockets affixed to or situated in the game board. They are
shown herein as hood-shaped receptacles mounted on the surface of the board and
having substantially vertical entrances to catch a ball moving swiftly over the
game board. In front of each hood K is hung a gate g, which swings inward
toward the hood, but will not swing outward. The construction of the gate g is
described in connection with Fig. 2. Hereinafter the hoods K, in combination
with the flaps or gates 9, will be referred to as "fielders," their function being
analogous to that of the fielding players in the field game of base ball.
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a fielder. The function of the fielder is as
follows:
When a ball is batted by the bat B in the direction of a fielder, before entering
the fielder it must pass the gate g, which is here shown as hinged horizontally in
front of the pocket. This gate g is hung so as to swing inward and admit the ball.
When the ball is in the fielder, the gate swings back to its vertical position, the

page_text: projecting corners nn of the gate striking against the supporting pins t t, so that
the ball cannot pass through the gate.
Returning to Fig. 1, R R R are ridges or fences on the game board, dividing the
board into several territories corresponding to the infield, short outfield, and long
outfield of the base ball field. F F are ridges similar to R, laid in directions at
right angles to each other and defining the boundary between "foul" and "fair"
territory as understood in the game of base ball. F F¹ are referred to hereinafter
as the foul-lines." The side walls about the game board are preferably of two
heights. From the points where the foul-lines F F touch the side walls to the
back wall already referred to as the "centre field fence," and in which is the slot A,
the side walls are substantially equal to the back wall in height and are of greater
height than the walls about that part of the game board marked "foul." At the
front or bat end of the game board is a space in the surrounding wall of suitable
width to enable a player to manipulate the bat by means of the string S, attached
to the trigger T.
The function of the ridges or fences R R is double and is as follows:
The ball when batted, if not caught by a fielder may be arrested by one of the
ridges R and remain in the territory bounded by the ridge against which it has
struck, or it may rebound from the ridge into the diamond or infield, which is the
square marked C D H J in Fig. 1. This rebound of the ball from a ridge R into
the diamond is a mechanical movement analogous to the action of a base ball player
who on the real ball field catches a batted ball and throws it to the player at first
base, thereby putting out" the batsman.
66
Figs. 34 and 3" show the action of the spring E and trigger T on the bat B.
Fig. 3 shows the bat detained by the trigger in such a position that the spring E
exerts its force, tending to swing the bat to the position shown in Fig. 3B. When
the bat is released from the trigger, the spring causes the bat to swing over the
home plate 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3B.
The rules of the game follow closely the rules of the field game of base ball as
far as they are adapted to the apparatus described.
In connection with the game board are used a suitable number of pawns or
dummies, which represent the batting and running ball team.
In Fig. 4 is shown a suitable form of pawn for the batting and running ball
team. One of these is placed near the bat. One person playing delivers the balls
from the pitcher P, Fig. 1. Another person playing manipulates the bat, which is
drawn into position and caught by the trigger, as shown in Figs. and 3. The
person handling the pitcher may alter the speed or direction of the ball or both
the speed and direction of the ball by moving the upper or slot end of the pitcher
to the left or right or up and down, as his experience in the game may dictate.
The fate of the pawn or batsman is decided by the methods peculiar to base ball.
If the ball is hit by the bat to a safe place in the board-that is to say, if it is not
caught by the fielder K nor returned to the diamond by rebounding from a
ridge R the batsman is advanced to the proper corner of the diamond and
another batsman is placed near the bat to represent the second player of the
batting and running team.
As the game goes on, the pawns are advanced a
suitable number of "bases for each successive hit, as in the field game of
base ball.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A game board provided at or near one end with a mechanically actuated bat,
combined with angularly arranged ridges on and within the limits of the board to
cause a ball struck by a bat to rebound and be returned to the vicinity of the bat
and a downwardly inclined chute to deliver the ball upon the board at a point
between the bat and the said ridges, substantially as described.
2. A game board provided with a mechanical bat, combined with a series of

page_text: ridges R, arranged on and within the limits of the said game board, breaks in the
said ridges, and fielding hoods having substantially vertical entrances arranged
immediately behind said breaks, substantially as described.
3. A game board provided with a mechanical bat, combined with the several
5 series of ridges arranged in substantially the manner herein shown to divide the
board into infield, short outfield, and long outfield, and the foul-ridges F F', substan-
tially as described.
Dated this 13th day of February 1893.
REGINALD W. BARKER.