US3052226A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 4, 1962 Q wo 3,052,226

GAME APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1958 INVENTOR EM BY Q wkmfa ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,052,226 GAME APPARATUS Alvin C. Woll, 1247 Selby Ave., St. Paul, Minn. Filed July 17, 1958, Ser. No. 749,207 1 Claim. (Cl. 124-5) This invention relates to an improvement in game apparatus and deals particularly with an apparatus used in a novel game played between a pair of opposing teams.

The present invention has for its object the provision of equipment used in the playing of a game of a type which may be played by various members of a family regardless of age or which may be played as a team game either out of doors or in a recreation room. The game may vary to some extent in its rules and regulations in order to fit conditions and in order to suit the participants. In general, it is a game of skill which combines speed, dexterity, and natural athletic ability, and may also be played by people of all ages as a goal scoring skill game allowing turns shooting at the goal from a set distance.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a ball which is preferably a rubber ball of good grade which may be rolled over the surface of the ground or floor or which may be easily tossed through the air without much danger of injury either to participants or to surrounding objects. This ball is manipulated at all times by looped sticks with which each player is equipped. The looped stick includes an elongated handle provided with a loop shaped end preferably formed of metal rod or comparable material to be circular in cross section. The loop is arranged in the plane of the handle and forms an extension on the end of the handle. The diameter of the loop is substantially smaller than the diameter of the ball so that the ball may be rolled over the surface of the ground or floor while partially extending through the loop.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a hoop supported above the surface of the ground or floor on a substantially vertical plane which forms the target for the ball. This hoop may be somewhat similar to the rim of a basketball basket supported to extend upwardly above the level of the ground. Two such hoops are normally used in the game and the hoops are usually spaced a suitable distance apart in parallel relation at opposite ends of the playing area. One hoop forms the target for one team and the other forms a target for the opposing team. In order to score in the game, it is necessary for the ball to be impelled off the surface of the ground or floor by the looped stick and through the hoop, which requires skill and marksmanship.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a ball and looped stick which are so proportioned that the loop may extend sufficiently beneath the ball so that it can be lifted from the surface of the ground or floor with a forwardly and upwardly directed swing.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a ball and a looped stick which may be used to control the ball so that the ball may be rolled along the playing surface while under control of the looped stick, permitting the player to pivot or turn in one direction or the other while still having control of the ball. At the same time, the game, when properly played, requires team work between the various members of the team as the ball may be passed from one player to another much in the manner of a hockey puck until one of the players is in position to attempt to score. At the same time, the opposing players may attempt to gain possession of the ball either While it is being controlled or by intercepting a pass. Due to the round design of the loop stick, the receiving and/or interception of a passed ball is simplified for one may skillfully engage the ball with the loop stick for ones own team mates.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claim.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the looped stick with which the game is played.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one of the hoops or targets through which the ball must be tossed.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the stick and ball showing the manner in which the ball may be controlled while moving it along the surface of the playing area.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the ball may be controlled or lifted from the playing surface by proper manipulation of the looped stick.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of the playing field on which the game may be played.

The structure is extremely simple in form but provides fun and amusement for virtually any reasonable number of participants depending upon the size of the playing area. In preferred form, the game is played in a generally rectangular area shown diagrammatically in FIG- URE 5 having generallyparallel side lines 10 and 11 and generally parallel right angularly arrangedend lines 12 and 13. The hoops or targets are arranged at opposite ends of the playing field and are indicated in general by thenumerals 14 and 15. Also, in preferred form, the hoops ortargets 14 and 15 are enclosed within arectangular area 16 or 17 respectively defining a zone adjoining the target which may not be entered by the players of either team. This area provides a space which cannot well be blocked off so that the players have a reasonable chance of obtaining a shot at the hoop.

The looped stick is indicated in general by the letter A and includes anelongated handle 19 of aluminum tubing or comparable material having a handle 20 of rubber or other suitable material attached to one end thereof. The other end of thehandle 19 is flattened as indicated at 21 to accommodate the parallel ends of the loop as will be described.

The loop 22 is bent from an elongated rod of metal or comparable material which is bent into circular form with the ends of the rod bent at 23 and 24 respectively to form parallel adjacent substantially radially extendingends 25 and 26. Theseends 25 and 26 are engaged in theflattened end 21 of the handle and are secured in place in any desired manner. Thus the plane of the loop 22 is substantially through the axis of the handle.

Thetargets 14 and 15 are constructed as best illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, although the specific construction of the target is not of extreme importance. The twotargets 14 and 15 are similar, onetarget 14 being shown in FIGURE 2. As indicated in this figure, thetarget 14 includes a base panel 27 of proper size to keep the target from tipping easily if struck by the ball. Anangle bracket 29 is mounted upon the base panel 27. The angle bracket 29' includes ahorizontal fiange 30 which is secured in surface contact to the base board 27 bybolts 31 or other suitable means. The angle bracket also includes a substantially vertical flange 32 having its upper edge welded or otherwise secured to a circularmetal rod hoop 33.

In preferred construction, a generally U-shaped brace is provided having its connectingportion 34 welded or otherwise secured to the upper surface of theflange 30 and having upwardly and outwardly divergingarms 35 and 36 engaging thehoop 33 at widely spaced points to form a support for holding the hoop in vertical position.

The ball with which the game is played is indicated by the letter B. This ball in preferred form is a hollow rubber ball which will bounce upon striking a solid object and which is of a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the loop 22. As a typical example of the arrangement, the game has been very successfully played with a rubber ball B of six inches outer diameter while the loop 22 has an inner diameter of slightly less than fiveinches. In other words, the loop is bent so that the center portion of the metal rod forming the loop is about five and one quarter inches in diameter. As the metal rod of which the loop is formed is about three-eights of an inch in diameter, the internal diameter of the loop 22 is approximately four and seven-eights inches in diameter. The cross section of the loop is about onefourteenth the diameter of the loop, and the 'loop is about five and five-eighths inches in outside diameter.

It is very desirable that the loop 22 be formed of rod which is circular in diameter so that the ball may be controlled by the looped stick. As indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, when the loop 22 is placed over the ball B, the upper portion of the ball will project through the loop 22 confining the ball between the loop and the playing surface. When the looped stick is held in this position, the ball can be moved in any direction, the ball rolling within the loop in whichever direction it is pushed. This permits the player to pivot, turn deceptively in any direction, and to pass the ball in any direction by properly manipulating the angle of the stick.

As is also illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, when the bottom of the loop 22 is in contact with the playing surface, the loop is entirely behind the ball so that the ball may be swung out of contact with the playing surface of an upward swing of the stick. Such shots are necessary in order to score as the ball must pass through thehoop 14 or 15 which is elevated above the playing surface. Thus, it is important that the looped stick be of proper proportion relative to the diameter of the ball. If the loop is of too large diameter, it fits so far down over the ball that the ball does not roll freely on the playing surface. If the loop of the looped stick is too small in diameter, it does not fit over enough of the surface of the ball to permit the ball to be controlled in the manner described. Obviously, if the diameter of the loop is decreased, the difliculty in playing the game increases correspondingly.

The manner in which the game is played is believed generally apparent from the foregoing description. It will be seen that the number of participants on each team may vary considerably depending upon the size of the playing field. It will also be seen that the ball may be rolled about on the playing surface and passed from one player to another. While a player is controlling the ball, an opposing player may attempt to insert his looped stick beneath the one controlling the ball and lift it out of contact with the ball to free the ball. When a player gets in position to make a shot at the target, he may do so by swinging the looped stick forwardly and upwardly toward the target, tossing the ball through the air. In many respects, the game may be played in the manner of hockey with opposing players attempting to gain possession of the ball. If the ball rolls out of bounds, it may be returned to the playing field from the spot where it went out of bounds by a player of the team opposing the team who rolled the ball out of bounds. The game may be started by rolling the ball onto the playing area between the two teams both of which then attempt to gain possession of the ball.

In efiFect, the loop 22 forms an open pocket engaging the ball on a plane substantially parallel to the handle or through the axis thereof. The loop engages portions of the ball solely in one hemisphere thereof at any time so that the ball may be rolled beneath the inverted loop, or lifted from the ground by a forward sweeping stroke.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in game apparatus, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

A game device including a ball, a looped stick with which the ball may be manipulated, the ball comprising a hollow ball, and the stick including a loop of substantially circular shape and circular cross section and having an elongated handle, the inner diameter of the loop being substantially five-sixths the outside diameter of the ball, the loop being formed of a material different from that of the ball and presenting a smooth rolling surface against which the ball may freely rotate, the loop having a cross sectional diameter of about one-fourteenth the diameter of the loop, making the outside diameter of the loop less than the diameter of the ball so that when held vertically, said loop is entirely above the lower surface of the ball when the ball is resting upon a horizontal surface and the ball is extending partially through the loop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,064,914 Jones June 17, 1913 1,585,446 Warwick May 18, 1926 1,905,932 Foster Apr. 25, 1933 r 2,002,631 Fiondella May 28, 1935 2,053,635 Sandeberg Sept. 8, 1936 2,382,949 McLaren Aug. 14, 1945 2,432,570 Gorsuch Dec. 16, 1947 2,433,625 Raspet Dec. 30, 1947 2,580,799 Lauterbach Jan. 1, 1952 2,886,320 Van Hennik May 12, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 836,119 France Oct. 10, 1938

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