US3380305A - Baseball and baseball bat toy - Google Patents

Description

R. CHARELL 3,380,305

BASEBALL AND BASEBALL BAT TOY 5 Sheets-Sheet l April 30, 1968 Filed June 13. 1966 April 30, 1968 R. CHARELL 3,380,305

BASEBALL AND BASEBALL BAT TOY Filed June 13. 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet fi A nLOM PONER C5 2g A HIGH raum C 4 aff VU INV ENT OR @Q40 Chanel! April 30, 1968 R. cHARl-:LL

BASEBALL AND BASEBALL BAT TOY Filed June 13,

Fal/ 9h Cha/e l BY @dxf/9L "rTuR/vms April so, 1968 R. CHARELL 3,380,305

BASEBALL AND BASEBALL BAT TOY Filed June 13. 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR f Ralph Cha/fel( pri 30, 1968 R.CHARE1 L 3,380,305

BASEBALL AND BASEBALL BAT Toy Filed June 13, 1966 5 SheetS-Sheet 5 Wwf l HUN: INVENT OR W Fal/0h Cha/"ed I Vim I RESET BY 244 501 225 United States Patent O 3,380,305 BASEBALL AND BASEBALL BAT TOY Ralph Charell, 57 E. 88th St., New York, N.Y. 10028 Filed June 13, 1966, Ser. No. 557,199 2 Claims. (Cl. 73--379) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention concerns an appliance or device which can be installed in a bat, racquet, club, ball or other implement used in a game to measure and indicate the magnitude of striking force applied to the implement.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a device responsive to an impact applied in any direction in a field of 360 to measure the force of impact.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described including an omnidirectional, multicontact inertia switch for actuating indicating circuitry.

A further object is to provide an impact responsive device which can be installed in or on a game implement to measure quantitatively an applied force.

Another object is to provide an impact responsive device as last mentioned with means for connecting the same to external indicator means.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus including an impact responsive device and associated indicating means and circuitry all embodied in a compact selfcontained unit.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of an impact responsive device embodying the invention shown installed in a bat, part of the bat being broken away, the device being connected to an associated indicating assembly shown in perspective.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal central sectional view of the impact responsive device taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an electric circuit including parts of the device and indicating assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view, partially in section, of a striking ball apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of another device embodying the invention, shown installed in a bat, part of the bat being broken away.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal central sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7, through the device per se.

FIG. 9 is an end view of the device of FIGS. 7, 8.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a kickball embodying the invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a croquet mallet equipped with a device embodying the invention.

FIG. 13 is an oblique side view of another impact responsive device embodying the invention, shown mounted on a bat, part of which bat is broken away.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken online 16--16 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 16, and

FIG. 18 is a diagram of an electric circuit employed in the device of FIGS. 13-17.

Referring rst to FIG. 1, there is shown a game apparatus including an impact responsive device 1t) secured in anaxial bore 12 extending inwardly from theouter end 14 of abat 16. Anelectric cable 18 extends out of one end of thedevice 10 and through anaxial passage 19 which is an extension ofbore 12. The cable passes outwardly of the other end of the bat throughhandle 20 and terminates at a scoring or indicatingdevice 25 embodied in acabinet 26. This device has a plurality of indicatinglamps 23 designated L14L8 respectively and arranged in a circle on thefront panel 27 of the cabinet. Two control oroperating buttons 28, 29 designated RE- SET and POWER are also provided atpanel 27. On top of the cabinet is alouvered opening 31 for emitting the sound of an audible signaling device inside the cabinet. The cabinet is located some distance away from the bat in order to provide a player free use and movement of the bat. Thedevice 25 provides visual and aural indications of acceleration -force applied to the bat in swinging at a ball and/or the striking force of the bat on impact with the ball.

The construction ofdevice 10` is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to which reference is now made. Thedevice 10 comprises a hollow cylindricalplastic casing 30` closed at one end bywall 30" and open at the other end. The open end is closed by acap 32 screwed on the right end of the casing as clearly shown in FIG. 2.Cable 18 extends through a central opening 33 incap 32. This cable includes a plurality ofinsulated wires 34 connected toelectric terminals 36 in the casing. A small chamber 39 is defined between acircular plate 38 andcap 32 inside of thetubular end 40 ofcasing 30.Plate 38 is seated in a recess 41 formed in the casing.Plate 38 has a threadednipple 42 in which is screwed the threadedend 43 of a exible,spring metal rod 44. Alocknut 45 is engaged on the threaded end of the rod and holds it securely to thenipple 42, so that the rod extends axially ofcylindrical chamber 50 inside the casing. The rod is formed with a plurality of spaced, generally spherical beads Bl-BS. Bead B1 is formed on the free end of the rod.

A plurality of metal rings R1-R8 are partially embedded in the Wall of the casing and extend radially into the chamber 5t). The rings are spaced from each other axially of the casing and are all parallel to each other and perpendicular both to the axis of the casing and to the axis ofrod 44. The rings are electrically isolated from each other becausecasing 30 is made of electrical insulative plastic material.Electrical conductors 52 are respectively connected to the several rings. These conductors extend through the body ofcasing 30 in the axial direction and terminate atdifferent terminals 36.Wires 34 are connected to theterminals 36 respectively. yOnewire 34 is connected to acentral terminal 36 attached directly toplate 38. Theother terminals 35 are clear ofplate 38 and surround this plate at the left end of chamber 39.

In use of the device, a player will holdbat 16 by its handle and will swing the bat at a thrown ball in the usual manner as in playing baseball. Initially as the player swings at the ball, therod 44 will flex in one direc tion radially of the casing and the first bead B1 will contact ring R1 due to acceleration of the bat from a stationary position. Thereafter, when the bat strikes a ball thrown or held in the path of movement the bat, the force of deceleration of the bat will cause therod 44 to ex in another radial direction so that one or more beads of the rod will contact their associated rings. The number ot rings which will be contacted by the beads will depend on the force of impact of the bat with the ball. For example beads B1-B3 are shown in dotted lines contacting rings R1-R3 respectively. If the force of impact is great enough all the beads will contact all of the rings respectively. This mode of operation of thedevice 10 is utilized in the scoring or indicatingdevice 25. FIG. 4 to which reference is now made, shows the electric circuit C of the system, including parts of bothdevices 10 and 25, by which circuit the indicating functions of the system are performed.

In circuit C is shown schematically the electricallyconductive rod 44 including spaced beads BI-BS normally spaced from electrically conductive rings R1-R8.Wires 34 are connected to the respective rings.Wire 34 is connected fromrod 44 to oneterminal 70 of abattery power supply 72 which will be mounted incabinet 26 shown in FIG. 1 along with other parts of circuit C which will now be described. Circuit C includes a plurality of electromagnetic relays RL1-RLS. Each relay has acoil 74 which actuates two movable contacts C1, C2 to close with two fixed contacts C3, C4 respectively. One end of each coil is connected to one ofwires 34 and to contact C3. The other end of each coil is connected to a movable contact C2 and toterminal 73 of thebattery 72. The movable contact C1 of each relay is connected to one contact C5 ofpushbutton switch 75 which is the RESET switch. This switch has operating arm orbutton 28. Switch contact C6 is connected tobattery terminal 70. The xed contact C4 of each relay is connected to adifferent pole 76 of a multiple pole,double throw switch 80. This switch has operating arm orbutton 29. The switch has HIGH POWER and LOW POWER positions. In LOW POWER position, eachpole 76 is closed with xed contact C7 of the switch which is connected to one terminal of one of lamps L1-L8. The other terminal of each lamp is connected tobattery terminal 70. A bell or other electrically operableaudible signal device 85 is connected across lamp L8. Abuzzer 86 is connected across lamp L4.

Switch S0 has contacts CSa-CSh which are closed withpoles 76 respectively in the HIGH POWER position of the switch. Only certain ones of these contacts are connected to selected ones of the lamps. In circuit C, contacts C8a, C8c, and C8g are open circuited. Contacts C8b, CSd, and C811 are connected respectively to lamps L1-L4 respectively. The lamps may be arranged to emit different colored light to facilitate their visual identification. Circuit C is shown in alert condition ready for operation, withswitch 80 in HIGH POWER position, so that in effect lamps LS-LS are deactivated during operation of the system.

Suppose now that a player swings thebat 16. At rst, only bead B1 will contact ring R1 and relay RL1 will be activated. The contacts of this relay will close, but lamp L1 will not light because relay contact C8a is open circuited. Now toward the end of the swing of the bat, it strikes a ball. The impact will cause therod 44 to swing laterally to the rings so that two or more of the beads contact the rings. If the force of impact is so hard that all the beads contact the rings, then in the arrangement of the circuit shown, all the relays will become energized. As the ball leaves the bat after impact,rod 44 will vibrate for a time and some beads may contact the rings repeately but they will have no further effect on the circuit because all the relays remain energized. This is because contacts C1 and C3 close holding circuits through the battery and relay coils to keep the relays energized. Only lamps L1L4 will light.Buzzer 86 will sound when lamp L4 lights. If the force of impact had been less only 4 lamps L1, or L1 and L2, or L1, L2, and L3 would have lighted. Then thebuzzer 86 would not sound.

The switch may be thrown to LOW POWER position to obtain a showing of a greater range of impact forces, and ot" the force of swing of the bat even if no impact is made. In this switch position all the lamps are connected to the switch contacts C7 andpoles 76. Now if bead B1 contacts ring R1, lamp L1 will light since the circuit is closed through contact C851. If the acceleration of the bat is not sucient to cause bead B1 to contact ring R1 then lamp L1 will not light. The flexibility of therod 44 can be such that at maximum acceleration force with no subsequent impact of the bat on a ball, two or more lamps, L1-L4 for example, may light. Then if the bat strikes a ball one or more other lamps LS-LS will light depending on which beads BS-BS contact rings RS-RS. By this arrangement progressive indications lare obtained of both acceleration force and impact or deceleration force.

The apparatus described makes it possible to monitor and measure a batters striking power. Various scoring points or credits can be allowed for lighting the different lamps. After each swing of the bat, the numbers of lighted lamps will be noted. Then the batter or a scorekeeper will pressbutton 28 momentarily. This will cause all lights to go out and stop the sounding of the buzzer and bell if any one or both are actuated. This occurs because opening the normally closedswitch 28 opens the holding circuits C1, C3 of the relays to deactivate them. The circuit C then returns to alert position as shown in FIG. 4 ready for the next swing of the bat.

In FIGS` 5 and 6 is shown another application of the invention. Thedevice 10 is installed in aball 100 which is suspended by aflexible cord 102. Thedevice 10 extends diametrally of the resilient ball and assumes an axially vertical position.Cable 18 extends upwardly throughcord 102.Cord 102 is supported on ahorizontal bracket arm 104 supported on avertical wall 106.Clamps 108 hold the cord.Cable 18 extends out of the cord at its distal end and terminates at scoringdevice 25 mounted onwall 106. Theball 100 can be struck with a bat or club or even by hand. The force of impact will be indicated by lamps Ll-LS of the device and by the audible signals of the bell and buzzer. The game apparatus of FIGS. 5, 6 employ the same circuit C as shown in FIG. 4, no further description of its mode of operation being required, since this has been covered in detail above.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the invention in whichdevice 10a has a wholly self-contained system including indicating means. Thedevice 10a is mounted inaxial bore 12a of a bat 16a. Theouter end 110 of the device is exposed at the open or left end ofbore 12a. FIGS. 8 and 9 show details of construction ofdevice 10a in which parts corresponding to those ofdevices 10 and 25 having identical structure and functions are identically nurnbered.

Indevice10a ilexible rod 44 is mounted innipple 42 ofplate 38a which is secured in place at one end ofcylindrical casing 30a byscrew cap 32a. At the other end of the casing is a compartment in which is a box 12S containing batteries and other parts of circuit C shown in FIG. 4. Rings Rl-RS are connected viaindividual conductors 52 to the relays RL1-RL8 in circuit C. These relays are contained in box along with thebatteries 72 and switches 75 and 80.Operating button 28 ofswitch 75 extends slidably through ahole 126 in ametal plate 128 held in the other end of the casing by a transparentplastic cap 130 held by screws 131 screwed on this end of the casing.Operating arm 29 ofswitch 80 extends throughhole 127 inplate 128. Thearm 29 terminates in aknurled knob 132 which facilitates turning thearm 29.Switch arms 28 and 29 are reached through ahole 133 in the end ofcap 130. Lamps Ll-LS are screwed intoplate 128 which is electrically connected in circuit with the batteries in thebox 125 as shown in FIG.

4.Central terminals 134 of the lamps are in contact withcircuit terminals 135. These terminals are connected to contacts C7 ofswitch 80 in circuit C; see FIG. 4.Conductors 52 extend longitudinally of the casing to terminals 36a connected in circuit with the relays ofcircuit C. Rod 44 is in an electriccircuit including plate 38a,end cap 32a, ametal ring 136 abuttingflange 137 of cap 321i, and an electricalconductive strip 34 seated in alongitudinal recess 142 in the casing.Strip 34" extends radially inward of the casing at itsend 142, to the lcircuit box.Strip 34 performs the function ofwire 34 1n circuit C to connectrod 44 toterminal 70 ofbatteries 72. Lamp designations L1-L8 are inscribed on the end face ofcap 130. The lamps are visible through the transparent end of thecap 130. n

Device a and the indicating means operate 1n the same manner as described fordevice 10. The player looks at the lighted lamps in the end of the device in bat 16a to see his score after swinging the bat. He operatesswitches 75 and 80 at the bat instead of at the separate indicating device shown in FIG. l. If replacement of batteries or servicing of the circuit is required, thecap 130 can be removed by removing screws 131 which hold the cap on the casing. This provides access to lamps L1-L8 which can be removed and replaced without removingplate 128. Theplate 128 can be removed along with thecircuit box 125 aftercap 130 is removed to provide access to the interior of the circuit box.Bell 85 andbuzzer 86 can be provided incircuit box 125 or can be omitted from the circuit if desired.Device 10a has the advantage of being entirely self-contained and requiring no remote indicating device. Also, theexternal cable 18 ofdevice 10 is omitted.

FIGS. 10 and 11show device 10a installed in a bore 12b inkickball 150. The device extends diametrally of the ball with its indicating end atcap 130 facing upwardly. The device extends diametrally of the ball which may be placed on the ground G for kicking in adirection angularly to the axis of the device for producing an impact measuring indication.

FIG. 12shows device 10 with `itscable 18, attached to theshaft 152 of acroquet mallet 153. When thehead 154 of the mallet strikes a croquet ball, an impact indication will be obtained at remotely located indicatingdevice 25, shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively,device 10a can be mounted onshaft 152 if a self-contained impact indicating system is desired.

Thedevices 10 and 10a can be installed in other game and athletic devices. They can be mounted in or on the handles of tennis racquets, on football tackling dummies, on.d golf clubs, squash racquets, etc. They can even be mounted on an arm of a player of handball, basketball, jai alai, lacrosse, baseball, etc. They can be mounted on the leg of a football player, or a player of soccer or rugby.

W-hat has been provided herein is an appliance of rather general application for use in the sport field whereever an impact occurs whose magnitude it is desired to measure.

In FIGS. 13-17 is shown another impact indicating device 10b removably mounted on a generally cylindrical bat 16b. The device 10b has a resilient lightweight rubber orplastic body 200 which is rather cylindrical in form. It has a central axial bore or cavity 202 extending inwardly from one end to engage the outer end of the bat leaving bat handle 203 projecting out ofbody 200. On the other end of thebody 200 is removably mounted acap 204. This cap is made of rubber or other exible material. The cap has an internalcircumferential bead 206 which engages removably under and around abead 208 formed at the top ofbody 200. In the top ofbody 200 is'- acavity 210 in which is secured acircuit box 212 containing circuit components including batteries of the circuit of the device. The circuit is shown in FIG. 1S and is explained in detail below.

Mounted on top of the circuit box are fourlamp holders 216 carrying removable lamps 217-220. The lamps project intobores 224 formed incap 204. Resilient, transparent plastic 'lenses 226 which may be colored diffe-rently from each other are set in the outer ends of thebores 224. A switch 22S used for resetting purposes is mounted on the circuit box. The switch has an operating shaft orbutton 230 extending upwardly through abore 232 in the cap. The outer end ofbutton 230 is exposed in acavity 234 where the button can be reached manually for operation.

Extending downwardly from the circuit box are threeterminal blocks 236 each carrying five spring contacts 233; see FIGS. 14, 16 and 17. Each set of spring contactsprojects intolateral opening 239 formed in the tubularinsulated casing 240 of an inertia switch. There are threesuch Iswitches 241, 242 and 243 provided as shown in FIG. 16. Inside each of the inertia switches is an axially movablemassive plunger 244 having an electrically conductivecylindrical metal section 246 and an insulatedcylindrical section 248 joined to it. The metal section is located at the innermost part of the casing nearclosed end 249. Each Casing is disposed radially of thebody 200 and the three casings are disposed apart. The casing is closed by a plug ordisk 250 which may be secured to the outer end of thecasing 240. Thedisk 250 has a threadedhole 252. Anadjustment screw 254 is rotatably engaged inhole 252. Thehead 255 of the screw is located in acavity 256 extending inwardly from the outside ofbody 200. Thehead 255 of each screw can be reached manually for turning the screw.

Acoil spring 266 in eachcasing 240 bears against theplunger 244 in a direction axially of the casing. The outer end of the spring is secured to amovable disk 262 which bears against the rounded end ofscrew 254, It will be apparent that when the screw is turned to advance inwardly of the casing the tension in thespring 266 will increase and more force will be required to displace theplunger 244 in the radially outward direction of the device.

One contact 238g of the five contacts 23S contacts the electricallyconductive section 246. The other fourcontacts 238b-238e contact theinsulated section 248. When theplunger 244 is moved axially to its fullest extent radially outward of thebody 200 to compress fully spring 260, then all fivecontacts 238 will contactsection 246. With lesser force applied, less than yfive contacts will contactsection 246.

The top or outer end of thecap 204 is inscribed with adiamond pattern 270 simulating a baseball diamond best shown in FIGS. 13 and 15. Corners of the diamond haveindicia 272 representing first, second and third bases, and home plate. If desired screws 274 may be provided, removably anchored in the top of thecircuit box 212 to supplement of the hold of the cap throughbeads 206, 208 on thebody 200. The lamps 217-220 are located under thelenses 226 which may have any colors; red, yellow and blue for first, second and third bases, and green for home plate.

FIG. 18 shows circuit C employed in the device 10b. This circuit in many respects is similar to circuit C of FIG. 4. It will be noted thatreset switch 228 is a normally closed pushbutton switch which is connected in series withbatteries 300.Terminal 301 of the batteries is connected viaswitch 228 to each of the threespring contacts 238e which normally contact movableconductive section 246. Terminal 201 is also connected to one terminal of each of lamps 217-220 and to fixedContact 302 in each of fourrelays 310, 311, 312 and 313.

Each relay has two movable poles orcontacts 301', 303 and two fixedcontacts 302 and 304. The relay contacts are normally open. Contact 304 of each relay is connected to the other terminal of each lamp respectively. Thepositive terminal 214 of the batteries is connected to one end 305' of thecoil 305 of each relay and tomovable relay contact 303.Relay contact 301 of each relay is connected to theother end 305 of the relay coil and to each of the three contacts 23811 which is most closely spaced from thesection 246 of eachinertia switch 241, 242, 243 when thesection 246 is fully retracted intocasing 240.

Each of the threecontacts 238C is connected theend 305 of the coil ofrelay 311. Each of the threecontacts 238e' is connected to theend 305 of the coil ofrelay 312. Each of the threecontacts 238e is connected to theend 305" of the coil ofrelay 313.

In operation of the device 10b including Circuit C', all lamps are initially extinguished because the relays are all de-energized. Suppose now that the bat 16h carrying device 10b is used to strike a pitched ball. lf the force of impact is great enough, theplunger 244 of at least one inertia switch will move axially outward in casing 24) so thatsection 246 contacts each ofspring contacts 238. Then all relays will become energized through theconductive section 246bridging contacts 238.Contacts 301', 302 will close withcontacts 303, 304 of each relay and all the lamps will light. As the springs 269 in the inertia switches restore the displaced plungers to normal retracted positions, the circuit between contacts 238s and theother contacts 238b-238e will open, but the energized relays will remain energized due to the closure ofcontacts 301', 302 in a holding circuit. Thus, those lamps which light will remain lighted to indicate the batters score which may range from a one base hit to a home run. If only one of thecontacts 238b were reached by anyconductive section 246, then only relay 310 will become energized tolight lamp 217 and indicate the batter reached first base. In any case, all the lighted lamps can be extinguished by actuating thereset switch 228. Momentary opening of this switch deactivates any energized lrelays and alerts the circuits C for the next play.

The adjustment screws 254 can be screwed outwardly to set the device for scoring hits with lesser applied force than when the screws are tumed inwardly. Thus, thescrews 254 will be turned outwardly for use by children and will be turned inwardly for adult batters.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device mountable on a bat for indicating the magnitude of an impact, comprising a cylindrical body having an axial cavity at one end for receiving an engaging said bat, a cap at the other end of said body, lamps disposed in a diamond shaped pattern in said cap and ,exposed to the exterior of the cap, a plurality of generally cylindrical inertia switches disposed in circumferentially spaced radial array in said body, movable conductive elements in said switches, springs in the switches urging the conductive elements radially inward of said body, a plurality of spaced contacts at each switch for contact by a movable conductive element when the element is moved against spring tension upon application of striking force to said body in a direction radially there of, and electric circuitry connecting said lamps and respective spaced contacts of the switches for lighting a number of lamps depending on the magnitude of applied force.

2. A device as recited inclaim 1, wherein said circuitry comprises relays in circuit with the lamps, said relays having holding means to keep lighted those lamps which light upon application of said striking force manually reset switch means carried by said body and connected in circuit with the relays to de-energize any relays which remain energized after said striking force is applied, and manually settable adjustment means for adjusting the tension in the springs, so that different predetermined magnitudes of applied striking forces will be required to light the lamps depending on the setting of the adjustment means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/ 1965 Blake 73-379

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