US3372934A - Game board and small bounceable ball - Google Patents

Description

March 12, 1968 T. HEIL GAME BOARD AND SMALL BOUNCEABLE BALL Filed Juiy 26, 1965 INVENTOR. Theodore Hei/ M227 down- AT'I'ORNE Q United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A game board for use with a hand-played bounceable ball; the game board having a bounce-deadening top cushion sheet, and such sheet being formed with one or more cutouts each exposing a hard and smooth-surfaced playing zone.

This invention relates in general to a game board, for indoor or outdoor use, adapted to be employed in the playing of a game wherein the board provides the medium on which a ball is bounced in a certain manner.

In particular, the invention is directed to and it is a major object to provide a novel game board by means of which players positioned beyond opposite ends of the board may play a game of generally table tennis type.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a game board, as above, which requires that the game be played with speed and skill and which, therefore, enhances the interest in such game.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a game board, for the purpose described, which is simple in construction, readily portable, and needs no unfolding nor erecting in order to place the board in condition for use; the game-played with conventional table tennis balls requiring no special equipment other than the board itself.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game board which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable game board and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game board.

FIG. 2 is a cross section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the game board comprises a relatively large, fiat base 1 of rectangular and somewhat elongated form.

The flat base 1-which is relatively thin-is made of smooth surfaced and hard material such as Masonite or the like, and from the surface of which a table tennis or similar ball will readily bounce.

Adhesively fixed on and matching the upper surface of the flat base 1 is a somewhat thick top cushion sheet 2; said cushion sheet being of sponge rubber or similar material from which a ball will not effectively bounce but will instantly die.

The cushion sheet 2 is formed intermediate its ends with a pair of parallel, transversely spaced and elongated openings or cutouts 3 of substantial width. These cutouts (whose edges are vertical) extend lengthwise of the game board, are of the same width, andbearing spaced apart -leave an integral partition or dividing strip 4 between said cutouts.

The side edges of the cutouts are straight and vertical while the ends thereof are preferably concavely curved, as shown at 5, but are also vertical.

The cutouts 3 thus provide elongated or longitudinal playing zones 6 and 7 in side-by-side but spaced relation on the smooth, hard upper surface of the base 1. These playing zones are, of course, of considerably greater length and width than the diameter of the relatively small ball B intended to be used in connection with the game board.

To play the game, the game board is placed horizontally on the floor or on a low table, with a player standing beyond each of the opposite ends of the game board.

The game is played generally similar to table tennis except that the ball is preferably propelled by the bare hand, after the manner of handball.

Upon the start of a game, one player serves the ball B so that it strikes on and rebounds from the surface of the playing zone (zone 6 for instance) to his right and in the direction of the other player. Such other player then returns the ball so that it strikes on the surface of the other playing zone (zone 7 for instance) and rebounds therefrom toward said one player.

The play thus continues back and forth between the players (each attempting to return the ball always to the playing zone to his right) until a miss or fault occurs.

More particularly, should a player misdirect the ball so that it strikes not the intended playing zone but rather the wrong playing zone or the cushion sheet 2, the play stops and a fault is called.

Also, when the ball-during the course of play-strikes on any part of the surfaces of the cushion sheet 2, or against the vertical edges of the cutouts 3, the ball does not bounce as intended and at once dies; this, of course, effectively terminating the play.

In order to provide faster play, two balls may be used and in such event each player simultaneously serves a ball to the other player; the two balls-in alternate travel each then being played back and forth in the same game pattern previously described.

With the game board of the present invention, a game of amusement as well as skill is provided, and a game which finds favor both with children and adults.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a game board as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the game board, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired.

1.. In the combination of a game board and a relatively small bounceable ball, said game board comprising a flat, relatively thin base of hardboard, and a cushion sheet of substantial thickness adhesively secured on the upper surface of the flat base; said cushion sheet having an elongated relatively wide cut-out therethrough, and the edges of the cutout being vertical and of appreciable height relative to the diameter of the ball.

2. A game board, as in claim 1, in which the cutout is formed with parallel sides and concavely curved ends.

3. In the combination of a game board and a relatively small 'bounceable ball, said game board comprising a flat hard-surfaced base, a cushion sheet matching and secured on the upper surface of the base, said cushion sheet having a pair of elongated relatively large paralle1-sided cutouts therethrough in adjacent side-by-side spaced relation, and the upper surface of the flat base being exposed Within the cutouts to form separate playing zones for the bounceable ball; the cushion sheet being of substantial thickness, and the peripheral edges of the cutouts being vertical.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1939 Youngberg 27330 3/1942 Heil 273-30 10/1056 Fortino 273-176 6/ 1959 Mudry 273-402 FOREIGN PATENTS 10/1964 France.

ANTON o. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner.

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