US2481709A - Baseball scorekeeping device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 13, 1949; w. c. ADAMS BASEBALL SCORE KEEPING DEVICE Filed April 25, 1947 BASEBALL SCORE HoMETEAM GAME E @@@EEEE Ammmm@ @Wm m5@m @@@m m D @@mm@ um Rmmwm w mmmmmmwmm m 7mm/m m@ m Dm .w w SEQ/D E @@@@m m @m @@m m m m A mmmm m ETC.

JNVNTOR. W/Y//am C Add/17s ATTURNEY `Patented Sept. 115, 1949 2,481,709 BASEBALL SCOREKEEPINGDEVICE William C. Adams, Dallas, Tex., assigner of twelve and one-half per cent to T. A. Hardin, twelve and one-half per cent to John A. Hall, twelve and one-half per cent to Grover C. Page, and twelve and one-half percent to Jas. A. Parker,

all of Dallas, Tex.

ApplicationvApril 25, 1947, Serial No. 743,845

This invention relates to game" score` keeping devices `and more4 particularly to such a. device volved table and formulae as Well as reducing in .number the pieces employed to denote scores. Most important however, is the facility with which the scoring devices may be manipulated to keep current the progress of the game, the scoring devices in the present case consisting of cubes having numbered faces and adapted to repose in conforming recesses in two groups of vertical columns in a board, the columns in each group being successively identified as ABJ R," H, PO, A and E. Associated with each group of columns of cubes is a pad of expendable sheets on which is adapted to be inscribed the names of the players oi opposing baseball teams.

Another object of the invention is to provide a baseball score keeping device especially suitable for scoring plays as they are made and announced over a radio broadcast.

With the foregoing and other objects in view. the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a board and associated elements embodying the score keeping device of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the scoring devices or cubes employed to indicate plays during a game of twelve innings.

Figure 4 is a similar cube on a slightly reduced scale but having numerals on only five of its faces which is adapted for use in scoring number of runs per inning.

Figures 5 and 6 show cubes similar to those illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 but whose numerals are in higher order, for use when and where required.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference numeral I0 denotes a shallow container in which is disposed a false bottom Il having therein two groups of square holes IIa of six columns each, the columns being in vertical alignment and consisting of twelve of such holes. The columns of each group are successively identiiied by appropriate and conven- 1 claim. iol.' 23S-123) tional abbreviations, viz: At bat; Runs"; Hits; Putouts; Assists and Errors At one side and in parallelism with each group of holes is a pad of expendable sheets I2 on which is written the names of the players of the Home team and Visitors and their positions of play.

In each of the square holes IIa is placed a cube I3, such as illustrated in detail in Figure 3 and which cube bears on its six faces the numerals 0 to 5.

Below the two groups of columns of cubes I3 is provided horizontal rows of square holes I 4 in which is placed cubes I5, each having numerals 0 to 4 on iive of its faces, the remaining face being blank. These cubes are employed to score number of runs per inning.

Arranged in a horizontal row of square holes below but spaced apart from the rows of cubes I5 is a group of cubes I6, each having on five of its faces the numerals 5 to 9, the remaining faces being blank. Similarly, in the same plane but separated from the row of cubes I6 is a small number of cubes Il, each having numerals l0 to 14 on ve of its faces while the remaining face is blank for use when numerals of higher order are required.

Adjacent the two horizontal rows of cubes I5 is a pad I8 of expendable sheets on which is inscribed the names of the Home and Visiting teams. whose scores for twelve innings are indicated by changing the positions of the cubes I5 in rows opposite the pad I8.

Prior to the starting of a game, the names and positions of the players of the opposing teams are written on their respective pads I2 in order of the line-up. In order to better explain the manner in which the scoring is indicated, the following describes a typical rst inning.

Rice, center fielder for the vistors, drove a grounder direct to Jones at second base. Jones scored an assist as he got the ball to Smith on iirst just ahead of the runner. Walker, first baseman, struck out. James. short stop, knocked a fly direct to Brown in .center field for the third out, retiring the side with no hits, no runs and no errors.

The first two men of the home team were easy outs. Jones fouled to the catcher and Browns grounder to James at short was relayed to first with time to spare. Smith sent a grounder through the box. James at short stop let it get away from him for an error. He came home for the first run of the game when Davis hit a two bagger oil? the right field fence. Simms struck out to end the inning. Score: one hit, one run, one left on and one error.

As a result of the plays described in the foregoing, the cubes I3 in the two groups of columns will have been removed and replaced to disclose the score as shown in Figure 2.

Pad I8 is for the purpose of keeping the score by innings. The score keeper simply inscribes the names of the teams on the pad I8 and enters the score by changing the positions of the cubes I5 in their respective holes. To score runs, putouts, etc., in excess of the number `provided lfoi on the principal scoring cubesV I3, the cubes IG and I'I are used; their numerals being of higher order than those of cubes I3, as shown in 'lliguresv 5 and 6.

It is clearly apparent from the Ioreging that even the most quickly executed plays occurring in rapid succession can be recorded 'with ease and without confusion through the simple expedient-of changing the positionscf the cubes in their respective holes.

The pads I2 and I8 may be supplanted `by any Vother suitable medium `for recording the player line-up andextra innings andrther minor variations maybe made without departing'from the spirit and intent 'of thelinvention as set forth in 'the -following claim:

What is claimed is: A baseball score keeping device including a shallow l.container having a false bottom .provided with two groups of square holes in six vertically horizontally aligned columns arranged in aligned rows each, each column having appropriate head designations respectively AB, R, H, PO," "A" and E, ya cube receivable 'in and :conforming to-etxcl'x of said holes k'having on its six faces the numerals 0 to 5 and whose position in its Irespective hole is adapted to be changed to reveal a numeral .indicative of the changing score of a player, a pad bf expendable paper adjacent each .group of `.cubes on which is inscribed the names .and 'positionsfoi' players opposite said cubes, addi- '-tional-grcupsof square holes below said rst holes, cubes in and conforming to said holes bearing numerals Aon liveV faces thereof in consecutive order, and expendable means adjacent said latter 'cubesvon 'which is inscribed the opposing team identifications.

1 WILLIAM C. ADAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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