STICK FOR ICE BALL GAME
United States Patent 3671038
A stick for ice ball game having a straight handle and a ball-handling member at the end of the handle. The ball-handling member has the opposed ball-stricking faces formed with shovel-like cavities and straight parallel lateral edges. It has a ball-striking forward edge at the end away from the handle.
US Patent References:
Device for throwing balls
Warwick - May 1926 - 1585446
COMBINED LIFT STICK AND BALL
Batten - November 1970 - 3539186
Game appliance
Brown - June 1923 - 1459389
Shuffle board cue
Isbell - January 1933 - 1895393
Animal training paddle
Arant - May 1954 - 2678158
Device for throwing balls
Warwick - May 1926 - 1585446
COMBINED LIFT STICK AND BALL
Batten - November 1970 - 3539186
Game appliance
Brown - June 1923 - 1459389
Shuffle board cue
Isbell - January 1933 - 1895393
Animal training paddle
Arant - May 1954 - 2678158
Application Number:
04/888710
Publication Date:
06/20/1972
Filing Date:
12/29/1969
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
273/129R
International Classes:
A63B59/00; A63B59/00
Field of Search:
273/67,67A,73,95,96,129,168,175 34/5 294/54-56
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Pinkham, Richard C.
Assistant Examiner:
Apley, Richard J.
Claims:
I claim
1. A stick for ice ball game comprising:
2. A stick as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ribbed inner surface defines a plurality of symmetrically disposed supports and comprising loaded elements mounted on said supports to vary the weight of said member.
1. A stick for ice ball game comprising:
2. A stick as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ribbed inner surface defines a plurality of symmetrically disposed supports and comprising loaded elements mounted on said supports to vary the weight of said member.
Description:
The present invention relates to a stick for playing ball game on ice, a game that can be associated with hockey which is played with a rubber disc, the players wearing skates. In the case of ice ball game, a spherical bouncing ball, similar to a basket ball, is used and the players do not wear skates but play on their shoes.
This game, also sometimes called ice broom ball game, is becoming extremely popular in spite of the fact that the sticks or brooms presently used offer an extremely limited possibility of using one's skill, mainly because of its very primitive construction. Sticks or brooms at present on use are conventional household brooms, the fibers of which having been cut off short and then soaked in molten rubber to form a layer thereover to hold the fibers together and make the stick or broom more resistant. It is very difficult with such brooms, that may vary appreciably in size and shape from one another, to develop any degree of skill and obtain satisfactory control over the ball. Furthermore, it has been found that, in use, the brooms tend to deform and, mostly, the rubber layer rapidly wears out and the broom fibers stick out of the body causing rapid wear of the fibers.
It is a major object of the present invention to provide a stick for playing ice ball game which is devoid of the aforementioned drawbacks in that it is formed to ensure a better possibility of control over the ball so that the game may be played with greater skill.
Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a structure that can easily be molded at low cost and that can be varied in weight so as to satisfy all types of players.
A still further object of the invention lies in that the ball-handling member at the end of the handle is designed to ensure a more positive handling of the ball so that a much greater degree of skill may eventually be attained by a player thus rendering the game much more exciting.
The aforementioned object of the invention may be attained in a stick for ice ball game made according to the invention and comprising a handle having a ball-handling member at one end and in alignment with the handle. The ball-handling member has a central plane of symmetry containing the longitudinal axis of the handle and is formed of two opposed ball-striking faces on either side of the plane of symmetry. Each striking face is curved when seen in a cross-section which is transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle and is curved inwardly in the direction of the aforesaid plane to take on the general shape of a shovel. The ball-handling member further has a ball-rolling edge at the end thereof remote from the handle and has straight lateral faces parallel with the longitudinal axis of the handle and joining the side edges of the striking faces. The longitudinal axis of the handle extends centrally between the lateral faces.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds of a specific embodiment of the invention having reference to the appended drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stick made according to the invention; a player holding such a stick as well as a ball being illustrated in dotted lines;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view on a scale larger than that of FIG. 1, of the ball-handling member of the stick;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the ball-handling member;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, on a larger scale, of the stick at the forward end of the handle;
FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the ball-handling member taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2.
As shown in the drawings, the stick according to the invention comprises a handle 1 which would normally be an elongated piece of wood having, preferably, a quadrilateral cross-section to avoid rotation movement when handled by the player. A ball-handling member 3 is secured at the end of handle 1. This member 3 is fully illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5. Member 3 is seen having a central plane of symmetry containing the longitudinal axis of the handle 1.
As shown, member 3 has a ball-handling portion 5 and a forward projection 7 lying over the handle 1. The ball-handling portion 5 is generally U-shaped, in plan view, with a rounded bight 9 and has two opposite ball-striking faces 11 on either side of the plane of symmetry, each face 11 being curved in a cross-section transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle 1 and being curved inwardly in the direction of the plane of symmetry to take on the general shape of a shovel. Member 3 further has a ball-rolling edge 17 at the end remote from the handle 1 and it has straight lateral faces parallel with the longitudinal axis of the handle 1, the said axis extending centrally between the lateral faces 13. Preferably, faces 13 have triangular parallel friction ridges.
While the shovel-like cavities 11 would be used to strike or carry the ball around much in the manner of a shovel, the rolling edge 17 of member 3 is inwardly curved and gradually merges into the shovel-like cavities; edge 17 being intended to roll the ball rearwardly prior to shooting it and should therefore have a radius of curvature equal to the radius of the ball or slightly larger.
Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 for a detailed description of the structure itself of the ball-handling member. In a preferred form of the invention, the said member 3 is formed of two molded plastic parts 19 that meet on the aforesaid plane extending through the longitudinal center lines of the lateral edges 15. As would be gathered from FIGS. 3 and 5, the molded parts 19 are identical and inversely symmetrical with respect to the said plane, when placed one over the other.
As clearly shown in FIG. 3, each part 19 is an inwardly ribbed structure. A pair of central ribs 21 extends parallel with the lateral faces 13 and defines, along with the inner faces of the shovel-like cavities 11, a housing 23 for one end of the quadrilateral handle 1. The latter is provided with through apertures 25 intended to receive round studs 27 molded integrally with part 19 and projecting from the inner surface of cavities 11, along the longitudinal center line thereof, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
The rib structure above-mentioned further comprises lateral longitudinal ribs 29 as well as cross ribs 31. Ribs 29 and 31 define, at the junction thereof, a first lug 33 on one side and a second lug 35 on the opposite side, with respect to the longitudinal center line of part 19. The first lugs 33 have a central hole therethrough smaller than the mean diameter of the wood screws 37 so that the latter may easily be inserted with its tip but tightly clamped in the lugs 33 by screwing. On the other hand, the second lugs 35 are formed with central holes larger than the head of the wood screws 37 and with an apertured flange 39 at the bottom thereof on which the screw head rests as shown in FIG. 5. A first lug 33 always registers with a second lug 35 when two parts 19 are laid one over the other so that, in this manner, the two parts 19 making up a ball-handling member 3 are identical and symmetrical with respect to their common meeting plane. Since only one such part need be manufactured, it will be gathered that the cost of this member will be substantially reduced.
Member 3 being made of plastic will of course be light and since some players may prefer to have a heavier stick, provision is made in the ball-handling member 3 of the invention to incorporate heavy metal washers 41. For this purpose, ribs 29 and 31 are provided, adjacent lugs 33 and 35 with recessed shoulders 43 on which the washers 41 are intended to rest.
Finally, the parts are connected together by means of screws 37' extending through the two parts forming the forward projection 7 of the ball-handling member 3. The connection is similar to that wherein screws 37 are used, as described above.
This game, also sometimes called ice broom ball game, is becoming extremely popular in spite of the fact that the sticks or brooms presently used offer an extremely limited possibility of using one's skill, mainly because of its very primitive construction. Sticks or brooms at present on use are conventional household brooms, the fibers of which having been cut off short and then soaked in molten rubber to form a layer thereover to hold the fibers together and make the stick or broom more resistant. It is very difficult with such brooms, that may vary appreciably in size and shape from one another, to develop any degree of skill and obtain satisfactory control over the ball. Furthermore, it has been found that, in use, the brooms tend to deform and, mostly, the rubber layer rapidly wears out and the broom fibers stick out of the body causing rapid wear of the fibers.
It is a major object of the present invention to provide a stick for playing ice ball game which is devoid of the aforementioned drawbacks in that it is formed to ensure a better possibility of control over the ball so that the game may be played with greater skill.
Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a structure that can easily be molded at low cost and that can be varied in weight so as to satisfy all types of players.
A still further object of the invention lies in that the ball-handling member at the end of the handle is designed to ensure a more positive handling of the ball so that a much greater degree of skill may eventually be attained by a player thus rendering the game much more exciting.
The aforementioned object of the invention may be attained in a stick for ice ball game made according to the invention and comprising a handle having a ball-handling member at one end and in alignment with the handle. The ball-handling member has a central plane of symmetry containing the longitudinal axis of the handle and is formed of two opposed ball-striking faces on either side of the plane of symmetry. Each striking face is curved when seen in a cross-section which is transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle and is curved inwardly in the direction of the aforesaid plane to take on the general shape of a shovel. The ball-handling member further has a ball-rolling edge at the end thereof remote from the handle and has straight lateral faces parallel with the longitudinal axis of the handle and joining the side edges of the striking faces. The longitudinal axis of the handle extends centrally between the lateral faces.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds of a specific embodiment of the invention having reference to the appended drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stick made according to the invention; a player holding such a stick as well as a ball being illustrated in dotted lines;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view on a scale larger than that of FIG. 1, of the ball-handling member of the stick;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the ball-handling member;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, on a larger scale, of the stick at the forward end of the handle;
FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the ball-handling member taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2.
As shown in the drawings, the stick according to the invention comprises a handle 1 which would normally be an elongated piece of wood having, preferably, a quadrilateral cross-section to avoid rotation movement when handled by the player. A ball-handling member 3 is secured at the end of handle 1. This member 3 is fully illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5. Member 3 is seen having a central plane of symmetry containing the longitudinal axis of the handle 1.
As shown, member 3 has a ball-handling portion 5 and a forward projection 7 lying over the handle 1. The ball-handling portion 5 is generally U-shaped, in plan view, with a rounded bight 9 and has two opposite ball-striking faces 11 on either side of the plane of symmetry, each face 11 being curved in a cross-section transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle 1 and being curved inwardly in the direction of the plane of symmetry to take on the general shape of a shovel. Member 3 further has a ball-rolling edge 17 at the end remote from the handle 1 and it has straight lateral faces parallel with the longitudinal axis of the handle 1, the said axis extending centrally between the lateral faces 13. Preferably, faces 13 have triangular parallel friction ridges.
While the shovel-like cavities 11 would be used to strike or carry the ball around much in the manner of a shovel, the rolling edge 17 of member 3 is inwardly curved and gradually merges into the shovel-like cavities; edge 17 being intended to roll the ball rearwardly prior to shooting it and should therefore have a radius of curvature equal to the radius of the ball or slightly larger.
Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 for a detailed description of the structure itself of the ball-handling member. In a preferred form of the invention, the said member 3 is formed of two molded plastic parts 19 that meet on the aforesaid plane extending through the longitudinal center lines of the lateral edges 15. As would be gathered from FIGS. 3 and 5, the molded parts 19 are identical and inversely symmetrical with respect to the said plane, when placed one over the other.
As clearly shown in FIG. 3, each part 19 is an inwardly ribbed structure. A pair of central ribs 21 extends parallel with the lateral faces 13 and defines, along with the inner faces of the shovel-like cavities 11, a housing 23 for one end of the quadrilateral handle 1. The latter is provided with through apertures 25 intended to receive round studs 27 molded integrally with part 19 and projecting from the inner surface of cavities 11, along the longitudinal center line thereof, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
The rib structure above-mentioned further comprises lateral longitudinal ribs 29 as well as cross ribs 31. Ribs 29 and 31 define, at the junction thereof, a first lug 33 on one side and a second lug 35 on the opposite side, with respect to the longitudinal center line of part 19. The first lugs 33 have a central hole therethrough smaller than the mean diameter of the wood screws 37 so that the latter may easily be inserted with its tip but tightly clamped in the lugs 33 by screwing. On the other hand, the second lugs 35 are formed with central holes larger than the head of the wood screws 37 and with an apertured flange 39 at the bottom thereof on which the screw head rests as shown in FIG. 5. A first lug 33 always registers with a second lug 35 when two parts 19 are laid one over the other so that, in this manner, the two parts 19 making up a ball-handling member 3 are identical and symmetrical with respect to their common meeting plane. Since only one such part need be manufactured, it will be gathered that the cost of this member will be substantially reduced.
Member 3 being made of plastic will of course be light and since some players may prefer to have a heavier stick, provision is made in the ball-handling member 3 of the invention to incorporate heavy metal washers 41. For this purpose, ribs 29 and 31 are provided, adjacent lugs 33 and 35 with recessed shoulders 43 on which the washers 41 are intended to rest.
Finally, the parts are connected together by means of screws 37' extending through the two parts forming the forward projection 7 of the ball-handling member 3. The connection is similar to that wherein screws 37 are used, as described above.