BALL GAME PLAYED WITH MALLETS
United States Patent 3814430
A game includes a number of mallets for hitting a ball. Each of the mallets includes head members having a solid end portion for striking the ball and a hollow portion for receiving the struck ball.
US Patent References:
/1116022.html
Cornwall - November 1914 - 1116022
Golf club
Radel - October 1928 - 1685826
Polo mallet head
Nelson - July 1933 - 1918485
Game appliance
Costello - October 1937 - 2094766
Combined bubble pipe and tethered ball
Sturm, Jr. - February 1951 - 2542100
/1116022.html
Cornwall - November 1914 - 1116022
Golf club
Radel - October 1928 - 1685826
Polo mallet head
Nelson - July 1933 - 1918485
Game appliance
Costello - October 1937 - 2094766
Combined bubble pipe and tethered ball
Sturm, Jr. - February 1951 - 2542100
Application Number:
05/154306
Publication Date:
06/04/1974
Filing Date:
06/18/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Gay, Andrew G. (Philadelphia, PA)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
473/558, 273/129R, 473/515, 473/412, 273/127B
International Classes:
A63B59/00; A63B59/00; A63B63/00
Field of Search:
273/67R,167R,167H,168,83,56,129,96R,96D,101,35,32F,72A,67A,67B,67C 145/36
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Oechsle, Anton O.
Assistant Examiner:
Kramer, Arnold W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Farrell, Edward M.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. The combination of a ball and a mallet for both projecting the ball along the ground when swung into engagement with the ball and acting as a target for capturing the ball when held stationary; said mallet comprising an elongated handle secured at one end centrally and perpendicularly to the long axis of a solid one piece elongated substantially cylindrical head member, said head member having a flat ball striking face perpendicular to said long axis at one end thereof and having the opposite end bored out inwardly through said opposite end and along said long axis to a depth substantially to the center of said head member with both the diameter of the bore and the depth of the bore being somewhat larger than the diameter of the ball whereby the mallet can be used either to strike the ball with the flat ball striking face to project it along the ground or to capture it totally within the bore when held stationary as a target.
2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottom side of the head member, substantially opposite the handle, has an elongated cut-away portion extending through said bottom side up and into said bore, said cut-away portion including and extending from the open end to the greatest depth of said bore, the width of the cut-away portion being less than the diameter of said ball whereby the ball being projected along the ground may enter the bore to its full depth without leaving the surface of the ground.
1. The combination of a ball and a mallet for both projecting the ball along the ground when swung into engagement with the ball and acting as a target for capturing the ball when held stationary; said mallet comprising an elongated handle secured at one end centrally and perpendicularly to the long axis of a solid one piece elongated substantially cylindrical head member, said head member having a flat ball striking face perpendicular to said long axis at one end thereof and having the opposite end bored out inwardly through said opposite end and along said long axis to a depth substantially to the center of said head member with both the diameter of the bore and the depth of the bore being somewhat larger than the diameter of the ball whereby the mallet can be used either to strike the ball with the flat ball striking face to project it along the ground or to capture it totally within the bore when held stationary as a target.
2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottom side of the head member, substantially opposite the handle, has an elongated cut-away portion extending through said bottom side up and into said bore, said cut-away portion including and extending from the open end to the greatest depth of said bore, the width of the cut-away portion being less than the diameter of said ball whereby the ball being projected along the ground may enter the bore to its full depth without leaving the surface of the ground.
Description:
Games using wooden mallets for striking balls are well known. Such games are illustrated in U.S. Pats. to McCrea, No. 643,483, Cornwall No. 1,116,022 and Ascardi No. 3,017,186. Games involving clubs with cut-away portions for receiving golf balls therein to enable golfers to practice are shown in U.S. Pats. to Costello Nos. 1,877,820 and 2,094,766.
Certain games are played for amusement and not intended to provide excessive physical exertion. At the same time, many people prefer outdoor games which are competitive in nature but where only a limited amount of physical strength is required.
It is an object of this invention to provide a novel lawn or field type of game involving the use of mallets in which one or more players may engage.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel game involving the use of mallets and a ball in which persons may compete against each other and in which strenuous bending to retrieve the ball is not required.
In accordance with the present invention, a game makes use of a number of mallets each having a solid end for striking a ball. The other end of each of the mallets includes a hollow portion for receiving the struck ball. A bottom cut-away portion of the mallet permits the ball to enter the hollow portion while the ball is still in contact with the ground.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent and suggest themselves to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification and claims, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of mallets and a ball in a game involving the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of a mallet, in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a bottom view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2, and
FIG. 4 is an end view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 2.
Referring in particular to FIG. 1, a game embodying the present invention is illustrated. The game may be played on a lawn or other suitable playing surface, which may be level or otherwise. A pair of mallets 10 and 15 each include a similar type handle 12 and a head member 14 secured to the end of the handle.
A ball 16 may be struck by a player swinging the mallet 10 and made to roll along the ground 11. The ball 16 is struck and directed by one player towards the mallet 15, which may be held upright by a second player. As will be described, each of the mallets 10 and 15 include head members 14 having a solid end surface for hitting the ball 16 and a hollow end for receiving the struck ball. The object of the game is for a player to strike the ball with one club into the hollow portion or end of the second club in a predetermined number of strokes, for example. A second player may hold the second mallet 15 in alignment with the ball being struck with the hollow end disposed to receive the struck ball if hit properly by the first player.
The game may be played by any number of players, with the player requiring the lowest number of strokes to hit the ball into the hollow portion winning the game. Alternatively, the player may try to predict the number of shots that it will take him to hit the ball into the other club. Numerous modifications of the game may of course be made.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the head member 14 includes a solid end portion 18 for striking the ball. This portion of the head member may be similar to conventional wooden mallets used in many lawn games.
The hollow portion 20 of the mallet 14 extends from the end of the head towards the center, stopping short of the center. Because the handle 12 must extend into the head member, it is preferable that the hollow portion not extend to the area too close to the handle. The size of the open area receiving the ball is slightly larger than the ball 16 and may generally be shaped to the shape of the ball. In addition to being dimensioned to receive the ball 16, the bottom portion of the head member 14 includes a slightly elongated cut-away portion 23.
The cut-away portion 23 in the bottom of the mallet 14 permits the ball 16 to enter the hollow portion 20 without leaving the surface of the ground. For example, if only the circular opening were provided in the head member, without the bottom cut-away portion 23, an obstruction would be presented to the ball 16. If the ball is moving at a relatively slow rate of speed, the slightest obstruction will tend to stop it and prevent the ball from entering into the hollow portion of the mallet. The cut-away bottom portion permits free movement of the ball, thereby enhancing the enjoyment of the game.
The mallet including the head member and handle of the present invention may be made of wood, plastic or any other type of suitable material. If lightweight plastic is used, it may be desirable to add various elements of additional weight to give the players the right feel. The ball may be made of wood or like an ordinary golf ball.
Certain games are played for amusement and not intended to provide excessive physical exertion. At the same time, many people prefer outdoor games which are competitive in nature but where only a limited amount of physical strength is required.
It is an object of this invention to provide a novel lawn or field type of game involving the use of mallets in which one or more players may engage.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel game involving the use of mallets and a ball in which persons may compete against each other and in which strenuous bending to retrieve the ball is not required.
In accordance with the present invention, a game makes use of a number of mallets each having a solid end for striking a ball. The other end of each of the mallets includes a hollow portion for receiving the struck ball. A bottom cut-away portion of the mallet permits the ball to enter the hollow portion while the ball is still in contact with the ground.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent and suggest themselves to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification and claims, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of mallets and a ball in a game involving the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of a mallet, in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a bottom view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2, and
FIG. 4 is an end view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 2.
Referring in particular to FIG. 1, a game embodying the present invention is illustrated. The game may be played on a lawn or other suitable playing surface, which may be level or otherwise. A pair of mallets 10 and 15 each include a similar type handle 12 and a head member 14 secured to the end of the handle.
A ball 16 may be struck by a player swinging the mallet 10 and made to roll along the ground 11. The ball 16 is struck and directed by one player towards the mallet 15, which may be held upright by a second player. As will be described, each of the mallets 10 and 15 include head members 14 having a solid end surface for hitting the ball 16 and a hollow end for receiving the struck ball. The object of the game is for a player to strike the ball with one club into the hollow portion or end of the second club in a predetermined number of strokes, for example. A second player may hold the second mallet 15 in alignment with the ball being struck with the hollow end disposed to receive the struck ball if hit properly by the first player.
The game may be played by any number of players, with the player requiring the lowest number of strokes to hit the ball into the hollow portion winning the game. Alternatively, the player may try to predict the number of shots that it will take him to hit the ball into the other club. Numerous modifications of the game may of course be made.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the head member 14 includes a solid end portion 18 for striking the ball. This portion of the head member may be similar to conventional wooden mallets used in many lawn games.
The hollow portion 20 of the mallet 14 extends from the end of the head towards the center, stopping short of the center. Because the handle 12 must extend into the head member, it is preferable that the hollow portion not extend to the area too close to the handle. The size of the open area receiving the ball is slightly larger than the ball 16 and may generally be shaped to the shape of the ball. In addition to being dimensioned to receive the ball 16, the bottom portion of the head member 14 includes a slightly elongated cut-away portion 23.
The cut-away portion 23 in the bottom of the mallet 14 permits the ball 16 to enter the hollow portion 20 without leaving the surface of the ground. For example, if only the circular opening were provided in the head member, without the bottom cut-away portion 23, an obstruction would be presented to the ball 16. If the ball is moving at a relatively slow rate of speed, the slightest obstruction will tend to stop it and prevent the ball from entering into the hollow portion of the mallet. The cut-away bottom portion permits free movement of the ball, thereby enhancing the enjoyment of the game.
The mallet including the head member and handle of the present invention may be made of wood, plastic or any other type of suitable material. If lightweight plastic is used, it may be desirable to add various elements of additional weight to give the players the right feel. The ball may be made of wood or like an ordinary golf ball.