US1774721A - Athletic score board - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2, 1930. E. L. MORRIS ATHLETIC SCORE BOA RD Filed m6. 5, 1927 Patented Sept. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EMMET L. MORRIS, OF MARQUETTE, IOWA ATHLETIC SCORE BOARD This invention relates to means for displaying numerically the progress of athletic contests, and has for its object the production of a score-board of an improved type 1" whereby points as made in the progress of games may be very conveniently displayed.

The nature of the invention is fully disclosed in the description and claims following, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a score board embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the same as seen from the right of 16 Fig. 1.

In the drawing, the numeral 5 denotes a board, which may be of any desired length and width. This is supposed to he set up in some conspicuous position in the athletic field with an attendant to manipulate the numbers as the points are made. For attaching to a wall or fence the back of the board is provided with brackets 6 and 7 adapted to carry the board at a considerable distance from its support, for reasons which will presently apear. p A part of the front space of the board is occupied by a dial 9 to denote the time oiplay. The numbers on the dial should correspond to a definite division of the game, as

in foot-ball, when the numbers would preterably run to 15 instead of the 8 shown. An index hand 10 is adapted to be turned, as by a winged spindle 11, and is held frictionally in any desired position by a spring 12 and washers 13.

The points made by the opposing teams are indicated each side of the dial by numbered cards 14 pierced at 14 to run on hangers 15 attached to the board. The hangers are of wire, and formed as arches, with substantially straight terminal, transverse portions 15 and 15*. One of the terminals is secured to a wall-plate 16. The other terminal is formed with a hook or offset 15 and is thus adapted to engage a socket 17 in the companion wall-plate 17. These plates are secured to opposite sides of the board in some suitable manner, as by bolts 18. The arched portion of each hanger spans the edge of the board at some distance therefrom, and thus allows the number cards strung on the hangers to be shifted from one side or" the board to the other. At both the front and back of the board they hang on the transverse por-- tion of the hanger, the form of which permits them to hang straightdown.

The device is shown with h angers disposed at the ends of the board as well as at the upper edge. Either may be dispensed with it not required, or by the enlargement of the board the number of hangers may be multiplied indefinitely.

The operation of the device is so simple as to need. no description, the cards being shifted from side to side of the board to dis play the required number, it being understood that in practice the numbers will run as high as any game may be supposed to call for, and are arranged in consecutive order on the hangers. To place or detach number cards it is only necessary to spring the engaging hook out of the wall-plate socket, and string on or remove the cards.

For the sake of illustration, in a football game, for example, the score as shown in Fig. 1, would be understood as 9 to O, with 1 downs on one side and 3 on the other in 2 minutes of play. For baseball or basketball one set of numbers (the upper, for example) may be used to denote runs or haskets, respectively, and. the others to indicate other points of interest in the game.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A score-board provided with hangers arched over the edge, and at some distance therefrom, and having inwardly projecting terminals, a wall-plate secured to one of the terminals of each hanger, a hook or offset formed on the other terminal, a wall-plate with a socket therein to receive said hook, score-cards strung on said hangers, and means for securing the wall-plates to opposite sides of the board.

2. A score-board provided with hangers formed as unbroken se1ni-circular arches with straight radial terminals, one terminal of each pair rigidly attached to one side of the

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