US2840378A - Fencing game - Google Patents

Description

L. A. HARV'EY June 24, 1958 FENCING GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 27. 1955 INVENTOR. BY flfizruey 6416M MW ZouZS June 24, 1958 L. A. HARVEY FENCING GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 00;. 27, 1955 United States Patent 4 FENCING GAME 4 Louis A. Harvey, Detroit, Mich. Application October 27, 1955, Serial No. 543,074

13 Claims. (Cl. 273-85) This invention relates to games and, 'in particular, to sports-simulating games.

-One object of this inventionis to providea fencing game wherein two opposing players may parry and thrust with captive fencing foils of a special pattern which are prevented from being withdrawn or advanced beyond predetermined distances in order to protect the players from injury. I t

Another object is to provide a fencing game of the foregoing character wherein targets are provided and adapted to be engaged by an accurate thrust of one of the fencing foils, with the result that the success of a player may be judged by the number of targets he is able to engage with the tip of'his foil during a given period or for a given length of game.

Another object is to provide a fencing game, as set forth in the preceding object, wherein the targets consist of displaceable target objects, such as small balls, for example marbles, yieldably mounted in target holes into which 'the'forward end of the fencing foil may penetrate, the score being determined by the number of target objects which a player may displace from the target holes of his opponent. c 1 I Another-object is to provide a fencing game, as set forth above, whereinthe foils are movably mounted in slots in a retaining member so as to be movable to and fro and back and forth in order'to obtain thegreatest permissible freedom in thrusting 'and parryin'g without exceeding the safe limitsthereof, as established-by the retaining elements on the fencing foils.

Another object is to provide a fencing gamefas set or troughs where they are visible for scoring purposes player'so as to hold down the frame structure and prevent,

its undesired displacement during progress of thegame. Other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent during the course of the following descriptionof the drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fencing game according-to one form of the present invention;

. Figure 2 is a right-hand end elevation of thefencing game shown in Figure 1; c

' Figure 3 is a top plan view of the fencing game shown in'Figures l and 2; I

Figure '4 is an enlarged fragmentaryelevation of the target portion shown in the upper part of Figure 2;

Patented June 24, 1953 l C C 2 Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the tip of a fencing foil shown in Figures l and 3, showing the construction thereof;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-section similar to Figure 5,

but showing a modification with an upwardly-inclined target hole used in place of the resilient detent flap of Figure 5; a

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a modified'fencing game according to another form of the present invention, with the upper right-hand corner in approximately vertica section taken along the line 9-9 in Figure 10;

Figure 10 is a right-hand end elevation, partly in section, of the fencing game shown in Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a top plan View of the fencing game shown in Figures 9 and 10. a

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a fencing game, generally designated 10, consisting of a. framework of four uprights 11 interconnected by longi tudinal and cross members 12 and 14 with step plates 16 secured to the latter for receiving the weight of the players. in order to hold the framework from slipping along the: floor. The upper parts of the uprights are interconnected. by longitudinal members 18 and 'cross members 20, each with a bottom wall 22, inclined back wall 23 and front: wall 24 forming ball pockets'26 for receiving marbles; 27 used in playing the game. The upper ends of each pair of uprights 11 are interconnected by boards 28 which are the main elements of the game.

Each board 28 near its upper end is'provided with an arcuateslot 30 (Figure 2) through which the blade in the form of a rod 32 of a fencing foil 34 passes, held in place by retaining collars 36 and 38 so as to permit lunging when the foil is held by the handle 40 but to prevent com plete withdrawal. The forward end of each rod 32 carries a rubber tip 42 which has a reduced diameter end 44 adapted to enter any one of a series of target holes 46 in the opposing board 28. The rearward sides of the holes 46 are counter-bored as at 48 (Figure 5) to receive balls 27, such as marbles, which are yieldably held in place by resilient flaps 52 of rubber or the like nailed to the board as at 54. The flaps 52 extend only partway across the counterbores 48- so as to permit easy ejection of the marbles 27 when they are pushed out by the entry of the reduced diameter portion 44 of the foil tip 42 through the particular hole 46. The target holes 46 may be emphasized by a target background 56 (Figure 6) or may be inclined, as at 47 (Figure 8) to provide gravity detention of the balls 27.

In playing the game, each player grasps the handle 40 of his foil 34 with one hand and puts his forward foot on the foot plate 16 in order to hold down his end of the framework. Each player then thrusts and parries with the object of defending the target holes 46 in his particular board 28 while at the same time attempting to thrust the reduced diameter tip 44 of his foil blade 32 into one of'the target holes46 in'his opponents board 48, pushing the ball 27 out of the hole 46 so that it drops downward into the pocket 26. The number of the marbles in the Figure 5 is-a vertical section taken along the line 55 in Figure 4;,

' Figure '6 is an enlargedfragmentary front elevation of pockets 26 measures the score for the players. Since the fencing foils34 are held captive by the retaining. collars 36 and 38, neither of the players can thrust .far.

enough to injure the other players, yet the slots 30 provide freedom for manipulating the foil 34 to parry the opponents thrusts. 7

The modified fencing game, generally designated 60, shown in Figures9, l0 and 11, is similar in principle to the fencing game 10 shown in Figures l to 6 inclusive,

and differs in certain details. The fencing game 60 consists of four uprights 62 which at theirlower ends are interconnected by cross members 64 to which foot rests 66 are attached and adapted to receive one foot of each,

; player in order to prevent displacement of thegame play, it Mounted on the upperends of the uprights,

62 are foil and target holders, generally designated 68. Each holder 68 consists of a rectangular border frame 70 ha ing a. bo tom mem r 72 se ured o upper ends ofnhe uprights 6 2 and1 horizontallyvgrooved as at 74 along its upperedge. The;,groove,74 connects atits pppositeendsqwith vertical grooves 76, in side members 78 (Figure and the top of the border frameisclosed by aremovable tcross bar 80 containing .a;1horizontal groove 82 on itslower side.

. Mounted in each border. frame 70 and'held in position by the grooves 7 4, 76 and 82 is a foilmounting board 84 consistinlof lowerand upper parts 86 and 88 respectively. Thelower part, 86 is provided with an arcuate upper 1edge 90 and the uppenpart, 88 with 'an arcuateedged cuta ay portion 92, :these in cooperation forming an .arcuate slot, 94, Mounted inthe slot: 94 is the rodshaped blade 96 of a fencing foil 98 held inplaceby retaining collars 100and .102 respectively" and provided with a handle 104. The forward end of the blade 96 carries a rubbertip 106 having a reduced diameter for-. ward end 108 which is adapted to. enter any one of a seriesof target holes 110 in the opposing board 84. The target holes 110. are provided rearwardly withupwardly and rearwardlydnclined ,counterbores 112 in magazine blocks 114, which have funnel-shaped receivers 116 opening at their lower ends into the counterbore 112. Accordingly, when a supply of marbles or other target balls 118 is provided inthe receiver 116, the lowermost hall 118 will drop downwardly into the inclined counterbore 112 and come to ,rest against the rim of the target hole 110, which has a diameter slightly smaller than the ball 118 in order to prevent its passing through.

Therearward end of each counterbore 112 opens into afunncl-shaped chute .120 having a rear wall 122and downwardly-converging side Walls 124 andf126 and wide enough to. extend beneath the outlets of. the counterbores 11 2. At itslower end, the chute 120 opens into the upper end of a trough 128 which rests upon a cross member 130 secured to the uprights 62 and extends downwardly toward the opposite side, of the game. Each trough 128 has a bottom wall 132 adapted torest upon and be secured to a cross member 134 secured to and extending between the uprights 62. The troughs 128 have side walls 136 and arefarranged side by side so as to passone another, the chutes .120 being laterally-offset (Figure 10) to permit this, The lower end of each trough 128 terminates in an inclined end wall 138 forming a ball pocket 140.

Thermidportions of the oppositely-inclined troughs 128 withone hand and puts his forward foot on hisfoot;

plate 66 in order to hold down his end of the framework,

while he thrusts and parries against his opponents foil' 98 with the object simultaneously of defending the target holes 110 in his particular foil mounting board 84 and' 4 anchorage mounted on each structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices connected one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward one another in overlapping relationship and connected one to each thrust-limiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged to limit the thrust of its respective foil to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective anchorage toward the opposing anchorage, and a target device mounted on each structure within the thrusting range of the tip of the opposing foil and responsive to scoring contact therewith of said opposing foil tip for automatically indicating such scoring contact. 2. A fencing game comprising an elongated frame including a pair of upright structures disposed in longitudinally-spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting device anchorage mounted on each structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices connected one to each anchorage, apair. of fencing foils pointed toward one another in overlapping relationship and connected one to each thrust-limiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged to limit the thrust of its respective foil'to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective anchorage toward the opposing anchorage, and a target device mounted on each structure within the thrusting range ofthe tip of the opposing foil and responsive to scoring contact therewith of said opposing foil tip for automatically indicating such scoring contact, said target device including a target object and a target object'holder secured to one of said structures and yieldingly ,and detachably holding said target object.

3. A fencing game comprising an elongated frame including a pair of uprightstructures disposed in longitudinally-spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting device anchorage mounted on each structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices connected one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward one another in overlapping relationship andgconnected one to each thrust-limiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged to limit the thrust of its respective foil to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective anchorage towardthe opposing anchorage, and .acta'rget device mountedon each structure within the :thrusting range of the tip of the opposing foil and thr'ustingthe reduced diameter tip 108 of his foil blade 7 96 into one of the target holes 110,in his opponents foil mounting board 84. When this is accomplished, the marbleor other ball 118 so engaged is pushed upward along the upwardly-inclined counterbore 112 by the foil tip 108 so that it drops into the chute 12 0, whence it i rolls downward along the trough 128 into the receiving ,pocket 140. As before, the number. of the marbles distudinally-spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting deviceresponsive to scoring contact therewith of said opposing foil tipufor automatically indicating such scoring; contact, said. target device including a ball and a .ball holder secured to one of said structures and yieldingly and detachably holding said ball. a

4. A fencing game comprising an elongated'frameim.

cluding a pair. of upright structures disposed in longitudinally spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting; device anchorage mounted on each structure, a pair of'fencing foil thrust-limiting devices. connected one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward one another in overlapping relationship and connected one to each thrust-limiting device, each. thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged to limit the thrust of its respective foil to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective' anchorage toward the opposing anchorage, and a target device mounted on each structure within the thrusting range of the tip of the opposing foil, said target device including a ball and a ball'holder secured to one of said structures and yieldingly and detachably holding said ball, each ball holder comprising a member having a rearwardly-extending ball passageway therein with a restricted entrance sufiiciently large for the passage. of the foil tip'but'insufliciently largefor the passage of the ball forwardly. V v

n 5. A fencing game comprising an elongated frame including a pair of upright structures disposed in longitudinally-spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting device anchorage mounted on each structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices connected one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward one another in overlapping relationship and connected one to each thrust limiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arrangedto limit the thrust of its respective foil to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective anchorage toward the'op'posing anchorage, and a target device mounted on each structure within the thrusting range of the tip-ofrthe opposing foil, said target device in'cluding a ball and a ball holdersecured to one of said structures and yieldinglyand detachably holding said ball, e'ach' ball holder comprising a member having arearwardly-extendi-ng ball passageway therein with a restricted entrance sufliciently large for the passage of the foil tip but insuificiently largefor the passage of the ball forwardly, each ball holder also including a yieldable ball detent mounted near the rearward end of said passagewayin partially-obstructing relationshiptherewith,

6.; A fencing gaine comprising an elongated frame including a pair of upright structures disposed in longitudinally-spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting device anchorage mounted one'ach structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices conne cted one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward one another in overlapping relationship and connected one to each thrustlimiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged to limit the thrust of its respective foil to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective anchorage toward the opposing anchorage, and a target device mounted on each structure within the thrusting range of the tip of the opposing foil, said target device including a ball and a ball holder secured to one of said structures and yieldingly and detachably holding said ball, each ball holder comprising a member having a rearwardly extending ball passageway therein with a restricted entrance sufiiciently large for the passage of the foil tip but insufliciently large for the passage of the ball forwardly, said ball passageway being inclined upwardly and rearwardly away from said entrance.

7. A fencing game comprising an elongated frame including a pair of upright structures disposed in longitudinally-spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting device anchorage mounted on each structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices connected one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward one another in overlapping relationship and connected one to each thrust-limiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged to limit the thrust of its respective foil to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective anchorage toward the opposing anchorage, and a target device mounted on each structure within the thrusting range of the tip of the opposing foil, said target device including a ball and a ball holder secured to one 'of said structures and yieldingly and detachably holding said ball, and a ball magazine disposed above said ball holder and communicating therewith.

8. A fencing game comprising an elongated frame including a pair of uprightstructures'disposed in longitudinally-spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting device anchorage mounted on each structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices connected one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward one another in overlapping relationship and connected one to each thrustlimiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged to limit the thrust of its respective foil to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective anchorage toward the opposing anchorage, and a target device mounted on each structure within the thrusting range of the tip of the opposing foil, said target device including a ball and a ball holder secured to one ofsaid structures and yieldingly and detachably holding said ball, each ball holder comprising a member having a rearwardly extending ball passageway therein with a restricted entrance sufficiently large for the passage of the foil tip but insufficiently large for the passage of the ball forwardly, said ball passageway being inclined upwardly and rearwardly away from said entrance, and a ball maga- V in overlapping relationship and connected one to each zine disposed above said ball holder and communicating with said ball passageway.

9. A' fencing game comprising an elongated frame in: cluding a pair of upright structures disposed in longitudinally-spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting device anchorage mounted in each structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices connected one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward one another in overlapping relationship and connected one to each thrust-. limiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged to limit the thrust of its respective, foil to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective anchorage toward the opposing anchorage, and a target device mounted on each'structure within the thrustingrange of the tip of the opposing foil, said target device including a ball anda ball holder secured. to one of said structures and yieldingly and detachably holding said ball, and a ball receiverdisposed below and in line withisaid ball holder. 3 10.tA fencing game comprising an elongated frame including a pair ,of upright structures disposed in longitudinall'y-spaced" relationship, a thrust-limiting device anchorage mounted on each structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices connected one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward one another thrust-limiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged tolimit the thrust of itsrespective foil to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective anchorage toward the opposing anchorage, and a target device mounted on each structure within the thrusting range of the tip of the opposing foil, said target device including a ball and a ball holder secured to one of said structures and yieldingly and detachably holding said ball, each ball holder comprising a member having a rearwardly-extending ball passageway therein with a restricted entrance sufficiently large for the passage of the foil tip but insufliciently large for the passage of the ball forwardly, and a ball receiver disposed below and in line with the rearward end of said passageway.

11. A fencing game comprising an elongated frame including a pair of upright structures disposed in longitudinally-spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting device anchorage mounted on each structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices connected one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward one another in overlapping relationship and connected onelto each thrust-limiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged to limit the thrust of its re-' spective foil to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective anchorage toward the opposing anchorage, and a target device mounted on each structure within the thrusting range of the tip of the opposing foil, said target device including a ball and a ball holder secured to one of said structures and yieldingly and detachably holding said ball, each ball holder comprising a member having a rearwardly-extending ball passageway therein with a restricted entrance sufiiciently large for the passage of the foil tip but insufiiciently large for.

the passage of the ball forwardly, each ball holderalso including a yieldable ball detent mounted near the rearward end of said passageway in partially-obstructing relationship therewith, and a ball receiver disposed below and in line with the rearward end of said passageway.

12. A fencing game comprising an elongated frame including a pair of upright structures disposed in longitudinally-spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting device anchorage mounted on each structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices connected one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward oneanother in overlapping relationship and connected one to each thrust-limiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged to limit the thrust of its respective foil to a predetermined thrust distance away from its respective anchoragel toward the opposing enchorage and a target device "mounted on eachstruct tre within the thrlisfting i'angetof the tip oflthe PP ing foil; said target devjc'efii'tcluding a ball and a ball holder-secured to one of said-structures and yieldingly and ,detachably holding said ball, each ball holder comprising a member having a 'rearwardly-extending ball pa sageway therein with a restricted entrance sufiiciently large for the passage of the foil tip but insufliciently large forlthe passage oft the ball forwardly, said ball passageway" being inclined upwardly and rearwardly away from said entrance; and aflball receiver disposed belowand in line with therearwa'rdend of said passagey a 1 r r 13. A fencing gamecomprising an elongated frame including a pair of upright structures disposed'in longitudinally-spaced relationship, a thrust-limiting device anchorage mounted on each structure, a pair of fencing foil thrust-limiting devices connected one to each anchorage, a pair of fencing foils pointed toward one another 2 thrust-limiting device, each thrust-limiting device being constructed and arranged to limit the thrust of its respective foil to apredeterminedthrust distance away from -it's respective anchorage toward the opposing anchorage, and a target device mounted on each struchire within the thrusting range of the tip of the opposing foil, said frame including an outwardly-projecting holddown foot rest member mounted on each end of said frame substantially at floor level near the lower end of each of said upright structures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France '..u Sept. 3, 1934

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