US3574350A

US3574350A - Slap shot hockey game

Info

Publication number: US3574350A
Application number: US765263A
Authority: US
Inventors: John F May
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-10-04
Filing date: 1968-10-04
Publication date: 1971-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 1988-04-13

Abstract

A hockey game apparatus, the device comprising an open box containing a playing field for a puck, a series of parallel spaced apart, transverse handles placed over the playing field, each handle being axially slidable and pivotable and having sideward extending paddles for striking the puck toward either of an opposing goal pocket at each opposite end of the playing field. On either side of the goal openings there is provided a strip element providing a vertical stop. Lying against each strip element is an inclined banking surface. The paddle most nearly adjacent the goal opening is constructed to clear the top of the vertical stop to remove the ball if it should come to rest thereon.

Description

United States Patent [72} Inventor John F. May

650 Main St., New Rochelle, NY. 10801 [21] Appl. No. 765,263

[22] Filed Oct. 4, 1968 [45] Patented Apr. 13, 1971 [54] SLAP SHOT HOCKEY GAME 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Att0meyCarl Miller ABSTRACT: A hockey game apparatus, the device comprising an open box containing a playing field for a puck, a series of parallel spaced apart, transverse handles placed over the playing field, each handle being axially slidable and pivotablc and having sideward extending paddles for striking the puck toward either of an opposing goal pocket at each opposite end of the playing field. On either side of the goal openings there is provided a strip element providing a vertical stop. Lying against each strip element is an inclined banking surface. The paddle most nearly adjacent the goal opening is constructed to clear the top of the vertical stop to remove the ball if it should come to rest thereon.

SLAP srror HOCKEY GAME This invention relates to a game apparatus in which the basic action is comparable to the sport of hockey.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a rectangular playing surface having two equal oppositely downwardly sloping playing fields from the transverse center of the playing surface, a ball and rods carrying paddles for actuating the ball toward one or the other end of the playing surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide the rectangular playing surface with upstanding longitudinal sidewalls and upstanding parallel end walls the latter being provided each with a central goal opening and exterior pocket for the ball.

A further object of the invention is to provide the lower interior portions of the side and end walls with banked surfaces, the inside surfaces of all the walls being covered by a liner of elastic material to effect a rebounding of the ball therefrom to add speed and skill to the game.

Yet another object of the invention is to mount on the upper edge of the sidewalls and across each playing field three transversely spaced rotatable and axially movable rods suitably secured to the sidewalls, each rod being provided with stop elements to limit the axial movement thereof and with paddle elements for starting the ball to move the same in the desired direction on the playing field, each rod being manipulated individually.

Yet another object of this invention is to utilize the endmost rod of each set of rods against an end wall as a goal rod having a single paddle, the intermediate rod of each set being a defensive rod having two transversely spaced paddles and the innermost rod of each set being an offensive rod operated by a player of the opponent team having three transversely spaced paddles.

A further object of this invention is to propel the ball into the opponents goal opening by axial manipulation and rotation of each rod to strike the ball with a paddle, there being two teams set up with two players on each team, one player of one team operating the goal rod and the second player operating the defensive and offensive rods of his team.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in the playing of the hockey game apparatus a creation of utmost interest due to the requisite skillful manipulation required involving physical, muscular and mental coordination which can be developed from playing experience and which enhances competition and amusement.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the game apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in cross section taken on line 3-3, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4-4, FIG. 3.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, the game apparatus is seen to consist of a base 11 having a playing surface 12 formed thereon to provide two flat oppositely sloping playing fields l3, 14 which are of equal size and slope downwardly from the medial transverse center 16 of the playing surface to the opposite ends thereof. The base 11 may be mounted on suitable legs or supports (not shown) and is rectangular in shape and of any desired length and width. Surrounding the base 11 and suitably attached thereto are parallel upright sidewalls l8, l9 and corresponding parallel

upright end walls

20, 21.

Centrally of each of the

end walls

20, 21 and in opposed relation to each other are

goal openings

24, 25, the bottom of each opening lying flush with the surface of its associated playing field as seen in FIG. 3. Surrounding each opening and exteriorly respectively of

end walls

20, 21 are ball-receiving

pockets

27, 28 of net or mesh.

Arranged on the inside of each

end wall

20, 21 and on each side of the openings therein are

strip elements

35, 35a and 36, 360 respectively providing

stops

30, 31 and 32, 33. Along the strip elements of the end walls and along the inside surface of the sidewalls 18 adjacent the bottoms thereof are secured

molding strips

40, 41 and 42, 43 respectively each presenting an inclined or banked surface with relation to the surface of the playing fields and to the walls respectively. Secured to the inside surfaces of the sidewalls and end strip elements is a liner of rubber or other suitable elastic plastic material 46, see FIG. 4, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Mounted on the upper edge of the sidewalls l8, 19 are pairs of bearing brackets 50, 50a; 51, 51a; 52, 52a; 53, 53a; 54, 54a and 55, 55a. The bearing brackets of each pair are spaced from each other at selected distances, each pair of brackets being in opposed relation and having coaxial openings therein for the reception, respectively, of

rods

60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65. The rods each have axial sliding as well as rotating movement in each associated pair of bearing brackets and extend outwardly beyond the same, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. Rods and are designated goal rods and are disposed adjacent to

end walls

20, 21 having

goal openings

24, 25 respectively. Rods 61 and 64 are designated defensive rods and rods 62, 63 are designated offensive rods.

Rods

60, 65 are each centrally provided with a

single paddle

67, 68 respectively rigidly secured to its respective rod in any desired manner. The

paddles

67, 68 are of a length such as to be able to clear the front edge of the

strip elements

35, 35a and 36, 36a respectively, see FIG. 1, and will just clear the surface of the associated playing field if the goal rods carrying the same are turned in the appropriate direction. Defensive rods 61, 64 are each provided with an integral pair of axially spaced

paddles

69, 70 and 69a, 700, respectively, of a length such as to just clear the surface of their associated playing field. Offensive rods 62, 63 are each provided with three coaxially spaced paddles 71, 72, 73 and 71a, 72a, 73a respectively similar to

paddles

69, 70.

The terminal ends of defensive and offensive rods 61,63 are provided with

disc stops

75, 76 and at their other ends with disc stops 75a, 76a located inwardly from said other ends to provide

handles

77, 78. In a similar manner, the opposite terminal ends of defensive and offensive rods, 64, 62 are provided with

disc stops

80, 81 and at their other ends with disc stops 80a, 81a located inwardly from said other ends to provide

handles

82, 83. The disc stops serve to limit axial movement in either direction of each rod while the handles on the rods are held each by a player to manipulate the rod. The

goal rods

60, 65 are of a length such as to not require limit stops thereon, the sides of the

paddles

67, 68 serving to limit axial outward movement of the rods when engaging the sidewalls l8, 19. However, the same may be provided at each end with a disc stop and handle portion similar to that at an end of each of the defensive and offensive rods, as shown in FIG. 1.

The object of the game as in hockey is to move or propel a ball (which may be a marble) into a selected goal opening. Thus to play the game there is required two teams of two players on each team. A goal tender on each team respectively operates

goal rods

60, 65. Defensive rods 61, 64 each having two defensive men as represented by

paddles

69, 70; 69a, 70a are each operated by the second player of each team. Offensive rods, 62, 63 each having two forwards and one center as represented by paddles 71, 72, 73; 71a, 72a, 73a are each operated by the second player. The ball or marble is placed on raised transverse center 16 of the playing surface and will roll down one or the other of the playing fields. Proper manipulation by player operating the offensive rods 62 or 63 will cause one of the three paddles thereon to strike the ball towards the goal. Manipulation of the defensive rod in the same playing field will cause, if possible, one of the two paddles thereon to strike the ball back upwardly on the playing field away from the goal. Skill in playing the game will result in the offensive player to be able to strike the ball into the goal opening. The ball may'be moved in the playing of the game from one playing field to the other thus giving each of the players an opportunity to play. Should the ball strike the rubber-lined sides or banked portion of the side and end walls, it will rebound back into the playing field. Should the ball rest against the

stops

30, 31, 32, 33 is easily moved off thereof by manipulation of the goal rod operated by the goal tender. When the ball moves through one of the goal openings it is received in the associated

pocket

27, 28 from which it may be retrieved. As is apparent, the players move their respective rods axially in either direction and may at the same time turn the same to direct the paddle against the ball to move the same in a selected direction. Playing of the game requires and will develop skill, dexterity as well as physical, mental and muscular coordination.

While this invention .has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

lclaim:

l. A game apparatus comprising:

a. a rectangular playing surface;

b. two adjacent like playing fields on said playing surface;

c. said playing fields sloping downwardly in opposite directions toward each end of the playing surface from the transverse medial center thereof;

d. sidewalls and end walls enclosing said playing surface;

e. axially movable and rotatable rods supported transversely of said playing surface on said sidewalls;

f. bearing means fixed to said sidewalls arranged in opposed pairs with each pair of bearing means carrying a rod for axial and rotative movement;

g. paddle elements on each rod;

h. a ball movable on one or the other of said playing fields; whereby manipulation of each of the rods either axially or rotatively will cause a paddle element thereon to strike the ball to impart movement and direction of movement to said ball, including:

i. a goal opening centrally in each end wall;

j. an elastic and resilient liner secured to the inside surface of said side and end walls;

k. means fixed to the lower portion of said side and end walls providing an inclined banking surface relative to the playing surface; whereby said ball will rebound into the playing field when striking said elastic and resilient liner wherein said rods provide for each playing field:

l. a goal tender rod;

in. a defensive rod;

n. an offensive rod;

wherein in each playing field:

0. said goal tender rod is disposed adjacent the goal opening in the end wall thereof;

p. a single paddle is fixed centrally to said goal tender rod;

q. said offensive rod is disposed adjacent to the transverse medial portion of the playing surface at the higher most portion of its associated playing field;

r. three transversely spaced paddles are fixedly secured to said ofiensive rod;

s. said defensive rod being disposed substantially midway between said goal tender rod and offensive rod;

t. two transversely spaced paddles are fixedly secured to said defensive rod;

including:

u. a ball receiving pocket arranged exteriorly of each end wall at the goal opening therein;

v. a limit stop at one terminal end of each defensive and offensive rod;

w. a limit stop and handle at the other end of each defensive and offensive rods; x. defensive and offensive rods having the limit stops at the terminal end thereof disposed laterally outward of one sidewall with the stops at the terminal ends of the other alternate defensive and offensive rods disposed laterally outwardly of the other sidewall; wherein:

y. the limit stop and handle on the defensive and offensive rods are disposed laterally outwardly of the sidewalls; including:

2. a strip element providing a vertical stop arranged one on each side of said goal opening in each end wall; a. said means providing an inclined banking surface lying against each said strip element; and bb. said single paddle on the goal tender rod being adapted to clear said vertical stop to remove the ball should it rest thereon.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising: a. a rectangular playing surface; b. two adjacent like playing fields on said playing surface; c. said playing fields sloping downwardly in opposite directions toward each end of the playing surface from the transverse medial center thereof; d. sidewalls and end walls enclosing said playing surface; e. axially movable and rotatable rods supported transversely of said playing surface on said sidewalls; f. bearing means fixed to said sidewalls arranged in opposed pairs with each pair of bearing means carrying a rod for axial and rotative movement; g. paddle elements on each rod; h. a ball movable on one or the other of said playing fields; whereby manipulation of each of the rods either axially or rotatively will cause a paddle element thereon to strike the ball to impart movement and direction of movement to said ball, including: i. a goal opening centrally in each end wall; j. an elastic and resilient liner secured to the inside surface of said side and end walls; k. means fixed to the lower portion of said side and end walls providing an inclined banking surface relative to the playing surface; whereby said ball will rebound into the playing field when striking said elastic and resilient liner wherein said rods provide for each playing field: 1. a goal tender rod; m. a defensive rod; n. an offensive rod; wherein in each playing field: o. said goal tender rod is disposed adjacent the goal opening in the end wall thereof; p. a single paddle is fixed centrally to said goal tender rod; q. said offensive rod is disposed adjacent to the transverse medial portion of the playing surface at the higher most portion of its associated playing field; r. three transversely spaced paddles are fixedly secured to said offensive rod; s. said defensive rod being disposed substantially midway between said goal tender rod and offensive rod; t. two transversely spaced paddles are fixedly secured to said defensive rod; including: u. a ball receiving pocket arranged exteriorly of each end wall at the goal opening therein; v. a limit stop at one terminal end of each defensive and offensive rod; w. a limit stop and handle at the other end of each defensive and offensive rods; x. defensive and offensive rods having the limit stops at the terminal end thereof disposed laterally outward of one sidewall with the stops at the terminal ends of the other alternate defensive and offensive rods disposed laterally outwardly of the other sidewall; wherein: y. the limit stop and handle on the defensive and offensive rods are disposed laterally outwardly of the sidewalls; including: z. a strip element providing a vertical stop arranged one on each side of said goal opening in each end wall; aa. said means providing an inclined banking surface lying against each said strip element; and bb. said single paddle on the goal tender rod being adapted to clear said vertical stop to remove the ball should it rest thereon.