US3790170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic electric baseball game
Assignee: SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
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Filing: 1972-04-03
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A baseball game apparatus includes a defensive control unit with pitch selection switches manually controlled by a player serving as pitcher, and an offensive control unit with pitch anticipation switches on which a player serving as batter selects and swings at or passes an anticipated pitch. A mixer stepping unit randomly selects the resulting play from a category of plays determined by the degree of correspondence between the defensive and offensive pitch switches. The selected play controls sequential energization of a series of lights under a translucent playing field to simulate the movement of a batted ball. A player stepping unit energizes a further series of lights to animate men which converge towards the batted ball flight path. A base running relay energizes lights arranged in a diamond-shaped pattern to animate runners advancing around a base path. Interlocking relays allow one runner to be held on a base while another runner advances. A motor driven play animation unit energizes further series of lights to simulate the ball being returned to the infield. A plurality of stepping relays records the progress of the game, and in response to predetermined positions, such as third out, control energization of the relays and lights to modify the game condition then being displayed.
Inventors
- 👤 D Alexander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:43
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/06; A63F7/0604; A63F7/0608
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
In an automatic baseball game apparatus, the combination of: a playing field having bases located thereon; a plurality of ball path means each separately energizable to simulate a selected one of a plurality of paths of a ball moving across said playing field; means arranged in a diamond shaped pattern to represent animated men moving around base paths between said bases, including a plurality of base running means separately enabled to represent an animated man moving between different bases; regular advancement means for selectively enabling at least two base running means to cause at least two animated men to advance to at least two bases; base holding means for indicating when enabled an animated man located at one of said bases; irregular advancement means for selectively enabling one of said base running means while at the same time maintaining enabled said base holding means to cause an animated man to advance to another basE while another animated man remains at a different base; and means responsive during energization of any of a first group of said plurality of ball path means for enabling said regular advancement means and responsive during energization of any of a second group of said plurality of ball path means for enabling said irregular advancement means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
In an automatic baseball game apparatus, the combination of: a playing field having bases located thereon; a plurality of ball path means each separately energizable to simulate a selected one of a plurality of paths of a ball moving across said playing field; means arranged in a diamond shaped pattern to represent animated men moving around base paths between said bases, including a plurality of base running means separately enabled to represent an animated man moving between different bases; regular advancement means for selectively enabling at least two base running means to cause at least two animated men to advance to at least two bases; base holding means for indicating when enabled an animated man located at one of said bases; irregular advancement means for selectively enabling one of said base running means while at the same time maintaining enabled said base holding means to cause an animated man to advance to another basE while another animated man remains at a different base; and means responsive during energization of any of a first group of said plurality of ball path means for enabling said regular advancement means and responsive during energization of any of a second group of said plurality of ball path means for enabling said irregular advancement means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
106 words
The automatic baseball game of claim 1 wherein said playing field has home, first, second and third bases located thereon, and a plurality of base occupying means, each base occupying means being associated with a different base, said base occupying means including memory means having a first state indicating no animated man is occupying the associated base and a second state indicating that an animated man is occupying the associated base, and circuit means connecting said memory means to said irregular advancement means to control selective enabling of said base running means and said base holding means in accordance with the state of said memory means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The automatic baseball game of claim 2 including walk means for enabling one of said base running means to represent an animated man moving between home base and first base, said circuit means being effective when the memory means associated with first base is in said first state for maintaining enabled said base holding means to cause animated men to remain at second base and third base if the memory means associated therewith are in a second state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The automatic baseball game of claim 2 including single means for enabling one or more of said base running means to represent one or more animated men moving between pairs of bases, and said circuit means includes two base single means effective thereafter for enabling base running means while simultaneously enabling said base holding means at first base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The automatic baseball game of claim 1 including network means effective after operation of said irregular advancement means for enabling said base holding means to indicate an animated man who advanced a base as holding that base, and means effective when the advanced animated man is out for breaking said network means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |