US2657056A - Ball confining club for croquet - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1953 J, SORTEBERG BALL CONFINING CLUB FOR CROQUET Filed Jan. 51, 1952 Patented Oct. 27,1953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALL CONFINING CLUB Fon CROQUET Johannes Sortebergg, Bath, Pa. Application January 31, 1952-, swarm. zsazzs 3 Claims.

The object of this invention is to devise a novel croquet game wherein the component parts are of novel construction.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel construction of a device for confining and retaining a players ball when it is to be struck by a mallet.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of it which I have found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a croquet game embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a ball positioning and confining device.

Figure 3 is a section on line A-A of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial elevation of another embodiment of the invention showing a positioning and ball confining device.

Figure 5 is a section on line B-B of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a wicket cluster or unit.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a stake.

Figure 8 is a sectional view through the bottom part of a stake.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Any desired number of wickets I can be employed and these wickets are connected by bars 2 to form a unit or cluster of wickets. As shown, the bars are connected to sides of the wickets and form a channel through whicha playing ball may pass.

The stakes have a bell 3 and an upwardly extending post 4 and their base 5 is preferably weighted. A stud 6 and a spacer l secures the parts in assembled condition.

In Figures 2 and 3, I have shown more in detail a device for rolling a player's ball into playing position and for confining and retaining the ball in a desired position when it is to be struck by a mallet. This device has a handle 8 connected at its lower end with a head 9 which is bifurcated as at It), the bifurcations being elongated in an axial direction and transversely cage for a ball [3.

curved at their inner faces to form a cage for loosely confining the ball. The side openings between the birfurcations are smaller than the diameter of the ball in order that the ball will be retained when struck by a mallet. The device slips freely over a ball and when withdrawn the ball will remain on the playing surface. In striking position, the device is pressed firmly against the playing surface.

In the embodiment seen in Figures 4 and 5, I have shown another form of ball confining and positioning device wherein a head ll connected with a suitable handle has spaced prongs I12 elongated in an axial direction to form a loose fitting When the device is pressed against a playing surface, the ball confined therein will be retained in the struck position when the ball is hit by a mallet IA. The playing surface is shown at l5 and may be a rug or carpet or other type of playing surface.

In the playing of a game, the parts are assembled as shown in Figure 1. For playing indoors in the average size room, the playing balls must be smaller than those used out of doors. This makes it impractical for a player to hold his ball in fixed position with his foot when he desires to croquet his opponents ball. By using the novel ball confiner and positioner as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the ball can be fixed in the desired position to be struck by a mallet, and will remain in a confined position within the cage after being struck, and on removal of the cage will be left on the playing surface.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Paten is:

1. A device for use in the playing of the game of croquet, said device comprising a handle having a head at one end with substantially parallel spaced members elongated in the axial direction of the handle and forming a cage for loosely confining a croquet ball, said device having an opening on each side between the spaced members of such size as to permit the encaged ball to make contact with another ball and permit passage of a mallet head to strike the encaged ball, and being adapted to be slipped over the ball for loosely confining the ball while the ball is struck with a mallet.

2. A device for use in the playing of the game of croquet, said device comprising a handle having a bifurcated head at one end, the bifurcations being elongated in the axial direction of the handle and transversely curved, said bifurcations forming a cage for loosely confining a croquet ball, said device having an opening on each side between the bifurcations of such size as to permit the encaged ball to make contact with another ball and permit passage of a mallet head to strike the encaged ball, and being adapted to be slipped over the ball for loosely confining the ball while the ball is struck with a mallet.

3. A device for use in the playing of the game of croquet, said device comprising a handle having a pronged head at one end, the prongs being elongated in the axial direction of the handle, said prongs forming a cage for loosely confining a croquet ball, said device having an opening on each side between the prongs of such size as to permit the encaged ball to make contact with an other ball and permit passage of a mallet head to strike the encaged ball, and being adapted to he slipped over the ball for loosely confining the ball while the ball is struck with a mallet.

J OHANNES SORTEBERG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 143,047 West et al. Sept. 23, 1873 159,193 Logan Jan. 26, 1875 168,323 Crandall Oct. 5, 1875 612,965 Gallup Oct. 25, 1898 1,623,284 Stoddart Apr. 5, 1927 2,204,482 Filipiak June 11, 1940 2,256,175 Schmidt Sept. 16, 1941 2,455,012 King NOV. 30, 1948 2,551,486 Burden May 1, 1951

Images