US2828712A - Ball-simulating, souvenir score-keeper - Google Patents

Description

April 1958 e. o. TOOTLE 2,828,?12

BALL-SIMULATING, SOUVENIR SCORE-KEEPER Filed Feb. 28, 1956 l2 WORLD SERIES |4\DODERS SCORE BALL. SOUVENIR illlllljlllllfi zumm DIV I ll lli lllll "lull/[YAskill/111111111114 J I .W/ IlIIIIIIlIlIIIII4- INVENTOR, mm?! Q. M0715 BY Q1 1 sArnsrMULArINo, SQUVENILR SCORE-KEEPER Gwendolyn 0. Tootle, Moss Point, Miss, assignor of onetenth to Gadget-Of-The Month Club, inn, Los Angeles, Calif, a corporation of California Application February 28, 1956, Serial No. 568,359

3' Claims. (Cl. 116-133) This invention relates to novelties used as souvenirs and more particularly to a ball having adjustable means for indicating the progressive and final scores of two competing teams and being conformed in the shape of the ball used in the particular game.

Most of the souvenir items sold to spectators before and during a major sports event have no particularly significant connection with the game played or with the contestants involved except, in some cases, for having the name of one team or the other imprinted thereon. Furthermore, none of the presently available items of this character can be made to include a record of the score of the event since they must, of necessity, be completely prepared in advance of the contest.

It is with these considerations in mind that I have made the present invention which will be seen to have a number of important objectives.

One important object of this invention is the provision of a souvenir novelty which is outwardly conformed to suggest the type of sports event it is intended to commemorate, i. e.: a baseball for a world series, a football for a regional or Rose Bowl championship game, etc.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of a souvenir novelty of the character described which is adapted for the inclusion thereon of the names of the contestants together with such additional information as the place and date of the contest and the title or championship being contested.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of a souvenir item having adjustable means associated therewith whereby the score of each participant may be changed during the game as points are scored, and on which the final score may be permanently retained as a reminder of the outcome of the event.

In brief, the souvenir item of my invention includes a hollow generally globular main body conformed exteriorly to simulate the appearance of a ball used in a particular sport. Suitable surface areas are provided on the periphery of the spherical body for the imprinting (or otherwise afiixing) of data concerning the sports event which the souvenir is intended to commemorate, including two central panels for the names of the contestants. Adjacent these panels are two apertures in the body shell through which selected numbers of a plurality of numbers disposed on the outer edges of two wheels may be seen. The number bearing wheels are mounted on interfitting shaft and sleeve axial members extended outwardly of the shell to permit the selection and changing of the numbers visible through the apertures.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent in the following detailed specification when read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure .1 is an elevational view of one exemplary souvenir item made in accordance with my invention showing the exterior from the apertured side and with illustrative imprinting thereon;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken axiodiametrically of Figure 1;

2323,3 12 Patented Apr. 1, 1958 Figure 3 is a partial cross sectional view taken along the line A--B of Figure 2 as it would appear when viewed in the direction of the arrows (with portions behind the plane of the section removed for clarity);

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view similar to that of Figure 3, taken along the line KP of Figure 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken radially of the axis of Figure 1 and along the line YZ of Figure 2 to reveal in greater detail the construction and operation of the -associated parts of the device.

Reference is again made to Figure l in which the numeral iii designates the outer surface of the generally globular shell of the souvenir ball of my invention which is embossed and printed as suggested at if to simulate the appearance of a baseball. in this connection, it is to be understood that the decorations and lettering on the figure are not, per se, specific elements of this invention but are shown thereon to illustrate one typical manner of decoration and placement on the device of the wording shown at 12 and 13. Also the team names, as at M and 15, and the scores opposite each of the names visible through the surface apertures 16 and 1'7, are intended only to illustrate the manner in which any names could be applied and any digits could be made to appear by turning the knobs i3 and 19 to operate the internal means which will be hereinafter described.

Although the device, as-shown in Figure l, simulates a baseball, it can as readily be conformed and decorated to represent a basketball, golf ball, tennis ball, etc., or elongated to the proportions of a football.

The spherical shell of the typical souvenir ball seen in Figure 1 is preferably conformed in two generally symmetrical half members best seen and designated as 2% and 21 in Figure 5, the front half having an extended outer rim 23, and the back half 21 having an extended inner rim 24 adapted to interfit tightly with the outer rim 23 to provide a strong and smooth circular jointure.

The apertures 16 and 17 are present only in the front half 20 of the ball as seen in Figure l, the back half it normally, although not necessarily, being simulatively decorated the same as the front half it), (although not necessarily) having neither apertures nor imprinted wording. Except for these'differences and the oppositely overlapping rim portions 23 and 24 previously described, the two half members and 211 are structurally the same interiorly, having integrally formed boss sections as at 25 in Figure 2 and concave socketal portions 26 disposed diametrically opposite from the bosses 25.

A digit wheel assembly, best seen in Figure 2, includes a shaft member 27 interfitting rotatably with a sleeve member 2% provided with a collar 29 which fits movably within the socket 264 of the socketal portion 25 as will be better understood by reference to the cross section of Figure 3 taken along the line AE of Figure 2 and seen in the direction of the arrows.

A digit wheel 33 is fixedly attached to the sleeve 28 adjacent the end thereof by means of a tight fitting hub portion 34, the sleeve member 28 being terminated inwardly of the front and back half spheres 2i and 2]. at substantially the axio-radial center thereof, or slightly below same (although not so limited). ber 27 extends beyond the end of the sleeve 28 and is terminated in a bore 30 axially aligned in the boss portion 25 as indicated in the cross section of Figure 4 taken along the line KP of Figure 2. A second digitwheel 31 is fixedly attached tothe shaft member 27 by means of a tight fitting hub 32 at a point on the shaft immediately adjacent the inner termination of the sleeve 2% thereby preventing any substantial axial movement of the shaft 27 relative to the sleeve 28.

and normally The shaft mem- As will also be seen in Figure 2, the shaft 27 is terminated outwardly of the body portion 21 in a knurled knob 19, and the sleeve member 28 is terminated outwardly in a circular knurled knob member 18 disposed between the surface of the spherical body 21 and the knob 19. As is obvious from the Figure 2, the wheel 31 is rotated by turning the knob 19, and the wheel 33 by turning the knob 13.

The digit wheels 31 and 33 are preferably light in weight and of similar skeletal construction as indicated in the sectional View of Figure taken along the line YZ of Figure 2, and showing the lower complete wheel 33 having hub portion 34 by means of which it is affixed to the sleeve 23. Disposed radially of the hub 34 is a circular vane-like portion 35 connecting a plurality of flat spokes such as 36, 37, 3S and 39 which lead to an outer vane 40 terminated in a flanged ring 41 the circular outer surface thereof 42 being disposed concentrically with the hub 34.

To the outer surface 42 of the ring 41 of the wheel 33, any plurality of digits arranged in any sequence suited to the particular sport for which the souvenir is intended is applied as indicated in the fragmentary sections 43 and 44 of the wheels 33 and 31 in Figure 2.

The wheels 31 and 33 are positioned on the shaft 27 and the sleeve 28 relative to the apertures 16 and 17 so that when the front half member 20 is attached to the back half member 21, certain of the digits on the wheel rims, such as shown at 43 and 44, for example, will be visible through the apertures 16 and 17, and the digits appearing in the apertures may, in turn, be changed according to the progress of the game and the points scored, by suitable rotation of the knobs 13, 19.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art after a careful study hereof. All such, properly within the basic spirit and scope of the present invention are intended to be included and comprehended herein as fully as if specifically described, illustrated and claimed herein.

The exact compositions, configurations, constructions, relative positionings, and cooperative relationships of the various component parts of the present invention are not critical, and can be modified substantially within the spirit of the present invention.

The embodiment of the present invention specifically described and illustrated herein is exemplary only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is to be interpreted in the light of the prior art and the appended claims only, with due consideration for the doctrine of equivalents.

I claim:

1. A souvenir to commemorate a particular sports event comprising: a generally spherical hollow ball conformed and decorated exteriorly to simulate the appearance of a ball used in a particular sports event and having surface areas thereon adapted to receive names and wording relating to said sports event; a pair of longitudinally extended panels debossed into the surface of said ball inwardly of the normal periphery, said panels being positioned centrally of said surface areas and in horizontal parallel alignment, an aperture disposed in horizontal alignment with each of said panels, and to the right thereof, opening through the surface of said ball; rotatable means for supporting indicia bearing surfaces inwardly of said apertures consisting of; an axial shaft means disposed inwardly of said ball in axioradial relationship to said panels on the outer surface of the ball, said shaft means being rotatably retained in spaced journal members and having a pair of wheels rotatably attached substantially centrally thereof, said wheels being terminated in fiat circumferential rims disposed inwardly 4 of said apertures and having a plurality of numerals thereon visible through said apertures; and means disposed outwardly of said ball for rotating said surfaces to change said indicia visible through said apertures.

2. A souvenir to commemorate a particular sports event comprising: a generally spherical hollow ball conformed and decorated exteriorly to simulate the appearance of a ball used in a particular sports event and having surface areas thereon adapted to receive names and wording relating to said sports event; a pair of longitudinally extended panels debossed into the surface of said ball inwardly of the normal periphery, said panels being positioned centrally of said surface areas and in horizontal parallel alignment, an aperture disposed in horizontal alignment with each of said panels, and to the right thereof, opening through the surface of said ball; rotatable means for supporting indicia bearing surfaces inwardly of said apertures consisting of; an axial shaft means disposed inwardly of said ball in axioradial relationship to said panels on the outer surface of the ball, said shaft means being rotatably retained in spaced journal members and having a pair of wheels rotatably attached substantially centrally thereof, said wheels being terminated in flat circumferential rims disposed inwardly of said apertures and having a plurality of numerals thereon visible through said apertures, said numerals being disposed in sequential progression on said rims of said wheels in predetermined numerical units and range thereof best suited to the particular sports event; and means disposed outwardly of said ball for rotating said surfaces to change said indicia visible through said apertures.

3. A souvenir to commemorate a particular sports event comprising: a generally spherical hollow ball conformed and decorated exteriorly to simulate the appearance of a ball used in a particular sports event and having surface areas thereon adapted to receive names and wording relating to said sports event; a pair of longitudinally extended panels debossed into the surface of said ball inwardly of the normal periphery, said panels being positioned centrally of said surface areas and in horizontal parallel alignment, an aperture disposed in horizontal alignment with each of said panels, and to the right thereof, opening through the surface of said ball; rotatable means for supporting indicia bearing surfaces inwardly of said apertures consisting of; an axial shaft means disposed inwardly of said ball in axioradial relationship to said panels on the outer surface of the ball, said shaft means being rotatably retained in spaced journal members and having a pair of wheels rotatably attached substantially centrally thereof, said wheels being terminated in flat circumferential rims disposed inwardly of said apertures and having a plurality of numerals thereon visible through said apertures, said numerals being disposed in sequential progression on said rims of said wheels in predetermined numerical units and range thereof best suited to the particular sports event, said axial shaft means including an axial shaft fitted with a sleeve member rotatable thereabout, one of said wheels being fixedly attached to said sleeve and the other of said wheels being fixedly attached to said shaft, said shaft and said sleeve being extended outwardly of said spherical ball and terminated in knurled thumb knobs whereby said wheels are independently rotatable relative to said apertures to change said numerals visible through said apertures.

Phelps Dec. 24, 1889 Johnson May 17, 1904

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