MINIATURE AUTOMATIC CRICKET PLAYERS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL DEECIFICATION,
THOMAS CLOKE of 22 M*Neil Road in the parish of Camberwell in the County
of Surrey Cork Manufacturer and WILLIAM ARTHER ELLIS of 101 Crofton
Road in the parish of Camberwell in the County of Surrey Professor of
Music do hereby declare 'the nature of our invention for MINIATURE AUTOMATIC
CRICKET PLAYERS to be as follows :-
It consist of a number of figures moved by mechanical appliances usually called
automatic, each figure individually will represent a man taking a part in the game,
the same figures are caused to act at the discretion of the persons playing the game,
that is to say the bowler will appear to run and will deliver the ball at the wicket,
and the batsman is inabled to strike the ball with the bat, and the fielders to appear
to run and will hold up there hands as if in the act of catching the ball-also the
wicket keeper is caused to stoop and rise as if in the act of catching the ball
placing his hands in possition also that scores can be made.
THOMAS CLOKE,
WILLIAM A. ELLIS.

page_text: THOMAS CLOKE Cork Manufacturer of 22 MoNeil Road in the Parish of St Giles'
Camberwell in the County of Surrey and WILLIAM ARTHUR ELLIS Professor of
Music of 101 Crofton Road in the Parish of St Giles' Camberwell in the County of
Surrey, we do hereby declare the nature of our invention for MINIATURE
AUTOMATIC CRICKET PLAYERS for to be as follows and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
:
It consists of a table or board to fit on the top of any ordinary table round, oval
or square or as required. The table or board is fimmed or bordered round a little
higher, but similar to a billiard table, thus forming a boundary or wall. The
figures utilised in playing the game consist of Bowlers, Batsmen, Wicket Keepers,
Fielders &c as in the ordinary game of cricket.
First. The automatic action of Batsman is as follows. The figure is attached to
a stand. The said stand is made round with a rim on the upmost side so as to
prevent it slipping through the bed. The smaller and lower part is passed through
the bed of table or board so as to revolvo freely, which bed is raised to give free
action to works beneath. The figure is worked by means of a bell pull which is
passed through the end or side of the rim of board or table; and is attached by
wire or other appliance to a crank which is firmly fastened to the under part of
the stand. A spring is fastened to one of the cross bars which support the raised
bed, and is connected to the stand, as is also the pull from the outer rim; so that
by pulling the bell pull the Batsman is caused to revolve in a semicircular position,
and by the addition of a slight spring which is attached to the shoulder, the said
shoulder being made to act as a lever to the arms. The said spring causes the arms
to rise when the figure revolves, thus giving the bat which is pinned to the hands
the necessary force and action to strike the ball.
Second. The automatic action of the Bowler is produced as follows. The feet of
the Bowler rests upon a stand, the tongue of which passes through a channel or
groove made through the table or board. This stand and tongue is fastened firmly
to a V slide, or any other kind of slide that can be kept in position, or other
suitable gearing to cause the Bowler to travel in the aforesaid channel or groove.
The propelling motion is caused by a spring brought into action as described to
cause the stand of Batsman to revolve i. e. the spring is connected to cross bar of
bed, and to one end of slide, and from the other end of slide to the bell pull. Thus
the spring is brought into action or extended when the pull is drawn out. The
necessary force or propulsion given to the ball is attained by the tongue of the
stand coming into immediate contact with the bed of table or board which causes
it to come to a sudden stop, thus giving the necessary impetus for delivering the
Ball. The impetus may be also attained by the shoulder of the pull being made to
strike the side or rim of table or board sharply. The Ball is fixed in the hand by
means of a pin or spike passed firmly through the hand and loosely through the
Ball

page_text: Third. The automatic action of the Wicket-keeper is as follows. A stand is
fixed firmly on the table or board behind the wicket to which the figure is
attached; the figure is so constructed by having a binge, or india rubber inserted
at the hips and knees, as to be able to bend or stoop, in addition to which the arms
are so devised as to be in the position of catching a Ball by having a thread of
cotton, silk or cat-gut attached to shoulders as in Batsman.
Fourth. The Fielders can be made to work automatically in grooves or channels,
as described in Bowler, lifting their arms by pulling a slight spring or thread as
mentioned in Batsman and Wicket-keeper.
Fifth. The whole of the apparatus is so constructed that it can be made in whole
or parts as may be required to fit on a billiard, dining room or any other table.
The interior part to be covered with cloth or green baize as required. The exterior
can be plain or carved and polished, grained or painted.
Sixth. Scoring can be made in the following manner. When the Bowler has
bowled the ball, those who represent the fielders, endeavour to place their man in
the way, so as to get it knocked when the Batsman has struck the Ball. Should
any of the fielders be struck with the Ball, the one who has the command of the
Batsman is out, and another takes his place. But should the Ball not strike one
of the Fielders then according to the position the Ball is sent by the Batsman so
the different number of runs are made.
Seventh. The bowling figure to be fed by the person who is working that figure
the fielders to pass the ball to him.
The figures, Bat, Stumps &c may be made of wood, or cast in metals, china or
composition, or may be composed of each.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The board or table may be made of any shape or size as required or
ordered, for the express purpose of playing the Game of Cricket as an indoor game
i. e. so far as to have the figures fixed upon it, and worked. automatically.
Second. The Batsman being made to lift his arms and also the Bat which is
pinned to his hand by means of the shoulder being made the lever (worked by
thread made of silk, cotton or cat-gut) in one piece for obtaining this action also
the stand being made in one having a ridge or rim on the upmost side to prevent
it from slipping through bed, or a plate fixed on, for to obtain this end, also for
spring or springs made of steel, india rubber or other material fastened or attached
to a cross bar or to any other part and from thence connected by wire or other
suitable appliance to crank, which is fastened to stand in any way to cause it to
revolve by being connected by wire or other appliance or employed to obtain the
said action of Batsman.
Third. The Bowler being made to lift his arm by shoulder and arm being made
in one part as in Batsman, with Ball on spike or pin in his hand, when repelled by
spring made of either material as mentioned in the above and fastened, or connected
to the cross bar, or other part, to cause the said figure to repel, when propellerl,
or other means adopted or employed to obtain the said action of Bowler, and the
said figure being caused to deliver ball by the tongue of stand, coming into contact
with bed, or from shoulder of bell pull.
Fourth. Also the fielders being caused to have the same action, with the exception
of bowling the ball, as employed to give the above mentioned action to bowler.
Fifth. The Wicket-keeper being made to lift up his hands, by the arms and
shoulders being made in one piece as in Batsman, Bowler and Fielders. The whole
of the arms of figures being pinned through the shoulder joint to the upper part of
the body, and by having a part projecting beyond it, this part forming a lever,
whereby, the said action is obtained for lifting the said figures arms, by having the
before mentioned thread attached as described in Batsman, Bowler & Fielders, to
obtain the necessary action also that the said Wicket-keeper being made in parts

page_text: and united together by having india rubber inserted in the hip joints and knees
or hinges attached to connect the said parts so as to obtain the action of stooping
and rising.
Sixth. Also that the said figures may be made in parts either of wood, metal
such as lead, iron, brass or other metal composition or any other suitable material
that may best suit, to obtain the said action or actions, for playing the said before
mentioned Game of Miniature Automatic Cricket.
Seventh. The figures may be made to screw on and off so as to be removed when
required. A pin or peg may be employed for the same purpose.
THOMAS CLOKE.
WILLIAM A. ELLIS.