Apparatus for Measuring the Distances Between Balls Used in such Outdoor Games as Bowls.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1896
Apparatus for Measuring the Distances Between Balls Used in such
Outdoor Games as Bowls.
1 GEORGE WILLIAM GREEN 438 Borough Road Birkenhead Joiner do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to outdoor games and in particular bowling and has for
its object the more accurate method of measuring the distance between the jack
and the balls.
In carrying out this invention I use a head fitted with prongs, to fit over the jack
to hold it in position whilst the distance of the respective balls is being measured,
the object of holding same in position is to obviate disputes as after the head is.
fixed over the jack the jack cannot be moved untill all the balls are measured.
Attached to the aforesaid head I have a rod with a slide running on india.
rubber rollers to hold slide in any position whilst the balls are being measured, the
said rod being connected with a universal joint so that it can be used in any position.
without moving the head.
Dated this 7th day of June 1895.
GEORGE WILLIAM GREEN.
Apparatus for Measuring the Distances Between Balls Used in such.
Outdoor Games as Bowls.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM GREEN, formerly of 438 Borough Road, Birkenhead,
but now of The Cottage, Dial Road, Birkenhead in the County of Chester,
Joiner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to an appliance for use in outdoor games such as bowls,
for accurately measuring the distance between the jack and, say, each of two bowls
which are at nearly equal distances from the jack. The devices which are at
present used for such purposes are wanting in accuracy, and there is considerable
risk, in using them, of moving either the jack or the bowl whose distance from the
jack is being measured; it is almost impossible in such cases to determine whether
the movement is accidental or designed, and the object of my invention is to over-
come these difficulties by providing a head or tripod fitted with prongs which can
be placed over the jack, and from which the measurement can be made with
accuracy and without any liability of disturbing the jack or the bowl.
I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. I is
an elevation, Fig. II a sectional elevation on the line A. A. and Fig. III a plan.
In each view the same part is indicaied by the same figure of reference, and the
sectional elevation is viewed in the direction indicated by the small arrows placed
adjacent to the letters denoting the plane of section.
1 is the head, which in the arrangement illustrated is of tripod form, the inside
of the legs are vertical and just circumscribe the jack 2 (shown by the dotted

page_text: circle in the plan) and each leg is provided with a stiff sharp prong 3; these prongs
enter the turf when the head is placed over the jack, and the head may be used as
a centre to measure from without in any way disturbing the jack. The measure-
ment may be effected by a tape pivoted to a central pin in the head, or a rod and
sliding piece may be used, as shown in the drawings, and usually speaking I prefer
this arrangement. The rod 4, (which is usually about seven to ten feet long) is
articulated to the head by a hinge piece 5; the rod is capable of movement in a
vertical plane about the hinge, and the rod and hinge are capable of movement
longitudinally about the pivot.6 by which the hinge is secured to the head.
The distance of a bowl from the jack is determined by the sliding piece 7 which
is moved along the rod till the depending piece 8 thereon is just in contact with
the bowl; the rod is now moved over the second bowl, and the position of the
piece 8 relatively to this bowl at once shows which of the two is nearer the jack.
The sliding piece is fitted with two small rubber rollers 9 which are loosely
mounted on pins, but whose radial thickness is greater than the distance between
the pins and the rod; this arrangement gives an excellent frictional grip which
keeps the slide 7 in position on the rod.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tiou, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. The improved apparatus for measuring the distance between balls in such
games as bowls, which consists of a head provided with prongs and adapted to
circumscribe one of the balls, and means for measuring the distance of the other
balls from the centre of the said head, substantially as described.
2. In measuring apparatus of the kind herein described the combination of the
tripod head provided with prongs, the rod pivoted thereto, and the sliding piece ;
substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The improved apparatus for measuring the distance between balls in such
games as bowls, substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. I, II and III.
Dated this 7th day of March 1896.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26 Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.