Year: 1898

page_text: I, WILLIAM HUGHES FRANCIs, 64, Wind Street, Swansea, Metal Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of a new or improved game or puzzle, and the same is
carried out as follows. I provide a casing in which a required number of cups or
recesses are carried. These cups or recesses are provided with distinguishing marks
or numbers. The bottom of the casing is provided with an aperture of such a
size as to enable a ball to be struck by the finger, but not sufficiently large to
allow the ball to pass through.
The game or puzzle consists in striking the ball in such a way as to cause it to
fall into one of the cups or recesses. The casing may be provided when required
with a transparent cover or top. I find it convenient to arrange the support
carrying the cups or recesses in such a way as to form a well, in the centre of which
the aperture before mentioned is formed, the well being so shaped as to cause the
ball to roll or fall towards the aperture in the casing.
Any convenient rules may be drawn up for playing a game such as each player
being entitled to a certain number of shots or tries, and the player securing the
highest number will then be declared the winner.
I, WILLIAM HUGHES FRANCIS, of 64, Wind Street, Swansea, 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 a new game of skill which is constructed in the
following manner; I form a box provided with a number of cups or hollows marked
with distinguishing numbers.
The base of the box has an opening sufficiently large to allow of a ball or marble
being struck or filliped by the finger, but not so large as to permit the ball to pass
through.
The game consists in striking the ball in such manner that it will fall into one
of the cups or hollows. The box may have a transparent cover or top. I find it
convenient to arrange the supports for the cups or hollows so as to form a kind of

page_text: well, in the centre of which is the opening above referred to, the well having the
necessary slope for the ball to roll or fall towards the opening of the box.
Any suitable rules may be adopted for this game, for example, each player may
have a certain number of shots, and the player obtaining the highest total would
be the winner.
My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 section of casing provided with a glass top to prevent the marble or
spherical body being filliped out when thrust up by the finger from the bottom.
Figure 2 similar section with the box having an open top, and the marble or
spherical body attached to a cord, the opposite end of which is secured to the
bottom of the box for the same purpose.
Figure
plan of box with the marble or spherical body within the central
hole of the base.
A, casing, preferably, octagon or hexagonal in shape with base B having a central
hole, the upper surface of the base being inclined in all directions to ensure the
return of the marble to the centre. C, raised sides corresponding or not to the
shape of the box or casing A on which cup like appliances D, D, are affixed at
intervals, or hollows may be formed in upper surface of the raised sides C. The
cups or hollows may be numbered to indicate a scoring code according to the
number of successful throws each player is allowed in the competition, the numbers
in the cups or hollows counting a total. E, is the marble which after being
filliped up by the finger from under the base and from which a portion slightly
projects always rolls to the centre by the inclined upper surface of the base B,
whether it be loose within the box A having a glass, a gauze, or other transparent
top G, or it be left open, in which case the marble E can be attached by a cord H.
The raised sides may be of any height and the intervening spaces I between
the cups may be flat, as shown, to temporarily retain the marble, or inclined for
the marble to roll away and into the "well" within the centre of the casing A.
The cups or hollows in each case would be above the level of the intervening
spaces and numbered, say, 1 to 8. Now supposing 4 players competed, the one who
succeeded by skill in obtaining the highest total in, say, three shots, would be the
winner.
If required, the surfaces of the intervening spaces could be marked or numbered,
the numbers to be reckoned as a set off to a score already obtained.
I have only shown an eight cup apparatus but the numbering thereof and the
size may be as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The new or improved apparatus in which a game can be played, as before
explained, consisting of a casing A with raised inner part C having cups or the like
receptacles D for reception of a marble E shot up by the finger of a player from
under the base B, as and for the purposes described.
2. An open top or closed top casing A in which a marble E partly projecting
from the bottom B can be filliped up by the finger of a person, into one or other of
the cup like hollows arranged above the level of the raised inner sides C of the
casing A, as set forth and substantially as shown on the annexed drawings.
140 M
HOR EX
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said William Hughes Franois.