Improvements in Appliances for Facilitating the Practice of Golf and analogous Games.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 5th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Facilitating the Practice of Golf
and analogous Games.
We JAMES MCHARDY of Zoffany House Chiswick Middlesex Scientific Expert
and MAURICE EDMUND ARNOLD WALLIS of Annandale House Chiswick
Middlesex Medical Practitioner do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention, which relates to Improvements in Appliances for Facilitating the
Practice of Golf and analogous Games, consists of a net or membrane (or its
equivalent) so arranged upon spring supports that it may be distended in a
straight line, longitudinally whilst curved into any convenient shape for our
purpose. Or, the said spring supports may be supplanted by suitably jointed or
hinged supports with or without springs provided always that they afford the shape
necessary for our said purpose. Netted or otherwise shaped holes may be provided
in any suitable manner; and such holes may or may not be numbered for scoring
purposes or such holes may be arranged in the form of a bull's eye target.
Thumb screws cords and other accessories may be added where necessary, and a
prepared pad provided with such easy or hazardous positions, as may be thought
advisable, may be supplied for the protection of the floor and the clubs.
We do not confine ourselves to any particular materials or specified dimensions,
our object being to produce such an apparatus as shall render it possible to practice
all kinds of strokes in a limited space, with the additional attraction of scoring a
higher or lower number according to the difficulty of the stroke named. The net
or membrane or both shall be of such strength as to be impenetrable so far as a
golf ball is concerned, and the curve into which it is bent will insure the operator
against the return of the ball upon himself.
The same kind of apparatus may be used for cricket and foot ball practice and
other such games in which a ball is used.
Dthis t
f 11 1002
JAMES MC HARDY.
MAURICE E. A. WALLIS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Facilitating the Practice of Golf
and analogous Games.
We JAMES MCHARDY of Zoffany House Chiswick Middlesex Scientific Expert
and MAURICE EDMUND ARNOLD WALLIS of Annandale House Chiswick
Middlesex Medical Practitioner 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 Improvements in Appliances for Facilitating the
Practice of Golf and analogous Games. It consists of a net or membrane, or
both, secured by any convenient means, to a pair of spring, or jointed supports,
and while capable of being readily distended it may be caused to take up any
curve suitable for the purpose of preventing the balls from flying up or out.
The said net or membrane may, if necessary, have one or more holes with
pockets behind them, capable of receiving and retaining the balls. These said
17

page_text: holes may be numbered at pleasure for scoring purposes. The aforesaid spring
or jointed supports may be readily attached to a floor in any convenient manner,
but the form of attachment we adopt in practice is as follows;-A light frame
or platform is provided with (say) a loop of metal plate at either side and the
ends of the spring, or jointed supports are pushed into the loops, and thus
secured to the frame; one or more guy-cords attached to the supports are
secured at or near the loop-sockets and sc, are made to retain the supports at
any curve or necesssary position.
―:
In order that our said invention may be completely understood we beg to
submit the following explanation in connexion with the accompanying drawings:-
In Fig. 1. a is a spring-support capable of bending into the dotted line-position.
bis a side elevation of a suitable socket into which a may be inserted.
c is the
elevation of one end of the platform, frame or floor to which bis secured.
In Fig. II. d is a rod (say bamboo-cane) provided with a hook at each end.
Any number of such rods may be used to distend the net or membrane. This
rod is bent into the dotted-line-position, and on hooking it into the sides it
pushes them apart and so distends the membrane which is attached to the sides.
The said rods are of such a length in proportion to that of the membrane the
they remain sufficiently curved, when inserted, to clear the membrane so that
they may not be injured by the balls hit against the opposite side of the net or
membrane. a, u, are the spring supports above described in Fig. 1. bb are the
sockets or other appliances for securing the ends of the spring supports.
cc the
sides of the frame (or its equivalent) connected (say by thumb-screws at the corners)
by e-a cross-piece. ffff is the net or membrane provided with scoring holes and
pockets 1, 2 and 3; and, as above explained attached to the spring or curved
supports. 99gy are holes at the edges of the membrane which receive the hooks
on the ends of d.
In Fig. 111-(a side elevation)-the contrivance is shown in the working position.
All the letters and numerals correspond with those used in Fig. II except;-i and j
which are the cords or guys used for bending or retaining the parts in the required
position and his, in this case, a hook to which i and may be attached. P is a
ball which if impelled in any of the arrow-point-directions will be caught by the
membrane without any possibility of its recoil upon the player.
:
is an equivalent to a of Fig. 1. It enables us to dispense with a spring-side
and may be made in any material or in any way that shall provide the necessary
curvature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is ;-
1. A net or membrane or both, (of any dimensions to suit various game-practices)
so distended and curved as to make the recoil of the ball impossible, particularly as
herein set forth.
2. The distending rods herein described as applicable to such a curved net or
membrane.
3. The said spring- or curved supports for such a curved net or membrane.
Dah :41 1M 1004
JAMES MCHARDY.
MAURICE E. A. WALLIS.