Improvements in Apparatus for Scoring the Game of Lawn Tennis.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Scoring the Game of Lawn Tennis.
I, GEORGE LULWALL of Avonside House, Bidford, Stratford-on-Avon, in the
County of Warwick, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows
Consecutive order of scoring visible to the players and public.
A spring inside dial box travels over inclined plane step catches, corresponding
with the dial plate indicator.
To prevent unfair scoring the indicator cannot be reversed: a click is distinctly
heard on each point scored.
The scoring dials are in two distinct colours to indicate the opposing players.
The first dial shews "game."
"
The second dial shews the number of "games."
The third dial shews the number of "
sets."
The figures and letters on dials are raised by blocking.
A & B. Front elevation A B.section through.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Scoring the Game of Lawn Tennis.
1 GEORGE LILWALL of Avonside House, Bidford, Stratford-on-Avon, in the County
of Warwick, Gentleman, 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:--
The drawings are those left with the provisional specification, numbered and dated
as above. The Lawn tennis scorer is made in two colours to distinguish the two
contesting sides, so that the players may see the stage of each side as drawn on
Sheet I.
"
The dial is made of block tin, zinc, gun metal, or other like material and is screwed
on to a board: the figures, letters, and outer cap being blocked in the manufacture,
so that the figures stand well out. The first dials marking from zero to 15. 30. 40.
duce. vantage. then "game" are larger than the dials marking the " games
from 1 to 6, which makes one set, when it is scored upon the lower or smallest dial
for "sets." The index hand is easily moved by means of the thumb and finger
gripping a T piece at the heel of the index (more clearly seen on sheet II of
the drawings). When the score shows "vantage all," the indexes of " game are
turned right round to 40. because the index cannot be reversed.
"
"
Sheet 11. of drawings shows "Front elevation" with spring which travels with the
index hand, and shows the inclined step stops preventing the scorer index from being
reversed: thus preventing unfair or questionable scoring: it also shows the inclined
step stops screwed on to the underside of dial plate. The A. B "section through
"click
shows the spring (and inclined step stops) which, when travelling, makes a
loud enough to be heard for some distance, so that the players may know if the point
has been scored, and at a glance can see whether it has been scored to the proper
side.
"
The scoring board may be fixed on easel shaped legs or fitted into an iron fixed
frame; the board being slipped in and out at pleasure.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is
1st. An Improved method of scoring never yet introduced to the Lawn tennis
players.
2nd. Its correct form of scoring.
3rd. The features of novelty being that the players can hear and see the progress of
the game without asking the score to be declared.
GEORGE LILWALL.