A New or improved Game and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: A New or improved Game and Apparatus therefor.
We, FREDERIC WARD, of 38, Liverpool Road, St. Helens, Draper and Outfitter,
and JOIN HOLBROOK, of 30, Livingstone Street, Manchester, Athletic Outfitter's
Manager, both in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved game of that type in which two
or more figures or objects are so manipulated or operated as to move towards a
goal or winning post.
In playing the game two or more figures or objects preferably shaped to
resemble human beings or other animals are placed upon an inclined plane or
platform formed of some suitable flexible material such as stretched parchment.
Movements or vibrations are communicated to the inclined platform by tapping
or the like and the figures move downwards towards the lower end where the
winning post is situated.
The figures may be mounted upon any suitable bases or supports, as, for
example, pins or pegs, the lower ends of which are preferably rounded.
The tapping, by means of which the inclined plane is vibrated, may be per-
formed by hand or mechanically by suitable means. For the latter purpose we
may employ a rotating wheel furnished at one or more points with projections
or with one or more weights which are attached to the wheel by movable arms
or the like and fly outwards upon rotation, the weights or the projections being
adapted to come into intermittent contact with the inclined plane.
The inclined plane or platform down which the figures move may be straight
from end to end or may have one or more turns in its length.
Dated 1
1041 1
1000
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
A New or Improved Game and Apparatus therefor.
We, FREDERIC WARD, of 38, Liverpool Road, St. Helens, Draper and Outfitter,
and JOHN HOLBROOK, of 30, Livingstone Street, Manchester, Athletic Outfitter's
Manager, both in the County of Lancaster, 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 or improved game of that type in which two
D...03-

page_text: or more figures or objects are so manipulated or operated as to be caused to
move towards a goal or winning post.
In playing the game, two or more figures or objects which may be shaped to
resemble human beings or animals in miniature, are placed upon an inclined
plane or platform consisting of some suitable stretched flexible material such
as parchment. Movements or vibrations are communicated to the inclined
platform by tapping or the like, and these movements or vibrations cause the
figures or objects to move downwards towards the lower end of the platform
where the goal or winning post is situated. The figures move in an erratic
course intermittently, and the first to arrive at the bottom is the winner. A
code of rules may be arranged to provide what shall be done in the event of
collisions between the figures, falls, and the like.
The figures or objects may be mounted upon any suitable supports, such for
example as bristles, or pins or the like supports the lower ends of which may
be rounded.
The tapping, by means of which the inclined platform is vibrated as herein-
before described, may be performed by the fingers of the player, or mechanically
by suitable means. For the latter purpose, we may employ a rotating wheel
furnished at one or more points with projections or with one or more weights
attached to the wheel by niovable arms or the like and which fly outwards when
the wheel is rotated and strike against the platform.
The inclined plane or platform down which the figures are caused to move
may be straight from end to end or may have one or more turns in its length.
A convenient form of an apparatus constructed according to and for the
purpose of this invention is illustrated by Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings. Figure 2, represents a toy horse which can be used in connection
with the apparatus.
As shewn by Figure 1, in perspective, the race course which in this case
forms the herein before described inclined plane or platform is U-shaped in
plan. It consists of parchment stretched between the walls W W¹, so as to
form a gradual descent from the starting point S, around the bend B, to the
goal or winning point G.
Any suitable kinds of toy figures may be used, as for example a toy horse,
Figure 2. It is advantageous to mount each of these toys on four bristles bb,
as it is found that better results follow than when the toys are mounted upon
rigid pins or legs.
As soon as the toy figures are placed in the position indicated in Figure 1,
the apparatus is lightly and continuously tapped, whereupon the figures will
erratically and intermittently descend with various accidents, to the point G,
the first arrival being the winner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The combination with a stretched flexible inclined plane or platform
capable of being vibrated, of toy or miniature figures thereon, constituting a
race game, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
2. Apparatus for playing a new or improved race game, constructed arranged
and operated substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.