A New Game of Skill and Appliances for Playing the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Game of Skill and Appliances for Playing the same.
I, LEWIS HENRY WATERMAN, of Brigstocke Road, Bristol, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a game of skill and to the means for playing the same;
the game is somewhat analogous to lawn-tennis, but it may be played on a much
smaller space, and therefore demands less physical exertion in playing it.
Lawn-tennis and similar games have recently been played to such a great extent,
by professionals and others, that only the most expert players now engage in them;
the object of my invention is to provide a game for which the necessary skill to play
it with interest and enjoyment may soon be acquired, and that without continuous
violent exertion in running to meet the balls.
The game is played on courts, similar to lawn-tennis, but these are preferably of
a much smaller size: the courts of each player are divided from the other side by a
series of nets or pockets attached to hoops or rings which keep them open to
receive the balls which may be played into them, the rings, of a suitable size to fit
the nets, are fastened together with cords or chains at short intervals, these rings
and cords forming the net line, which is attached to upright poles kept in position
by guys and runners in the usual way.
To carry out my invention I provide a number of hoops, conveniently five, fitting
on these and depending therefrom are nets of any convenient depth, at the sides of
the hoops are small rings by which the hoops are connected, the outer rings of the
end hoops are connected to upright rods about four feet high which are supported
by side ropes or guys, strained to keep the row of nets at the right distance from
the ground; a number of balls, conveniently of different colours, a racket of special
construction, (hereafter to be described), for each player, and a set of clips with
numbers on them, constituting with the poles and nets already described, the
appliances necessary for playing the game.
In preparing for play, the row of nets is placed in the centre of the playing
ground, and fastened to the upright poles, with guys in the usual way, on each side
of the net line, at a suitable distance, say 8 feet, a service line is marked, which
divides the courts of each player, other lines, about 12 feet further back, form the
boundaries of the courts. The number of points which constitute the game being
decided on, a proportional value or score is attached to each net, and clips indicating
such value are fastened thereto; when a ball is placed in either of the nets, points
are scored according to its indicated value, whilst failing to place a ball in one of
the nets, forfeits a small score to the other side.
The appliances being provided and set up, and the ground prepared, the game is
commenced by a player on one side serving a series of balls, one for each net, to
the opposite player, taking care that each ball pitches between the nets and service
line, as if he fails to properly place the ball he forfeits the value of the lowest
clip for every ball so misplaced: as each ball is pitched into his service court, the
player takes it on the hop, and endeavours to strike it into one of the nets, and if
successful, he scores the value of that net as indicated by the clip placed thereon,
and so on for each of the balls served to him, and if he places all the balls in the
nets, he scores the number of points given to the net of the highest value for a
"clear field," in addition to the number scored for each net: when a player fails to
place a ball in the net, or places it in a net already occupied, he forfeits the score
on the smallest clip to his opponent.
When the player or players on one side have played the prescribed number of
balls, they serve to their opponents, who have to play the balls under similar
conditions; the player or side first attaining to the stipulated score, winning the game.

page_text: I
When the ground is not large enough for the double courts, the line of nets may
be placed a short distance from a wall of suitable height, a line being marked on
the wall, and a service line in front of the nets as before described, in this case the
server.stands behind the service line, and strikes the ball over the nets below the
line marked on the wall, making it to rebound into the service court, the player
taking it and playing it into the nets as before described; the regulations for
scoring when balls are played into the nets, and for-forfeits when the ball is mis-
placed being similar to those adopted in the first method of playing the game.
The rackets are made on hook shaped frames, somewhat similar to the bats used
in playing "la crosse," and like them, are strung and interlaced with leather thongs
or, other suitable material, thereby affording greater elasticity in playing the balls.
Dated 28th day of March 1890.
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Game of Skill and Appliances for Playing the same.
I, LEWIS HENRY WATERMAN, of Brigstocke Road, Bristol, Manufacturer,
-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, somewhat analogous to lawn
tennis, to which I have given the name "Lawnette;" this game may be played on
a much smaller space than is required for lawn-tennis, the implements used in play
are much less expensive, and may demand less physical exertion from those
playing it.
Lawn-tennis and other out-door games have now been carried to such an extent
by experts, that players of moderate skill are at considerable disadvantage when
they attempt.to play; the object of my invention is to provide a game that may be
played on lawns, of a limited area, and shall contain some of the features of tennis
and billiards as well as some new qualities, altogether forming a game which will
afford.interest and amusement without requiring much continuous, exertion.
The game of "Lawnette" is played in courts similar to lawn tennis courts, but
of much smaller size; the courts of each player or side being divided from those of
the other by a series of nets or pockets attached to hoops or rings which keep: them
open at the top; the hoops which may be of any convenient size to fit the mouths
of the nets are fastened together by cords, chains, or hooked links, the outer hoops
-being fastened at the end to upright poles, kept in position by guys,in the usual
way; the poles, hoops and fastenings, and the nets attached to the hoops forming
the line of nets which divides the courts of each side.
To carry my invention into effect, I provide a number of hoops, conveniently
five, fitting around these and depending therefrom, are nets of the desired length,
at the sides of the hoops are small rings, through which the cords, links, or hooks
which connect the hoops are placed; a couple of poles, standing about four feet,out
of the ground, are supported in their vertical position by side lines or guys, near
the top of each pole.a screwed eye is inserted, by which the hoops and nets are
suspended in proper position for play; a number of ordinary tennis balls are
provided, also a racket for each player, these rackets, are somewhat similar in shape
to.those used in playing the game of "ila crosse," and are. strung or interlaced with
thongs of leather or other suitable material, which affords elasticity in playing.or
serving the balls. The nets may have different values assigned to them,.e.g..the
centre net may be worth 3 points, the adjacent nets 2 points, and the outer.nets
1 point each; these values, may be indicated by clips to be attached to the nets, or
the nets may be of different colours, say, the centre green, the adjacent ones red,
and the outer nets,white; but any fanciful arrangement of values may be adopted,

page_text: players.
memory от
My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows the plan of a set of hoops attached to each other and to the upright
poles by links,
Fig. 2 is an upright view of the same with the nets attached ready for play,
Fig. 3 represents the "Lawnette "racket used in playing the game,
Fig. 4 is a view of the ground divided into courts, with the poles and nets in
position ready for commencing play;
Fig. 5 represents the manner of playing the game where the ground is too small
for the full number of courts as shown in Fig. 4, and where a wall can be used for
the purposes of the game as will be hereinafter described.
The courts of each side being marked on the lawn and the. nets and poles in
position as described in Figs. 2 and 4, the players decide on what the game shall be,
whether 50, 100, 500, &c., and the relative value of the nets, but for the purposes
of this description it is assumed that the game is 50, and the suitable values of the
nets as shown in Fig. 2; the players each being furnished with a racket, the game is
commenced by a player on one side taking five balls and serving them one at a
time to the opposite player, sending it over the line of nets and causing it to pitch
within the service line, for every ball not properly served, he forfeits one to the
opposite player, and the ball has to be served again, and so on, until five balls have
been properly served; the player to whom the ball has been served has to play it
on the first dap into one of the unoccupied nets, if he does this, he scores the value
of that net, 1, 2, or 3, but failing to so place the ball, or placing it in a net already
occupied, he forfeits one to the server, and so on, until all the five balls have been
played when by good play, each of the balls has been placed in a separate net,
the player scores an additional three for a clear field, in addition to the number
already scored for each ball placed. When the five balls have been served and
played, the other side serves in like manner to the opponents, who have to play the
balls under similar conditions as to forfeits and scores, and the player or side first
attaining the stipulated number, say 50, wins the game.
Where the ground is not large enough for the double courts as described, and
where a wall is available, the courts are arranged in front of the wall, as shown in
Fig. 5, the line of nets is placed at a short distance, say 4 feet, from the wall, one
service line is marked on the wall, and the other on the ground in front of the line
of nets: the server then stands behind the service line, and strikes the ball over
the line of nets and below the line on the wall, makes it rebound over the line of
nets and into the service court, and the player takes it on the first dap and plays it
into a net, and the game proceeds as already described; the scores obtained for
placing the balls and forfeits for improperly serving, or not placing the balls in
their respective nets, are reckoned precisely as when the game is played in the double
courts.
A convenient size for the courts would be 40 feet by 12 feet, in this case the line
of nets would be placed 20 feet from each end, and service lines marked off 8 feet
on either side of the net line, the boundary lines being marked as usual, and
corresponding sizes may be adopted when the game is played against a wall: but
the size of the courts may well be adapted to the size of the lawn, and the number
of nets may be increased or decreased according to circumstances. In scoring
points or forfeits, the number gained for a clear field is always the value of the
highest net, and the number forfeited for a ball misplaced or improperly served is
the value of the lowest net.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The

page_text: appliances for playing the same, substantially as and for the purposes and in the
manner herein described and set forth, and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 16th day of December 1890
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.