An Improved Game, and Apparatus for Playing same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1898—Accepted, 17th Dec., 1898
Date of Application, 1st rev., 1000
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1898—Accepted, 17th Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game, and Apparatus for Playing same.[
We, WALTER JAMES BEARD, Tobacconist, of 185, Burdett Road, Mile End Old
Town, and WALTER EVERETT, Draughtsman, of 123, St. Paul's Road, Mile End
Old Town, both in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:―
This invention consists of a game, modelled upon the ordinary game of cricket,
and is particularly applicable as an indoor game.
According to this invention, we substitute, for the cricket "field," a board of
suitable size, which may be covered with baize. Round this board we erect a
suitable "boundary," which may be removable. At or near one end of the board
we erect a "wicket," preferably provided with "bails." The "wicket" would
be similar to that used in ordinary cricket, but would of course be of a size pro-
portional to the board. Opposite the "wicket," and at or near the other end of
the board, we mount an inclined plane, or a box without ends, the bottom of
which forms the inclined plane. Thus, if a ball be placed at the top of the
inclined plane, it will roll down the same, and then travel along the board to
the "wicket," which one of the players would defend with the aid of a "bat."
The "bat" may be similar in shape to an ordinary cricket-bat, but we have
found it convenient to make the handle proportionally longer. Men," or
"fielders," are provided for "catching" or fielding" the ball. The "fielder "
consists, essentially, of a box or receptacle open at the top and front, so that
the ball may lodge within and be "caught," being retained therein by suitable
means. The ball is "fielded" by being stopped by the "fielder."
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We so mount the before-mentioned inclined plane that its angle of inclination
may be varied at will, so as to vary the speed and delivery of the ball. The
inclined plane may be corrugated.
Instead of one, we may have two "wickets," opposite each other, with a suitable
distance between; in which case we may have two of the aforesaid inclined planes.
The game may be played under the ordinary rules of cricket, slightly modified.
Dated this First day of February 1898.

page_text: Old Town, both in the County of London, 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 consists of a game modelled upon the ordinary game of cricket,
and is particularly applicable as an indoor game.
According to this invention, we substitute, for the cricket "field," a board of
suitable size which may be covered with baize. Round this board we erect a
suitable "boundary," which may be removable. At or near one end of the board
we erect a "wicket," preferably provided with "bails. The wicket" is
similar to that used in ordinary cricket, but is of course of a size pro-
portional to the board. Opposite the "wicket," and at or near the other end of
the board, we mount an inclined plane, or a box without ends, the bottom of
which forms the inclined plane. Thus, if a ball be placed at the top of the
inclined plane, it will roll down the same, and then travel along the board to
the
"
wicket," which one of the players defends with the aid of a "bat."
The "bat" may be similar in shape to an ordinary cricket-bat, but we have
found it convenient to make the handle proportionally longer.
"Men or
are provided for "catching" or fielding" the ball. The "fielder
consists, essentially, of a box or receptacle open at the top and front, so that
the ball may lodge within and be "caught," being retained therein by suitable
means. The ball is "fielded" by being stopped by the "fielder."
66
66 fielders "
"
We so mount the before-mentioned inclined plane that its angle of inclination
may be varied at will, so as to vary the speed and delivery of the ball. The
inclined plane may be corrugated.
Instead of one, we may have two "wickets," opposite each other, with a suitable
distance between; in which case we may have two of the aforesaid inclined planes.
And in order that our said invention may be more fully understood, we will
now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which;
Fig. 1, is a plan of the board, showing also the rest of the apparatus in
position;
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Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the board;
Fig. 3, a side elevation of one form of "bowler";
Fig. 4, a back elevation of the said "bowler"
Fig. 5, a side elevation of one form of "fielder ";
Fig. 6, a front elevation of the said "fielder";
Fig. 7, a plan of this "fielder," and
Fig. 8, a view of the "bat."
Figs. 1 and 2 are drawn to a smaller scale than Figs. 3 to 8.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the views.
a shows the board, provided with a boundary b, held in place by pegs a, or by
other suitable means. The board a is preferably provided with a ledge d at its
edges, so that when the ball is hit to the "boundary" b it may not roll back.
Lines may be marked on the board a to determine the number of "runs" to
be scored for those "hits" which do not reach the "boundary," 9 shows the
wicket." Fig. 1, shows the board arranged for "single wicket"; for "double
wicket" the two "wickets" might occupy the positions indicated at h and h¹,
and a
"bowler" k would be then set up opposite each. The
" bowler," which
consists essentially of an inclined plane either corrugated or not, down which
the ball is let roll, is shown on the drawing as a box without ends, having
bottom corrugated inside, mounted in a suitable stand, and capable of turning
about a pivot. It may be secured at any desired angle by means of the screw m.
The "fielders" n are shown as boxes open at top and front, and provided with
a ledge or strip o to prevent the ball, when it has once entered, from rolling
out. In playing the game, one person defends the "wicket" with the "bat," 5
while the other "bowls" with the aid of the "bowler" k. The rules of ordinary
a

page_text: cricket apply, except that
ball is hit on the board
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"
runs are reckoned according to the distance the
Other trifling deviations from the usual rules are made,
but there is no substantial difference.
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) A bowling-apparatus, consisting essentially of an inclined plane, either
corrugated or not corrugated, suitably mounted, for use in parlour cricket, and
other like games.
(2) The game and apparatus for playing same substantially as described.
W. J. BEARD,
WALTER EVERETT,
Applicants.