Improvements in and relating to Toys or Games.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Toys or Games.
I, Elijah JeffERSON BOND, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at No. 529, North Charles Street, in the City and County of Baltimore,
and State of Maryland, one of the United States of America, Attorney-at-Law,
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
:-
My invention relates to a toy or game, which I designate an Ouija, or Egyptian
Luck Board; and the objects of the invention are to produce a toy or game by
which two or more persons can amuse themselves, by asking questions of any kind,
and having them answered by the device used, and operated by the touch of the
hand,
so that the answers are designated by letters on a board; the invention
consists of a board of suitable thickness, having the letters of the alphabet printed,
painted, engraved, or affixed upon it in any suitable manner, but flush with the
surface, and also the numerals from one to naught inclusive, as well as other con-
figurations, and, in conjunction therewith, of a peculiar shaped table, having legs
and a pointer, and said table to be operated by the hand, when placed upon said
board, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter, and specifically pointed
out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and the letters
of reference marked thereon.
Like letters indicate similar parts in the different figures of the drawing, in
which-
Figure 1 is a face view of the board.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the table.
Figure 3 is a view showing the table in position on the board for operation.
In the drawing, A, represents the board, which may be of any suitable size and
thickness, preferably 15 x 22 inches, for convenience, and about three-eighths of an
inch thick.
The letters of the alphabet, designated, B, are arranged in semi-circular manner
on said board, while the numerals, marked C, from 1 to 0 inclusive, are placed in a
straight line below the alphabet, as also the sign “&.”
In the upper left hand corner is placed the representation of a full moon, and in
the right hand corner a crescent. Under the moon is arranged the word "Yes,"
and under the crescent the word, "No." At the lower central part of the board
are placed two figures bidding each other "good-bye." The table, D, is of circular
form, having an elongation, E, and is provided_with_four legs, a, b, c, d, the latter
being placed under the elongation or tongue, E, and acts as a pointer or index.
Each of the legs is provided at its lower end with felt or similar material, a', to
prevent scratching of the surface of the board, or creaking noise, otherwise made
by the movement of the table over the board.
The operation is as follows:-
The table is placed upon the board, and the hand of the operator is lightly laid
or held on the table, when in a few moments the table will move and point to
certain letters on the board, spelling and forming sentences, answering questions
put by the operator or any other person that may be present at the time.
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 :-
1. The game apparatus herein described, consisting of a board having the

page_text: alphabet and numerals and certain signs and figures arranged as shown, in com-
bination with a table provided with legs and a pointer and operated by the hand,
in the manner shown and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a game apparatus, the combination of the board, A, having the alphabet,
B, the numerals, C, the words "Yes" and "No," and signs or figures, with the
table, D, having legs, a, b, c, d, and elongation, E, forming the pointer, all con-
structed and arranged as shown and described.
3. In a game apparatus, a table consisting of a disk supported on legs, one of
which is arranged on an elongated projection, serving as an index, substantially as
shown and set forth.
4. A board for a game apparatus, of rectangular shape, having the letters of the
alphabet in two semi-circular rows, the numerals underneath in a straight line near
the bottom, two human figures, the upper corners provided with a full and crescent
moon with the words "Yes" and "No" below them, all as specified.
Dated this 10th day of February 1891.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.