Improvements connected with the Game of Golf.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with the Game of Golf.
I, ALFRED WRIGLEY, of Hoylake, in the County of Chester, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the game of golf and consists primarily of a
captive or prisoner golf ball.
According to one form of the invention, i.e. captive golf ball, I provide in
connection with the ball a device which when the ball is hit retards its flight and
brings it to rest by causing a resistance to its passage through the air by presenting
a surface thereto. One form of means by which resistance to the passage of the
device through the air is obtained, consists of a parachute device, which fills with
air when carried through it by the flight of the ball, in the manner of a parachute.
A hole may be provided in the centre of this device to effect the better operation
thereof and the device is connected with the ball by a cord or any suitable material,
and of any suitable and desired length.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1893
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with the Game of Golf.
I, ALFRED WRIGLEY, of Hoylake, in the County of Chester, 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 has reference to the game of golf and consists of a captive
golf ball.
According to one form of the invention, i.e. captive golf ball, I provide in con-
nection with the ball, a device which when the ball is hit retards its flight and
brings it to rest by causing a resistance to its passage through the air by
presenting a surface thereto, the means of resistance consisting of a parachute
device, which fills with air when carried through it by the flight of the ball, in the
manner of a parachute. A hole may be provided in the centre of this device to
effect the better operation thereof, and the device is connected with the ball by a
cord or any suitable material, and of any suitable and desired length.
In the drawings hereto annexed which form a part of this Specification, I shew
two modifications, both views illustrating a ball in flight.
In the figures, a is the ball proper, it being of ordinary form or construction;
and is the parachute device, which in the drawings is shewn filled with air.
c are cords fastened to corners b¹ of the air resisting device b, and ramifying at the
point c; and d is a cord connecting the point c¹ with the ball a, to which it may be
attached by a snap-book, tying, or other means, an anchor, as a loop, being
fastened in the ball; and this may be suitably done by casting it in, or by passing
it through a hole therein and forming an enlargement at the opposite end, or other
suitable means.

page_text: The air resistance device or portion 6 shewn in the drawings, is made of linen or
like material, and is rectangular in form and somewhat cut out or recessed between
the points ; whilst a hole b' say from an inch to 1 inches in diameter is
provided in the centre through which air passes when the device is in flight, and by
which the action of the parachute portion 6 is assured and the flight rendered
steady.
The size of parachute device which is found to give good result, namely, to
enable practising with the device carried on in confined areas, as a small garden, or
even rooms, is about 1 ft. 3 in. wide each way. However, as to the specific form and
size specified, it is to be stated that the invention is not restricted precisely to these.
And as regards the length of cord between the ball and the point c', about 5 feet is
in most cases a suitable length.
In the modification shewn in Figure 2, there is used in connection with the
parachute portion b a reefing device, which, in the example shewn, consists of a
ring e, say a metallic ring, or a rubber ring, of a size which will allow the material,
in a gathered state to be passed through it, and be gripped by it. And in
connection with this ring, a tape, cord, or the like, f, is provided, it being connected
at its opposite ends f¹ to the part 6 and passed through it; and when in action, and
the device reefed, as shewn in the figure, it is passed round the ring once or twice,
so that the portion between the ring and the end next the points b¹ is made tight,
whatever tendency may exist for the ring in e to be slacked back will be counter-
acted by this tape or cord.
As a modified manner of "reefing," a rubber ring may be slipped up over the
cords c, say up to the points b', or partly over the angular portions of the material
forming the portion b.
By these reefing means, the flight of the ball will of course be greater, than when
the full area of the resistance device 6 is in action restricting its flight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described improvement connected with the game of golf, con-
sisting of a captive golf ball comprising a ball proper and a resistance part in the
forin of a parachute device, which fills with air when carried through it by the
flight of the ball when struck; substantially as herein set forth.
2. The captive golf ball (comprising a ball proper and a flight resistance device
of the kind described connected therewith) having parts combined, formed, and
adapted to operate, particularly as set forth with reference to and shewn in the
drawings.
to 20th day of May 1894.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.