Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Scoring or Recording at Tennis and such like. Games.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 10th Aug.. 1888
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Scoring or Recording at
Tennis and such like. Games.
I, FREDERICK BAXTER of Ivy House, Burton-on-Trent, in the County of Stafford,
Brewer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to means or apparatus by which persons playing tennis and
such like games may casily score or record their own game, without the disadvantage
of having to put down the bat or racquet.
By the means I propose to employ a touch with the bat or racquet or with the hand
will be sufficient to expose the required figure, which is visible on both sides of the
scorer, and no two figures will be exposed at the same time so that the players or
other persons looking on in any part of the ground can make no mistake as
to the state of the game as they will be able to see distinctly how the game
stands.
For this purpose I employ a disc, generally from 9 to 12 inches in diameter,
according to requirements; this disc is divided, preferably, into six equal parts, but
it may be divided into more or less as required; portions are removed, so as to form
a wheel, with what I may term flat spokes, at an equal distance from one another; on
each of these spokes is painted a number or letter on both sides as required, or the
numbers or letters may be cut out in the spokes if required; a circular or other
shaped case of metal or wood is formed with an opening or space extending from the
circumference to near the centre thereof. The above wheel is mounted on a shaft or
axle and is contained within the above mentioned case or chamber; on either side of
the wheel and fitting on the axle is a washer of leather, india-rubber, or other suitable
material, to exert light friction on the wheel when being pushed round so that the
proper mark shall not be passed by the impetus given to the wheel; the spokes
are so arranged that when the wheel is pushed round by one of the spokes as far
as the opening in the case will allow, it exposes one other spoke only in a vertical
position, whilst all others are hidden from view.

page_text: To prevent the wheel turning further than necessary by the impetus given to it, an
adjustable nut is provided on the shaft or axle on the outside of the frame or case,
which can be screwed up so as to adjust the friction on the wheel. This wheel
may, if desired be turned by the aid of a racquet in a different way from that
above described, for instance, it may be fastened or secured to the axle, which latter
is provided with a fork or socket, so that the bat part of the racquet may be
inserted in the fork or socket so as to move the wheel by the turn of the wrist.
The figures or letters may also, if desired, be stationary, and the front part of the case
be made capable of rotation and of being turned also by the above described means,
or again, the case, having an opening or space formed therein, in a similar manner to
that first described in order to expose to view one figure at a time on each
side thereof, may be turned by means of knobs or handles attached to the axle.
The back of the case is provided with two sockets to receive the fork at the upper
end of an iron stand, the lower end or foot of which is formed with claws to be driven
into the ground to form a firm standing for same. The stand is cranked at top part,
or the sockets or fittings on the scorer are so formed as to prevent the racquet
catching against the stand in turning the wheel.
I preferably employ two dials or wheels of different diameters arranged one above
the other upon one standard, one dial or wheel for example showing a spoke vertically
and being suitably numbered to record the number of games and the other for
example showing a spoke horizontally and being suitably numbered to record the
number of sets.
Both dials or wheels or their cases are so mounted upon the standard as to be easily
removeable therefrom.

page_text: Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Scoring or Recording at
Tennis and such like Games.
I FREDERICK BAXTER of Ivy House Burton-on-Trent in the County of Stafford,
Brewer, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 means or apparatus by which persons playing tennis and
such like games may easily score or record their own game and at the same time
Telegraph the state of the game to onlookers without the disadvantage of having to
put down the bat or racquet.
By the means I propose to employ a touch with the bat or racquet or with the
hand will be sufficient to expose the required figure which is preferably visible on
both sides of the scorer and no two figures will be exposed at the same time so that
the players or other persons looking on in any part of the ground can make no
mistake as to the state of the game as they will be able to see distinctly how the game
stands.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully.
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a tennis scorer constructed according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation thereof.
Fig. 3 is a face view of the upper moveable dial or indicator separately. Fig. 4 is
a partial transverse section to an enlarged scale showing more clearly the axis of the
dial or indicator and the method of applying a frictional pressure thereto and,
Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views taken at right angles to each other showing an
alternative device for rotating the dial or indicator.
Fig. 7 is a face view illustrating a tennis scorer constructed with a modified form
of moveable dial and means of giving motion thereto; Fig. 8 is face view of the dial
or indicator separately and Fig. 9 is a partial transverse section of Fig. 7 drawn to an
enlarged scale.
Fig. 10 is a face view illustrating a modified form of scorer constructed with a
fixed dial and a moveable cover; Fig. 11 is a face view of the dial with the cover
removed; Fig. 12 is a partial transverse section of Fig. 10 and Fig. 13 is a similar
view to Fig. 12 but taken at right angles thereto the two latter figures being drawn
to an enlarged scale...
Fig. 14 is a face view of a scorer 'similar. to that.represented at. Figs. 10. and 11" but

page_text: Showing a damerem device for rotating the front of the case and Fig. 1 is a transverse
section thereof
And Figs. 16 and 17 are respectively a face view and a transverse section illustrating
a further modification.
In the several figures of the Drawings like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference.
a
represents a standard which is provided at its lower end with several spikes or
pegs a¹ to be driven into the ground and at its upper end with one or more pro-
jections a² which is or are received into a. socket or sockets & carried by the case or
other non-moving part of the apparatus the upper part of such standard being cranked
for the purpose hereinafter explained.
In the arrangement represented at Figs. 1 to 6, the sockets are fixed to a
case or cover formed of metal or wood and of any convenient shape and this
case or cover is both at its back and front formed with a V or other suitably
shaped opening or space b² therein which extends from.the circumference of the case-b.
to near the centre thereof.
Within the case I mount upon a shaft or axle c. and so as to revolve freely
thereon a dial or indicator *. This dial or indicator * is generally about nine to
twelve inches in diameter but may be of: other dimensions according to requirements
and is divided preferably into six equal parts but it may be divided into more or less
as may be necessary.
Portions of the dial or indicator' * are removed so as to form a wheel with what I
may term flat spokes equidistant from each other.
On each side of each of these spokes is painted a number, letter, or sign or the
numbers letters or signs may be cut through the spokes if desired so as clearly to be.
seen on either side thereof.
On each side of the boss bxx of the wheel or indicator and upon the shaft or
axle c. is placed a washer d. formed of leather, indiarubber or other suitable material
to exert light friction upon the wheel or indicator 6x when being moved round so that
the proper letter figure or sign shall not be carried round too far by the impetus given.
to the wheel or indicator bx.
The spokes are so arranged that when the wheel or indicator is moved round as far
as the opening 2 in the case will allow by means of pressure applied thereto by a
racquet or otherwise one spoke only is left exposed in a vertical position whilst all the
others are hidden from, view within the case b.
In order to ensure the wheel or indicator turning only the required distance by the
impetus given thereto.in moving it round; the shaft or axle c is formed with an
enlarged head c¹ upon one end thereof which takes an abutment against the outside of
one face of the case and a screw thread c² upon the other end and upon this thread e²
is screwed a nut e. in such manner that it will bear upon the outside of the other face
of the case by which means the rubber washers d may be caused to press-with any.
desired degree of friction upon the boss xx of the wheel or indicator b*.
Instead of turning the wheel or indicator by pressure applied by the aid of a
racquet or otherwise to one of the spokes thereof I may employ other means of
enabling it to be turned by the aid of a racquet and such as the device shown at
Figs. 5 and 6. In this arrangement the boss 6×× of the wheel or indicator 6x is
provided with a square hole therein and the shaft or axle c is formed with a square c³
thereon to fit such hole. A second and larger square e is formed upon the end
of the shaft or axle c adjacent to the head and upon this square is fitted a fork
or socket fa lock nut el being employed in order to prevent the adjusting nut e
accidently unscrewing in the revolution of the shaft or axle c.
In turning the wheel or indicator 6* by means of this device the bat part of the
racquet is inserted in the fork or socket when by a simple turn of the wrist the wheel
or indicator may be moved round the required distance.
When employing this device the wheel or indicator * may if desired take the form
of a plain disc and the letters or signs may be painted or otherwise marked on the
surface thereof or may be cut therethrough:
:.

page_text: The arrangement of apparatus represented at Figures 7. 8 and 9 is similar to that
previously described but in this case the indicator x is a continuous dise the spokes
being dispensed with and the V opening is formed at the upper part of the case b
the letters or signs being arranged accordingly and a somewhat different device is
employed in lieu of the fork in order to give the necessary motion to the dial or
indicator *. This device consists of a spoko wheel or cross f. between any two of
which the bat or racquet may be inserted in order to turn the dial or indicator 6× the
distance required to expose the desired letter or sign.
In the modification represented at Figures 10 11, 12, and 13 the indicator x
forms the back of the case b. and is stationary the required letter or sign being
marked or painted upon the face thereof. The front of the case is mounted with
capability of revolving upon the shaft or axle c. and has a V opening 2 formed
therein motion being given to such front by means of a fork fixed thereto.
The arrangement represented at Figures 14 and 15 is similar to that lastly
hereinbefore described except that in lieu of the fork knobs or handles are
fixed to the front of the case in order to afford the necessary means of revolving the
same.
In the modification shown at Figures 16 and 17 a stationary dial or indicator bx
carried by the standard a is employed and the case is formed by two discs capable
of revolution and connected together by the shaft or axle c each disc b having a
V opening formed therein as previously described in order to exhibit the desired
letter or sign knobs or handles being fixed upon each end of the axle c whereby the
discs may he moved round or if desired a fork f. or any other suitable turning device.
may be employed in lieu of the knobs.
In a tennis scorer I preferably employ two wheels or indicators * arranged one
above the other upon one standard a as represented at Figures 1 and 2 or upon a
support of other character the upper wheel or indicator for example, exhibiting a sign
vertically and being suitably numbered to record the number of "
"and the
games
lower indicator for example showing a sign horizontally and being suitably numbered
to record the number of "sets."
Both indicators 6x or their cases are so mounted upon the standard a as to be
easily removeable therefrom the upper one being provided with sockets to receive
the projections as of the standard a and the lower one being furnished with a screw
clamp by means of which it may be fixed at any convenient point upon the
standard a.
When necessary as for example when moving the indicator by direct
pressure upon the spokes according to the arrangement shown at Figures 1 and 2
the standard a is cranked at its upper part in order, to prevent the racquet catching
against the standard in the act of turning the wheel or indicator 6x ; or the sockets
or the indicator case 6 or indicator 6x might be suitably formed to give the necessary
clearance.
Although I have described my invention as applied to a tennis scorer it will be
readily understood that it may with slight modifications be employed to score or
record other games and if desired instead of mounting the scorer upon a standard a it
may be mounted upon a wall bracket or directly upon a wall or other support.
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. An apparatus for scoring or recording tennis and such like games constructed
and operating in manner substantially as herein shown and described.
2. An apparatus for scoring or recording tennis and such like games, consisting
of a fixed case formed with an opening 2 therein and containing a revolving
wheel or indicator mounted upon a fixed, shaft or axle c, such indicator being
formed with a suitable number of flat spokes upon which are marked the required
letters or signs and provided with a friction device consisting of rubber leather or
similar washers d threaded upon the axle c and capable of being compressed by means

page_text: of a nute all in manner substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
3. An apparatus for scoring or recording tennis and such like games consisting of
a fixed case formed with an opening therein and containing a revolving wheel or
indicator fitted upon the square of a revolving shaft or axle cupon one end of
which is fixed a fork or spoke wheel such indicator * being formed with a suitable
number of flat spokes or as a simple disc upon which spokes or disc are marked the
required letters or signs and provided with a friction device consisting of rubber
leather or similar washers d threaded upon the axle c and capable of being compressed
by means of a nut e all in manner substantially as herein shown and described and
for the purpose stated.
4. An apparatus for scoring or recording tennis and such like games consisting of
a fixed indicator 6* provided with letters or signs, on one face thereof and covered by
a case b revolving upon a non-rotating shaft or axle c and formed with an opening 2
therein such case having a fork or spoke wheel, or knobs or handles ffixed thereto
and being provided with a friction device consisting of rubber leather or similar
washers d threaded upon the shaft or axle e and capable of being compressed by means
of a nut e all in manner substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
5. An apparatus for scoring or recording tennis or such like games consisting of
a fixed indicator 6* provided with letters or signs upon both faces thereof and covered
by a case formed by two dises 6 fixed upon a revolving shaft or axle e and formed
with openings therein one end of sucli axle having a fork spoke wheel or knob or
handle fixed thereon such case b being provided with a friction device consisting of
rubber leather or similar washers d threaded upon the shaft or axle cand capable of
being compressed by means of a nut e all in manner substantially as herein shown and
described and for the purpose stated.