Year: 1886

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from
Reinhold Colberg of Plagwitz, Germany) and in what manner, the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention refers to improvements in "round" games and the hereafter
described game can be used in two different applications.
In the first application the game represents a velocipede race and in the second
it is a combined billiard and skittle game.
In the arrangement represented in Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings
the game consists in discharging a ball in such a manner, that it will enter one of
a series of channels where it will disengage a small threewheel or fourwheel
velocipede surmounted by a comical or other figure, which will run down on an
inclined plane at the end of which it will be stopped by a wire or string provided
along its length with different numbers.
The figures mounted on the velocipedes may be half male and half female or in
case of an odd number for instance 9 as represented the middle one may be
mounted by a male and female together.
The game represented in Figs. 4 and 5 being a combination of billiards and
skittles also consists in discharging a ball which will enter one of the channels and
then run amongst the skittles from the direction given it by the channel.
The arrangement of the first game is the following: it consists of an inclined
table A provided on three sides with borders a and also with two ball guides or
channels 6 6 similar to those in the game called "Chinese billiards." Above these
guides and reaching from mouth to mouth are arranged a series of channels d
constructed of cane c or other suitable material, which may be decorated in any
desirable manner. At the end of the channels d cavities e are arranged in the
Price 1

page_text: table A. In front of these cavities e forked uprights f are fastened in the table,
carrying in the fork bent levers g extending with their annular bent end / into
the cavities e while the other end is provided with a hook i onto which are hooked
the velocipedes.
The discharging of the ball is effected by a cannon like arrangement, consisting
of the barrel k the piston and the spring m. To heighten the effect this mechanism
is provided with an arrangement to explode paper or metal-caps. In the face of
the barrel k opposite the handle n of the piston cavities o are arranged which are
provided either with a metal plate or a nipple according to whether paper or metal
caps are to be used. On the face of the piston handle n nipples p are provided in
such a manner that they will fit easily into the cavities o to effect the explosion of
the caps. To ensure a certain fitting of the nipples, p into the cavities o the guide
rod q of the piston may be square in section so that the handle n cannot turn when
released.
The operation is as follows:
After all the velocipedes are hooked on and the cannon is provided with the
caps and the ball, the spring m is compressed by drawing out the handle n in such
a manner, that when the latter is released, the spring will discharge the piston
forward and so drive the ball up the guide b until it will run into one of the
channels d and fall onto the end h of one of the levers g and press it into the
cavity e arranged underneath so that the other end i of the lever releases
the velocipede hooked thereto, when the latter will run down the inclined plane
until stopped by a string or wire underneath which are marked with different
numbers to denote the winnings.
The combined billiard and skittle game is also played by discharging the ball in
the above described manner, but in this case the table A is cut out so that only
the two ball guides 6 6¹ on both sides and the channels d, above remain. The
latter are of course differently arranged in accordance with the game.
Into the space cut out a board or plate B is fitted of the corresponding size,
This board
suitably decorated and provided on three sides with a low border a.
or plate is reversible and has on one side nine marked spots for the skittle game
and on the other 5 spots for the billiard skittle game.
As this plate or board has to be exactly horizontal it is placed on an independent
stand which is placed on the support underneath the game; the plate B is how-
ever firmly attached to the table A by the hooks u.
The table A is provided with screw clamps to fasten it securely to the table,
board or other support upon which it is placed.
In this case the operation is the same as in the previous one; the ball is
discharged out, the caps explode and the ball will then run through one of the
channels & amongst the skittles.
Fig. 6 represents the cannon arrangement on a larger scale, being about
half size.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is,
1. In a game the employment of apparatus. consisting essentially of a ball and
means for discharging it an inclined table such as A having channels b b¹ and d
the latter terminating in detent levers g and one or more velocipedes or equivalent
carriages adapted to be released by the said detent levers when struck by the ball
the whole constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose specified
and illustrated in Figs. '1, 2, 3 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
2. In a game the employment of apparatus consisting essentially of a ball and
means for discharging it an inclined table such as A having channels 6 6¹ and d a
horizontal table such as B provided with low sides a and conveniently secured
in A and a set of skittles adapted to be placed on table B the whole constructed

page_text: and operating substantially as and for the specified and illustrated in Figs. 4, 5,
and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In the ball discharging mechanism the arrangement for exploding paper or
metal caps or detonators which are placed in cavities and exploded by nipples fixed
to the handle the whole substantially as specified.