Apparatus for Playing a New Game.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
Apparatus for Playing a New Game.
We, JAMES ROYLE, of Alresford, London Road, Reading, in the County of
Berks, Outfitter, and JOHN HENRY RIMER, of The Warran, High Street, Theale, in
the County of Berks, Brewers' Manager, 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 relates to a new game of skill and board for playing the same.
The game may be described as a combination of bagatelle and the game known
as shove-halfpenny, and it is played by projecting or propelling metal or other
discs similar to coins, upon a smooth-surfaced board provided with cushions at
the sides, the area of the board being divided into goals or beds and provided
with holes or pockets, and with markers corresponding to the respective goals.
The object of the player is to fill each goal or bed into which the board is divided
with a predetermined number of discs and the strokes are to be made by causing
the discs to rebound or cannon off a cushion or cushions or off a previously played
disc upon the board.
The preferred construction of board is illustrated in perspective view in the
accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, wherein A represents
the board divided by transverse lines into beds or goals B in certain of which
are formed cavities or pockets C, the board being bounded laterally by ledges 1)
raised above the level of the board and preferably faced with cushions E formed
of strips of rubber, leather or other elastic material each such strip being let
into a groove e between the board A and the ledges D or otherwise fixed in
position along the faces of the ledges. The base or playing point is preferably in
the form of a semi circular extension of the board A. At the underside of the
board two downwardly projecting strips G are provided at right angles to each
other so as to be adapted to embrace the corner of a table on which the board is
placed in a diagonal position so as to enable the players to conveniently make
strokes at any angle across the board towards either side, i.e. from right to left
or left to right, from any point of the semi-circumference of the extension Fas
may be required by the exigencies of the game. Each stroke is made by the
player placing a disc on the extension Fin such position that it projects from the
semi-circular edge f (as at h for instance) and striking it with the hand or any
other means which may be determined, so as to cause it to be projected obliquely
across the board against one of the cushions E whence it rebounds and comes to
rest as at H on one of the goals B into which the board is divided; or the stroke
may be made by a double rebound first from one cushion and then from the
other. Or instead of first striking a cushion the stroke may be made by causing
the disc played to cannon off a previously played disc on the board with the
two-fold object of altering the nosition of the object-disc as well as of lodging
the player's disc in the desired goal. It is essential that the stroke be made by
first striking a cushion or another disc, failing which the player's disc is to be
removed from the board.
J are markers for keeping the score, there being one for each goal, each con-

page_text: sisting of a pivoted index movable over numbered divisions to indicate the
number of dises lodged in each goal by the player. In the example illustrated
it is assumed that this number is limited to three and that when three discs
have been lodged in one goal by a player it is deemed to be filled, any excess in
this respect on the part of a player being counted to the opposite sides or other-
wise dealt with according to rules regulating the game. The pockets are
intended to afford a variation of stroke by enabling the player to cannon his disc
into a pocket which counts towards the score of the goal in which the pocket is
situated and affords the player a chance of making another stroke with the same
disc. are boxes to contain the discs, covered by pivoted lids and L is a space
at the top of the board to which discs not in play are removed. It will be obvious
that the number of pockets and the number of goals into which the board is
divided, may be either greater or less than that shown.
In the example illustrated there is no cushion at the top end of the board but
in a possible modification of the board there might be provided a cushion formed
of an elastic strip similar to E extending across the top end of the board and
fixed in position by being let into a transverse groove in the board just beyond
the line 6, in order that a stroke may be made by cannoning first off a side cushion
and then off the top cushion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The herein described board provided with a playing base and with side
cushions and divided into goals provided with pockets for playing a game such
as herein described.
2. The herein described board constructed substantially as specified in com-
bination with markers corresponding to the several goals into which the board is
divided substantially as shewn and described.
11.571. Je M 1900
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.