A New or improved rame.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1896-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1896
A New or improved rame.
HARRY OWEN ROBERTS, 4 Commercial Road Gloucester, and JOHN OWEN
ROBERTS 8 Parliament Street, Gloucester, Manufacturers of Table and other
Games, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1. A new game consisting of thick circular discs or counters or small cubes, or
balls made of wood, bone or other suitable material, these for the purposes of the
game are called the "men."
2. A small ball made of wood, rubber or other suitable material.
3. Goal posts, consisting of uprights with a base sufficiently large to enable
them to stand with or without a cross bar. These can be made of wood or any
suitable material.
4. A piece of tape or other suitable article to fasten round the "field" of play,
to keep the men & ball from falling off the table.
5. Clips of any suitable shape to fasten on the table, to keep the tape strained
and in position.
The game in which 2, 4, 6, or more persons can engage is played as follows.
The tape being fixed and strained by means of the clips to the table. (which
preferably should be covered with a cloth), this enclosure is called the "Field"
and should measure about 1 yards long by 1 yard wide. The ball is placed in
the centre of the "field," the men on each side being placed in similar positions
1 man being near the ball, a little distance from this & in a line, being two men-
theu 3 men in a line about 4 inches behind the other line and 1 man is placed in
the month of the goal, or the men may be placed in other suitable positions.
The players of each side use the same coloured men, and may flick any of the
men of their own side and opponents play alternately, except that the same
player, or one of his side can continue to play, until the ball is missed, provided
he does not kick the ball more than twice successively with the same man.
The men are played by flicking them with the 1st or any finger of either
hand.
The ball is kicked by striking it with one of the men flicked in the way stated.
All "men" must be allowed to remain where they may have been flicked to, and.
subsequently played from that position.
.
The game is to get the ball through the goal posts. The side scoring the most
goals in a given time being the winners.
Should the ball be kicked over the touch line, which is 1 inch from the tape, it
must be brought into the "field" again, and placed 4 inches from the line.
When it is kicked over the goal line which runs parallel with the goal posts,
without going through the posts, it must be brought out 12 inches, and in each
case the ball must be placed directly opposite the spot where it' crossed the line.
A goal cannot be scored from the first man played, or from the first kick made
after the ball has crossed the goal line without going through the posts.
meu.
When a goal has been scored the field must be again placed as at the start.
The players on either side must use their own judgment as to the playing of the
It will be often policy not to attempt to kick the ball, if your men are in
awkward positions, but to flick your men into a better position to do this subse-
quently. The science of the game is to so keep the men on the "field" that they
will be able to prevent goals being scored by their opponents, by kicking the ball'

page_text: away from favourable positions for scoring, while at the same time you endeavour
to keep your own men in positions to kick goals, and as a flick is allowed every
time the ball is touched provided it is not kicked more than twice in succession by
the same piece, scope for much skill & judgment is here given as by judicious
placing of the men, you can kick & pass the ball from man to man and in this
way dribble & pass it, until it is in a favourable position to kick a goal.
Dated this 15th day of April 1896.
HARRY OWEN ROBERTS.
JOHN OWEN ROBERTS.
HARRY OWEN ROBERTS 4 Commercial Road, Gloucester JOHN OWEN
ROBERTS, & Parliament Street, Gloucester, Manufacturers &c. of Parlour aud
other Games, 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:-
(1.) Thick circular dises or counters, or small cubes or balls, made of wood
bone or other suitable inaterial, these for the purposes of the game are called
the men.
(2.) A small ball made of wood, rubber, or other suitable material.
(3.) Goal posts, consisting of uprights with a base sufficiently large to enable
them to stand erect with or without a cross bar. These can be made of wood or
any suitable material.
"
(4.) A piece of tape, cord or other suitable material to fasten round the "field
of play
to keep the men & ball from falling off the table, during the progress
of the game.
(5.) Clips of any suitable shape, made of wire or other suitable material, to
fasten to or grip the table, with a small arm to each clip that shall extend above
the table about one inch, for the purpose of putting the tape or cord round &
keeping it strained & in position.
The game which we call Flickato, or Miniature Football may be played by two
or more persons, partners & opponents sitting or standing alternately round the
table, which should be covered with a cloth.
The "field of play" should be about 14 yards long by 1 yard wide. The
clips should be placed at the four corners of the "field of play," & made to grip
the table tightly. The piece of tape or cord should then be placed'. on the upright
arm of the clips, thus forming a wall round the field of play" & preventing. the
men & ball from falling off the table when played.
The men, (cubes or discs as the case niay be), ball, & goal posts are placed in
positions, similar to those taken at the outdoor game.
All the players of one side use the same coloured men & play alternately.
The object of the players is to get the ball through the goal posts. The side
scoring the most goals in a given time, being the winner.
The following rules regulate the mode of play.
The men are played by flicking them with the first or any finger of either
hand.
The ball is kicked by striking it with one of the men flicked in the manner
stäted'.
Partners may flick any of the men belonging to their own side.
Opponents play alternately, except that the same player or one of his side can
continue to play until the ball is missed, provided he does not kick the ball twice
successively with the same man.

page_text: All the men must be allowed to remain where they may have been licked to
& subsequently played from that position.
Should the ball be kicked over the touch line, which is assumed to be 1 inch
from the tape or cord, it must be brought into the field again & placed 4 inches from
the line, directly opposite where it crossed.
When it is kicked over the goal line, which runs parallel with the goal posts.
& without going through the posts, it must be brought out 12 inches, directly
opposite the spot where it crossed.
A goal cannot be scored from the first man played or from the first kick made-
after the ball has crossed the goal line, without going through the posts.
When a goal has been score:l the field must be again placed as at the start.
In playing the game the following points should be specially noted.
It will often be policy not to attempt to kick the ball, if the men of the player's
side are in awkward positions but to flick them into a better position to do this.
subsequently.
As a flick is allowed every time the ball is kicked by a man, provided it is not
kicked twice in succession by the same piece, scope for much skill & judgment is
here given, as by judicious placing of the men, you can kick & pass the ball from
man to man & in this way dribble until it is in a favourable position to kick
a goal.
It will thus be seen that it is most essential to so keep the men on the field, that
they will be able to prevent their opponents kicking goals, by kicking the ball
away from favourable positions for scoring, while at the same time the player
endeavours to keep his own men in positions to kick goals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven--
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
That the herein before described articles used substantially as herein before set.
forth for the purposes of a new game.
Dated this 1st day of July 1896.
HARRY O. ROBERTS.
JOHN O. ROBERTS.