IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDS OR HOLDERS FOR CROQUET BALLS AND INDEED
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Bolton, Rector of Swyre, in the County of
Dorset, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDS OR HOLDERS FOR
CROQUET BALLS AND INDEED
Sealed the 31st December 1867, and dated the 4th July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Bolton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the 4th July
1867.
I, JOHN BOLTON, Rector of Swyre, in the County of Dorset, do hereby.
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDS OR
HOLDERS FOR CROQUET BALLS AND IMPLEMENTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in stands or holders for.
croquet balls and implements. The lower part or base of the stand or holder.
is made in the form of a rectangular tray, and to it a standard or standards
are fixed supporting a horizontal bar passing lengthwise of the tray or base
and at a distance above it; this bar has notches or recesses in it at intervals
for the handles of the mallets to rest in, whilst their heads are contained in
the tray or base, and are arranged in two lines, one on either side. The balls.
and hoops are also contained in the base or tray, and.are enclosed by a lid. or.
cover divided longitudinally in three parts, two of which are hinged to. the
sides of the base or tray by one of these edges, whilst the opposite edge of
each is notched for the passage of the handles of the mallets when they are:
arranged as already described. The central portion of the cover is dropped:
into its place between the handles of the mallets, and has a lock? upon it
shooting a bolt into the standard, and thus the whole of the cover is secured,

page_text: there being projections upon the side flaps or portions of the cover to prevent
them turning back whilst the centre portion is in its place. In order to keep
the handles of the mallets close against the horizontal bar which supports
them I draw an elastic band over and between them, and secure it at each
end of the stand or holder. In place of arranging the cover in three parts I
in some cases make it in two only, dispensing with the central portion, and
arranging the two side flaps to shut up against the horizontal notched bar
which receives the handles of the mallets. In this case it is convenient not
to hinge the side flaps, but simply to fit them into their places and secure
them by suitable locks; bolts, or fastenings. In this case it is convenient to
hang the hoops from the notched bar which supports the handles. It is con-
venient to use a cover of waterproof fabric to enclose the whole, so that the
implements may be left out of doors without injury.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Bolton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BOLTON, Rector of Swyre, in the County of Dorset, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself; Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Bolton, Her special licence that I, the said John Bolton, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Bolton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDS
OR HOLDERS FOR CROQUET BALLS AND IMPLEMENTS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Bolton, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Bolton, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same, is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:
These improvements in stands or holders for croquet balls and implements
are as follows:-The. lower part or base of the stand or holder is made in the
form of a box or tray, though it may be simply a base piece or plate, and to
this a standard or standards are fixed supporting a horizontal bar passing
lengthwise above the said box, tray, or base; this bar has notches or recesses
in it for the handles of the mallets to rest in, whilst their heads are contained
in the box, tray, or base, and should be arranged in two lines, one on either
side. The balls and hoops are also contained in the said box, tray, or base,
and are enclosed by a lid or cover divided longitudinally into three parts; two
of which are hinged to the sides of the base or tray by one of their edges,
whilst the opposite edge of each is notched for the passage of the handles of
the mallets when they are arranged as already described. The central portion
of the cover is dropped into its place between the handles of the mallets, and
has a lock upon it shooting a bolt into the standard, and thus the whole of the
cover is secured, there being projections upon the sides flaps or portions of the
cover to prevent them turning back whilst the centre portion is in its place.
In order to keep the handles of the mallets close against the horizontal bar
which supports them I can if desired draw an elastic band over and between
them, and secure it at each end of the stand or holder. In place of arranging
the cover in three parts I in some cases make it in two only, dispensing with
the central portion, and arranging the two side flaps to shut up against the.
horizontal notched bar which receives the handles of the mallets, thus forming
a slanting top or cover to the tray, box, or base aforesaid. In this case it is
convenient not to hinge the side flaps, but simply to fit them into their places,
and secure them by suitable locks, bolts, or fastenings. Also it is convenient
to hang the hoops from the notched bar which supports the handles. Some-
times I use a covering of waterproof fabric to enclose the whole, so that the
implements may be left out of doors without injury."
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In Fig. 1, A, hinged flaps opening backwards, as shewn by the dotted lines
N, N; these have small iron plates P projecting from the central flap a² to
rest on, which central flap (a2) has one similar plate P2 to pass under A ;
B, the box; x, the hinges; L, the lock, the bolt of which shoots into the
standard S. The central flap a² is removeable, not being hinged.

page_text: Fig. 2 side view, Fig. 3, end view, and Eig 4, plan view of an arrange-
ment in which the cover has slanting lids or sides. A, top bar; B, side;
C, standards; D, box; E, slits for mallet handles. The moveable or hinged
sides B are made full height, as shewn, or half standard height if desired. In
the plan view, Fig. 4, a, spaces for mallet heads; b, those for balls; c, dividing
slips; d, section of standard; e, sides of box; f, ends of box: The handles
of the mallets rest against the top bar A. The exposed, parts of the mallets
may have a covering of waterproof cloth over them, as above referred to.
L, keyhole (see Figs. 1, 2, 6, 7) for locking two sides together. Fig. 5 shew's
a detached view of the standard herein-before described; Fig. 6, end piece
of slanting flap or lid made to fit the standards.
Fig. 7 shews an arrangement with slanting flaps, lids, or sides that do not
reach beyond half the height of the standards. A, the top bar; B, the sides
or flaps; C, standards; D, box; E, slits for mallet handles; L, keyhole of
lock. When it is preferred to substitute for the box or tray a simple base
piece or plate the ends of the slanting lids or cover may be secured to the
said base piece.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare
that I claim the Invention of improvements in stands or holders for croquet
balls and implements, such stands or holders having a tray, box, or base, and
a cover with locks and bolts, and locked flaps, lids, or sides, arranged
and combined together as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Bolton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 31st day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
W. L. MANSEL,
Puncknoll Manor,
Bridport.
EMMA F. BOLTON,
Swyre Rectory,
Bridport.
HN BULION. (L.S.)