Improvements in or relating to Game Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec.. 1896-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Game Apparatus.
I, EDGAR LA MAR WILLIAMS of the City of Peoria, in the County of
Peoria, and State of Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of the invention is to provide a game board with a series of peus or
enclosures into which counters are forced, and furthermore, the object is,
To provide games already in use, with an additional structure, which will
improve the game and make it more interesting and instructive and heighten the
skill of the players, and further,
To provide a game board with two playing surfaces, thus giving the players two
games with the one board.
My invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations which
will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the annexed drawing, figures and letters of reference correspond with those
of the specification.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the game board having four sides, showing a
pen or enclosure on each of the sides and which constitute the main portion of my
invention.
Figure 2 is a cross section of the game board showing a strip C secured to one
of the sides and which is used to form a pen or enclosure and also showing the
reverse side of the board and arches thereon.
Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the board showing different manner of
forming the pens or enclosures and showing a different location of the same.
Figure 4 is also a plan view of a portion of a board showing different manner
of forming the pens or enclosures from those shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the board showing slight changes in the
construction of the playing surface, and,
Figure 6 is perspective view of the reverse side of the board showing arches
located on the playing surface, and a recess in the center.
In the several figures, the playing surface is represented by A, while B B indicate
the side pieces secured to the edges of the board and placed vertical to the said
playing surface and above same. As shown the board is constructed with four
sides or edges but the number of these is immaterial; for instance, the board may
be bounded by less than four sides or may be polygonal in form as desired.
A strip C bent to the shape shown, is secured to each of the edge pieces B or to
the playing surface, as desired, by suitable means. At the middle of the length of
each of the strips C on the edge next the playing surface is cut an opening C¹
through which the counters are forced, during the game, into pens or enclosures.
In each angle of the playing surface a pocket D may be made, and in the center
of the playing surface is described a circle E within which counters or men are
located, at the outset of the game. In constructing this game apparatus it is not
my purpose to limit nyself to a particular construction; the strips C which,
together with the sides B constitute the pen or enclosures may be of two pieces
at an angle to each other and a space left between their forward free ends for
the entrance into the enclosures as fully shown in Figure 4. Again in Figure 3

page_text: a different form is shown. The said strips C occupy a position across the corners
of the board and the pockets D are placed midway between the corners
substantially as shown, and thus it is, that the entire device may be re-arranged
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
A description of the method of playing will not be out of place here, to under-
stand the game and its counts.
Within the circle E are placed as before stated, a number of counters, usually
sixteen, one half of which are of a different color from the other half, so that
the opposite players may have an opposite color. The players use, in turn, a
counter of a conspicuous color with which to force their opponent's counters or
men off the board, and the counters thus forced into the pens or enclosures and
into the puckets, are off the board and are lost to count to the holder. When all
the disks of ne coler have been forced off the board, the opposite side makes a
count for each man they have in the field..
...
This is continued until one side has made a count of fifty or one hundred or such
definite number as has been agreed upon. It is obvious that the rules of the game
may be varied at well as also the construction of the board as before expressly
stated; as for instance, in Figure 5, the pockets D are formed in a quarter circle,
the side pieces B forming part of the said pockets, and a playing line G being
indicated and from which the counters are forced to the inner field for the purpose
of carrying the counters from within the circle E. In Figures 2 and 6 the
opposite side of the beard is shown, and in which a series of arches H and I are
placed.
On this side of the board, the pockets are omitted, but a line K is indicated (or
the inner field may be raised out to this line). At each corner of the square
formed by the line K is located an arch 1. The field or playing surface is also
provided with a lino L and within this is a circle F similar to the circle E on the
reverse side of the board.
Within the circle are placed two arches at right angles to each other, and so
placed as to permit a counter being forced through one of the corner arches to
pass also through these arches H and through the arch 1 at the opposite diagonal
corner from the arch first mentioned. In the center of the circle and immediately
under the arches H is a depression. or recess .J, into which at certain opportunities
in the game, a counter is forced which gives the player holding said counter a point
or several points as has been previously agreed upon. The game as played on this
side of the board is somewhat different to that of the other side and may be under-
stood from the following: Each player at the four sides of the board has six
counters each: The players on opposite sides of the board have the same colored
counters, and the other two players are their opponents and have counters of the
opposite color.
The game is started by one of the players attempting to pass diagonally across
the board through the arches as described above, and on passing therethrough
'receives a count of 20; it being previously agreed that the corner arches shall
count 5 each and the middle arches 10. Should the disk or counter pass through
the corner arch only the count would be 5 and if landing in the center field, the
opposing player must force the disk off the board. These shots are continued
until all the men or disks are played and the players having the most men on the
board at the last round are the winners and receive so many counts for the position
their men hold.
This slight description will give some idea as to how the game is played out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A game apparatus in which counters are employed, consisting of a board
baving one or more pens or, enclosures made therewith for the purposes set
'forth.

page_text: 2. A game apparatus consisting of a board, on which counters are used, of a
series of pens or enclosures located on the playing surface thereof for the purposes
set forth and described.
3. A game apparatus consisting of the combination with a board upon which
counters are employed, of a series of pens or enclosures located on the playing
Burface of said board and a series of pockets or depressions formed in said playing
surface substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. A game apparatus consisting of a board having upon the one side a game
consisting of arches located upon its playing surface substantially as shown and
described, in combination with the opposite side of said board having a pocket
located in each corner of the playing surface, with or without enclosures or pens
located substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 15th day of December 1896
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.