A New or Improved Game.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1896.
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1896-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Game.
HARRY OWEN ROBERTS, of 4 Commercial Road Gloucester, and JOHN
OWEN ROBERTS of 8 Parliament Street, Gloucester, Manufacturers &c. of Table
and other Games, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
A new game, consisting of
.
(1) Circular (or otherwise) boxes, cups or hoops, made of metal, wood, card-
board or any other suitable material.
(2) A box made of wood, tin, zinc or any other suitable material, with a hinged
lid capable of holding a number of the boxes, cups, or hoops, as the case may be.
The lid to be so constructed that it can be placed, when opened in an upright
position, or if necessary, turned back so that when the box is opened, the lid will
make an inclined plane, up which a ball or other suitable article could be propelled
to the boxes, cups or hoops, inside the box.
(3) Balls, rings or other suitable articles made of india rubber or other suitable
material.
(4) Discs or counters made of metal, bone, cardboard or other suitable
material.
There are two modifications of this game, one in which balls are used, and one in
which rings are used.
When balls are used the boxes, cups or hoops, should be placed in the box, and
if the balls are bowled along the ground, the lid must be turned right back to form
an inclined plane, up which the balls may be propelled to the boxes, cups or hoops
inside the box. If however the balls are thrown, the box should be reversed and
the lid placed in an upright position, thus forming a barrier at the back of boxes,
cups or hoops.
In throwing the balls they should not be allowed to strike the ground more than
once before they reach the box.
When rings, instead of balls are used the boxes, cups or hoops, can be used
without the outer box, simply placed on the ground, preferably against a wall,
or they may be placed on the table. Each player has a box, cup, or hoop & there
are 3 balls or rings, as the case may be, for the use of all the players.
The following rules, regulate the play whether balls or rings, are used.
As many persons can play as there are cups.
Players who play in the same order as their cups are arranged, stand about 2
or 3 yards from them, and endeavour to get the 3 balls or rings, into any of the
cups, except the players own. If they fail to get either of the 3 in, one of
the discs or counters is put into the "throwers" box, cup, or hoop, by way of
forfeit.
If however the thrower succeeds in "cupping "the ball or ring, before he
proceeds with the others, the player whose, box, cup or hoop it is in must take the
ball or ring (which is now called a "rambler") & from the line endeavour to
throw it in another cup, if he fails, one disc is put into his box, cup or hoop, if
successful, the player whose cup it is in, endeavours to pass the ball or ring
to another cup, until there is a failure to cup it, and whoever fails to place
the "rambler in a cup, has a forfeit disc put into his own cup.
As soon as
the "rambler" is disposed of, as before described, the "thrower" continues to

page_text: play his remaining balls or rings, if he has any, if not, the next player continues
the game.
When a player has 3 discs, in his cup, he is out of the game, & his cup is removed.
If a player puts a ball or ring, whether "rambler" or not into his own cup, a disc
must be placed in his cup.
The player who continues in play the longest wins the game.
.Another game may be played as follows:-
Place the boxes, cups or hoops as in the foregoing & attach numerical values to
each thus, 5. 4. 3. 3. 4. 5, or any other numbers, by agreement, will do, so long as
the lower values are central.
Sides may be formed who play alternately having 3 throws each.
The side which scores 100 first wins the game.
HARRY OWEN ROBERTS.
JOHN OWEN ROBERTS.
HARRY OWEN ROBERTS 4 Commercial Road, Gloucester JOHN OWEN
ROBERTS 8 Parliament Street, Gloucester, Manufacturers &c. of Parlour and
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) Circular or other shaped boxes, cups or boops, made of metal, wood, card-
board or any other suitable material.
(2) A box made of wood, tin or any other suitable material, large enough to
hold a number of the boxes, cups or hoops as the case may be. The lid of the
box which should be hinged and so constructed that when opened it can if
necessary be placed right back so as to form an inclined plane up which a ball
or other suitable article could be propelled to the boxes, cups or hoops inside
the box.
(3) Balls, rings or other suitable articles made of rubber or other suitable
material.
(4) Discs or counters made of metal, bone, cardboard, or other suitable
material.
There are two modifications of this game, one in which balls are used & one in
which rings are employed.
When balls are used the boxes or cups should be placed in the box with the
hinged lid. If the balls are bowled along the ground, the lid must be turned right
back to form an inclined plane, up which the balls will run when they are bowled,
to the boxes or cups inside. If however the balls are thrown, the lid of the box
should be fixed in an upright position, thus forming a barrier at the back of the
boxes or cups inside. In throwing the balls, they should not be allowed to strike
the ground more than once before they reach the boxes or cups.
When rings instead of balls are used the boxes or cups can be used without the
box with the hinged lid, simply being placed on the ground, preferably against a
wall, or they may be placed on a table.
Each player has a box or cup or hoop as the case may he.
There are three balls or rings as the case may be used in the game.
The following rules regulate the play whether balls or rings are used.
As many persons can play as there are boxes or cups.
Players who play in the same order as their cups are arranged, stand 2 or

page_text: 3 yards from them & endeavour to get the three balls or rings into any box or
cup, except the player's own. If they fail to get either of the three balls or
rings in, one of the discs is placed into the throwers box or cup by way of
forfeit.
If however the thrower succeeds in cupping a ball or ring, this one becomes a
rambler & before he proceeds with the remaining balls or rings, the player whose
box or cup it is in must take the ball or ring & from the line endeavour to throw
it in another box or cup, if he fails, one of the forfeit discs is placed in his box or
cup, if successful the player whose box or cup it goes in, now endeavours to pass
the ball or ring to another box or cup & so on until there is a failure to cup it &
whoever fails to cup the rambler has a forfeit disc put into his own box or cup.
As soon as the rambler is disposed of as thus described, the thrower continues to
play his remaining balls or rings if he has any, if not the next player continues
the game.
When a player has 3 forfeit discs in his box or cup, he is out of the game & his
cup is removed. If a player puts a ball or ring whether rambler or not into his
own cup, a disc must be placed in the players cup. The player who continues in.
play the longest wins.
Another game may be played as follows:-
Place the boxes or cups side by side, either in the box with the hinged lid or on
the ground & attach numerical values to each thus :-5, 4, 3, 3, 4, 5 or other
numbers by agreement so long as the lower values are central.
Sides may be formed who play alternately three balls or rings a side or each.
player.
The side or player that first scores 100 wins the game.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
That the herein described appliances used substantially in the manner herein-
before set forth, for the purposes of a new game & modifications thereof.
Dated this 26th day of June 1896.
HAKKI U. ROBERTS.
JOHN O. ROBERTS.