Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
I, GEORGE ASHTON BROOKES of West View, Higher Poynton, Cheshire,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
2
This invention relates to a new or improved race-course game in which figures
of race horses and jockies are caused to travel along a board or 66
course side
by side by the impetus of gravity somewhat on the principle of a switchback
railway.
According to this invention I provide a longitudinal box or hollow frame,
forming the " course "the top or cover of which is provided with longitudinal
grooves and the bottom with rails for guiding wheeled supports carrying the
figures of horses and jockies, the said figures being connected with the wheeled
supports by vertical rods or pins passing upwards through the said grooves. The
central bars forming the grooves are made in two or more lengths and are
detachable for the purpose of placing the said supports in position upon the rail,
and one end of the board is provided with a hinged flap or support for tilting the
said end and inclining the board at a suitable angle for causing the wheeled
supports to travel along the same through the force of gravity, the other end of
the rails being slightly inclined in an opposite direction to overcome the impetus
caused by gravity and bring the said supports gradually to a standstill. The
raised or starting end of the board is provided with a transverse rod or wire
formed with hooks for engaging with the vertical rods or pins of the wheeled
supports for holding the latter in position for starting, the said rod or wire being
drawn end ways for disengaging and starting the horses.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved race-course and Fig. 2 is a plan
of the same.
Fig. 3 is a plan with one of the adjustable bars or frames forming the
longitudinal grooves removed.
Fig. 4 is a cross section ou the line X, X of Fig. 1 and
Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line y, y.
a is the frame of the board and b the bottom or base of the same which is
inclined in opposite directions from each end to the point . The top of the
board is formed of fixed side bars c, c and removable bars or frames d, d forming
between them the longitudinal grooves e. The bars d are connected together and
supported on the end a¹ of the board by the cross-piece d³ provided with a handle
or knob d, and the bars d are connected together and supported at the end a" by
the cross piece. The inner ends of these bars are carried by divisions or
supports ff and are recessed to engage with staples 9 fixed in the supports ƒ
By this means the said bars or frames may be easily removed or fixed in proper
position. A are the rails fixed to the base 6 and formed of wires soldered to the
cross wires h' and lapped over or otherwise connected to the ends of the said base.
i is the figure of the horse and jockey carried by the two wheeled support k and
connected to the latter by the vertical rod or pin k¹ passing through one of the
grooves e for guiding the figure and its support k during their travel along the
board. There may be as many figures and grooves as desired three being
the number shown in the drawings. 7 is the transverse rod or wire formed with

page_text: .
hooks for engaging with the rods or pins k¹ for the purpose of holding the horses
in line ready for starting. m is the hinged flap or support for raising and holding
the end a¹ of the board at a suitable inclination.
In commencing the game the frame d is removed and after each player has
chosen a horse the latter are placed in position on their respective rails between
the divisions f, and the frame d again fixed in position. The horses are then
pushed along the grooves e up to the starting end a¹ and their rods or pins k¹
engaged with the hooks by drawing the rod or wire endways by the handle
and are thus held in line ready for starting. The rod is then pulled sharply in
the reverse direction by the handle thus setting free the horses whose supports k
travel along the rails down the inclined base 6 and up the inversely inclined portion
of the same to the other end a³ of the board, the horse first reaching the same
winning the race.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,―
(1.) In a new or improved race-course game the use of a board formed of a
longitudinal box or frame having an inclined bottom or base provided with rails
upon which run wheeled supports carrying figures of horses and jockies and a
similarly inclined top or cover provided with parallel longitudinal grooves for
guiding the wheeled supports latentially as described and for the purposes
specified.
(2.) In an improved game as above claimed the combination of a hoard or
frame a, a double inclined base b, side bars c, detachable bars or frames d, d'
provided with cross pieces d³, d and forming grooves e divisions or supports,
staples g, rails h, figures or horses i carried by wheeled supports k and rods or pins k¹,
rod or wire formed with handles 1, 1, and hinged flap or support m, constructed
and arranged substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(3.) The new or improved race-course game substantially as described and shown
in the drawings.