Improvements in Games.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd June, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Games.
I, JAMES CONYERS MORRELL of Beauregard, Castlenau, Barnes in the County of
Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in providing a game especially suited for playing on a
lawn but which may be played on any even surface.
carry out my Invention by forming on or by providing and placing upon the
lawn or playing surface a receptacle by preference in shape oblong with its sides two
or three inches high or thereabouts. At the side facing the playing area I form an
incline or ascending plane with its upper edge terminating at & by preference hung
to the top of that side of my receptacle its lower edge resting on the surface of the
playing area.
When I provide my receptacle in complete form I make it with a lid in one or
in two parts in either case hung to its oblong side or sides respectively and so
that when the lid or one of the lids if two is thrown open its outer edge will rest on
the surface and so form the incline; if in two parts the part not forming the incline
is raised and held by suitable means at the perpendicular.
It will be understood that a ball may be driven along the playing surface and by
the incline or ascending plane into the pool formed by my receptacle. By the aid of
dividers which I provide 1 form within my receptacle three pools each accessible by
the incline or ascending plane. The center one is my true pool and the two outer
ones false pools. My dividers are either in separate pieces prepared for slipping into
their places or are hung at the bottom or sides of my receptacle ready for adjustment
to that purpose.
I provide and fix at the opposite end of my playing area a post. I
also provide a number of balls & mallets corresponding somewhat to croquet balls &
mallets but both respectively by preference smaller and lighter than those ordinarily
used for the game of croquet.
The balls I distinguish by colours or numbers and place on my post corresponding
colours or numbers.
I commence to play my game by placing the whole of the balls appropriated to the
players in a group touching one another on the surface of the playing area near to
the post; the holder of the leading ball distributing the balls over the playing area
as far as possible from the post and from one another by a sharp stroke with his
mallet.
He then plays his own ball with the object of hitting the post with it direct or by
aid of hitting and playing off another player's ball to it. If he succeeds at once in
either manner or after he has succeeded in hitting the post be proceeds by the same
means with the object of driving his ball into the "true pool," and each player in his
turn proceeds in the same way. In the event however of a player by accident himself
driving, or by the play of an opponent having his ball driven into either of the false
pools the ball remains in such pool unto his turn to play again comes round, when an
opponent may place the ball at any point on the playing area he (the opponent) may
select and the player of the ball must whether he has already done so or not, hit the
post as before named before he can proceed to the pool.
The game may be played each player for himself or by equal opposing parties: in
either case the player may play to hit a partner's or an opponent's ball with his ball
and then drive it with what is known in croquet as a "loose croquet" to any part of
the playing area or he may take his ball off the ball he hits to any part he desires to
go. The object of the players being all through to prevent opponent gaining the
true pool whilst indeavouring themselves to gain it, the game being won by the player
or side which first enters the true pool with the whole of their balls. If only two or

page_text: three persons are playing the play is best when each plays two balls. The game may
be simplified by dispensing with the penalty of the false pools.
When I make my receptacle in complete form with lid or lids and with a bottom it
also serves as a case for my balls & mallets when not in use; this being my reason for
having my dividers loose or hinged as named.
I make my receptacle by preference of woven or worked wire, and make provision
for pinning it down to the lawn or otherwise fixing it with sufficient security on the
playing area.
Dated this Third day of September 1880.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Games.
I JAMES CONYERS MORRELL of Beauregard, Castelnau, Barnes in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman 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 :-
Aly improvements consist in providing a game especially suited for playing on a
lawn, but which may be played on any even surface.
I carry out my improvements thus :-
I provide and place upon the lawn or playing surface a receptacle which I call my
pool basket or pool box. I make this with a floor, and sides and ends three to four
inches high or thereabouts, and I hang to the upper edge of one of its oblong sides a
flat even-surfaced flap in length and width corresponding with the length and width
of my receptacle, the outer edge of this flap falls and rests on the surface of the
playing area, and thus the flap forms an incline or ascending plane at such side of my
receptacle.
I sometimes also form inclines at the end of my receptacle.
In lieu of placing upon the playing surface the complete receptacle before named I
sometimes form this on the surface with sides and ends of about the same height, and
with an incline or ascending plane the higher edge of which terminates at the upper
edge of one of the oblong sides of my receptacle, its lower edge resting on the surface
of the playing area.
It will be understood that a ball may be driven by a mallet along the playing
surface and by the incline or ascending plane into my receptacle.
I divide my receptacle, whether complete or formed on the surface, into three
compartments each of about equal dimensions. In the case of the receptacle I
provide for placing on the lawn-I, for reasons hereafter named, do this by movable
dividers. Ithus form within my receptacle three pools each accessible by the incline
or ascending plane at the side, the two ends also by the inclines (if any) at each end.
The centre one of these pools is my true pool, the two outer ones false pools. The
dividers of my complete receptacle are either in separate pieces suited for slipping
into the places prepared to receive them, or hung at the bottom or sides of my
receptacle ready for adjustment to their purpose.
I fix at the opposite end of, or at any suitable spot in my playing area, at a distance
from my pools, an object post with a cup at its top for containing indicators to
indicate the progress of the play. Balls and mallets corresponding. somewhat to
croquet balls and mallets are provided. In the case of those I provide I distinguish
the balls by colors or numbers and place on my post corresponding colors or
numbers.
The balls appropriated for play are then grouped, by preference in a triangular
form, touching one another, at about two mallets length from the object post in the
direction of the pools.
My game is thus prepared for play, and the play is commenced by one of the
players dispersing by a sharp stroke with a mallet the whole of the balls over the

page_text: playing area. The holder of the leading ball then proceeds to play his ball with the
object of hitting the post with it direct, or by the aid of hitting and taking two strokes
off any other playing ball, and having succeeded in this he proceeds in like manner
with the object of driving his ball into the "true pool "and each player in his turn
proceeds in the same way with the same object. In the event however of a player,
by accident himself driving, or by the play of an opponent having his ball driven,
into either of the "false pools" the ball remains in such pool until the turn to play of
that ball again comes round, when an opponent may place the false-pooled ball at any
point on the playing area he (the opponent) may select, and the player of the ball
inust, whether he has already done so or not, hit the post as before named before he
can proceed to the "true pool."
The game may be played each player for himself, or by equal opposing parties, in
either case the player may play to hit a partner's or an opponents ball with his ball,
and then drive it with what is known in croquet as a "loose croquet" to any part of
the playing area, or he may take his ball off the ball he hits to any part to which he
desires to go. The object of the players all through being to prevent their opponents
gaining the "true pool" whilst endeavouring themselves to gain it.
If only two or three players--the play is best when each holds two balls.
When I make my receptacle in complete form I so adjust the flap that it may be
utilized as a lid, and make my receptacle available as a case for my balls & mallets
when not in use, this being the reason for having my dividers loose or hinged as
named.
I make my complete receptacle first name of woven or worked wire suitably
framed and provide ornamental posts which serve also for pinning it down to the
lawn or otherwise fixing it with sufficient security in its place on the playing area.
I also provide a rail for fixing at the side opposite to that of my ascending plane-to
be used to prevent balls being driven over my pools.
I also make my receptacle of wood or of any suitable material or partially of wood
and partially of metal. When I make it of wood I bevel off the edge of my incline
so as to obtain a close line in my playing area.
Having described the nature of my invention I illustrate the same by drawings
attached hereto-I do not however confine myself to the precise proportions, forms or
angles given.
Fig. 1. is a plan of the receptacle prepared for play-A 1 is the "true pool"-
A 2 and A 3 are false pools-F, F the dividers in position by which the pools are
formed-B the incline or ascending plane at the side-C, C, inclines at each end
when used-E1, E1 are tubes for receiving the ornamental posts-D is the stop
rail.
Fig. 2. is a longitudinal section of the receptacle-A 1 is the "true pool "-
A 2 & A3 are "false pools"-F, F, the dividers forming the pools-E, E the
ornamental posts-D the stop rail-C, C, the inclines at the end when used.
Fig. 3. is a cross section-A being the pool-B the ascending plane-D the stop
rail E an ornamental post.
Figs. 4 and 5. are sections representing the bevelling of the wood at the edges
when made of that material for the reasons stated-F, F, the dividers forming the
pools are in metal.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8. represent the game as set out for play-Fig. 6, being the
receptacle divided into pools, and the ascending plane in position-Fig. 7, the object
post-Fig. 8, the balls grouped ready for the initial stroke.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
ion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
laim is
1st. The construction and placing on the surface of a lawn or playing area of a
eceptacle in complete form with flap so hung or attached as to form an incline or
scending plane by its outer edge resting on the playing surface, its summit or upper
dge forming an even line on the upper edge of the side to which it is attached or

page_text: hung and with or without inclines C, C, substantially as and for the purposes described
and more particularly shewn on sheet of drawings attached hereto.
2. The dividing into compartments or pools the before named receptacle substantially
as and for the purposes described and more particularly shewn on the sheet of drawings
attached hereto.
3. The formation or construction on a lawn or playing area of a receptacle formed
with sides and ends and with or without a floor and with an incline or inclines or
ascending plane or ascending planes substantially as and for the purposes described
and more particularly shewn on the sheet of drawings attached hereto.
4. The dividing into compartments or pools the receptacle substantially as and for
the purposes described and more particularly shown on the sheet of drawings attached
hereto.
5. The constructing of woven or worked wire of the complete receptacle forming
the pools and the incline or ascending plane substantially as and for the purposes
described.
6. The constructing of wood or of any suitable material of the receptacle forming
the pools and ascending plane with or without inclines C, C, substantially as and for
the purposes described and more particularly shewn on Fig. 4. on the sheet of drawings
attached hereto.
7. The holding in position of the pool receptacle by the ornamental posts
8. The fixing of a stop rail to prevent the balls passing over the pools.
9. The general combination of the parts forming the playing apparatus of my
improved game substantially as and for the purposes described.
10. The general arrangement of the parts on the playing area ready for play
substantially as and for the purposes described and more particularly shewn by
Figs. 6, 7 and 8.
11. The game and the method of playing it substantially as described.
12. The receptacle divided into pools with the incline or ascending plane for
access thereinto substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 3rd day of June 189.
J. CONYERS MORRELL.