OFFmproved apparatus for the laying
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 29th July, 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept.,
1898
WOW OFFmproved apparatus for the laying
I, DOUGLAS ANDERSON, of Middleboro' Road, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Art Student, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-_
This invention relates to certain table-games, and consists in new or improved
apparatus for playing the same.
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It consists essentially of a light easily operated portable spring of such
material strength and form, as, when actuated by the finger of one hand (being,
preferably, held or pressed firmly on the table with the other, and placed in
suitable position for the purpose), will push or propel a small sphere, or a disc,
towards any desired spot either on the table or in connection with any apparatus
used in conjunction therewith. This spring I term at present a robinet."
I make it preferably from sheet steel or of bent steel wire, and provide it with a
suitable handle, by means of which the spring is held, as before described, to
enable the player to make his shot. The end of the spring opposite to the
handle is that part upon which the player's finger rests when about to propel
the projectile, and by means of which the spring is drawn to any desired ten-.
sion. If made of wire, it would be preferably coiled near the handle, then,
after leaving the coil, the wire would be bent in the form of an arch, the centre
of which (on its convex side) being the part of the spring which comes in con-
tact with the projectile: The wire would then be continued to form the part
by which the spring is operated, as previously described. If made from sheet
steel there would be preferably no coil; the part from the handle to the arch
being straight and of sufficient length to give to the spring the necessarty
elasticity.
"
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robinet,"
One of the special apparatus used in conjunction with the spring or
is in a game resembling the well known game of " croquet," which I term
robinetta," or like name. The essentials of the game are, the robinet,"
hoops, and spheres (preferably marbles). The apparatus before referred to con-
sists in the hoop, whose base, consisting preferably of a rectangular piece of
tin," rises up from each end towards the centre, at a small angle, taking the
form of an inverted V. The hoop rises preferably from the ridge of the base.
The central hoop, the "cage," as it is called in "croquet," may be made on the
same principle, preferably having four inclined planes meeting in a square hori-
zontal plane, and also a double hoop.
<<
Another of the special apparatus used in conjunction with the aforementioned
spring, consists in a hollow truncated cone or pyramid, made of "tin" or other
suitable material, whose side makes a small angle 'with the base, such as will
allow of the sphere or disc used being easily driven up it by the "robinet." This
truncated cone or pyramid is perfectly flat on top, forming a plane surface
bounded by the diameter of the smaller circle of the cone, or upper edges of the
pyramid, as the case may be, onto which the spheres or discs are driven. I
term this cone or pyramid a glacis." In another form the glacis" is made
with a hole, in the place of the flat top, into which the projectiles are driven.
"

page_text: $6
66
وو
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In conjunction with this latter form I use a much smaller truncated cone or
pyramid whose side makes preferably the same angle as the " 'glacis,"
and whose base exactly fits into the top of the " glacis," its use being
to reduce the size of the hole, thus making it more difficult to play the
ball in. These two cones or pyramids (as the case may be) are made so as to fit
firmly the one in the other without leaving any projections on the outside. In
conjunction with both forms of "glacis," I use a hollow cylindrical or pris-
matical piece (preferably of the same material as the "glacis") having a certain
number of holes or openings at regular intervals right around it, which I
term "embrasures." These embrasures' may be made at irregular intervals,
if preferred, and may be in number, anything desirable from one upwards.
The diameter of this is about the same as that of the top of the "glacis" and
fits onto it, or about it, in such a manner as to maintain a vertical position, and
to allow of the projectiles used, when propelled up the "glacis" if. straight,
to pass through an embrasure" and fall into the central hole in the one form of
glacis," and pass onto the plane surface in the other form. The " embrasures
may be either permanently attached to the glacis or attachable thereto. Prefer-
ably there are six "embrasures" or apertures, each painted of a colour corre-
sponding with similarly coloured spheres or discs used in the game, the object
being for each player to get his projectile into the embrasure" coloured simi-
larly to those projectiles.
In the form of the glacis" with the flat top apertures might be made if
desired in the tin all around, either just inside or outside, the embrasures"
to represent a moat into which the projectiles would fall if not propelled with
sufficient force. The "embrasures" with the flat top form of "glacis" would
be guarded by a small pliable spring preferably made from watch spring steel,
which would be so attached to the "embrasure" that the projectile must press
it inwards before it can gain the central flat part or citadel, as it might be
called, and if it be driven with insufficient force, the projectile would strike
the spring and be either pushed right back again or be thrown into the moat,
if such be used; the spring would also prevent the projectile, having once
entered, from returning of its own accord.
"
"
As before stated, the "robinet" may be used without the conjunction of any
other apparatus except the projectile, as in a game of table-bowls.
I do not limit my self to the application of the
" robinet to the games herein
mentioned, as it can be used in most games where a ball is used, and in some in
which a disc is used.
Dated this 28th day of Santamber 1907
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Apparatus for the Playing of Table Games.
I, DOUGLAS ANDERSON, of Middleboro' Road, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Art Student, 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:―
This invention relates to certain table-games, and consists in new or improved
apparatus for playing the same. It consists essentially of a light easily operated
portable spring of such material, strength and form, as, when actuated by the
finger of one hand (being preferably held or pressed firmly on the table with
the other and placed in suitable position for the purpose) will push or propel
a small sphere or a disc, towards any desired spot either on the table or in

page_text: 66
connection with any apparatus used in conjunction therewith. This spring I
at present term a robinet." I make it preferably from sheet steel as shown
in plan and elevation in Figs. 6 and 7, or of bent steel wire, as shown in plan
and elevation, Figs. 8 and 9, and provide it with a suitable handle, as shown
at A, Fig. 6, 7, 8 and 9, by means of which the spring is held, as before described,
to enable the player to make his shot. The end of the spring, marked B,
Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, is that part upon which the player's finger rests when about
to propel the projectile and by means of which the spring is drawn to any
desired tension. If made from sheet steel, the form which prefer it to take
is shown in elevation at Fig. 6, the short straight piece C acting as a guide to
the player in making his stroke, as, if the centre of the arched part of the spring
be placed so as to just touch the projectile when the spring is at rest, and the
straight part C is placed exactly in the line of direction that it is desired that
the projectile shall take, then, if the spring be held and brought into tension
as previously described, and then released, the projectile will travel directly
in that line. If the spring is made of wire, the form that I prefer it to take
is shown in plan and elevation at Figs. 8 and 9, being coiled directly after leaving
the handle as shown.
robinet,"
One of the special apparatus used in conjunction with the spring or
is in a game resembling "lawn croquet," which I term robinetta," or like
name. The essentials of the game are, the " robinet," hoops and spheres (prefer-
ably marbles). The apparatus before referred to consists in the hoop, shown
at D Figs. 10, 11 and 12, whose base consisting preferably of a piece of tin
(preferably rectangular in shape) as shown at E, Figs. 10, 11, and 12, rises up
from each end towards the centre, at a small angle, taking the form of an in-
verted V. The hoop rises preferably from the ridge of the base. The central
hoop, or cage as it is called in croquet, may be made on the same principle,
preferably having four inclined planes meeting in a square horizontal plane, and
also a double hoop.
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وو
Another of the special apparatus used in connection with the afore mentioned
spring consists in a hollow truncated pryramid or cone, made of "tin" or other
suitable material, whose side makes a small angle with the base, such as 'will
allow of the sphere or disc used being easily driven up it by the " robinet." I
term this pyramid or cone a glacis.'
«
In one form the "glacis" may be made with a flat top which would thus
form a plane surface bounded by the upper edges of the pyramid, a smaller circle
of the cone, as the case may be, onto which the spheres, or discs are driven.
In another form I make the "glacis" with a central hole in the place of the
flat top into which the projectiles are driven. This is shown in a pyramidal
form in plan, Fig. 2, and elevation Fig. 1.
$6
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66
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"
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"
In conjunction with both forms of glacis" I use a hollow prismatical or
cylindrical piece having a certain number of openings at regular intervals
right around it which I term embrasures." If the embrasures are made
all in one piece they would be preferably made of the same material as the
'glacis"; the form, however, I prefer, is made of bent wire, in as many separate
pieces as there are single embrasures," which is the form shown in conjunction
with the "glacis" in Figs. 1 and 2, and in detail in Figs. Nos. 3, 4 and 5. Each
single embrasure preferably takes the form shown at Fig. 5, the extremities E
and F being turned into loops through which the next embrasure" passes
as shown in elevation and plan in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively, each thus being
hinged to the other, so that the whole may be folded up when not in use. These
"embrasures". may be made at irregular intervals if preferred, and may be, in
number, anything desired from one upwards. The diameter of this is about
the same as the top of the "glacis" and fits onto it or about it in such a manner
as to maintain a vertical position (as shown in Figs. 1 and 2) and to allow of
the projectiles used, when propelled up the "glacis," if straight, to pass through
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and fall into the central hole, in the one form of
embrasure
glacis,"
an'
"
"

page_text: and pass onto the plane surface, in the other form. The "embrasures" may be
either attachable to the "glacis," or permanently attached thereto.
In the pyramidal form of glacis, for convenience of packing, I make it in as
many pieces as the truncated pyramid has sides, or rather faces. I use the
wire form of "embrasures" with this form of "glacis," resting the shorter ends
of the faces of the glacis on the lower horizontal pieces of the embrasures
marked G Figs. 3 and 5. For this purpose the faces of glacis are made with
little projecting pieces at those ends, which are turned down to prevent the
faces slipping off the "embrasures" when in position.
In conjunction with that form of "glacis" with a hole in the top I use a much
smaller truncated pyramid or cone whose sides make preferably the same angle
as the "glacis," its use being to reduce the size of the hole, thus making it
more difficult to play the ball in. These two pyramids or cones, as the case may
be, are made so as to fit firmly the one into the other without leaving any pro-
jections on the outside.
66
a
In the form of glacis with the flat top, apertures may be cut, if desired, in
the tin" all around, either just inside or outside the "embrasures," to represent
a moat into which the projectiles would fall if not propelled with sufficient force.
The "
embrasures" with the flat top form of "glacis" would be guarded by
small pliable spring, preferably made from watch spring steel, which would be
so attached to the embrasure that the projectile must press it inwards before it
can gain the central flat part, or citadel," as it might be called, and if it be
driven with insufficient force, the projectile would strike the spring and be
either pushed right back again or be thrown into the moat, if such be used;
the spring would also prevent the projectile having once entered from returning
of its own accord.
"6
As before stated the "robinet," may be used without the conjunction of any
other apparatus except the projectile, as in a game of table-bowls.
The letters and figures mentioned in the foregoing description refer to the
sheet of drawings accompanying; which sheet is appended in order that my
invention may be clearly understood and easily applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
"
1. In table-games the construction and use of the spring herein termed
robinet," substantially as described and illustrated and for the purposes herein
specified.
66
"
2. The combination and use of the truncated pyramid or cone in conjunction
with what I have herein termed the embrasures substantially as described
and for the purpose specified.
3. The construction and use of the hoop with the inclined base, in the game.
herein termed "robinetta" or like game, substantially as described and illus-
trated.
4. The construction and use of the smaller truncated pyramid or cone in con-
junction with the larger, substantially as herein described and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 20th
1000