An Improved Puzzle Game.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Puzzle Game.
I, JOHN ALEXANDER MACMEIKAN, of 2, Short Street, Finsbury Pavement, London,
Engineer, 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 :-
My invention consists in forming a puzzle game somewhat after the style of a
Bagatelle Board in general appearance.
The board or bottom of my Puzzle Game is so arranged that when the whole
contrivance is placed upon a flat or horizontal table the said board or bottom forms
a sloping plane, down which the balls travel by their own weight towards a series of
cup-shaped sinkings arranged similarly to those of a bagatelle board.
I propose to place a number io mark each such sinkings in the board which are
arranged to receive and hold the balls with which my game is played.
Any numerals may be arranged in connection with such cup-shaped sinkings, or
letters, words, colors, or other signs may be the distinctive features marking each
recess or sinking, and if 1 desire I may mark my balls with similar letters, words,
colors, or signs, and in this case the puzzle will be to place the balls so marked in
their own respective recesses or sinkings. By these means I am able to make my
puzzle game an advertising medium.
At the top end of my board opposite to the cup-shaped sinkings, I form two oblique
upright partitions in such a manner as that two openings are left for the egress and
ingress of the balls, to a triangular-shaped compartment at this top end, and between
this triangular compartment and the series of cup-shaped sinkings I fix into the board
a number of upright pins to serve as means for altering the course of the balls as
they travel downwards, and thereby greater- uncertainty is caused as to where the
balls may arrive.
I intend to form my improved puzzle game of a size to be easily carried in the
pocket, and the board afore described will be enclosed all round by sides and a glass
top fixed to same, and the top end portion will have a deep leg or flap underneath to
be the means of maintaining the board in a sloping position. A number of balls will
be placed within the puzzle equal to the number of sinkings formed in the board.
My puzzle game works as follows:-
I hold up the whole contrivance in such a way that the balls are all collected
together within the triangular compartment at the top ond; I then place the whole
puzzle game upon a table. The balls will now run out of the triangular compartment
by the opening left for them and travel along down the board knocking against the
upright pins as they go until they reach the bottom, where the cup-shaped sinkings
are arranged.
Some balls will go into these sinkings and some will pass by. The numbers are
now added up of the balls occupying the sinkings and the process of playing the
game repeated, as the balls are easily shaken out of their recesses to be gathered
together again in the top compartment. The player scoring the highest points is the
winner.
In order that my improvements may be the more fully understood I will now
proceed to describe the figures on the sheet of drawings hereunto annexed, the like
parts of which are marked with the like letters of reference throughout.
Figure 1 is a plan looking down upon my improved puzzle game.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken through my improved puzzle game.
Figure 3 is a portion of my improved puzzle game to a large scale shewing the
lower end of the board with the cup-shaped sinkings and letters to form advertisements
in connection therewith

page_text: In figure 1 the circles numbered respectively from one to nine indicate the cup-
shaped sinkings, and A shews the triagular compartment formed by the oblique
partitions B and B'. The position of the numerous pins are indicated by the
fetters C. C. The balls aro indicated by the letters D.
In figure 2 F is the glass top and G the longer leg or flap to maintain board sloping
when placed on flat table.
In figure 3 I have shewn how advertisements may be placed in connection with the
cup-shaped sinkings. I may also place advertisements upon the glass cover of my
puzzle game by means of a sand blast or other similar process, or I may place
advertisements around the sides of my improved game.
I propose to form my game (except the glass top and balls) of either stiff paper or
thin metal stamped out to the required shape and sizo.
As my improvements are capable of some modifications without departing from the
principle thereof, I do not restrict myself to dimensions, materials, or the precise
shape of my improved puzzle game. And, again, I do not restrict myself to placing
the cup-shaped sinkings in the exact position shewn upon the drawings as I may
1 think well place these sinkings in other varied places upon my board either amongst
or entirely free from the vertical pins or obstructions.
if
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. An improved puzzle game having a sloping bottom, vertical sides and ends, and
a glass top, together with a number of balls and cup-shaped sinkings to receive the
same, and a number of vertical pins or similar obstructions to add to the uncertainty
of the gaine all as bereinbefore substantially set forth in this Specification and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. Improved Game of Chanco as before described and illustrated by accompanying
drawings.