A Toy or Game Representing Football Players.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Toy or Game Representing Football Players.
I, CHARLES EDWARD HARRISON 3 Cavendish Road, Dudley Road Birmingham
Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide and produce a toy and game representing
the action of out door football which can be arranged either as a simple toy or as a
game of skill, judgement and amusement for the table or indoors.
On a plate or level piece of wood, cardboard or metal, I fix certain jointed
figures representing football players some I joint at the shoulders and the others at
the legs.
The plate or level piece of wood, cardboard or metal which I intend to represent
a field or football ground I will hereinafter call the stand and the jointed figures I
will hereinafter call the players.
The jointed legs of the players I continue through the stand,. allowing them to
work in narrow slots or grooves, and to the lower end of the leg continuations I
attach elastic rubber or other springs which have a tendency to keep the jointed
leg of the player against one end of the slot or groove in which it travels.
I also attach a cord or wire pull to the lower end of the jointed leg of the player
is such a position that by it the spring is brought into action and the lower end of
the jointed leg drawn along the slot or groove. At a proper distance for ny
purpose along the slot or groove I form a trigger catch or similar contrivance so
that when the lower end of the jointed leg of the player is drawn along the slot or
groove by means of the cord or wire pull the trigger catch engages with the leg
continuation and is thereby held until the trigger catch is worked and the leg
continuation released which is suddenly drawn to the other end of the slot or groove.
giving the jointed leg of the player the action of a kick.
The player whose arms are jointed I so arrange that an elastic rubber, or other
spring shall raise the arms at the shoulders when the cord or wire pull is drawn
that works the jointed leg of the other players. About the centre of the stand, by
means of a loose cord 1 attach a light ball, made of cork or other suitable substance,
the cord having sufficient slack to allow to ball to overhang the sides and ends of
the stand and past all the players.
At the extremity of the stand I have the usual goal posts, of course of pro-
portionate size in height and distance to the players.
The action of the toy is in placing the ball against the jointed leg of the player,
when the jointed leg is at rest against the end of the slot or groove, then the cord
or wire pull is drawn until the trigger catch engages with the lower end of the
jointed leg of the player and is so held away from the ball until the trigger catch
is acted on when the leg being released goes smartly against the ball and drives it
either in the direction of the goal or in any other direction, according to the
position in which the ball has been placed, and the exact point at which the ball
receives the blow.
The loose cord attached to the ball allows the ball to play in all directions
without being lost or shot away.
I use any number of players, from two only for a simple toy, to the usual number
of an outdoor football match, and by dividing the stand into certain squares or
spaces, by means of painted or otherwise marked lines, in each of which I place a
player, I arrange a game of indoor or table football each player to be jointed and
moved as herein described and subject to certain rules and condition of play..
1

page_text: I claim as new the formation of a toy representing football players, jointed and
worked as roughly set forth herein.
Secondly, the arrangement of the players having jointed parts and worked as
described, to form a table or indoor game of skill, judgement, and amusement.
Dated this 19th day of December 1891.
CHARLES EDWARD HARRISON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Toy or Game Representing Football Players.
I CHARLES EDWARD HARRISON of 3 Cavendish Road, in the City of
Birmingham Manager of Works 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 pertains to a mechanical toy, to be employed or used as a game of
skill or chance.
The game of skill or chance to be employed by my mechanical toy, is that of
football.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, represents partly in side elevation, and
partly in vertical section, a mechanical toy, representative of the game of football,
which may be either a game of chance or skill.
A kicking player is shown in the act of lifting a leg, for the impelling of the
football, which is attached to the end of a confining cord or string, so as to prevent
the same being impelled further than is desirable, or beyond the boundary of the
field.
The goal-keeper player is shown mounted upon a pivot centre, connected with a
spring, or an elastic band, so that if necessary, the goal-keeper may be made to
come forward, if the same be first turned backwards and then released, at the same
time the ball is impelled by the toe of the kicking player.
It will be understood that the mechanical parts of the apparatus are shown in
Figure 1, in the positions which they assume when active.
Figure 2 represents an underside plan of the plane or board constituting the
field or area of play, and shows the whole of the mechanical parts employed in
connection with the said game, where a single kicking figure only is employed,
but it is understood that any number of such figures may be included in a game.
Figure 3 represents a like view as Figure 2, but with the mechanical parts,
employed in the positions they assume after the releasing of them, and subsequent
to the impelling of the ball by the kicking player.
Figure 4 represents the lower part of one of the legs of the goal post, and
the socket of it.
Figure 5 represents the hooked attachment extending from the swivelling foot
of the goal-keeper.
a is an elevated platform, with plane top a², representative of the field of
operations. b is a loose football, connected to the outer end of a confining string or
cord 2, attached to the field at 1³. c is an erect kicking figure or player with a
stationary leg and body part c², and a jointed leg c³.
The stationary leg is affixed or attachedly connected to the plane a², by a
depending blade c, directed from the underside of the foot of the said stationary
leg, and affixed in position by the end of a fixing wire d, attached on the under-
side a', of the plane a, taking into a depression, in the edge of the said blade,
adjacent to the underside plane a', hence the affixing.
The movable or kicking leg c³, moves about the pivot &, as a centre of motion,
with the toe describing the arc of a circle, whilst directed downwardly from the
underside heel of the foot, is a kicking arm, with a hooked and looped lower
end c³, c³, coming below the underside plane a¹, of the field.

page_text: e is a pulling cord, attached at its inner end to the loop c, of the arm c, and with
its outer end having a button e², to pull with.
fis an elastic spring cord, connected at one end to the kicking arm c², and at
the other end to a staple a³, fixed within the middle of the underside of the field
plane.
g is a trigger lever catch, made from a length of spring wire, and connected at
its inner end g³, to the underside of the field plane, and with the other end formed
into a catch shoulder g³ and arm g, passing through a slot a, in the rest side of the
field plane, and with the extreme end formed into a loop go.
When the kicking player's leg is pulled back by the string e, into the position as
in Figures 1 and 2, by the inner or shoulder side co, of the limb or kicking arm c',
snapping at the back of the spring or resilient catch y³, the said kicking leg is held
in a state of tension, which, on the said catch being suddenly withdrawn, or pulled
in the position as indicated by the arrow, the leg is drawn home, by the contraction
of the rubber band or spring, and as the football is within the path of motion of the
toe, of the foot of the said leg, an impulsion is thereby imparted to the said ball, by
the sudden striking of the same by the toe.
The goalkeeper, situated between the uprights of the goal post i, is
pivotedly connected by one leg to the field plane, by the hooked end, directed
downwardly from a foot h², whilst the said figure is kept in a front face position
by an elastic *, connected to the hook h³, and a fixed connection, respectively.
The goalkeeper figure h, admits of rotating about the stem of the hook h³, as a
centre, and if the same is first twisted and then released, it returns to its normal
position.
Instead of a single kicking player, I may employ a number, constituting two
teams, with the goal-keepers, and further 1 may make the goal-keeper or keepers
move their hands, to be operated independently of the kicker or kickers legs, or to
be made to work in unison with them.
•
Assuming the parts to be in the positions as represented in Figure 3, the pulling
of the corde, draws the kicking arm c, rearwardly along a narrow slot a³, cut
within and through the surface of the field plane, and the said arm in its back
traverse, impinging against the spring 9, presses the same back, and is then caught
by the should g, of it, hence the holding.
By now placing the ball b, at a position near the inner end of the piercing, and
within the path made by the toe of the kicking leg, by suddenly releasing the
kicking leg, by pulling back the trigger or spring lever g, the ball is struck and
driven in the direction of the goal, with sufficient slack in the cord, to allow the
said ball to pass through it, if properly directed, which is the game.
It will be understood that the kicking can be directed in various directions, and
if necessary the stationary leg of the kicker may turn upon a pivot, and with the
kicking arm working within a broad cut-out piercing.
The playing figures may be permanently connected if desired to the field plane,
by any suitable means.
The football may be made of skin covered cork, wood, or any other light
substance.
Instead of the impelling force being given to the hinged or jointed leg of the
player by the pulling action of a spring, the same result may be attained by the
expanding of a spring, and further, the catch arrangements for holding the leg
back, when the same is under the influence of an extended or a compressed spring,
may be accomplished by other means.
Further, the releasing arrangement may, if desired, be varied to suit the holding
means.
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 :-
First In
—In a mechanical toy, or a mechanical appliance for the playing of a game

page_text: of chance or skill, representing football players, consisting of a figure or figures,
arranged upon a field plane, and adapted to impel or kick a football, connected to
one end of a slack cord or string.
Secondly-In a mechanical toy or game, consisting of a football figure or
figures, having jointed or impelling limbs, which, by mechanical means, are
operated, and a ball placed within the path of their motion, impelled in a direction
or directions desired, as set forth.
Thirdly In a mechanical toy or game, consisting of a football kicking figure or
figures, affixedly connected to the field plane by one leg, whilst the other leg, which
is jointed, carries an arm, having connected with it a spring, also a pulling cord,
and on the said arm being pulled backwards by the said cord, the kicking leg is
retained in its acting position, by being caught by a catch, or trigger catch as set
forth.
Fourthly In a mechanical toy or game, the improvements in the construction
and arrangements of the figures; the field plane; the drawing, holding, releasing
and propelling mechanism, and the whole of the accessory parts, as described and
set forth.
ALL COIS [ZED (14V AT SABLON NAY 1897
CHARLES EDWARD HARRISON,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.