A New or Improved Puzzle.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Puzzle.
We JOHN ALFRED MAYGOWEN of 50 Fitzroy Street Ashton under Lyne in the
County of Lancaster and ARTHUR MOORS of 13 Taunton Road Ashton under Lyne
in the County of Lancaster, Brewers Travellers do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists of a toy which we call the Switchback puzzle and which is
constructed in the following manner. A series of undulations or inclined planes
radiate from a central flat plane and terminate at the circumference in an undulating
curve (similar to the curve of a Switchback railway) with a wall at the circumference
inclosing the whole. In the centre of these undulations or inclined radial planes is a
small flat plane as aforesaid surrounded by a wall in which are openings situated on
the same level and in a line from centre to circumference with the summit of each
undulation or inclined plane. A transparent top or cover is placed over the whole
resting on the walls in the centre and at circumference. Underneath this cover and
inside is placed one or more balls of any suitable material.
The puzzle is to get the ball or balls out of the lower planes at the circumference
and up and through the openings in the central wall on to the top of the central flat
space sufficient room being allowed over the summit of each undulation for the balls
to pass underneath the transparent lid or cover.
Dated this 7th day of September 1889
JOHN A. MAYGOWEN.
ARTHUR MOORS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Puzzle.
We JOHN ALFRED MAYGOWEN of 50 Fitzroy Street Ashton-under-Lyne Lan-
cashire Brewer's Traveller and ARTHUR MOORS of 13 Taunton Road, also of Ashton-
under-Lyne Brewer's Traveller, 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 and accompanying drawings:-
Our said Invention relates to a new or improved puzzle in which the task is set, of
so manipulating the puzzle as to bring a ball or balls from a circumferential undu-
lating field into a central flat enclosure formed by a surrounding wall in which there
is or are a gap or gaps to allow the balls to enter. In manufacturing the puzzle we
preferably take a circular piece of thin sheet metal and stamp or press it in suitably
shaped moulds which give the proper contour to the article. We then place the
requisite number of balls in the puzzle and cover the whole with a transparent cover
for example of glass which should come sufficiently near to the central wall to prevent
the balls from entering the enclosure otherwise than through the gap or gaps.
To render our invention more clear, we will now proceed more particularly to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings. In the
said drawings Fig. 1 is a cross section of the article constituting the puzzle, the
section being taken at the line A B in the plan view Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a similar cross
section at the line C D on the plan view Fig. 3. Although we do not confine our-
selves to any special material or mode of manufacture we at present find it convenient
to form our puzzle from thin sheet metal stamped or pressed into shape. The illus-
trations show the puzzle so inanufactured. It will be observed that the article consists
of a circular dished saucer a the bottom being so formed as to constitute a circum-
ferential undulating curve which we term a "switchback curve from its resemblance
D
"

page_text: to the curves of the switchback railway. In the drawings, four such undulations
appear but more or less than four may be formed.
The summits or ridges of the curves extend radially from the central circular
wall c which encloses a flat portion d in the centre of the puzzle. These ridges b
extend from gaps or openings e in the wall c to the outer circumference of the puzzle
and lie level with the flat central enclosed portion d. It will be observed that the
section Fig. 1 being taken at the line A. B. Fig. 3 follows the dip of the hollow parts
of the undulations while the section Fig. 2 taken at the line . D Fig. 3 follows the
straight line of the ridges.
Loose balls of such a size as to pass easily through the gaps e are placed in the
puzzle and are boxed in by a transparent cover g of glass or other transparent material,
the said cover g being secured by a clip which runs all round the circumference.
The glass cover is sufficiently close to the top of the wall c to prevent the balls from
getting between the glass and the top of the wall. The object of the puzzle is that
the manipulator should induce the balls f, to enter the central enclosure d. Owing to
the undulating form of the bottom of the saucer a it is extremely difficult to get the
balls through the gaps or openings e and the result can only be obtained by the
exercise of considerable patience and ingenuity. The number of bal s might be either
greater or less than three and we might also vary the number and nature of the
undulations and of the gaps in the central enclosing wall. Furthermore instead of
manufacturing the article constituting the puzzle by stamping or pressing it from
thin sheet metal as described and shown, the same might be made of eartherware or
any other suitable material or compound.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
(1). The new or improved puzzle substantially as described and shown.
(2). A puzzle consisting of a case having an undulating bottom and a central
enclosed space, the enclosing wall having gaps or openings, in combination with loose
balls, the whole being covered in by a transparent cover substantially as described
and shown.
Dated this 29th day of October 1880
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.