Improvements in Lawn or Floor Billiards.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lawn or Floor Billiards.
JOHN DONKIN, F.R.I.B.A., Architect Kent House Marlborough Road
Bournemouth, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
:―
To improve the appliances and apparatus for extending the use of all games
usually classed under the names of billiards or bagatelle, in order to render them
adapted for out door conditions or of being played on the grass or lawn as well as as
on any level floor or table. The general method or principle adopted towards this
end may be briefly described, as enclosing a space somewhat after the proportion
of an ordinary billiard table (the particular size being optional) see drawing
No. 1 by means of marginal rods A. A. fitted with spring ends as shown, or other
elastic frames, and placed at such a distance apart as to admit of the spaces
between answering the purposes of pockets, B. B. These pockets being formed by
iron hoops shown more particularly on Fig. No. 2. and being provided with
hooks C. C. on each side to support the rods at the proper distance from the
ground The balls varying in size and material according to the size or other
conditions of the game required.
The striking is affected by means of a mallet which is used in a similar way to
the mace at bagatelle drawing No. 3. The head or mallet end being cylindrical
shape not unlike those in general use for the game of croquet, but being fitted with
runners of hard wood or metal & the mallet being slightly hollow on the underside
so that it may glide more easily over the surface of the grass or floor, and thus
equipped the head is further provided with a long handle D fixed obliquely to the
floor line or fitted with a hinged joint E at the junction so as to maintain a parallel
action with ground line at all points of the stroke. The essential novelty of this
mallet being that the direction can be sighted in a similar way to a billiard cue
and an exact aim obtained for any stroke the player desires to make.
Dated this 14th day of December 1893.
JOHN DONKIN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lawn or Floor Billiards.
JOHN DONKIN Kent House Marlborough Road Bournemouth Architect, 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 consists of a simple adaptation of the means and apparatus for
the games usually classed under the name of billiards or played on a billiard
table to the altered level and conditions of the lawn or any kind of level floor.
The surface of the table is formed by the grass or lawn or any other kind of
suitable level floor either in or out of doors. The cushion or enclosure is formed
of one or more strained cords made of galvanized iron wire or other elastic material
marked A on drawing No. 1 showing the general plan of the "table" aud this is
divided or separated by iron hoops corresponding in position and purpose to the
pockets of an ordinary billiard table so that the strokes known as hazzards can be.
D
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page_text: performed by the balls passing through them instead of dropping into an actual
pocket below the surface according to the general method. The balls employed
are about 3 ins. diameter the colours and numbers varying according to the
particular game it is desired to play according to the usual custom.
Each length of cord has a straining screw B attached to one end and finishes
with a loop at the other and these are laid out as shown by the general
diagram Fig. 1 in the form of an oblong square and (for convenience sake) so
that a screw and a loop fall to each corner respectively.
Pegs marked C are then used to secure them in the manner of a tent peg and
are driven into the ground at the points regulated by the length of the wires or
cords.
These lengths may vary according to the size of the game, which is in great
measure optional, although they govern it individually, while the angle pegs fix the
screws and the loop at the same time.
The hoops D Fig. 4 are provided with small brass or iron hooks marked E which
serve as guides for the wire to run in, and collars at the bottom F. F. to stop them
being driven into the ground farther than necessary. In the four hoops that form
the angle pockets the hooks are turned up and fixed at each side about 2 ins. from
the ground in a line with the hoop itself; but in the remaining two they are
reversed and brass pullies G. G. inserted to lessen the friction when straining the
wire over the top pulley.
Fig. 5 shows another method of carrying the wire over the middle hoops which
consists of a half tube or hollow iron with pullies or runners introduced at either
side under which the wire passes before rising over as before.
In setting up the game the four corner hoops may be placed in position first with
the cord resting in the hooks at each side as described. They are then brought
forward as indicated on the plau Fig. 1 until the slack of the wire is nearly
taken up and they stand equidistant from the angle pegs, when they are driven
into the ground up to the collar F referred to before.
The two middle pockets may then be placed in position with the wire running
under the lower pulley or hooks and over the top which will at once render it
fairly tight and also allow any ball to pass freely in or out the hoop.
To obtain the elastic properties of the cushion the straining process is now very
easily completed by turning the centre portion of the straining screws until
the requsite degree of tension is obtained-and the ball rebounds as from a rubber.
cushion.
The grass may be slightly flattened down where the pockets occur so as to offer
as little resistance as possible to an approaching ball.
The "table" is then completed by marking the baulk lines and spots in the
same relative position to those on the ordinary table.
The hoops for boarded or asphalte floors being made to fasten by screws pins or
other means to avoid the necessity for driving them in as first described.
cue.
The mallet Fig. 2 is fitted with polished runners, H, of hard wood or metal on
the underside which enable it to glide over the surface of the grass with the
slightest impulse from the handle I. The handle being held in the same way as a
billiard cue, is impelled backwards and forwards by a similar action of the arm but with
the body upright instead of in the stooping position usually assumed with the ordinary
The fork and spindle attachment (marked K Fig. 2) to the mallet enables it
to maintain a parallel motion with the ground at any period of the stroke & thus
answers in some way to the purpose of the usual "bridge." By the same means
the mallet can be reversed with perfect ease and admit of either end being used,
so that all ordinary, "side," or "following" strokes may be made with the round
end the players ball being struck either in the centre or above it as the case may
be, while the flattened end murked L Fig. 2 is used for making a screw shot
by the player striking his ball below the centre, the reversing action being
accomplished by a simple twist of the wrist. In this way the principle of both cue
66
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page_text: and mallet is combined a more accurate means of aiming and striking obtained than
with the ordinary croquet mallet, and most of the ordinary billiard strokes can be
performed without difficulty.
The mallet for boarded or asphalte floors is fitted with runners or rollers of
vulcanized rubber or other suitable material instead of the fixed sleigh runners used.
for the lawn so that all unnecessary friction or noise is thus avoided. The mallet
may also be shaped as in Fig. 3 out of one piece.
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 what I
claim is
1st. The contrivance by which the strained wire is made to serve the purpose of
a cushion and the hoops take the place of pockets.
2nd. The contrivance by which the mallet assumes the functions of a cue and
rest in one and by which an accurate means of aiming and striking is obtained for
either "side," "screw or following" shots in croquet, or lawn or floor
billiards.
"
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3rd. The combined arrangements of my first and second claim by which all the
games usually classed under the name of billiards can be successfully adapted and
applied to a lawn or level floor of any description.
Dated this 6th day of March 1894.
JOHN DONKIN.