A New or Improved Ball Puzzle.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
A New or Improved Ball Puzzle.
I, JAMES ARCHIBALD, of West Church Street, Buckie, N.B. Solicitor, 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 a new or improved ball puzzle, and has for its object to
provide a puzzle of this description which will give considerable amusement.
This puzzle is intended to represent on a small scale the game of football the object
being to cause a sinall ball to run past various obstacles corresponding to the men and
divisions of a football field.
In carrying out my invention I propose to employ a box preferably of rectangular
form and with a glass cover. The bottom of this box is bevelled at the edges, the
central portion being raised some distance above the extreme edge so as to form a
channel extending around the box. The box is provided with a number of divisions
preferably consisting of small ribs or ridges on the bottom separating the box into a
number of parts in which balls are placed. These balls are intended to represent the
players in the game of football, being divided into "goal keeper" "backs,"
threequarter backs or "half backs," and "forwards."
The goal consists of small cavity or depression in front of which a ball repre-
senting the goal keeper is placed. These balls cannot move out of their respective
divisions and to prevent them falling into the channels at the sides ribs corresponding
to the ropes or boundary of a field are placed at the top of the box, sufficiently deep
to retain these balls. Besides these balls which always remain in their respective
divisions a smaller bali is employed which is free to travel to any part of the box and to
pass under the ridges placed at the top of the box. The object of the puzzle is to
cause the small ball to pass from one end of the box through all the divisions and
past all the other halls which obstruct its passage until it reaches the goal at the
other end.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the
complete puzzle, and Fig. 2 is a transverse section.
The base of the box Å is provided as shown clearly in Fig. 2 with the sloping or
bevelled edges a extending completely around the box excepting at the part serving
as a goal. The edges of the raised or central part of the base are preferably formed
with a small vertical ridge, excepting in front of the goal and at the other end
the sloping or bevelled portion starting a short distance below the level surface. The
base is provided with the divisions B three in number, preferably extending from the
centre at an angle to each side. These ridges which preferably extend only a short
distance from the base separate the latter into four divisions serving to receive the
balls C two of these being placed in the front division representing "forwards," three
in each of the two central divisions and three in the rear, one of the latter serving
as "goal-keeper." The two "backs" are each held in a corner by the small exten-
sions B' on the rear division B, and the ridges B2 placed in front of the goal D and
serving to retain the "goal-keeper." The goal consists of a small chamber or recess
at a lower level than the base and separated from the channel extending around the
sides of the box formed by the sloping edges. To prevent the balls C falling into
the side channels the ribs E are provided consisting of small metal strips preferably
bent down at each side and secured to the sides or bottom of the box. These strips
or ridges extend across the top of the box immediately under the glass, and are of
sufficient depth to prevent the balls C passing them keeping the balls in their
respective compartments.

page_text: The ball F of smaller diameter than the others represents the football, and is
capable of passing under the strips E so as to enter the chambers. The dividing
ridges B do not extend to the edge of the base a small space being allowed at their
extremities sufficiently large to permit of the ball F passing without falling into the
channel at the side if moved carefully. To increase the difficulty of the puzzle the
small ridges b are placed at the sides, and have to be passed by the ball F after it has
succeeded in reaching the ends of the main strips or divisions. The central ribs 6¹
and 62 are also provided behind the two front ribs B. On attempting to move the
small ball F past the divisions and from one compartment to another, the balls C also
move and roll into the corners so as to obstruct the passages. To get the small ball
past the various obstacles the box has to be tilted and shaken in such a manner that
the large balls are removed away from the passages the small one at the same time
passing them. As the ball F is free to drop into the side channels great care must be
exercised to prevent this, the game having to be recommenced when this occurs.
reaching the last division the ball has to pass through the narrow opening behind
which the "goal keeper" is placed just enough room being left for it to pass this
obstruction the goal being then reached unless the ball is allowed to drop into the
side channels which extend to the edge of the goal. As all the balls can roll freely
in their respective divisions considerable variety is given to the operation of the
puzzle.
On
In the ordinary game of football two teams of equal strength play against each
other and it will be seen that in this puzzle or game the player represents the
opposing team having as his opponents the eleven balls.
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) 'A new or improved ball puzzle consisting of a box divided into a number of
compartments, balls placed in the said compartments and held therein by the divisions,
channels at the sides of 'the box, and a small ball free to pass from one chamber
to the other, and' to reach the goal, substantially as 'described and for the purposes
specified.
(2) In an improved ball puzzle the combination with a box, a raised base in the
said box forming channels at the sides, and a chamber serving as a goal, of divisions
on the said base forming a number of compartments, ribs at the top and sides of the
box protecting the side channels, balls placed within the compartments and free to
roll within their respective divisions, and a small ball free to pass from one compart-
ment to the other and to reach the goal, substantially as and' for 'the purposes
specified.
(3) In a ball puzzle the combination with a' box side channels in the said box
formed by a raised bottom and a chamber serving as a goal of divisions on the said
base or bottom separating the box into four main compartments communicating at
each end side ribs or strips at the top of the box protecting the side channels, balls
placed in the compartments and free to move within their respective limits, and a
emall ball free to pass from one chamber to the other and to reach the goal substan-
tially as and for the purposes specified.
(4) In an improved ball puzzle the combination with the base A, sloping or
bevelled edges a, and chamber D serving as a goal, of. the main divisions B, B
and' B on the said base and 'the smaller divisions 6, 61; and 62; the balls C placed in
the compartments formed by the divisions the side strips or ridges E and the ball' F
free to pass from one compartment to the other; substantially as described and shown,
and for the purposes 'specified.
Dated this 17th' do 1000
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.