Improvements in Game Boards.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Game Boards.
I, AMBROSE CHARLES GLOSTER WILLIAMS-FOOTE, of Honeycombe House,
Gunnislake, Cornwall, Station Tavistock, England, Gentleman, do hereby declare
and in
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAME BOARDS,"
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 parlor game to be played by means of the apparatus
shown in the drawing, and it consists essentially of a stand or case provided with a
flexible diaphragm, marked off on its upper surface in a novel way, and in the
centre of said diaphragm is placed a playing piece which by a quick rap of the
finger or thumb on the under side of the diaphragm is flipped upwards and lands in
a position in the diagram marked off on the flexible diaphragm.
The invention consists further in certain novel combinations and arrangements of
parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and finally embodied in the
clauses of the claim.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view of the game-board or case provided with a flexible
diaphragm on which is marked off a novel form of diagram; and Figure 2 is a
vertical section of the same.
Figure 3 is a part plan of the under side of the game-board provided with
an opening and a pivoted cover for the reception of the playing pieces when not
in use.
Figures 4 and 5 are two sets of playing pieces intended for use in connection
with the game.
The views illustrate the two sides of the playing pieces.
Like letters of reference are used to designate corresponding parts in the several
views.
Referring to the drawings, A designates the game-board, which consists
essentially of a flexible diaphragm a, of any suitable material, stretched across
the annular edge of the supporting frame b, provided with any suitable
number of legs 2, which may be made to fold beneath the frame when the game
board is not in use.
In order to retain the diaphragm in its stretched position upon the frame b, a
ring c is employed which is forced down over the edge of the diaphragm so that the
latter is firmly held between the edge 3 of the frame and the lower part c' of the
ring.
Said ring may be provided with any suitable number of rods a¹ screwed into
the side of said ring, said rods projecting downwardly and into and through the
screw-heads a in the side of the supporting frame, being provided on their pro-
jecting ends with thumb nuts a³. By this means the skin or diaphragm a can be
tightly stretched over the frame b, in the manner of a skin on a banjo, when in use,
and when not in use, said nuts a can be partially unscrewed to relieve the pressure
upon the diaphragm, as will be evident.
The frame, as will be seen from Figure 2, may be provided with the inwardly
projecting sides, which, near the centre of the device project upwardly and forin
an annular ring, extending to very near the inner surface of the diaphragm. The
frame b is preferably made from sheet metal and may be provided with an opening b
for the storing of the playing pieces f when not in use.
The cover which is made from spring metal, is pivoted by means of a pin b
above this opening and said cover can be made to slide over the opening, being
held in its normal position by a raised portion or projection in the side, by

page_text: pressure exerted by the cover against said projection, as will be seen from Figures 2
and 3, or said cover may be provided with a recess on its under side to be engaged
by said projection.
The upper surface of the game-board or diaphragm a is provided with a suitable
diagram, the arrangement of which is substantially as follows:-
In the centre of the diagram, is the starting place, which is of the proper size
and is bounded by a border or ring e.
Between the outer edge of the diagram and said border or ring e is arranged a
second border or ring e. By this arrangement the diagram is divided into the
three spaces e³, e³ and e.
The space is provided with any desirable number of counting spots e, of
any color and with the smaller spots e, of one color, and with a black spot e'.
The playing pieces f, may be variously colored or they may be different pieces
of metal, such as copper, brass, etc., to distinguish one player's pieces from another
piece.
One side of the playing pieces is left perfectly plain and the other side has a
star or other suitable design thereon, the purpose of which will be described
further on.
The game can be played by two or more players in the following manner :-
Suppose there are two players. Each player provides himself with the same
number of playing pieces of the same color, so that one player's pieces can be
distinguished from the pieces of the other player. The first player may play all
his pieces in succession and after making his score, he removes his pieces, when the
next player begins in the same manner, and the player making the highest score
is declared the winner; or the players can alternate, in which case all the pieces
are left on the diagram until all have played their pieces.
For simplification in the following description, I will let the first player play all
his pieces.
One of the playing pieces fis placed in the centre field e² the player then inserts.
his or her hand into the open space 10 formed by the annular ring & beneath the
diaphragm, and by striking the thumb or fore finger against the under side of the
diaphragm, the piece on the field e' is caused to jump up through the air and fall
upon some other part of the diaphragm.
When the playing piece falls into the field e it does not count, but if it falls into
the field, not covering any one of the spots therein, with the star side up,
it scores five points; should the plain side be presented however, it counts
nothing.
When the piece f rests upon one of the spots e with the plain side presented, ten
is counted, and when on one of the spots e with the star up, the player scores
twenty. Should his playing piece rest upon one of the smaller spaces or spots ehe
scores twenty five with the plain side up and fifty with the star side presented.
On the black spot the same scores are made, but they count in favor of the
opponent.
When there are more than two players such scores count in favor of all the
players.
In this manner a very interesting game is the result and the player can play all
his pieces, scoring the result in the end.
Owing to the vibration of the diaphragm in playing one piece, other pieces
already played will often assume other positions either to an advantage or the
disadvantage of some one of the players.
When the players play alternately, one piece covered by the opponent, counts
only for the latter in the same manner, as if the first piece had not been played,
but should two of such pieces be disengaged by the vibration of the diaphragm,
both count.
My improvement provides a simple game, which will afford great amusement and
provides à pleasant diversion to the players.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a game apparatus, the hereindescribed playing pieces, in combination, with
the game board, consisting of a supporting frame, and a flexible diaphragm thereon,
a diagram on said diaphragm, comprising therein the three fields and e', and
counting spots in said field e, for the purposes set forth.
2. In a game apparatus, the hereindescribed playing pieces, in combination, with
the game board, consisting of a supporting frame, and a flexible diaphragm thereon,
a diagram on said diaphragm, comprising therein the three fields e, e and e,
counting spots in said field e, and a ring e, and means connecting said ring with the
supporting frame, for stretching the diaphragm, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
3. In a game apparatus, the hereindescribed playing pieces, in combination, with
the game board, consisting of supporting frame, and a flexible diaphragm thereon,
a diagram on said diaphragm, comprising therein three fields es, es and e¹, counting
spots and and a black spot ein said field e, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
4. In a game apparatus, the hereindescribed playing pieces, in combination, with
a game board, consisting of a supporting frame, and a flexible diaphragm thereon,
a diagram on said diaphragm, comprising therein three fields e², e³ and e, counting
spots and e and a black spot e in said field e, a ring and means connecting
said ring with the supporting frame, for stretching the diaphragm, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
5. The hereindescribed game apparatus, consisting of a supporting frame b and
a diaphragm a, said frame having inwardly projecting sides and a central
opening for the insertion of the hand, for the purposes set forth.
6. The hereindescribed game apparatus, consisting of a supporting frame b and
a diaphragm a, said frame having inwardly projecting sides, and a central
opening for the insertion of the hand, a ring e, and means.connecting said ring with
the supporting frame, for stretching the diaphragm, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
7. The hereindescribed game apparatus, consisting of a supporting frame b, and
a diaphragm a, said frame having inwardly projecting sides, and a central
opening for the insertion of the hand, a ring c and an opening in said sides
provided with a cover, as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this Twenty-second day of April 1892.
AMBROSE CHARLES GLOSTER WILLIAMS-FOOTE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.