A NEW APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A NEW GAME
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Francis Walker, Esquire, of 29, Prince's Gate,
S.W., London, in the County of Middlesex, Barrister at Law, for an
Invention of "A NEW APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A NEW GAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Francis Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1880.
PHILIP FRANCIS WALKER, Esquire, of 29, Prince's Gate, S. W., London, in the
County of Middlesex, Barrister at Law. "A NEW APPARATUS FOR PLAYING
A NEW GAME."
My Invention relates to means and apparatus for playing a new game, which
may be played on any flat surface, and the apparatus consists of a fencing for
enclosing an oblong rectangular space or court in which the game is played. The
said fencing apparatus is composed of a certain number of portions of fencing of a
convenient height & of the required length to enclose a space of the requisite
dimensions for the court, and each of the said portions of fencing is composed of
wooden planks or other suitable fencing of suitable proportions; and each of the
said portions of fencing when in position is supported on the outside by supports
made of wood, iron, or other suitable material. There is also affixed to each
portion of fencing metal clinches, similar to those at present in use for the purpose
of securing the leaves of ordinary dining tables, but of a lighter description. The.
said court is composed of a number of the said portions of fencing connected
together by the said clinches and by rods in such a manner that an oblong
rectangular plane area is enclosed within them. The sides of this area or court
are composed of continuous fencing connected together as aforesaid without
intervals, and the ends of the said court are composed of two of the said portions
of fencing connected together by rods made of iron or other suitable material, and
allowing openings of the required dimensions at each of the four corners of the
court, and also in the centre of each of the ends of the court. Upon the said rods
and over the said openings nets are stretched in such a manner as to prevent the
ball from passing outside the court. A transverse line upon the surface of the
said court equidistant between the two sets of openings divides the area of the
court into two equal parts, in each of which one player or set of players takes
position. The game is played with an india rubber ball and with mallets similar
to those used in playing the well known game of croquet. The object of each
player is, according to the rules and regulations laid down for playing the game,
to drive the ball through the openings situated at the end of the court opposite to
that in which the player is standing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Philip Francis Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
November 1880.
PHILIP FRANCIS WALKER, Esquire, of 29, Prince's Gate, S.W., London, in the
County of Middlesex, Barrister at Law. "A NEW APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A
NEW GAME."
My Invention relates to means and apparatus for playing a new game, which
may be played on any flat surface, and the apparatus consists of a fencing for
enclosing an oblong rectangular space or court in which the game is played. The
said: fencing apparatus is composed of a certain number of portions of fencing of a
convenient height and of the required length. to enclose a space of the requisite
dimensions for the court, and each of the said portions of fencing is composed of
wooden planks or other suitable fencing of suitable proportions, and each of the
said portions of fencing when in position is supported on the outside by supports
made of wood, iron, or other suitable material. There is also affixed to each
portion of fencing metal clinches similar to those at present in use for the purpose
of securing the leaves of ordinary dining tables, but of a larger description. The
said court is composed of a number of the said portions of fencing connected
together by the said clinches and by rods in such a manner that an oblong
rectangular plane area is enclosed within them. The sides of the area or court are
composed of continuous fencing connected together as aforesaid without intervals,
and the ends of the said court are composed of two of the said portions of fencing
connected together by rods made of iron or other suitable material, and allowing
openings of the required dimensions at each of the four corners of the court, and
and also in the centre of each of the ends of the court. Upon the said rods and
over the said openings nets are stretched in such a manner as to prevent the ball
from passing outside the court. A transverse line upon the surface of the said
court equidistant between the two sets of openings divides the area of the court
into two equal parts, in each of which one player or set of players takes position.
The game is played with an india rubber ball and with mallets similar to those
used in playing the well known game of croquet. The object of each player is,
according to the rules and regulations laid down for playing the game, to drive
the ball through the openings situated at the end of the court opposite to that in
which the player is standing.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus as it appears when erected for use.
a, a, is a
fencing made in sections of light wooden plank. Each section may conveniently
be six feet long and one foot high, and should have two supports a¹ a¹ connected

page_text: The upper iron 6 of the pair is straight, except at the ends, where it is bent to
enter the sockets, and its length is such as to allow the ends of the two sections of
fencing which it connects to be at a distance apart of about 24 inches! The said
top irons which go at the corners also have their ends twisted to admit of the iron
standing obliquely, as it is represented in Figure 1, whilst the ends enter fairly
into the squared sockets. The bottom irons c are similar, but the central portion
is bowed nearly to a semi-circular form, and also is bent downwards immediately
above the socket, so as to leave no space for the ball to pass beneath it.
The top and bottom irons forming a pair are connected by a net d forming a
pocket. This net hanging loosely serves to arrest the ball when it passes out
between the sections of the fencing.
The line e in Figure 1 represents a chalk line drawn upon the grass or other
surface upon which the game is played; the spots f, f, also indicate chalk
marks.
The game is played with mallets similar to croquet mallets. One of these is
represented at Figure .4; four mallets are required to the set. A solid india rubber
ball about three inches in diameter is also required.
In playing the game the players take opposite sides, and each remain in their
own portion of the enclosure. The ball having been started from one of the spots f
the opposite player endeavours to strike it whilst it is in motion and drive it into
one of the nets at the other or his opponent's end of the enclosure. This the player
on the other side endeavours to prevent by again striking the ball; in this the
game consists.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim, my new apparatus
for playing a new game, substantially as described and illustrated by the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Francis Walker, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
PHIL. F. WALKER. (L.S.)