A New or Improved Game or Pastime and Apparatus in connection therewith.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Game or Pastime and Apparatus in connection
therewith.
I, JAMES HENRY POWERS, of 9, Torrington Square, London, W.C., Actor, 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:
My invention relates to a new or improved skilled game or pastime, and which
I intend shall be known by the name of roller polo-hockey.
My invention consists of the use of a suitable and preferably oblong enclosure
in which is provided sufficient area for the exploitation of the game, and having
at either end a specially constructed goal, into one or the other of which one or
the other of the opposing parties of players must get their ball to gain a point.
The game consists of ten players (which are divided into two sets of five each to
constitute the opposing forces) and a referee whose decision upon any point in
the game shall be final. Each of the said players is mounted upon a pair of
roller skates, and provided with a striker after the form of a hockey-stick, or
a driver as used in the game of golf. A suitable ball is provided similar to a
hockey-ball, and each party of players tries to get the said ball into their oppon-
ents goal and the party that scores the largest number of goals in a given or
predetermined space of time are the winners of the game.
In order to make my invention fully understood reference is hereinafter made
to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, of which,
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a plan view of a supposed enclosure, in which the players,
the ball, referee, goal-keepers, and goals are shewn in position ready for play.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the said enclosure as I prefer to construct it.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 Sheet 2 are front elevation, and back and side perspective
elevations respectively of my improved goal.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide a suitable enclosure A which
may conveniently be formed of palings B, and if not of sufficient height may have
mounted thereon a tightly drawn netting B', to prevent the ball from leaving
the said enclosure during play.
At the ends of the said enclosure, and centrally of its width or thereabouts
I provide and fix goals C C¹ of approximately semi-circular formation in plan
having a flat vertical front also of approximately semicircular formation the
whole being constructed of metallic rods connected by, and rivetted or otherwise
secured to, vertical tie rods c so as to provide the formation described and shewn,
the spaces between the said rods b being occupied or covered by a netting d,
so as to prevent the escape of the ball. Each of the said goals is provided with
an opening or door f through which the ball must pass in playing, to claim a
goal or point, and within the said goal and immediately facing the said door
is loosely suspended a curtain of netting g, this being to brake the force of the
ball and arrest its progress, and prevent it from rupture by otherwise colliding
with the metallic frame b c of the goal.
The game consists of 10 players, each mounted upon a pair of roller skates,

page_text: and who divide themselves into two contesting parties D and E of five each, each
party being dressed differently, and to play the game four players of each party
form themselves into two parallel lines, as shewn in Fig. 1, while the fifth member
of each party is told off as goal-keeper, and takes his place in front of the goal
belonging to his party, as indicated by D¹ and E' in Figs. 1.
The ball F may be an ordinary hockey ball, or a like ball made of preferably
rubber composition, and this would be placed on the ground or floor centrally
between the two rows of players D and E, while the referee G would take a posi-
tion midway between the level of the players, and close up to the fence B, as
shewn in Fig. 1, who starts the game by blowing a whistle, when one of the
players upon each party (to be called the centre rushers) shewn by D2 and 2
would rush forward to the ball F, each striving to get the first blow at the ball,
and drive it into or towards the opponents goal, and immediately after the ball
has been struck by either of the centre rushers the whole of the players then take
part in endeavouring to get the ball into their opponents goal, and in which
the goal keepers D¹ and El take part when the ball comes near their goal. Each
time the ball is driven into either goal one point is scored to the party so driving
it in, and the party who gets the greatest number of goals in a predetermined
time, say forty minutes, would be declared the winner."
Each time the ball F is goaled the umpire takes it out and places it in the
same spot as it was in when the game commenced, and as shewn in Fig. 1, the
game being proceeded with by the blowing of the umpires whistle as before
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
1st. The use and application of the herein described game and the rules
governing the said game, to be known as "roller polo hockey," and the goals 'and
goal curtain and appliances constituting the same, substantially as set forth and
shewn.
J.
2nd. In an improved game or pastime to be known as roller polo.hockey, the
combination of an enclosed area A, having goals C and C₁, the players being
mounted upon roller skates and using hockey or like sticks, for driving a ball
such as F, into the said goal, substantially as herein described and shewn..
3rd. The construction, use, and application of goals such as C C¹, for outdoor
games such as roller polo hockey and the like, such goals consisting of metallic
frames 6 connected by braces c and covered internally with netting d, the front
of the said goal having an opening of faced by a netted curtain g substantially as
herein described and shewn.
· 101
T
0 C
1000
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street, Buildings, Liverpool Street, London; E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.