A New or Improved Racket or Palm for a New Game of Ball.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th Apr. 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Racket or Palm for a New Game of Ball.
I, EMMA BARKER, of 41 Gwendwr Road, West Kensington, in the County of
London, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "A NEW OR
IMPROVED RACKET OR PALM FOR A NEW GAME OF BALL" to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new form of racket or palm designed to be used in
playing a new game of ball which I have originated.
My racket or palm is formed of a flat piece of hard material such as of wood,
walnut wood answers the purpose well, of such shape as to be held in the palm of
the hand, the fingers grasping the sides thereof, and for this purpose I prefer to
shape it of rather greater length than breadth, with the corners well rounded,
and the sides curved inwards towards the centre. The two sides may be alike in
shape or preferably the outline of one side may be more curved or rounding than
the other side, so as to give it a somewhat one-sided appearance, but which shape
is well suited to be grasped by the hand.
In use, my said racket or palm is held in the right hand, lying in or on the palm
thereof, and grasped between the upper joints of the thumb and fingers, and is used
in that position, for striking the ball.
Dated the 12th day of August 1890.
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Racket or Palm for a New Game of Ball.
I, EMMA BARKER, of 41 Gwendwr Road, West Kensington, in the County of
London, Inventor, 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 form of racket or palm designed to be used in
playing a new game of ball which I have originated of which the rules for
playing and counting are identical with those of Lawn Tennis, with the following
exceptions:-
(a.) The Service must be delivered underhand (i.e.) all the hand must be
below the elbow), and the Service Ball struck at a point beyond the far end
of the table.
(b) A ball which, before it bounds, hits the person or racquet of the striker
out, provided he is not leaning over the table or does not touch the ball with his
racquet in an attempt to take it, counts against the striker.
(c.) Back-handed strokes or service not allowed.
The net is placed in the middle of the table, which forms the Court.
The Service Courts are formed by a piece of tape coming down the centre of the
table, with cross lines running parallel to and at a distance of eighteen inches from
the net.
The tapes are fixed by drawing pins under the table.
My racket or palm is formed of a flat piece of hard material, such as of wood,
walnut-wood or beech answers the purpose well, of such shape as to be held in the
palm of the hand, the fingers grasping the sides thereof, and for this purpose
I prefer to shape it of rather greater length than breadth, with the corners well
rounded and the sides curved inwards towards the centre.
In use, my said racket or palm is held in the right hand, lying in or on the palm

page_text: thereof, and grasped between the upper joints of the thumb and fingers, and is used
in that position for striking the ball.
The back edges may conveniently be rounded and I attach a strap obliquely
across the racket under which the hand may be passed.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings
Fig. 1, represents a front view of one of my said palms or rackets.
Fig. 2, a side view and
Fig. 3, a back view shewing the manner in which it is held in the hand.
A is the body of the palm or racket; b, b, are curves, or hollows, in the outline
thereof, which serve to facilitate the grasping of it by the fingers, C is a strap
which serves to prevent the racket slipping out of the hand when in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
1 claim is:
(1) The manufacture of a palm or racket for playing a certain new indoors game
of ball substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
(2) The use, in playing a certain new game of ball of a palm, or racket, formed
and used substantially as described and shown.
Dated the 10th day of April 1890.
EMMA BARKER.