Year: 1897

page_text: I, THOMAS BENJAMIN STRINGER, 12, Iliffe Street, Newington Butts, London, S.E.,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
A game to be played on the same principle as skittles by means of a board to
make it convenient for parlour use.
Referring to the annexed drawings,
Figure 1. is a plan view.
Figure 2. sectional elevation.
Figure 3. section of skittle.
Figure 4, section of ball.
Figure 5. longitudinal section of gun.
The board A which forms the base is covered with felt or bajze 2 and rounded
off at the top end and square at the bottom, with an edging B screwed round it
to prevent the ball 4 and skittles 3 from falling off when struck. The skittles 3
are stood up on the discs C provided at the top end so that they shall be in the
same position for each player. At the bottom end is provided a base plate M
fixed by means of four screws E to which is fastened by means of a pivot screw S
a moveable tube or barrel O containing a spring L and connecting pin J having
a driving plug H on one end, and a knob K for compressing the spring L on the
other end. At the top end of the barrel on the outside diameter are two guide
pieces I for guiding the ball 4. On the left hand side of the barrel O is fastened
a handle so that the player can adjust the barrel O containing the ball 4 to the
best position for firing. The whole moving on top of the base plate M in a radius
large enough to allow the ball 4 when fired from either of the extreme points to
miss the skittles 3 at their most extreme points on each side of the board A.
Dated this 11th day of October 1807
I, THOMAS BENJAMIN STRINGER, 12, Iliffe Street, Newington Butts, London, S.E.,
Engineer, 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:-
A game to be played on the same principle as skittles by means of a board to
make it convenient for parlour use.
The board which forms the base is covered
with felt or baize and rounded off at the top end and square at the bottom with

page_text: an edging screwed round it to prevent the ball and skittles from falling off when
struck. The skittles are stood up on a mark or disc provided at the top end so
that they shall be in the same position for each player. At the bottom end is
provided a base plate fixed by means of four screws to which is fastened by means
of a pivot screw a movable tube or barrel containing a spring and connecting pin
having a driving plug on one end and a knob for compressing the spring on the
other end. At the top end of the barrel on the outside diameter are two guide
pieces for guiding the ball. On the left hand side of the barrel is fastened a
handle so that the player can adjust the barrel containing the ball to the required
position for firing, the whole moving on top of the base plate in a radius large
enough to allow the ball when fired from either of the extreme points, to miss the
skittles at their most extreme points on each side of the board.
Referring to the annexed drawings,
Figure 1. is a plan view of my improved skittle game.
Figure 2, section to enlarged scale through line xy.
Figure 3, side elevation of Figure 1.
is the board which has the sides or edges of sufficient height, and also the
guard movably attached thereto when required by means of the socket pieces or
clips e. The board is marked as shown at and these marks may cousist of small
plates or the like let into the board or they may be small indentations and upon
these plates the skittles are placed as shewn in Figure 3. The ball is
propelled by means of the spring gun or the like. This gun consists of a barrel f
in which the piston or plunger slides, being carried by the rod i which is in
turn connected to the knob j, y being the spring. The guides & are for the purpose
of enabling the ball to be held in the proper position for being propulled by the
plunger or piston h. The barrel is connected to the handle m, the whole being
pivotally secured at o (Fig. 2) to a plate a which is in turn secured to the board
by which means the angle or direction of the gun with regard to the skittles may
be varied. When playing, the gun is set in the required position and maintained
therein by means of the handle m, the knob is withdrawn, and when released
the action of the spring will cause the plunger or piston h to strike the ball and
so propel it against the skittles. The skittles or the positions where they are
placed may be given a distinctive mark or number in order that the various
players may score the number of points they make at each shot.
The surface of the board a may be covered with any suitable material, and if
desired a surface of indiarubber or other such suitable material may be placed
on that part of the board from which the ball is fired.
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
I claim is:-
1. A now or improved parlour skittle game, substantially as described and illus-
trated herein.
2. A parlour skittle game consisting of a board, having a suitable surface pro-
vided with a rim or edge and auxiliary guard, said board carrying the required
number of skittles placed in suitable positions thereon; a spring gun pivotally
attached to said board in order that its angle or direction may be varied, said gun
having guide pieces for maintaining the ball in its firing position, and also a
handle by which the gun may be retained in the required position when firing,
substantially as described and illustrated herein.
Dated this 19th day at th 1908