A New or Improved Game and Game Apparatus applicable for use on Garden Lawns.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 31st May, 1893-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Game and Game Apparatus applicable for use
on Garden Lawns.
1, MARTIN MIDDLETON WILSON of Eithinog, Abbey Road, Llandudno in the
County of Carnarvon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a game and game apparatus applicable for use on:
garden lawns and it is played with a narrow bat, a small india-rubber ball, a
hoop or ring fixed upon a post. The blade of the bat is preferably oval, while
the handle may be round. The ball is preferably of india-rubber, of any suitable
colour and may be made hollow in the centre to make it rather soft and elastic.
A very suitable size for the ring is from ten to thirty inches internal diameter,
and may be painted or otherwise. coloured. It is mounted on a post at such a
height that the distance from the ground to the top of the ring shall be from
three to twelve feet. The post is fixed in the ground, and at a suitable distance
from one face of the ring, the position of the player is marked by a line or by
other suitable means. Opposite the other face of the ring and at a suitable
distance therefrom, the position of the feeder is marked; the position of the fag
or fags may also be marked on the ground. A line is drawn half way between
Another
the player's stand and the ring, which I propose to call the baulk line.
parallel line is drawn at three feet behind the feeder's stand.
On this line, behind the feeder's stand, is formed a court, (square by preference).
The lines may be formed by laths or cords or by other means if it be found
inconvenient to mark the ground.
The game can be played by two, three or more persons or even by a larger
number, by special arrangement. If only two persons play, they are called the
player and feeder and a third and fourth may act as fags. It is well to engage
an independent umpire who may act as marker."
The mode of playing the game and the proposed rules may be as follows, but
these may be modified in various ways:—
When two play, as the player goes out the feeder goes in, when three play,
the player becomes fag, the fag becomes feeder and the feeder goes in; when
four play there are two fags, one standing to the right, and the other to the
left of the court ontside or in any other convenient position where they are not
likely to obstruct good balls.
As the player goes out, the right hand fag goes in, the player becomes left
hand fag, the left hand fag becomes feeder and the feeder becomes right hand
fag, thus one of each side will play alternately.
The player throws the ball into the air, (thus feeds to himself) and strikes
it with the bat. If he miss he is out, or if he strike with any part of his
band or arm instead of the bat, or if he fail to drive the ball beyond the
baulk line he is out, if he drive the ball so that it lodges or comes to rest
in the court he scores one. If the player, when he is feeding to himself
wishes to make "ringo," which counts twenty, he must call out ringo before
making the stroke and try to strike the ball through the ring, right off the
bat. The feeder must stand behind at his position until the ball is struck or
missed and must not attempt to hinder it from passing through the ring, but
If "
if it pass through he may catch it, in which case the player is out.
ringo
be made it counts in any case even if the player be caught out; if the ring be
After the
missed the player scores nothing even if the ball lodge in the court.
player has once fed to himself, the next ball shall be fed to him by the feeder
and so on alternately. The ball is preferably thrown with an underhand throw.
17

page_text: If the ball be lodged in the court it counts three as against one when the player
has fed to himself. If the ball be driven back through the ring, right off the
bat, it is ringall," which counts twenty-five, whether the ball be caught or
not, but if the ball be not caught the player claims the set, and a new set or
minor game may be commenced. If, however, ringall be made before all the
parties have had each an equal number of innings, the game may be played
until each has had an equal number, and if none of the others can make ringall,
the one who has so made it may claim the set, but if another should succeed in
making ringall it may count 25 to each and the game shall if necessary proceed.
The player who has made ringall may go on playing until he is out, and score
all he can, except when there are no others to follow, in order to complete an
cquality of innings. Ringo must be played for, ringall may be the result of a
chance stroke. The player cannot be caught out except in making ringo or
ringall and then only by the feeder.
The proposed stroke values are as follows:-
A self-fed court lodged ball may count one,
A feeder fed court lodged ball may count three,
Ringo caught or uncaught may count twenty,
Ringall, caught or uncaught, may count twenty-five,
Ringall uncaught probably wins the set.
Instead of using only one ring, ten or even more may be used placed in any
convenient relative positions.
When two rings are used, one is called the feeder's ring, through which he
shall feed the ball; and the other is called the player's ring, through which he
shall play the ball in making the strokes herein called "ringo" and "ringall."
The purpose of the separate ring for the player is that a signalling apparatus
may be attached to it, which apparatus may be placed inside or outside (or both
inside and outside) of the said ring, and may consist of a bell or bells; a flap
or flaps; or wires; or magnetic attachments; or other suitable appliances.
The purpose of this signalling apparatus is to ascertain whether or not the
ball has passed through the ring in those cases in which the unaided vision
might leave the matter in doubt.
If one ring only be used, a signalling apparatus may be attached to it; prefer-
ably on the outside.
Dated this 30th day of August. 1892
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Game and Game Apparatus applicable for use
on Garden Lawns.
I, MARTIN MIDDLETON WILSON of "Eithinog," Abbey Road, Llandudno in
the County of Carnarvon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a game and game apparatus, and has been designed
with the object of forming a game applicable for use on garden lawns.
It is played with a narrow bat, a small india-rubber ball, and a post or other
support having one or more hoops or rings mounted thereon.
The invention will be best understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a front view of a simple form of the ring or hoop, represented as
mounted on the top of a post';
17

page_text: Figure 2, an edge view of the same.
Figure 3 is a side view. of the bat ;
Figure 4, a transverse section of the blade of the same at line 3ª in Figure 3.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 illustrate forms of the hoop
provided with a signalling apparatus or annunciator.
Figures 17 and 18 are diagrams showing the court and stations.
A, is the player's bat and B the hoop or ring, which may be fixed upon a post C
or be supported in some other manner. I do not confine myself to a merely circular
form of hoop, as a triangle, square, hexagon and many other figures will answer the
purpose. The blade of the bat is preferably oval, while the handle may be round.
The ball is preferably of indiarubber, of any suitable colour, and may be made
hollow in the centre to make it rather soft and elastic.
A very suitable size for the
ring is from ten to thirty inches internal diameter, and it may be painted or other-
wise coloured. The post or other support on which it is mounted may be adjustable
in height, and the ring he detachable from the post. A good material for the ring
is angle iron, as this affords the greatest amount of visibility and certainty as to
how the ball has passed.
65
Another
The post C is fixed in the ground at or near the point D (see diagram Figure 17
also Figure 18) and at a suitable distance from one face of the ring B, the position
of the player is marked by a line E, or by other suitable means. Opposite the
other face of the ring B and at a suitable distance therefrom, the position or
stand F of the feeder" is marked; the position of the "fag" or fags may also
be marked on the ground. A line G is drawn about half way between the player's
stand and the position D of the ring, which I call the baulk line.
line H, parallel with line G, is drawn at about three feet behind the feeder's stand.
On this line H is formed a court I (square by preference). The lines may be
formed by laths or cords held down in place by staples driven in the ground, or. by
other means, if it be found inconvenient to mark directly on the ground. A wicket
or net may be placed behind the player, if desired. The game can be played by
two, three or four persons, or even by a larger number, by special arrangement.
If only two persons play, they are called the player and feeder, and a third and
fourth may act as fags. It is well to engage an independent umpire who may act
as marker.
The mode of playing the game may be as follows, though this mode of playing it
may be modified in various ways:
When two play, as the player E goes out, the feeder goes in; when three
play, the player becomes fag, the fag becomes feeder, and the feeder goes in ;
when four play, there are two fags, one standing to the right and the other to the
left of the court I, outside, or in any other convenient position where they are not
likely to obstruct good balls. As the player goes out, the fag towards his right
hand goes in, the player becomes left hand fag, the left hand fag becomes
feeder, and the feeder becomes right hand fag; that is, when each person is
playing singly for himself. If sides or partnerships be formed, the innings are so
arranged that the player shall always have an opponent as feeder. The player at E
throws the ball into the air (thus feeds to himself) and strikes it with the bat A.
If he miss, he is out; or, if he strike with any part of his hand or arm instead
of the bat, or if he fail to drive the ball beyond the baulk line, he is out; if
he drive the ball so that it lodges or cornes to rest in the court I, he scores
ringo,"
If the player, when he is feeding to himself, wishes to make "
which counts, say, twenty, he calls out ring" before making the stroke and
The feeder
tries to strike the ball through the ring B, right off the bat A.
stands behind at his position E until the ball is struck or missed and does not
attempt to hinder it from passing through the ring B, but, if it pass through,
he may catch it, in which case the player is out. If "ringo" be made, it counts in
any case, even if the player be caught out; if the ring be missed, the player scores
nothing, even if the ball lodge in the court I. After the player has once "fed" to
himself, the next ball shall be fed to him by the feeder through the ring B, and
one.

page_text: If
so on alternately. The ball is preferably thrown with an underhand throw.
the ball be lodged in the court, it counts, say, five, as against one when the player
has fed to himself. If the ball be driven back through the ring B, right off the
bat A, it is "ringall," which counts, say, twenty-five, whether the ball be caught
or not, but, if the ball be not caught, the player claims the game, and a new
game may be commenced. If, however, "ringall" be made before all the parties
have had each an equal number of innings, the game may be played until each has
had an equal number, and, if none of the others can make "ringall,” (uncaught)
the one who has so made it may claim the game, but, if another should succeed in
so making "ringall," it may count 25 to each and the game shall, if necessary,
proceed. The "game" may consist, say, of 50 marks. The player who has made
ringall" may go on playing until he is out and score all he can, except when
there are no others to follow, in order to complete an equality of innings.
Ringo must be played for, "ringall" may be the result of a chance stroke.
The player cannot be caught out except in making "ringo" or ringall, and
then only by the feeder.
.86
"
::
Instead of using only one ring or hoop, two, or even more, may be used, placed
in any convenient relative positions. When two rings are used, arranged as shown
in Figure 5, one is called the feeder's ring, through which he feeds the ball; aud
the other is called the player's ring, through which he plays the ball in making the
strokes herein called "ringo " and "ringall." The purpose of the separate ring for
the player is that a signalling apparatus or annunciator may be attached to it,
which apparatus may be placed inside or outside (or both inside and outside) of the
said ring, and may consist of a bell or bells; à flap or flaps; wires; magnetic
attachments; or other suitable appliances. An annunciator of this kind is shown
in front elevation in Figure 5, and in detail in Figures 6, 7 and 8. In these
figures, a series of wires or slender rods are suspended or arranged about the
interior of the hoop, ring or frame in such a position that some of them will cross
the path of the bail in its passage through the hoop. jare the series of wires, each
wire being forked at the top, and looped by a separate loop on cach prong of the
fork on to staples K, driven into a strip or small bar of wood attached loosely or
fixedly to the top of the rim of the player's hoop B'. This forking of the wires j
will stop the side sway in a breeze. In conjunction with these suspended wires,
slender rods may be provided in relatively broad bases J standing on the bottom
rim of the hoop B' which hold the rods erect. It will be seen that the suspended
wires do not reach quite half way down, and the slender rods in lead bases not
quite half way up, but without sufficient space between the points of the wires j
and rods to allow a ball to pass without knocking one or more of the wires or
rods. The best form for the bottom rim of hoop B is that of a groove (Figure 8)
the front flange of which is higher than the back, so that the lead bases are shielded
from being struck by the ball, and are not liable to topple off if shaken. It will be
obvious that the wires or rods may be of any suitable length; the wires ; could, for
example, be arranged to alternate with the rods, and each to reach completely to
the top or bottom of the hoop B respectively (Figure 9). By this arrangement of
annunciator, the ball, in its passage through the hoop, is certain to displace one or
more of the rods or to set in motion the suspended wires j. The rods may be
chained by chains L to prevent them falling on to the ground.
It will be obvious that the wires j may be suspended in any suitable manner, the
means of suspending them described above being, however, an arrangement which
I have found will work very well in actual practice. It will also be seen that
suspended wires j, reaching to nearly the bottom of the hoop, may be used alone,
the upright slender rods in weighted bases being, in that case, dispensed with
altogether.
f.
:
In another arrangement, the suspended wires are dispensed with, and the light
slender rods or strips only are used, each provided with a broad base of lead, or
other heavy material which will support the strip in an erect position in the
aperture, but allow it to be knocked over if struck by a ball passing through the

page_text: hoop. These strips are placed so near each other as to prevent the ball from
passing without overturning one or more of them, whereby they serve as an
annunciator to prove that the ball has passed through the aperture embraced by
the frame. Another way of giving the strips stability is by constructing their
bases as indicated in the section, Figure 10, that is, the base J of the strip is.
somewhat conical or convex on its underside and rests in a channel or slot in the
lower bar of the hoop. There may be more than one strip on a single weighted
base, as seen in Figure 11. Many modifications of the idea will occur to any one ;.
but an essential characteristic of the annunciator is the light strip or wire j¹, with
a broad weighted base J, to afford the proper stability.
In Figures 12 and 13, the former of which is a fragmentary section of the metal
hoop B, there is a series of magnets J, each of which carries a slender strip j, and
these latter project radially towards the centre of the hoop, so that the ball cannot
pass through the hoop without disturbing some one or more of them and thus
announcing the fact of its passage.
Figure 14 is a fragmentary section of another form of the annunciator, in which
the hoop B is of wood or the like, and the magnets J are set in the hoop with their
poles directed inward. Each stripj has fixed to it an armature k which is held up.
to the magnet in the usual way.
Figure 15 shows a square metal hoop with the stripsj attached each to a magnet,
as in Figure 13.
Figure 16 shows a square frame or hoop with the magnets, armatures and strips
constructed as in Figure 14. In this view, some of the magnets are above and
some below, but all may be either above or below, or at the sides.
I have called the part indicated by B a hoop, but the term "hoop" as here used
is not intended to limit to any particular shape.
It will be seen that the visual annunciators I have described will be silent but.
indisputable witnesses of the passage of the ball through the hoop, so that there
will be no danger of any doubt or dispute arising during the progress of the
game.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
fi
1. A game apparatus comprising a court, a baulk line, marks to indicate the
positions of the player" and "feeder," a bat, a ball, and a support carrying one
or more hoops or rings of suitable shape, substantially as set forth.
2. A game apparatus comprising a ball, and a supported ring or hoop to pass the
ball through, said ring or hoop having connected with it a signalling device or
annunciator to mark the passage of the ball through the hoop in playing, sub-
stantially as described.
3. A game apparatus comprising a ball, a hoop to pass the ball through, and an
annunciator to mark the passage of the ball through the hoop, said annunciator
comprising a set of flat, heavy bases J, resting loosely on the lower bar of the
hoop, and slender strips or wires fixed in or to the bases J, and extending into
the space within the frame through which the ball must pass, substantially as
described.
4. In a game apparatus, a frame or hoop, and an annunciator to mark the passage
of the ball through said hoop, this annunciator comprising a set of wires suspended
from the top of the hoop, and used either alone or in conjunction with a set of
slender rods supported in an erect position from the bottom thereof, these
suspended wires (and slender rods when used) being so arranged that some of them
will cross the path of the ball in its passage through the hoop, and be disturbed or
displaced by the impact of the ball, substantially as described.
5. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a hoop or hoops, of a signalling
device or annunciator to mark the passage of the ball through the hoop, comprising
a series of magnets arranged along the interior of the hoop and holding slender

page_text: strips or wires j, which extend into the space within the hoop in the path of the
ball, substantially as set forth.
6. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a hoop or hoops, of a signalling
device or annunciator, comprising a series of magnets set in or against the inner
face of the hoop either detachably or undetachably, the armatures of said magnets,
and slender strips or wires, each secured to an armature and projecting into the
space within the hoop in a manner to prevent the passage of the ball through the
hoop without its striking one of said strips, substantially as set forth.
7. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a supported circular hoop, of a
signalling device or annunciator in the hoop to announce or mark the passage of the
ball therethrough, said device comprising a series of magnets fixed in the hoop with
their poles facing inward, the armatures of said magnets, and strips attached one to
each armature and projecting inward radially toward the centre of the hoop, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Dated this 29th day of May 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.