Means and Appliances Connected with a Game of Lawn Bagatelle.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Means and Appliances Connected with a Game of Lawn Bagatelle.
1, ANNIE ELIZABETH CHARLOTTE MAY, of Parwick Hall, Ashbourne, in the
County of Derby, Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates mainly to the formation or construction of semi egg shape,
or semispherical shaped cups for being sunk into the ground, such as a Lawn, to
form pockets for the reception of balls bowled up to them for constituting or enabling
game of Bagatelle to be played in the open air.
the
The cups have preferably flanges to rest upon the ground surrounding the holes
and for preventing the cups being pushed too far into the ground; the cups may be
of perforated metal, or other material, or a hole may be formed in the bottom of each
to permit of water draining through.
The cups may be of various colours and marked according to the required scoring
of the game and to prevent the balls being bowled, passing beyond a fixed range,
surround the back part of the Lawn, where the holes are made in the ground and
the cups are placed, with a seni-circular net which can be temporarilly fixed in
position.
I have referred to the balls as being bowled up but they may be pushed by sticks
or bats either from the surface of the ground or from a slightly elevated frame.
Dated this 7th day of December 1888.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said A. E. C. May.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means and Appliances Connected with a Game of Lawn Bagatelle.
I ANNIE ELIZABETH CHARLOTTE MAY, of Parwick Hall, Ashbourne, in the county'
of Derby, Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates mainly to the formation or construction of semi-egg shape, or
semi-spherical shaped cups for being sunk into the ground, such as a Lawn, to form
pockets; for the reception of balls bowled up to them, or struck by a mallet towards
them, for constituting or enabling the game of bagatelle to be played in the
open air.
-
The cups have preferably flanges to rest upon the ground surrounding the holes,
for preventing the cups being pushed too far into the ground, and if desired the
flanges may have holes for the insertion of spikes, which are also forced into the
ground to fix the cups in position. The cups may be of perforated metal, (galvanized)
or other material, and a hole may be formed in the bottom of each to permit of
water draining through, and other holes in the flanges for the insertion of spikes to
fix the cups.
The cups may be of various colours, and marked according to the required scoring
of the game, and to prevent the balls, bowled, or struck, passing beyond a fixed
range, I surround the back part of the lawn, where the holes are made in the ground,
and the cups are placed, with a semi circular net or screen which can be temporarilly
fixed in position, as also side screens if desired.
I have referred to the balls as being bowled or driven up by mallets, but they may
be pushed by sticks or bats, either from the surface of the ground, or from an elevated
position

page_text: .
My invention will be understood by the annexed drawings, where at Figure 1,
I show a cup A, having a flange B, for the purpose previously described. C, is a hole
in the semi-sphere for the drainage of water..
Figure 2 represents a similar cup with a neck D, which gives an additional fixing
to the cup in the ground; said neck D, having the hole through it for drainage.
If these cups are fixed permanently in a Lawn, 1 provide lids, E, of flat or other
form, (Figure 5) which not only cover the cups, but also the flanges, to prevent the
entrance of dirt from rain splashes or other causes.
The holes made on the ground for the game of Lawn Bagatelle, are arranged in
the ordinary manner as Table Bagatelle, as indicated at Figure 4; and to prevent the
balls, of which I show three on the ground, being bowled beyond a given range, I
place a screen F of segmental or other form behind the bowling ground, and in
some cases down the sides also, to the full length of the court said screen or screens
being preferably of canvas, and provided with eyelet holes around its lower edge at
given distances apart, for the reception of hooks, G, at or about the middle part of
rods, H, one of which is seen, at Figure 5, and other eyelets at its upper edge, for
.the passage
of screw bolts, I, which serve to keep the screen upright, the lower part, J,
of the rods H, being driven into the ground to give rigidity.
The two ends of the canvas screen F, are spring looped or wired at F", and through
the spring loops or wires other rods L, (see Figure 6,) are passed, for insertion into
the ground like the rods J.
Each of these rods L have a reduced end for the lodgment of the spring loop or
wire F, and a top piece or peg F¹, holds it firmly when in position; the screen being
thus kept in tension.
The screen placed as before described, takes the place of, and is acted upon in the
same manner as the cushion of a bagatelle board.
The game of Lawn Bagatelle as above described, has been designed to meet the
need, widely felt, of an outdoor game for a number of players, which does not require
so large a space as the game of Tennis; and in many gardens a long strip of ground
can be found which could be utilized for the purpose of this game, and considering
the healthy character of the game, the cups would be no great objection in many
small gardens for which such a game is eminently suited. The game of Lawn
Bagatelle affords scope for very considerable skill without involving great exertion.;
it may be played by both sexes, and will be interesting to lookers on.
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
1. The cups A for insertion in the ground, and the screen F, as appliances arranged
substantially in the manner described, for enabling the game of Lawn Bagatelle, to he
played as set forth.
2. The construction or arrangement of the screen ends, and loops, and springs, in
combination with the pegs F1, and rods L, as and for the purposes set forth.
T
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said Annie Elizabeth Charlotte May.