An improved Game, and Apparatus for riaying the same.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
An improved Game, and Apparatus for riaying the same.
I, WILLIAM ARTHUR SHAW of 1 Hounds Gate in the Borough of Nottingham,
Wholesale Clothier do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
foHows:-
This invention relates to an improved outdoor game and to apparatus for playing
the said game.
The apparatus is comprised principally of a target formed preferably with a
central opening, and an implement or apparatus which may be used both to shoot or
sling a ball at the target and also to catch the ball when it passes through or
rebounds from the target.
The target which may be circular and be provided with a central opening or
aperture of the same form, is mounted at a suitable height on an adjustable arm
extending from a vertical pillar or support which may be fixed in the ground.
This pillar for convenience may be formed in sections connected together by
suitable joints.
The implement for shooting and catching the ball is preferably formed with a
handle of a suitable length, to which is connected a flexible spring provided at its
end with a cup to receive the ball. The latter is ejected from the cup by pulling
back the spring to any desired extent by means of a suitable knob or handle
connected thereto, and suddenly releasing it again.
The spring may be adjustable in order that it may be regulated to suit the player,
but the impetus given to the ball is mainly dependent on the will of the player,
who may pull back the spring more or less according to the distance he wishes the
ball to travel.
The handle of the implement is also formed with preferably two branches or
extensions, and at the end of each branch is a cup or receptacle in which to catch
the ball. The cups or receptacles may be connected to the branches by universal
or adjustable joints so that each may be adjusted in the best position for catching
the ball.
The game is played by two players who take up their position at equidistant
points on each side of the target, each player then alternately shoots the ball at
the target, the object of the one who shoots being to shoot it through the opening
therein, while the object of the opponent is to catch the ball after it has passed
the target.
The one who shoots may score by hitting the target with the ball and catching it
on rebounding therefrom, or shooting it through the opening therein, while the
opponent will score by catching the ball on the other side of the target.
Two or more pairs may if desired play simultaneously by increasing the number
of targets on the pillar and arranging them at an angle to each other, the ground
may also be marked out into courts or boundaries in order to limit the distance the
ball may be throwu.
I do not confine myself to the particular form of implement described for
shooting and catching the ball, as it may be modified without departing from the
spirit of the invention, and also if desired I may form the implement for shooting
independently of that for catching the ball.
Dated this 19th day of May 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: 1, WILLIAM ARTHUR SHAW, of 1 Hounds Gate, in the Borough of Nottingham,
Wholesale Clothier, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved outdoor game, which may also be played
under modified conditions indoors, and to apparatus for playing the said game.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, and
Fig. 2 a side elevation of an implement for playing the game, constructed
according to my invention.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a court and appurtenances arranged as required
for playing the game out of doors.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The apparatus is comprised principally of loops, or targets formel with central
openings, and an implement or apparatus which may be used to shoot or project a
ball at the target, and also to catch the ball when it either passes through or misses
the said target.
The loops or targets A A' A' (see Fig. 3.) are mounted at a suitable height on
poles B, which are preferably formed with pointed lower ends to fix in the ground.
They may also be formed in sections connected together by socketed joints for
convenience in storing.
Three loops or targets are preferably employed as shown, one being placed in
the centre of the court, and one on each side of it, the whole being preferably
placed in a line with the dividing line CC of the court. The centre loop or
target A is preferably of a larger size than the outer targets A¹ A', and may also
be placed at a greater height above the ground.
The three poles B may be connected by a tape or cross bar B¹ placed at a
convenient beight, or a net may be employed as in lawn tennis.
The court is formed by marking out on a grass lawn or other suitable surface an
inner rectangular space D. E. F. G. of suitable dimensions which is enclosed in
an outer boundary D E F G¹, the dimensions of the latter being arranged so as
to form a marginal space of sufficient dimensions all round the inner court.
The court described is subdivided into four, by the lines C C and H H.
The implement for shooting or projecting the ball, and also for catching it, is
shown in Figs. 1 and 2, & is formed by a handle J of a suitable length, to which
is connected a flexible spring K, provided at its free end with a cup or receptacle K',
to receive the ball. The latter is ejected from the cup by pulling back the spring
(as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.) to auy desired extent by means of the knob K³
or a handle, and suddenly releasing it at the right moment.
The length of the spring K may be adjusted by withdrawing it from or pushing
it further into the handle which latter is formed to receive it, the strength of the
spring may also be adjusted by adjusting the position of the collar J on the
handle.
The handle J of the implement may be also formed with two branches or exten-
sions L, on the ends of which are cups or receptacles L' in which to catch the ball.
They are arranged in the most convenient position for catching the ball, but if
preferred, the cups or receptacles L' may be connected to the extensions L by
universal or adjustable joints, so that the players may adjust them to suit
themselves.
Two or four players may take part in the game, and in the latter case the

page_text: players take up their positions at the points D. E. F. G. (see Fig. 3.) and for
example, we will suppose that the player at D. opens the game.
The player at D. commences the game by shooting or projecting a ball by means
of his implement, towards the player at G and his object is to shoot the ball in its
passage through the hoop A. The object of the player at G. is to catch the ball
in one of the receptacles in his implement, either before it has struck the ground,
or after it has struck the ground once.
The player at G. then shoots the ball towards the player at E. passing it if
possible through the hoop A¹ the latter shoots the ball towards the player at F
through the hoop A and the player at F shoots it towards the player at D through
the other hoop A', and this completes the round.
The one who shoots the ball, or the server, scores by passing the ball through the
intervening hoop, whilst the receiver scores by catching the ball in a receptacle on
his implement as described.
In serving, or shooting, the ball must fall within certain limits defined by the
court, and if the ball strikes a hoop or post, and falls on the servers side, it may
be counted as a fault.
The ball must also be delivered over the tape or bar B', or may be counted
as a fault.
When two players take part in the game, they may change their positions as
required, in order to complete a round in the same manner as when four players
are taking part.
One or more balls may be employed at the same time, when four players are
taking part, the score may also count double when a player scores with con-
secutive balls.
When the game is played indoors, where there is a limited space, the loops or
targets may be set up at a short distance from a wall, and the ball be caught as it
rebounds from the wall by the same player who shoots or projects the ball, or by
another player.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A game in which a player shoots or projects a ball at or through a loop or
target placed within a court or boundary lines by means of an implement, and the
same or a second player catches said ball in a cup or receptacle, the players scoring
when the ball is shot through the target or caught, according to the rules,
substantially as described.
2. An implement for shooting or projecting a bali comprising a landle J.
spring K. and a cup or receptacle such as K on the end of the said spring to
receive the ball substantially as described.
3. An implement for shooting or projecting and catching a ball comprising a
handle J, spring K, cup or receptacle such as K', and one or more cups or
receptacles such as L', secured on branches or extensions L, of the said handle,
substantially as described.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
implement for shooting or projecting and catching a ball substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of February 1897.
WILLIAM ARTHUR SHAW.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicaut.