An improved Game and Apparatus to de Used therein.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
An improved Game and Apparatus to de Used therein.
I, WILLIAM FRIESE-GREENE of 39 Kings Road, Chelsea in the County of London,
Photographer, 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 has for its object an improved game in which projectiles are fired
from a pneumatic ejector against a suitable target.
The apparatus to be used in playing the game are illustrated by the
accompanying drawings in which,-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the pneumatic ejector.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the ejector portion of the pneumatic ejector shown
separately.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a vertical section and a plan of a projectile.
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively an elevation and a plan of a suitable type of
target, constructed to represent a castle or fortified place.
The improved pneumatic ejector shown in Figure 1, consists of a resilient
rubber ball 1 provided with a union 2 on which is mounted one end of a preferably
flexible tube 3 connected at its other end to the ejector portion shown separately
in Figure 2.
This ejector portion consists of a union 4 for connection with the tube 3, and
opening into the lower part of a cylindrical nozzle 5 which is open at its upper or
outer end and is closed at its other or lower end below the junction with the
union 4.
The nozzle 5 is preferably provided at its lower or closed end with two laterally
and outwardly curved feet 6, 6 for the purpose of facilitating aiming with the
nozzle.
The improved projectile designed for use with the above described pneumatic
ejector consists of a cupped disc 7 preferably of lead, having a central hole 8 through
which is threaded a tuft 9 of woollen or other thread or fibres as shown in Figure 3.
Just sufficient length of the tuft 9 is retained within the cavity of the cupped
disc 7 to secure the tuft in place, whilst the greater part of the length of the tuft
projects beyond the convex top of the cupped disc and acts as a tail to aid the
flight of the projectile.
The game is played as follows:-The player places a projectile with the disc 7
downwards into the nozzle 5 of the pneumatic ejector and after having taken aim
at the castle 10 (Figures 5 and 6) he strikes the rubber ball 1 sharply with his
hand, thereby compressing the air contained in the said ball and causing it to
eject the projectile which describes a trajectory similar to that of a shell fired
from a mortar.
The object of the player is to cause the projectile to drop down on to those parts
of the castle 10 which count for the greatest number of points, the number of
points diminishing with the liability to be struck.
Two or more players may play this game by firing in succession with one or
more pneumatic ejectors.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination of parts forming the improved game, substantially as
described.
2. For playing a game such as described, a pneumatic ejector for firing projectiles
by the compression of air comprising a resilient ball, a nozzle or ejector portion,
and a tube connecting the ball with the nozzle or ejector portion substantially as
described and shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
3. For use with the pneumatic ejector specified in Claim 2, a projectile con-
sisting of cupped disc through which a tuft of fibrous material is threaded
substantially as described and shown in Figures 3 and 4.
1000
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS;
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.