An Improved Table or Carpet Game.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Table or Carpet Game.
I, ROBERT BONTHRON BLACK, of 346 St. Georges Road; in the City of
Glasgow, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to an improved table or carpet game in which balls are
used and impelled by means of cues upon a table or by hand rolling upon a carpet
or floor and directed within lines or rings the spaces within which are numbered
or have certain values allotted to them. The balls are of spherical form but have
a number of flat numbered surfaces or panes formed on them at diametrically
opposite points partly to impede their motion but mainly to ensure that each ball
will rest on one of the flat panes and expose the opposite pane with the number on
it at its upper surface. The rings are or may be formed upon a flat sheet of paper
or other material which in playing the game is laid upon the table or floor. Each
player rolls his ball towards the central ring of the series which like a target has
a higher value allotted to it than the outer rings, and the player's score is made
up by multiplying the number exhibited on the upper flat surface of the ball
when brought to rest by the value allotted to the central, outer or other ring in
which the ball lies.
Dated this Eighteenth day of March 1891.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Table or Carpet Game.
I, ROBERT BONTHRON BLACK of 346 Saint George's Road, in the City of
Glasgow, Manufacturer, 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 an improved game capable of being played on a table,
Hoor, lawn, courtyard or the like, and in which a ball or balls is or are used, the
ball or balls being impelled by hand rolling or by the impact of a cue, mallet or
hammer and directed towards a target of any desired shape laid or made on the
table or floor and subdivided by lines or rings into spaces of different values.
The apparatus in its most complete form for playing the game is illustrated on
the accompanying drawings, Figure a being the ball, Figure 6 the target,
Figure c the cue or mallet and Figure d the spot or mat from which the ball is
rolled or the strokes made, and which can be placed at any desired distance from
the target. One ball only may be used or each player may have a separate ball.
for himself or herself these balls being differently coloured or otherwise
differentiated. In any case the ball or balls a is or are of spherical form, but
have a number of flat facets or panes a¹ so formed on them at diametrically
opposite points as to impede the rolling motion and ensure that each ball will rest
on one of the flat panes and expose on its uppermost part another facet or pane.
The facets or panes are numbered and the diametrically opposite facets or panes
have preferably the same numeral applied to them although each facet may be
differently numbered and one or more of the facets may be blank or have a zero
mark. The target which may be rectangular, triangular, polygonal, star shaped,

page_text: round or of other contour, is; or may be, made of a sheet of paper or other
material (preferably felt, flannel or a like textile) and in playing the game the
target is laid upon the table, floor, lawn, courtyard or other situation. Each
player either by hand or by the use of the cue or mallet e rolls the ball from the
spot or mat d towards the central ring or division of the series on the target, each
next inner series of rings or divisions having a higher value alloted to it than the
immediately outer series, and the player's score is made by multiplying the value
of the ring or division of the target on which the ball rests by the numeral
exposed on the uppermost facet of the ball, or it may be made up by adding
these numbers one to the other.
Instead of a portable target the divisions, rings or values may be depicted
permanently on the table, floor or other situation.
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-
As apparatus for playing a game on a table, floor, lawn or pavement a ball (a)
having a series of flat facets or panes (a¹) made on its circumference, and a
target (b) laid or depicted horizontally and subdivided into different values with or
without the addition of a starting spot or mat (d) removable to any desired
distance from the target; and a cue, mallet or hammer, or any of them substantially
as described.
Dated this Seventeenth day of August 1891.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.