IMPROVEMENTS IN GAMES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ALBERT FERDINAND ALEXANDER VOGELSANG, of Philadelphia, in the county
of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAMES," 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 reference to Games; and consists in certain improvements in
the construction of apparatus which are fully set forth in the following speci-
fication and shown in the accompanying drawings which form part thereof.
Heretofore a game has been played on board of steam ships by passengers
traveling between various Countries which consisted in chalking upon the deck a
geometrical figure divided into subdivisions in which figures or numbers were
marked, and toward which from a given point circular pieces or discs of wood
were pushed forward by a suitable cue with the purpose in view of lodging said
discs of wood within one of the subdivisions of the geometrical figure, or with the
intention of displacing an opponent's disc from one of said subdivisions, or both
combined.
The object of my invention is to reduce the said game (which was originally
introduced by me) to a tangeable shape in the form of suitable portable apparatus
capable of being used in dwellings or anywhere without the necessity of first
finding a smooth surface upon which to play. My object is also to provide the
board, or playing surface with two sets of geometrical figures, so that the game may
be played from either end alternately thereby overcoming the necessity of carrying
the discs or blocks back to one end each time.
My invention also comprehends making the apparatus collapsible or condensible,
and adapted to the floor, table or stand.
In the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of my portable table board opened and ready for use.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of same on line xx when closed,
with the parts arranged for transportation.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the locking bars used to retain the cues
in position when the case is packed as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cue and one of the sliding blocks or discs.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of my apparatus as applied to a table.

page_text: Figure 6 is a side elevation showing my portable apparatus as applied to a
stand.
Figure 7 is a cross section of same on line 3 Y.
Figure 8 is a plan view showing the preferred relative sizes of sliding blocks and
squares in the geometrical figures.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of another form of my improved portable game
apparatus laid out on the floor.
Figure 10 is a sectional elevation of same on line z z showing method of attach-
ment of the oil cloth and side rails to end bars.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of one of the side rails removed and closed for
transportation.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the packing case for the apparatus shown in
Figure 9, and,
Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of one form of the sliding blocks.
A A are the two parts of the table, and are binged together as at B. They are
provided with side and end rails C, of any suitable construction to prevent the
blocks being pushed off the table. The bottoms D, of parts A A, are made very
smooth or polished, or are preferably covered with some practically smooth
material such as paper or thin oil cloth or metallic sheathing, as this acts as well,
and is far cheaper.
A space d, may be left between the rails C, and the oil cloth or polished surfaces
to give a finish.
When the table is opened the bottoms meet and are strengthened and made to
Each end of the floor D, is provided
preserve a level surface by the dowels K.
with a geometrical figure E, of any desired shape, that shown being perhaps the
best suited to the purpose; it being divided into two parts, and one of which is
again subdivided into twelve parts or squares in which figures or numbers are
placed as shown, those in the nine middle squares making up 15 whether they are.
added up and down or across, and the other main division which is arranged on the
inner side of the figure is marked 10 off. This figure E, might be a star, shield,
square or circle, and there may be more than one division marked for reducing the
score should the players' blocks lodge therein, and the figures or numbers may be
arranged in any other manner desired. This portable table when closed may be
fastened by latches F, and carried by a handle G, and the cues L, may be retained
in place by two locking bars H, having notches h, and pins or dowels h', which
latter fit into holes i, in the floor D, and thus retain the bars in position. The
hinged end is closed by a similar piece J, without notches. By this means the
table when closed forms a box in which the cues, blocks and counting apparatus
may be placed for carriage and safety.
The cue is formed of a long handle L', having secured on its end a crescent or
other shaped sliding piece L³, set at an angle to the cue and adapted to receive the
sliding block M, which fits in the recess 1, in said piece L. This sliding block may
be of wood, metal or any other suitable material, or part of each, and is made flat
and smooth on the bottom and preferably rounded on the top, which is suitably
colored or marked. By this means a better finish is given and the ornamentation
or distinguishing features between the blocks cannot become worn off.
These sliding blocks may be slightly recessed on their bottoms so that the edges
may be more readily and truly made level or flat as shown at m; and if desired
they may be weighted with metal as shown at M¹ of Figure 13; which figure also
shows one of the blocks as semi-spherical.
This game table may be supported on legs as shown in Figure 5 in which case it
can be collapsible or rigid as desired. The same board or table shown in Figure 1
and Figure 2, is shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, as applied to a stand N, in which
case it is provided with grooves A¹, which receive strips n on stand N, and when
opened may be moved to the position indicated in dotted lines where it is evenly
balanced upon the stand.

page_text: Referring to Figure 9 and those showing constructions embodied therein,
A represents the apparatus as an entirety exclusive of the cues, and in which C C
are the side rails and may be formed of two or more sections hinged together as
at B so that they may be condensed or collapsed as shown in Figure 11.
Care the end bars or rollers to which the smooth floor of oil cloth or other
material is secured. These rollers are grooved as at C² to receive the end of the
oil cloth which is placed therein, and a tape O nailed over it by nails P, so that
when the cloth floor D is rolled up on one of the rollers C¹ it will lie smooth. The
ends of the side rails are provided with dowel pins c which enter holes in the said
end bars or rollers as shown, and after the said side rails have been fixed in
position, the act of pressing them down flat stretches the floor D, and the lateral
edges thereof are kept down by the said rails C.
The side rails may bo made in any other desired manner and may be connected
to the end bars C¹ by locks, bolts or any of the well known catches in public use.
The floor D is preferably made of smooth flexible oil cloth, on account of
cheapness, but it may be made of any other substance, as for instance paper or
tracing linen. When the side rails are removed and closed they fit in the space
marked P of box or case P and the floor D is rolled upon one of the rollers
or bars C¹ and placed in the other part marked P³.
In playing the game, the sliding blocks M are placed on a given line in one
figure E and pushed with the cue L so as to Judge in one of the squares in the
other figure E, it being the object to have them enter into the squares having the
highest numbers. The opponent endeavours to dislodge the blocks of the first
player and place bis blocks so as to count.
If they enter the division marked "10 off" the player loses 10 points for each
block there lodged.
No two games are alike, and the game therefore offers as much variety as
billiards. After all the blocks M have been pushed to one end, the players when
two or three are playing, walk to that end and play to the other end, instead of
picking up the blocks and carrying them back, but when four, six, or eight are
playing, then half the players arrange themselves at each end, the partners being at
opposite ends, and thus the game may be played without the necessity of going
from one end to the other as the blocks are shoved alternately from cach end by the
players there stationed.
From the foregoing it is seen that the game is reduced to a practical form for
house use, and being made collapsible or portable, is admirably adapted to the use
of tourists, and those going away to summer resorts.
While I prefer the construction shown I do not limit myself to the details
thereof, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from my
invention, as for instance the geometrical figure may be arranged at one end of the
floor only, instead of at both ends.
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. A smooth surface or floor with a geometrical figure marked thereon at each
end having its subdivisions marked with figures.
2. A smooth condensible or portable surface or floor with a geometrical figure
marked thereon at each end having its subdivisions marked with figures.
3. A smooth surface or floor bounded on its sides and ends with rails or guards
with a geometrical figure marked thereon at each end, having its subdivisions
marked with figures.
4. A smooth surface or floor with a geometrical figure marked thereon at each
end having its subdivisions marked with figures, in combination with sliding blocks
and suitable cues to push said blocks over the said surface or floor.
5. A smooth or polished portable floor or surface having one or more geometrical
figures marked thereon, the divisions thereof containing different numbers.

page_text: 6. The combination of frames A. A hinged at B and having floors D furnished
with figures E.
7. A flexible smooth or polished Game surface adapted to be rolled up when not
in use and having one or more geometrical figures marked thercon, the divisions
thereof containing different numbers or figures.
8. A flexible smooth or polished Game surface adapted to be rolled up when not
in use, and having one or more geometrical figures marked thereon, the divisions
thereof containing different numbers or figures, in combination with end rollers or
bars upon which it may be rolled, and adjustable side rails.
9. The combination of smooth flexible floor D, having geometrical figures E or
their equivalent, end rollers or bars C¹ and side rails C.
10. The sliding block M for the herein described Game having its bottom flat,
and top rounded and marked.
11. The sliding block M for the herein described Game having its bottom flat
and top rounded, and being loaded or weighted near the bottom.
ALLISON BRO³,
Agents for the Applicant.