IMPROVEMENTS IN CROQUET_ STANDS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO RECEPTACLES FOR IMPLEMENTS USED IN OTHER, GAMES
Year: 1871

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LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Barrett, of Reading, in the County of
Bérks, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CROQUET_
STANDS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO RECEPTACLES FOR IMPLEMENTS USED IN OTHER,
GAMES."
Sealed the 30th April 1872, and dated the 13th December 1871.
the
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Barrett at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
13th December 1871.
:
I, ALFRED BARRETT, of Reading, in the County of Berks, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CROQUET STANDS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO RECEPTACLES FOR IMPLEMENTS USED IN OTHER
GAMES," to be as follows:-
"My Invention relates to the construction and arrangement of croquet
stands or frames for receiving and securing the mallets, balls, and other
implements employed in the game of croquet, a similar construction
and arrangement being applicable to receptacles for implements of like

page_text: character employed in other games, as for example the cues, rests, and
balls used in playing billiards.
The chief object of my Invention is the convenient placing of the
different implements in different parts of one frame, all these different
parts being under the control of one lock, so that when one is locked the
others are locked at the same time. For this purpose I mount on one
framing a box with a folding lid for containing the hoops, and at a
higher level a box with a folding lid for containing the balls, and also at
the top of the framing a box with a folding lid for containing the mallet
heads. The box last named has holes through its bottom through
which the shafts of the mallets are passed, and has also holes through
the goal sticks are passed. The mallet box may be open at the sides,
and the box containing the balls may also be partly open at the sides,
enough to shew the colours of the balls without permitting them to be
withdrawn while the lid is closed.
The lids of the three boxes, above described, are connected to one
another by side rods jointed to each of them, so that when one of the
lids is opened or closed the others are opened or closed at the same time.
Any one of the boxes being fitted with a lock, when its lid is locked
down the other lids are also locked down or-secured down.as if they
were locked.
A similar arrangement of frame or stand may be applied as a
receptacle for the balls, cues, and other implements used in billiards.
In this case-one-box is required for the balls, and the cues and rests are
passed through holes in horizontal bars of the framing, their upper ends
being covered by a folding lid connected as above described to the lid of
the box that contains the balls. And for implements of like character
employed in other games a similar construction and arrangement of
frame or stand may be applied, as may be readily understood..
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13
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria," by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc
cessors, give and. grant unto me, the said 'Alfred Barrett, Her :special
licence that I, the said Alfred Barrett, my executors, administrators; and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Barrett, my executors;
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might maké, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention, for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CROQUET
STANDS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO RECEPTACLES FOR IMPLEMENTS USED IN OTHER GAMES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Barrett, my
executors: or.administrators, by an instrument.in writing, under my,.or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and-in what manner the
same was to be performed; and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next: and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
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NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said. Alfred Barrett, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof; reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is.
to say :-
My Invention relates to the construction and arrangement of croquet
stands or frames for receiving and securing the mallets, balls, and other
implements employed in the game of croquet, a similar construction and
arrangement being applicable to receptacles for implements, of like
character employed in other games, as for example the cues, rests, and
balls used in playing billiards.
1
The chief object of my Invention is the convenient, placing of the
different implements in different parts of one frame, all these different
parts being under, the control of one lock, so that when one is locked, the
others are locked at the same time. For this purpose I mount on one
framing a box with a folding lid for containing the hoops, and atia
higher level a box with a folding lid for containing the balls, and also at
1

page_text: the top of the framing a box with a folding lid for containing the mallet
heads. The box last named has holes through its bottom through which
the shafts of the mallets are passed, and has also holes through which,
the goal sticks are passed. The mallet box may be open at the sides,
and the box containing the balls may also be partly open at the sides 5
enough to show the colours of the balls without permitting them to be
withdrawn while the lid is closed.
The lids of the three boxes above described are connected to one
another: by side rods jointed to each of them, so that when one of the
lids is opened or closed, the others are opened or closed at the same time. 10
Any one of the boxes being fitted with a lock, when its lid is locked
down the other lids are also locked down or secured down as if they,
were locked.
7-7
'
A similar arrangement of frame or stand: may be applied as a
receptacle for the balls, cues, and other implements used in billiards 1
In this case one box is required for the balls, and the, cues and rests are
passed through holes in horizontal bars of the framing, their upper ends.
being covered by a folding lid connected, as above described, to the lid of
the box that contains the balls. And for implements of like character. (
employed in other games a similar. construction and arrangement-of 20
frame or stand may be applied as may be readily understood.
'

page_text: the several lids in such a manner that whenever any of the lids is opened
or closed the others open or close with it, and if one of the lids should
be locked the others are kept closed. When it is not required to
accomodate the hoops, the box A and the bars or rods connecting its
lid to the other lids may be dispensed with. For implements used in
other games as for the balls, cues, and rests employed in billiards, the
two or more compartments required for accomodating them may be
arranged in a similar manner with lids connected as above described.
Sometimes it is desirable that the lids of the several compartments
should not open and close simultaneously, but that nevertheless all
should be secured when one is locked. For this purpose the connecting
rods D may be dispensed with, and a vertical spindle may be inserted
through the bottom of the highest compartment, such spindle having
on it projections which keep down the ends of the lower compartments.
When the highest compartment is opened the spindle can be turned
partly round so that its projections are turned out of the way of these
lids, leaving them free to be opened.
:
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner it is to be performed, I claim,—
First. The construction and arrangements of stands or frames for
accomodating implements used in croquet, and implements of like
character, substantially as herein described.
Second. Connecting the lids of the several compartments of such
frames or stands so that they open or close simultaneously, and that by
locking one the others are secured, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Barrett, have hereunto.set
my hand and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
ALFRED BARRETT. (L.s.)