A Novel Game or Pastime, and Apparatus or Implements therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 11th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Novel Game or Pastime, and Apparatus or Implements therefor.
I JOHN DYSON HORN of Nos. 2, 4 and 6 Carts Lane Leicester, in the County
of Leicester, Manufacturer of, and Dealer in Games and British Sports, &c. do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the introduction of a Game or pastime adapted for
two or more persons, adults or children, to be played either in the open air on a lawn,
or hard court, or under cover, on a table, or floor. And the novelty consists of the
shape, form and make of the apparatus, or implements therefor, and in the shape and
arrangements of the courts, on and in which the Game or pastime is to be played.
The apparatus or implements to be used for playing the game are as follows,
Crook's, Standard's, Net and Ball's.
The Crooks are to be made of Wood, Cane, Metal or any other suitable material, in
shape somewhat like a long handled spoon, the frame of the head, or spoon being made
oval, pear-shaped, round or in any other suitable form and to which is attached a loose
bag netted with twine, gut, wire or other suitable material adapted to hold, and from
which a ball can be thrown out.
The Standards, (or posts) to be used in the game are to be made of Wood or Metal,
and the novelty consists of a cup-shaped head on the top of the same, hollowed out
sufficiently for placing on, and holding the balls required for that purpose in playing
the game, and are to be made for standing on the courts, or for fixing in the ground
or material played upon.
The Net is to be made of twine, or other suitable material for the purpose, and the
mesh of the same to be small enough to prevent the balls used in play from going
through the same; Canvas or other suitable fabric can also be used for the purpose,
which is, to enclose the Fold to a depth of about two thirds of the length of the
Standards to which the Net or Canvas is to be fixed, the lower part of the net to be
level with, and rest on the lines of the Fold, (or centre court).
The balls used in the game shall be of two distinct colours. The play balls and
the Sentinel balls shall all be made of india-rubber or other suitable material, hollow,
covered or uncovered. The "Sentinel" balls all of one colour are for placing in the
cups of the Standards, and the play balls which are to be used for throwing with the
Crooks, shall be of another colour or white.
The courts shall be marked out with distinct lines, and the novelty of the same
consists in the construction, or shape thereof as here described.
The centre court, to be called the "Fold"
or any other convenient shape, and may be varied in size according to the space
available for play, and must be enclosed with a Net or Canvas as before stated.
may be square, diamond-shaped, circular,
The Standards (or posts) are for fixing at the four corners of the "Fold " if the
square or diamond-shaped one is used, and at equal distances from each other if a
circular, or any other shaped "Fold " is used.
The four outer, or play courts are formed by marking out a square, circular, or any
other convenient shaped lines to enclose the "Fold," at any distance from the Fold
lines according to the space available, or the player's fancy. The outer line, or lines
being called the "Service Lines ;" and if the square Fold and square "Service Lines
are used the four play court lines must be marked diagonally from the four corners of
the "Fold" to the four corners of the "Service Lines," and if any other shaped courts
are used, the four play courts must be marked out diagonally, and at equal distances,
as in the one already described.
Two of the four outer, or play courts are to be called the Home Courts, and the other
wo, the Returner's Courts.

page_text: "
In the game where four persons play, the players shall form two sides, to be called
as follows. The "Leader" and the Leader's Help," and the "Returner" and the
"Returner's Help," the two former for the one side, and the two latter for the other.
And when two persons only play, they are called the "Leader" and the
"Returner."
"
The
The Game shall be called "Crooketta," and the novelty in playing the same consists
of one of the play balls being first placed in the centre of the "Fold," the "Sentinel
balls being placed on the top of the "Standards" and in the cups of the same.
"Leader" placing another play ball in the spoon of his or her Crook, holding the
same on the Service Line and serving (or throwing) the ball endeavouring to send it
over the "Fold" into the Returner's (or opposite) court, also at the same time (if the
Leader think it of advantage to his, or her side) trying to knock off one or more of
the "Sentinels from the "Standards" and according to a set of Laws and Rules I
have made out for the purpose.
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Novel Game or Pastime, and Apparatus or Implements therefor.
I, JOHN DYSON HORN of Nos. 2, 4 and 6 Carts Lane, Leicester, Manufacturer of,
and dealer in Games and British Sports &c. 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 the introduction of a game or pastime, adapted for
two or more players, adults or children, to be played either on a lawn, or hard court
in the open air or on a table or floor, indoors. The apparatus or implements to be
used for playing the game are as follows:-
Crooks, Standards, Net and Balls.
The "Crooks" may be made of wood, cane, or any other suitable material, and in
shape somewhat like a long handled spoon, the frame of the head or spoon being made
oval, pear, round, or other suitable shape, and have attached thereto at the forward
end a loose bag, netted with twine, gut, wire or equivalent material adapted to hold,
and from which a ball can be thrown out.
The "standards" or posts to be used in the game may be wood or metal, and are
constructed with a cup-shaped head hollowed out sufficiently or otherwise formed or
adapted to receive and hold the balls hereinafter mentioned. The said posts may also
be made self-supporting on the courts, or for fixing in the ground or material played
upon.
The net is made of twine or other material suitable for the purpose, the mesh of
which is to be of such dimensions as will prevent the balls used in play from going
through; or instead of net, canvas or other suitable fabric can be used for enclosing
the "fold " to a depth of about two thirds of the length of the standards to which the
net or canvas is to be fixed, the lower part of the net to be level with, and rest on the
lines of the fold or centre court.
The balls used in the game are preferably of two distinct colours and termed
respectively "play" balls and "sentinel" balls; these balls may be of india-rubber or
other suitable material, hollow, covered or uncovered. The "sentinel" balls which
may be of one colour are placed in the cups of the standards and the "play" balls
which are of another colour or white are thrown by the crooks.
The game is played in courts marked out with distinct lines, hereafter described.
The centre court, to be called the "fold" may be square, diamond, circular or any
other convenient shape, and varied in size according to the space available for play
and must be enclosed with the net or canvas before mentioned.
The standards or posts are fixed at the four corners of the fold if the square or
diamond shaped one is used; and equidistant if a circular or any other shaped fold is
used.

page_text: Four outer or play courts are formed by a similar number of lines radiating from
the fold lines and enclosed by a circumferential line forming a square, circle, octagon
or other shaped figure at any distance from the fold lines according to the space
available or the determination of the players; the outer line or lines being called the
"service lines." When the "square fold" and " square service" lines are used the
four play court lines should be marked diagonally from the four corners of the fold to
the four corners of the service lines and if any other shaped courts are used the four
play courts should be marked out diagonally and at equal distances as in the one
already described. Two of the four outer or play courts are to be called the Leader's
courts and the other two the Returner's courts.
In the game when four persons play, the players shall form two sides to be called
as follows, the Leader and the Leader's Help on the one side, and the Returner and
the Returner's Help on the other; and when two persons only play they are called
the Leader and the Returner respectively.
To play the game which I call "Crooketta " one of the play balls is first placed in
the centre of the fold; a sentinel ball is then placed in the cup at the top of each of
the standards, the Leader then places another play ball in the spoon of his or her
crook, holding the same on the service line and serves or throws the ball, endeavouring
to send it over the fold into the Returner's or opposite court, also at the same time if
the Leader think it of advantage to his or her side, trying to knock off one or more
of the sentinel's from the standards.
Should the Returner catch the ball in his crook before it reaches the ground it
scores in his favour and if one of the sentinel balls be not displaced the players all
move into the adjacent court, and the Returner then becomes Leader and serves the
ball as before described. If the ball when served fall in the Leader's serving court or
should he allow the ball to bound or roll into the Returner's court or over the service
line it is a fault and scores to the Returner who then leads.
Should the ball however when served by the Leader clear the fold and fall into the
opposite court, or should the Returner allow the ball to bound or roll out of his court
scores to the Leader. When a sentinel ball is knocked off the standard cup by the
ball served it counts to the Leader providing the play ball falls in the opposite court,
should the play ball however fall into the fold the party who first succeeds in raising
one of the balls with his crook and places it in his court takes the lead, and the score
in favour of the Leader is greater or less according as he succeeds in regaining the
ball or not.
The above rules may be varied or modified with the object of increasing the facilities
and opportunities of scoring.
The player or side that first succeeds in obtaining a predetermined number say 100
wins the game.
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 construction and use of apparatus for a new game consisting of posts or
standards with cup or equivalent shaped beads, net or fabric enclosing the posts and
forming a fold, balls and crooks, substantially as herein before described.
2. The combination and arrangement of apparatus or appliances for playing the
game of "Crooketta" substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 10th day of January 1890.
DYSON HORN.
JOHN
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.