A NEW OR IMPROVED OUTDOOR OR INDOOR GAME, AND IMPLE- MENTS USED THEREIN.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrington, of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, for the
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED OUTDOOR OR INDOOR GAME, AND IMPLE-
MENTS USED THEREIN.
"
Sealed the 19th January 1877, and dated the 26th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrington at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th July 1876.
JOHN HARRINGTON, of. Ryde, in the Isle of Wight. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
OUTDOOR OR INDOOR GAME, AND IMPLEMENTS USED THEREIN."
The Invention has for its object the production of a new game, which may bo
played on a lawn, floor, or table, and which I propose to call "tournée."
For this purpose I employ, as heretofore, balls and mallets, but in combination
therewith I employ "standards" and "points" constructed of any suitable material,
and adapted either to be driven into the ground or secured to the floor or table.
"
These "points" and the "standards are provided at a suitable height from the
ground, floor, or table with a ring of india-rubber or with other spring cushion
surrounding the same, so that when a ball is propelled against the same it shall
rebound therefrom at various angles, according to the skill of the player, into the
most advantageous position for making the next "point."
The "standard" is arranged in the centre, and the "points" by preference at
equal distances therefrom and from each other (when for a lawn preferably not less
than twelve feet apart), in which case one "standard" and six "points" would bo
required, but other arrangements and numbers of "points" may be employed.
The "points" are each numbered from one to six or other number, as the case
may be.
The following rules, which may be varied, describe the mode in which I propose
to play the new game on a lawn:—
This game may be played by one or any other number of players, either separately
or as partners.
There should be as many balls as there are points, and each ball should be of a
different colour, or otherwise distinguished from the others.
The game consists of starting the ball from the right-hand side of "point," one
on the line of circle and striking the "standard," then back again to strike
'point" one; and so on alternately from "standard" to "point" until the tournée
is completed.
"

page_text: "
The player may start from any part of the circumference or boundary line
between "point" one and "point" six, and must strike the "standard." Failing
this the ball must be brought back, and the next player goes on; but if he succeed
in striking the "standard he then plays at "point" one, and alternately at
"standard" and "point" so long as he succeeds in his stroke.
The player on missing his "point" has to strike the "standard" afresh, so that
his first stroke in each turn will be at the "standard"
A ball having once struck the "standard" shall be played from the position in
which it lies.
A player not being a "knight" hitting either a ball or another "point" without
having first struck the "standard" shall go back one "point," "provided he has
mado a "point."
A player hitting a ball by cannoning from the "standard" or his " point" may,
if he chooses, place his ball against the other, and if it is his partner's, make it"
hit its next "point," or if it is his adversary's ball, he may make it hit its last
point," and so advance his partner or retard his adversary, as the case
may be.
If the player fails to make the ball strike the "point" aimed at, he of course loses
his stroke.
"
A player after hitting the "standard" from his sixth "point" becomes a
"knight," and is no longer liable to be put back, and may aim at the "standard"
or any point, and hitting it may strike any ball, and continue to play so long as
he does not hit "point" one or the same ball or "point" twice.
A "knight," if he intends to go out, must first hit the "standard," and then
point" one.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Harrington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
January 1877.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED
JOHN HARRINGTON, of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight.
OUTDOOR OR INDOOR GAME, AND IMPLEMENTS USED THEREIN."
The Invention has for its object the production of a new game, which may be
played on a lawn, floor, or table, and which I propose to call "tournée."
For this purpose I employ, as heretofore, balls and mallets of a similar character
to those employed in the game of croquet, but in combination therewith I
employ "standards" and "points" constructed of any suitable material, and adapted
either to be driven into the ground or to be secured to the floor or table.
These "points" and the "standards," one form of which is shown at Figure 1,
and another at Figures 2 and 3, are provided at a suitable height from the ground,
floor, or table with a ring of india-rubber a or with other spring cushion sur-
rounding the same, so that when a ball is propelled against the same it shall
rebound therefrom at various angles, according to the skill of the player, into the
most advantageous position for making the next point.
The "standard," which is similarly constructed to the points is arranged in
the centre, and the "points" by preference at equal distances therefrom and from
each other, as shown by diagram, Figure 4 (when for a lawn preferably not less
than twelve feet apart), in which case one "standard" and six "points" would be
required, but other arrangements and numbers of "points" and "standards" may
be employed.
When employed as an indoor game the "standards" and "points" will be suitably
formed to enable them to be fixed to the floor or table.
The "points" are each numbered from one to six or other number, as the case
may be.

page_text: The following rules, which may be varied, describe the mode in which I propose
to play the new game on a lawn :-
This
game may be played by one or any other number of players, either separately
or as partners.
There should be as many balls as there are "points," and each ball should be of
a different color, or otherwise distinguished from the others
The game consists of starting the ball, as indicated at Figure 4, from the right-
hand side of "point" one on the line of circle and striking the "standard," then
back again to strike "point" one, and so on alternately from "standard" to "point"
and "point" to "standard" until the "tournée" is completed.
The player may start from any part of the circumference or boundary line
between "point" one and "point" six, and must strike the "standard." Failing
this the ball must be brought back, and the next player goes on, but if he succeed
in striking the "standard" he then plays at "point" one, and alternately at
"standard" and "point" so long as he succeeds in his stroke.
The player on missing his "point" has to strike the "standard" afresh, so that
his first stroke in each turn will be at the "standard."
A ball having once struck the "standard" shall be played from the position in
which it lies.
A player not being a "knight" hitting either a ball or another "point" without
having first struck the "standard" shall go back one point, provided he has made
a" point."
A player hitting a ball by cannoning from the "standard" or his "point" may,
if he choose, place his ball against the other, and, if it is his partner's, make it
hit its next point," or, if it be his adversary's ball, he may make it hit its last
point, and so advance his partner or retard his adversary, as the case may be.
If the player fail to make the ball strike the "point" aimed at, he of course loses
his stroke.
A player after hitting the "standard" from his sixth point becomes a "knight,"
and is no longer liable to be put back, and may aim at the "standard
" or any
point," and hitting it may strike any ball, and continue to play so long as he does
not hit "point" one or the same ball or point twice.
A "knight," if he intends to go out, must first hit the "standard," and then
point one.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim as my
said Invention of a new or improved outdoor or indoor game, and implements used
therein is, the employment of "standards" and "points," constructed substantially
as herein shown and described, in combination with balls and inallets of a similar
character to those heretofore employed in the game of croquet.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harrington, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
TATTI