A New or Improved Table Game, and Appliances therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Table Game, and Appliances therefor.
I, JAMES LIND SHERWILL, of 13 Athole Street, in the City and County of Perth,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved table game, and
arrangement and combination of appliances to be used therefor, and which is simple,
easily understood, and will be a source of interest and amusement to ladies and
gentlemen who may take part in the game.
"
According to my invention I lay on the top of a level surface table, such as a card
table which is usually about 35 inches diameter, a smooth cover which may be made
of glazed cloth, strong paper or cardboard, or cloth with a paper surface, or it might
be glazed oil-cloths or other equivalent, and either of a round, polygonal or square
shape with a broad outer circle round it nearly the size of the table. An inner
concentric circle about 12 inches in diameter is also formed on the cover with a star
or fixed point in the centre, these circles and centre being only painted or stamped on
the cover on. which the game is played with " men or disc sliding pieces or cups
about the size used for playing backgammon and draughts and the game might be
termed the game. of "Flip" as each cup is propelled or driven forward on the table
by a flip of the finger. The game is played under one arrangement with a small glass
or other ball, preferably solid and ornamental, resting in a small hollow in the top of
a cork or other central "bob or cylinder placed over the star or central point of the
inner concentric circle. For sliding pieces about an inch and half in diameter and
three-eighths or so deep, the hall would preferably he about half inch in diameter and
the "bob " on which it rests about the same, and preferably about half inch deep.
For playing with this ball and "bob" each sliding piece or cup would have a central
recess on its upper surface to contain the ball, about a third of its depth or so, and
have an annular outer groove in which the ball would roll with a ridge between it and
the central hole or recess.
"
Any number of persons might play round the table consecutively after each other
as from two to six and each play four cups in turn. The player would place one cup
after the other on the outer circle of the table cover and give it a flip with one finger
and thumb striking the cup by the finger and aiming direct at the "bob " in the
centre. If the cup strikes the "bob" and puts the ball into the outer annular groove
of the cup that counts 3 to be paid by all the adversaries or opponents in the
game to the player; and if he puts the ball into the central hole of the cup that
counts 6 to be paid him by each of the others; but if the player strikes the bob and
only knocks it and the ball over without putting the ball either into the central hole
in the cup or the groove, then the player has to pay 1 to each adversary or opponent
in the game.
If the player does not flip his cup to reach the inner circle or strikes it
so strong as to pass beyond it, he has to pay one to each opponent all round. If the
player flips his cup to pass within the inner circle and does not touch the "bob "
then he neither pays to or gets anything from his opponents.
A further and alternative arrangement of these improvements consists in sub-
stituting a truncated cone for the "bob" and ball, preferably of about half-inch in
diameter at its broad part, and the half of that at its narrow end. The broad end
of the cone is slightly loaded with a pellet of lead or otherwise so as to tend
slightly to stand on this end; but in playing, the narrow end is set on the central
star, or on a small disc or coin such as a sixpence or half-sovereign over it. In
playing with this arrangement the sliding cups are made plain on the upper surface
and slightly hollow or concave in the centre, to receive the cone. In playing with
this arrangement if the cone be only displaced the player forfeits 1 to each opponent,

page_text: In the cone only falls on its side on the cup he wins 3 from each opponent. If the
cone turns a somersault or completely over and remains upright upon the cup, the
player receives 6 from each opponent. But if the cup does not reach the inner circle
or passes beyond it, the player pays 1 to each opponent, as in the former arrangement;
and similarly if the cup passes within the inner circle and does not displace the cone,
then the player neither receives nor forfeits anything. But it will be understood that
the mode of counting may be modified without interfering with the main features of
the game. The cups could be made of the aforesaid shape to play with the ball
arrangement on the one side, and the hollow or concave shape on the opposite side to
play with the truncated cone arrangement, or separate cups may be used for either
arrangement.
In playing this new game with "counters" when a player loses all his counters he
must cease playing, and so on with each player until one player is left the happy
possessor of all the counters. After each shot the cup should be removed by the next
player to prevent the succeeding shots being impeded.
Dated the 25th November 1889.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Table Game, and Appliances therefor.
1, JAMES LIND SHERWILL, of 13 Athole Street, in the City and County of Perth,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying sheet. of
diagram drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved table game, and
arrangement and combination of appliances to be used therefor, and which is simple,
easily understood, and will be a source of interest and amusement to ladies and gentle-
men who may take part in the game.
"
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may he properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of diagram drawings, in which the same reference
letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the top of the table or paper or other cover A as
prepared with the outer and inner circles B, B', for playing the game on, and showing
four of the playing discs or cup men a round the outer circle B, and one of the
"bobs" and ball b, 1 in the centre placed thereon ready for playing the game with.
Figure 2 shows a view of the "bob" and ball b, b₁ and one of the disc "
the hand H of the player as in the act of pushing or flipping it with the finger towards
men a, and
the "bob." Figure 3 is a corresponding view to Figure 2 after the "bob" b has
been struck by the disc "man" a and showing the ball b' as having dropped into the
centre cup of the disc a. Figure 4 is a sectional elevation and a plan of one of the
disc cup men a showing same to a much larger scale than in the other figures.
Figure 5 shows an elevation of the "bob" b and ball 6, to an enlarged scale from the
other figures. Figure 6 shows an elevation and plan of a truncated loaded cone
"bob"
c, and which is used as an alternative arrangement of the game to the "bob "
and ball 6 6. And Figure 7 is an elevation and plan of a disc d on which the loaded
bob c is set inverted ways in the centre of the table in position for playing this
arrangement of the game.
с
Referring to Figures 1 to 5 of these drawings :-According to my invention I lay
on the top of a level surface table, such as a card table which is usually about
35 inches diameter, a smooth cover A which may be made of glazed cloth, strong
paper or cardboard, or cloth with a paper surface, or it might be glazed oil cloths or
other equivalent, and either of a round, polygonal or square shape with a broad outer

page_text: "
"
circle B round it nearly the size of the table or cover A. An inner concentric
circle B' about 12 inches in diameter is also formed on the cover A with a star or
fixed point B in the centre, as shown particularly in Figure 1, these circles and
centre B, B1, B2, being only painted or stamped on the cover A on which the game is
played so as not to obstruct the motion of the " men or playing disc sliding pieces or
cups a which are about the size used for playing backgammon and draughts, as shown
detached to an enlarged scale in Figure 4. The game is played under one arrange-
ment with a small glass or other ball preferably solid and ornamental, resting in a
small hollow in the top of a cork or other central "bob or cylinder placed over the
star or central point B2 of the inner concentric circle B, both "bob" and ball b, b¹,
being shown to a large scale in Figure 5. For sliding pieces a about an inch and
half in diameter and three-eighths or so deep, the ball 6 would preferably be about
half inch in diameter and the "bob " 6 on which it rests about the same, and prefer-
ably about half inch deep or rather deeper than the playing disc a. For playing with
this ball b' and "bob" beach sliding piece or cup a would have a central recess a¹
on its upper surface to contain the ball b', about a third of its depth or so, and have
an annular outer groove a² in which the ball b¹ would roll with a ridge between it and
the central hole or recess a¹ as dotted in in Figure 4.
Any number of persons might play round the table A consecutively after each other
as from two to six, four being shown as playing in Figure 1, and each play four
cups a in turn.
The player would place one cup a after the other on the outer
circle B of the table cover A and give it a flip with one finger and thumb, pushing
the playing disc a by the finger and aiming direct at the "bob" b in the centre, as
shown in Figure 2. If the playing disc a strikes the "bob "band knocks it away
and puts the ball into the outer annular groove a² of the playing disc a, as dotted-in
in Figure 4, that counts 3 to be paid by all the adversaries or opponents in the game
to the player; and if he puts the ball into the central hole or cup a¹ of the disc a as
shown in Figure 3, that counts 6 to be paid hin by each of the others; but if the
player strikes the "bob" b and only knocks it and the ball b¹ over without putting the
ball either into the central cup a¹ or the groove a², then the player has to pay 1 to
each adversary or opponent in the game. If the player does not flip his playing
disc a to reach the inner circle B' or strikes it so strong as to pass beyond it, he has
to pay one to each opponent all round. If the player flips his pushing disc a to pass
within the inner circle B¹ and does not touch the "bob "b then he neither pays to nor
gets anything from his opponents.
Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8, a further and alternative arrangement of these
improvements consists in substituting a truncated cone "bob" c for the "bob" b and
ball b', as shown in Figure 6, preferably of about half inch in diameter at its broad
part, and the half of that at its narrow end. The base or broad end of the cone c is
slightly loaded with a pellet of lead or otherwise, as dotted in at c', so as to tend
slightly to stand on this end; but in playing, this "bob" c is inverted, that is, the
narrow end is set on a small disc or coin such as a sixpence or half sovereign shown
in Figure 7, with the "bob " c on this, shown in dotted lines in its playing position,
or the "bob" c might be thus set inverted on the centre star B2 of the table without
the disc d. In playing with this arrangement, the sliding playing discs a may be
made smooth on the upper surface and are slightly hollow or concave in the centre to
receive the cone c, that is, the disc a is inverted to play with this bob c as shown in
sectional in Figure 8, but is "flipped" by the finger and thumb in the same manner.
In playing with this arrangement, if the cone " bob " c be only displaced and does not
tall on the disc a the player forfeits one to each opponent. If the cone c only falls on
its side on the disc a he wins three from each opponent. If the cone c turns to the
reverse end or completely over and remains upright upon the disc a as indicated in
Figure 8, the player receives six from each opponent. But if the disè a does not
reach the inner circle B' or passes beyond it, the player pays one to each opponent,
as in the former arrangement; and similarly if the disc a passes within the inner
circle B¹ and does not displace the cone c, then the player neither receives nor
forfeits anything. But it will be understood that the mode of counting may be

page_text: "
modified without interfering with the main nature and features of the game. The
playing discs a could be made of the aforesaid shape to play with the "bob and
ball arrangement on the one side, and the hollow or concave shape on the
opposite side to play with the truncated cone c, as shown in Figures 4 and 8, by
merely inverting it for either game, or separate discs may be used for either
arrangement.
In playing this new game with "counters," when a player loses all his counters
he must cease playing, and so on with each player until one player is left in the
happy position of having won all the counters. After each player plays his shot
the playing disc a should be removed by the next player to prevent the succeeding
shots being impeded.
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
First. The invention and use of a table game in which the herein described arrange-
ment and combination of appliances are employed, substantially as and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Second. The combination of appliances for use as a table game comprising a flat
table or cover and playing or sliding dises or pieces, and "bob" and ball or weighted
truncated cone or other equivalent, substantially as herein described in reference to
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. The construction and use of sliding or playing discs a with cup and annular
groove a¹ a² on top for playing with a "bob" 6 and ball 61, or with a sinooth concave
top side for playing with a loaded truncated cone
"
❝ bob
c, as a table game, sub-
stantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated the 16th August 1890.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.