Improvements in Contrivances for Playing Ball Games or Puzzles, applicable also for Educational Purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Oct., 1891-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Contrivances for Playing Ball Games or Puzzles,
applicable also for Educational Purposes.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM PARISH, of No. 1 Elm Street Belgrave in the County
of Leicester Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in contrivances for playing ball games,
or puzzles, applicable also for educational purposes or exercises in spelling, and
consists in the employment of letter blocks, or serrated strips arranged either in
lines, or otherwise, and a series of balls which have to be got into their respective
slots in accordance with the game to be played (which I call "Rolo"), that by the
manipulation of the balls children and others will be able to spell words and the
like by placing the requisite ball over the right letter, or count numerals as
the case may be.
The improvements herein referred to enables one or more players to play a
variety of games by each having one of the boxes, and trying with their own to
accomplish the object first. For this purpose I make a suitable box or case which
may be rectangular or circular shaped and of wood, metal, or cast in any
suitable composition or pulp. If of wood the strips are serrated with holes to
conform exactly to the size of the balls employed, and arranged at equal distances
from each other and stuck upon the flat bottom of the box or case, alternate spaces
being left at the ends of the strips from the sides that the balls may pass down, or
up, from one row to the other. This arrangement is suitable for playing the
following games, first what I call "Cannon " wherein the players have to succeed
in getting two "spot balls" in the end positions, and the other balls in regular
positions in the intervening spaces. Or "Pool" by succeeding in getting a certain
number of the balls poised on the others in alinement and the "
spot balls" at the
ends. Or Pyramid' by making all the balls in a pyramidal form except the
Or
"spot balls" which are kept in slots separate but contiguous thereto.
"Scramble" wherein each ball commencing with the colored "spot ball" and
ending with another, are got into consecutive positions in each right or left slot,
in all the strips two circular holes being made close together then a space to
increase the difficulty of keeping them in position.
6
To play word puzzles or spelling games the balls must be placed and kept in the
cups or slots immediately over the requisite letters to form the word which are
marked under each set of holes from A to Z, the coloured "spot balls" denoting a
double letter as in Aberdeen. Or the balls may be marked with the letters of the
alphabet and the words made out by getting the balls in their respective positions
to form the word.
"
Or numerals may be employed either on the serrated strips, or on the balls for
counting or compiling figures in any way desired. Or the serrated strips may be
arranged in circles and the bottom of the box having thereon representations of
the "stars
<<
or
planets" or celestial bodies, the cups or holes coloured, and the
balls coloured also, so that in playing, the coloured ball must be got whatever its
position in the box between the strips into their respective cups, or holes. Any
number of different colours may be employed in the 26 balls, but 2 will be of a
distinctive color or mark for "spot balls."
To play the box or case having a transparent top thereto is held in the hand
and the sides gently tapped with the fore finger of the hand to bring the balls into
play until they are safely in their respective slots. In place of the serrated strips,
may have serrated blocks, diamond or crescent shaped and arranged at intervals

page_text: on the flat bottom of the box or case, and marked in the manner desired either with
letters, words, figures, the heavenly bodies, signs of the zodiac, or planisphere, thus
forming a series of educational and instructive games and exercises.
Dated this 31st day of December 1890.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Contrivances for Playing Ball Games or Puzzles,
applicable also for Educational Purposes.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM PARISH of No. 1 Elm Street Belgrave in the County
of Leicester Traveller, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in contrivances for playing ball games or
puzzles, applicable also for educational purposes or exercises in spelling, and
consists in the employment of serrated strips arranged in lines, and a series of balls
which have to be got into their respective slots in accordance with the game to be
played (which I call Rolo), that by the manipulation of the balls children and
others may be able to spell words and the like by placing the requisite ball over
the right letter, or count numerals, as the case may be.
That my invention may be well understood I will now refer to the sheet of
drawings accompanying this Specification in which
Figure 1 is a view of the game or puzzle box A showing the balls arranged for
playing "Scramble."
Figure 2. is a plan view of the serrated strips B, with the balls D and E arranged
for playing "Cannon."
Figure 3. is another plan view showing how the game "Pool" is played-and
Figure 4 how the game of "Pyramid" is played.
The letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.
The improvements herein referred to enables one or more players to play a
variety of games by each being provided with one of the boxes and trying with
their own to accomplish the object first.
For the purpose of my invention I make the box or case A which is rectangular,
(or may be circular shaped) and made of wood, metal, or produced by casting in
ordinary moulds from any suitable composition, or pulp. If made of wood the
strips B are serrated with holes C to conform exactly to the size of the balls or
spheres D so that they rest comfortably therein, the strips are arranged at equal
distances from each other, and stuck upon the flat bottom of the box or case A,
alternate spaces a, being left at the ends of the strips from the sides so that the
balls or spheres can pass down or up from one row to the other. By this arrange-
ment the following games, forming a puzzle are played, the difficulty being to get
the balls or spheres into the positions as illustrated in the drawings, for "Cannon "
shown in Figure 2 the players have to succeed in getting the two spot balls E in
the end positions and the other balls in their positions in the intervening spaces.
For "Pool" as illustrated in Figure 3 a certain number of the balls or spheres D,
are held poised on the others in alinement with the spot balls E also poised at both
ends. For "Pyramid as illustrated in Figure 4 wherein the player must get
the balls or spheres D in pyramidal form, at the same time keep the two spot
balls E in separate slots but contiguous to the others. In Figure 1 is illustrated
the game of Scramble" wherein each ball commencing with the coloured spot
ball E and ending with the other one, are got into consecutive positions in each
right or left slot C. The said slots, or circular holes or spherical grooves being
made close together as shown, then a space, so as to increase the difficulty of keeping
them in position
"

page_text: "
To play "word puzzles or to have a "spelling game "the balls D and E must
be got and kept in the cups or slots C immediately over the requisite letters to form
the word selected, such letters, as will be seen in Figure 1 are marked under one
of the sets of holes from A to Z; the coloured spot balls E standing for a double
letter as in the word "Aberdeen." Or the balls or spheres may be marked with
the letters of the alphabet and "words" made out by getting each ball in its
respective position to form the word. Or numerals may be employed either on the
serrated strips or upon the balls for counting or compiling figures in any way desired
to teach the young how to spell and compile words therefrom. Any number of
different colours may be employed in the twenty six balls, but two will be of a
distinctive colour or mark to be used for "
"spot balls."
To play the box or case A
having a transparent top thereto is held in the hand and the sides gently tapped
with the forefinger, or held in both hands and the sides gently tapped with the
forefinger, or rapped slightly with one hand while held in the other to bring the balls
into play, until they are safely in the desired slots. The serrated strips B may be
in blocks or sections arranged close together in rows as illustrated and marked
with letters, figures, signs, words to form in conjunction with the balls or spheres D
and E a series of educational and instructive games and exercises. The balls may
be marked to correspond with a duplicate thereof put under the slots in the strips
for getting the balls into their respective positions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a game or puzzle contrivance of the character described a series of serrated
strips B arranged to hold the balls D or E during the manipulation of the box
or case.
2. In a game or puzzle box a series of spherical grooves arranged in the
strips B to hold the balls D and E at any angle at which the box or case
may be held.
"
3. In contrivances for playing puzzle games the formation and arrangement of
the balls D and E as illustrated in the games Scramble," "Cannon,'
«Pool,"
Pyramids" or the like Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.
t
4. In contrivances for educational purposes of spelling, or making puzzle words,
the arrangement of letters, figures, signs, or characters upon the strips B, and balls D
or E as described.
5. In contrivances for playing ball games or puzzles the employment of 24 and
2 spot balls, as and for the purpose specified.
6. Improvements in contrivances for playing ball games, or puzzles, applicable
also for educational purposes, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described
and set forth.
This 30th day of September 1891.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
The "Central" Patent Office, Leicester, Applicant's Agent.