A New Game, and Apparatus for Playing the same.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Game, and Apparatus for Playing the same.
We, FELTHAM & Co. LTD., of Victoria Steam Works, Gillingham Street,
Victoria, London, S.W., Manufacturers, and LOUIS WILLIAM PAYNE, of 83, Mont-
holme Road, Wandsworth Common, S.W., Warehouseman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus to be used in playing a new game, and con-
sists, principally, of a table or tray (hereinafter referred to as the table) of circular,
rectangular or any other suitable form and of a convenient size, which is provided
with a ledge or rim and is supported on legs.
The bottom or sides of this table is made of an elastic material, which may also
be either opaque-such as thin metal-or semi-transparent-such as parchment,
gauze or the like, which material is stretched across the lower edges of the frame-
work formed by the said ledge or rim, or otherwise.
Two or more suitable openings or holes (hereinafter called goals) are formed,
preferably at an equal distance apart, in the rim to allow a ball, die or the like
(hereinafter referred to as the ball) one or more of which may be used, to roll or
pass through.
The ledge or rim is provided to prevent the ball from rolling off the table, except
at the goals, where pockets may be provided to catch it.
On the bottom of the table,' near the goals, bases may be marked, which must
be entered before the ball can roll or pass through the said goals.
In playing this game, assuming the table to be provided with two goals, opposite
each other, two or more players take opposite sides and try to cause the ball to
pass through his opponent's goal by striking or tapping at it through the elastic
bottom or sides of the table from underneath or otherwise with a light mallet or
other suitable implement so as to propel it in the desired direction.
Preferably these mallets consist of a flexible stick and a light head so as to
prevent too heavy a blow being dealt, we may however use a spring or a piece of
cane or whalebone and propel the ball by flipping it through the bottom of the
said table.
When the table is provided with more than two goals, one, more or a fewer
number of players may be assigned to each goal, it being in any case the part of
each player to keep the ball from being driven through his goal or goals.
We may in some cases provide the bottom of the table with suitable perforations
into which the ball would roll when at rest, so as to be in a position to be struck
or tapped from underneath through the said perforations and so propelled in the
desired direction. In this case the said bottom may be made of a less elastic
material.
In scoring, a player may be considered to gain a point when he sends the ball

page_text: into an opponent's base and a greater number of points when he makes a goal,
or, the goal keeper may be considered to have lost a corresponding number of
points, but it is not our intention to restrict ourselves to any particular form of
game to be played.
The goals may in some cases be a little above the level of the table so that the
ball must make a jump in order to pass through.
A transparent cover may also be provided.
We, FELTHAM & Co. LTD. of Victoria Steam Works, Gillingham Street,
Victoria, London, S.W., Manufacturers, and LOUIS WILLIAM PAYNE, of 83, Mont-
holme Road, Wandsworth Common, S.W., Warehouseman, 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 apparatus to be used in playing a new game, and con-
sists principally of a table board or tray (hereinafter called the table) of rectangular,
circular or any other suitable form and of a convenient size, which is provided
with a ledge or rim and is supported on legs.
The bottom and sides (either or both) of this table are made of an elastic material
which may also be opaque-such as thin metal-or semi transparent such as parch-
ment gauze or the like, which material is stretched across the frame work formed
by the said ledge, rim or otherwise.
Two or more suitable openings or holes (hereinafter called goals) are formed,
preferably at an equal distance apart in the sides to allow a ball, die or the like
(hereinafter called the ball) one or more of which may be used, to roll or pass
through.
The ledge or rim is provided to prevent the ball from rolling off the table, except
at the goals, where pockets may be provided to catch it.
A transparent cover may also be employed through which the progress of the
game may be watched, while the ball is prevented by it from leaving the board
except through the said goals.
On the bottom of the table, near the goals, bases may be marked, which must
be entered before the ball can roll or pass through the said goal.
A light mallet or other suitable implement is used to propel the ball in the desired
direction by striking flipping or tapping at it through the elastic bottom or sides.
According to a modified construction the bottom of the table is provided with
suitable perforations into which the ball would roll when at rest so as to be in a
position to be struck, flipped or tapped from underneath through such perforation
for the purpose of propelling it as desired. In this case the bottom may be made
of a less elastic material.
.
In a further modification the goals are situated a little above the level of the
table so that the ball must be caused to jump in order for it to pass through.
We will now proceed to more particularly describe our invention with the aid of

page_text: the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to corresponding parts
throughout.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, and Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the plane indi-
cated in Fig. 1 by the broken lines, showing one construction of table, which
consists of a frame composed of the non-elastic sides a, stiffened in the corners by
hollow angle pieces, b. At or near the lower edge of this frame an elastic bottom, c,
preferably of gauze, is attached, upon which bases are marked off by lines c* while
in each of its (the frame's) end pieces, a, openings or goals d are made, the whole
being supported on legs, e.
Fig. 3 is a similar transverse section through a table of modified construction in
which the sides, a¹, as well as the bottom c, are made of a suitable elastic material
which is secured to a frame a², in any well known or convenient manner. A trans-
parent cover f, having a frame f¹, is also shown and serves to confine the ball g,
Such a cover may be used with other construction of the table.
Fig. 4 is a sectional detail showing a modified form of bottom, c', having perfora-
tions, c, through which the ball, y, may be manipulated.
And Fig. 5 shows a mallet j, the head, h, of which is preferably made of a light
material, such as cork, which is attached to a springy handle, i, such as of cane,
whalebone or the like.
In playing the game two or more players provided with mallets ; or other suit-
able implements take opposite sides and try to cause the ball g ta pass through his
(or their) opponent's goal d, by striking, "flipping" or tapping at it through the
bottom cor sides a of the table from underneath or otherwise as the case may
be; it being the part of the opponent to try to defeat this object and retaliate.
When the table is provided with a greater number of goals d. a corresponding
number of sides may play.
In scoring a player may be considered to gain a point when he sends the ball
into an opponent's base and a greater number of points when he takes a goal.
The game may also be played with more than one ball-each side having his
own of a distinctive color, and in playing with an even number of sides two or
more might oppose other combinations, and a forfeit might be imposed when one
ball entered the base or goal of a partner. As however, a great variety of games
may be played with this apparatus, it is not my intention to limit its application
to any precise form of game."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A table or board consisting of a tray, having an elastic bottom and suitable
sides provided with goals, the whole being so constructed as to enable one or more
balls or the like to be propelled in a desired direction by striking, flipping or
tapping at it through such elastic bottom from beneath the table substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
2. A table or board consisting of a tray having an elastic bottom and suitable
sides provided with goals, any or all of which sides being also elastic, the whole
being so constructed as to enable one or more balls or the like to be propelled in
the desired direction by striking, flipping or tapping at it through such elastic
bottom or sides from beneath the table or otherwise as the case may be, sub-
stantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with a table or board of the kind referred to in Claims 1
and 2, of a transparent cover substantially as described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification.
4. The combination of a table or board of the kind referred to in Claims 1 and 2
provided with legs adapted to form a space between its elastic bottom and its
support, with a transparent cover substantially as described and for the purposes
set for h in the specification.

page_text: 5. The apparatus for playing a new game comprising the combination and
arrangement of parts substantially as described in the specification and shown in
the drawings.
Thated this Oth love of Draaman 1900
FELTHAM & Co., LIMITED,
ALBERT ALTMAN,
Managing Director,
PERCY A. J. ALTMAN,
Director,
W. L. PAYNE.
FELTHAM & Co. LIMITED,
ALBERT ALTMAN,
3
Managing Director,
PERCY A. J. ALTMAN,
Director.
W. L. PAYNE.