Roulette Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Roulette Apparatus.
I, ARTHUR RAY REED, of 28, Riversdale Terrace, Sunderland, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 improved roulette apparatus, the object of the invention
being to render such apparatus applicable for the playing of various athletic and
other games of chance or skill such, for instance, as billiards; cricket; Association
football; Rugby football; lawn tennis ; fives and racquets; patience, odd and even
and wheel of fortune; election; regatta; rifle range and archery; base ball;
bagatelle; croquet; roulette; golf; race-course and dice.
The special novelty of the invention consists in the combination in a roulette
apparatus comprising a bowl-like casing or board, which may also be provided with
a removable top lid or cover, of a rotary runner adapted as hereinafter described
and of a series of interchangeable discs respectively divided in a radial or
equivalent manner so as to be respectively suitable for indicating the points won or
lost according to the rules of the game desired to be played, so that any game may
be substituted for another, at will.
The improved apparatus is illustrated on the accompanying drawings, in
which
Fig. 1, represents a plan, the cover being removed in the lower half thereof.
Fig. 2, represents an elevation, partly in section on the line a.- — b, Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 to 19, represent various of the interchangeable discs.
22, represents the bowl or board, which is made with an open top and is fitted
with a central pivot pin 23, preferably formed with a tapered or conical point upon
which the runner is adapted to rotate with but little friction.
24, represents the runner, which is made of a disc-like formation fitting snugly
within the casing, (vide Fig. 2,) so as to be capable of freely rotating therein. It
is formed with an inclined periphery on its upper face forming an annular portion 38,
which is radially divided into equal sized grooves or recesses serving for the purpose
of imparting the desired motion to the ball or roller 25, and of locating it when the
runner stops.
The runner is fitted with a central socket 26, adapted to fit on the pivot pin 23,
of the board and to turn freely thereon. The socket projects up through the lid or
cover 27, sufficiently to form a handle 28, by which the runner can be spun around
by a twist of the finger and thumb.
The socket of the runner is made with a longitudinal projection or locking
detail 29, (or with corresponding locking details,) adapted to engage with a
corresponding recess 30, (or with corresponding recesses) in the said interchangeable
disc 31, so as to properly locate the disc and to be adapted to impart its rotary
motion thereto. __
31, represents the discs, which are made preferably of thin metal, but they may
also be made of wood, card, papier-mâche or of any other suitable material, as may
also the bowl, the runner and its attachments and the cover or lid.
An annular portion of each disc (vide Figs. 3 to 19,) is divided off by radial lines
into partitions equal in number to those of the divided periphery 38, of the
runner 24, and the disc is fitted to the runner so that the divisions of each will be
coincident, by the centre of the disc being made with a hole 32, adapted to fit
around the socket of the runner, and with a recess 30, (or recesses) adapted to fit
the projection 29, (or projections) of said socket, so that, in playing any game with
the apparatus, the ball, at the stoppage of the runner, will always be located in one

page_text: of the divisions thereof, and opposite one of the divisions of the disc, which will
determine the value of the turn of the player last operating the runner.
Several examples of such discs, as respectively suitable for the playing of various
games, are illustrated on the accompanying drawings, each disc being marked by
figures, letters, words, marks or the like, according to the points to be won or lost or
to the scoring or rules of the game for which it is intended to be used.
Fig. 3, represents a disc suitable for playing the game of billiards.
Fig. 4, that suitable for playing cricket.
of the divisions thereof, and opposite one of the divisions of the disc, which will
determine the value of the turn of the player last operating the runner.
Several examples of such discs, as respectively suitable for the playing of various
games, are illustrated on the accompanying drawings, each disc being marked by
figures, letters, words, marks or the like, according to the points to be won or lost or
to the scoring or rules of the game for which it is intended to be used.
Fig. 3, represents a disc suitable for playing the game of billiards.
Fig. 4. that suitable for playing cricket.
Fig. 5, that for Association football.
Fig. 6, that for Rugby football.
Fig. 7, that for lawn tennis, fives and racquets.
Fio 8 that for nationce odd and even and wheel of fortune
Fig. 19, that for dice.
Other games may be adapted to be played in the apparatus, in like manner, by
appropriately marking suitable discs according to the ordinary rules of the game to
be played.
When playing any of such games with such apparatus, the bowl or board is
preferably covered with a removable lid 27, which is made with an aperture 34, to
accommodate the handle of the runner, and with an aperture 35, to permit of the
dropping of the ball (or balls) 25, or its equivalent into the bowl onto the runner
and with a handle 37, by which the cover or lid can be easily removed and replaced
on the bowl.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
In combination, a roulette apparatus (embracing an open or closed bowl or board,
a peripherally divided runner and a ball or balls) and a series of interchangeable
discs, co-operating so as to be applicable for the playing of various athletic and
other games of skill or chance; the discs being respectively adapted for indicating
the points won or lost according to the rules of the game desired to be played.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1892.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.