An Improved Game Played with Balls.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game Played with Balls.
I THOMAS SANDBACH DEAN of Old Buckenham Vicarage Attleborough in
the County of Norfolk Clerk in Holy Orders do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :--
This game consists of a number of stakes or posts-made either all in a piece
or jointed a number of hoops or rings made of wood, metal, or any other suitable
material, a quantity of cord or wire rope, and a number of balls, with or without
a number of rackets or bats; added to which metal sockets are provided into
which the stakes or posts may be placed; or the said sockets may be dispensed
with and the stakes fastened in any other suitable manner. When the metal
sockets are used they are put into the ground. These sockets are made either
closed or unclosed at the bottom, and with or without at the top a cover or lid.
When the latter is used it fastens either by a hinge, or in any other suitable
manner, the whole socket then forming an improved one for games. When the
game is about to be played the stakes are fixed in an upright position at certain
distances apart, the rope is or the ropes are attached to the upper part of the
stakes, and if the hoops or rings have not already been attached to the rope or
ropes this has now to be done. The hoops may be fixed at any suitable distance
from each other; and the chief object of each player is to get the ball with which
he plays through the hoops as quickly as possible, according to set rules and
regulations.
Dated this 4th day of February 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game Played with Balls.
1, THOMAS SANDBACH DEAN, of Old Buckenham Vicarage, Attleborough, in
the County of Norfolk, Clerk in Holy Orders, 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 an open-air game in which two or more players
endeavour to send light balls through a series of elevated rings or hoops which are
suitably suspended in certain given relative positions.
The apparatus required for playing this game consists of a number of hoops
which are suspended from, or otherwise attached to, posts or other supports by
cords or other means. The said supports are arranged according to some pattern
such as a polygonal or rectangular figure or series of such figures. Differently
coloured balls are used by each player, whose object it is to send his ball, with or
without the aid of an ordinary racquet, through cach hoop.
The player who first makes the complete circle of the rings wins the match.
There are several methods of playing the game, according to some of them, each
player may have the progress of his ball retarded by his adversaries, or assisted by
his alies. The main elements of the game, however, remain the same whatever
mode of playing it may be adopted.
Each player endeavours to get his ball through the first ring, then, according
to the first mode, if he fails in getting his ball through, he must leave it on the
ground wherever it drops, until his turn comes round again, when, if in the mean-
time not bowled by somebody else into position, he must try to bowl it by his hand

page_text: to the most favourable spot for getting through the ring he missed. If, however,
he succeeds in driving his ball through the first ring, he may take up the ball and
strike for the next ring if he chooses.; but he must do so standing upon the spot
whereon the ball fell. If he does not consider the ball in a suitable position he,
may try to bowl it to the required spot instead of striking for the ring. Should
he succeed in getting his ball through the first and second rings without failure he
may go on to the third ring and continue going ahead until he fails. The other
players then play in their order.
According to one modified arrangement, there is no bowling. Each player starts
the same as if he were going to play as described above, but after he has driven
his ball through a ring, he may pick it up and strike the next ring. Each player,
after he has completed his turn must leave his ball by the side of the last ring.he
has passed until his turn comes round again.
According to another mode only one ball is required, and that should be a very
light one. Four players at least must take part in the game, and each of the
players on one side has an innings before the other side begins to bat or strike.
The latter, however, is not to remain idle, the service of the players being required
for fielding, i.e., supposing there are two only on a side, but if more then two only
are to field at a time. Each player, whose turn it is to try to pass his ball through
a ring, must have the ball served to him by one of his own side, the striker standing
as usual, and the server standing at whatever distance he may prefer. When a
striker succeeds in passing his ball through a ring he must run to it, and if either
of the two fielders can succeed in hitting him or the post or pole he just left (one
or the other as arranged) with the ball, before he is within a racket's length from
this ring, his side loses a point, and the next striker on that side must try for the
next ring. But if the server, who is on his own side, can succeed in catching or
stopping the ball after it has gone through the ring he may do so; and then the
ring counts a point, and he may proceed at once to the next ring, and so on.
time a player passes a ring successfully it counts one point, and the side gaining
the most points wins the game. When a striker fails to secure his ring he must
< serve," and the last server "strike." As soon as one side is "out" the other
goes in," and should the circle of rings still be incomplete after each has had an
innings, then the players have another innings, and more, if need be, to complete
the round.
cr
Each
In a further modification, sides are chosen, and any number up to a dozen or
two may play. Only one (light) ball is required, and a very narrow bat must he
used in place of a racket. According to this mode one side must serve the ball to
the other side, and it is the object of the one side to prevent the other from
getting the ball through the rings. After it has been decided in the usual way as
to which side is to have the first innings, the side to go in first sends two strikers,
one to defend the starting ring, and the other to defend a ring placed in the
centre of the polygonal or other figure. The opposition send two servers to stand
on one side of these rings when serving, and behind same when not serving. The
servers try alternately to throw the ball through the respective rings, and the
strikers standing on one side of the rings, at a racket's length off, endeavour to
prevent them by means of the bat, which they must not hold in front of the ring,
but keep below ready to strike when the ball is sent. The server at the centre
ring begins by serving ring No. 1. If the server gets the ball through the ring
or hits the pole the striker is out, but if not, and the latter succeeds in hitting
the ball, the two strikers may, if they choose, exchange places by running, and if
they manage to do so without being hit on the way, they have gained a ring for
their side. When a striker gets <<
"
out a fresh one must take his place, and so
on until all on that side have had an innings, or the circle of rings is completed.
When one side has had an innings, then the other side has theirs.
set.
The side making the round of the rings in the shortest space of time wins the
When the space is limited it is best to use only a few rings. Indeed, unless
the lawn is spacious, two rings only, should be used, and these should be placed

page_text: in the centre of the ground, as in cricket, the distance between the rings to be
thirty feet, more or less, according to space and agreement. When playing with
two rings only a different rule has to be adopted as to the winning point, and
instead of the players counting each successful run as a "ring gained," each side
has two innings, and the gainer of the greatest number of runs wins the game.
A set of smaller hoops or rings is also provided so that the ability of the players
may be put to a greater test when required, in which case the said smaller rings
are substituted for the larger set.
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 :-
The employment in a game, of a number of hoops or rings suitably supported
or suspended in an elevated position, through which an unlimited number of players
endeavour to send balls by means of racquets or by other suitable means according
to certain set rules and regulations, substantially as herein set forth and described.
1 1
1001
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.