Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1895-Accepted, 29th June, 1895
I, JOHN FEATHERSTONEHAUGH PARSONS, of Siddington House, Kingsdown
Parade, Bristol, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists in a game of skill and in apparatus for playing thereat.
The apparatus consists of a specially devised board or table fitted with mechanism
as hereinafter set forth. The game is played with marbles or balls of glass, stone,
clay or other suitable substance.
The table decreases in depth from the starting end to the finishing end. It is
also higher at one side than at the other. Extending throughout the length of the
table is an approximately straight channel formed, either by grooving, or by raised
partitions. At intervals the said channel opens into branch courses between which
and the straight channel aforesaid are situated " pens or pockets also opening into
the straight channel. At the finishing end of the table the straight channel
terminates in a chamber. The last branch course terminates in a similar chamber.
Opposite the entrance to each branch course is hinged a trigger the inner end or
nose of which projects into the straight channel and is normally kept depressed by
the action of a spring. The triggers are capable of being tilted on their hinges
through the actuation of a rod common to them all and operated from the upper or
playing end of the table. Opposite the entrance to each pen or pocket is hinged a
lever, which levers are similar to the triggers aforesaid, but which, for convenience
in description, may be termed pen levers. Each pen lever is independent of the
others and has its inner end or nose, which projects into the straight channel,
normally depressed by the action of a spring.
The game is played by placing a ball on the starting point in the straight
channel and, by operating the trigger rod, starting it to advance in the said channel.
Operating the trigger rod for this purpose causes the triggers to turn on their
hinges so that their inner ends are raised. When the ball arrives opposite the
entrance to the first branch course the trigger rod is released with the object of
causing the first trigger to strike the ball and project it into the branch course.
If the operator succeeds in this, the ball passes round the pen or pocket and,
through an exit, returns advanced to the straight channel in which it is conducted.
to the next trigger, the trigger rod having been again operated to raise the triggers.
The action at the second trigger is the same as at the first, and so on for all the
triggers. Should the operator succeed in diverting the ball into each branch
course, the pen levers aforesaid are not brought into action and the ball passes to
the chamber at the end of the last branch course, and the operator scores.
Should, however, the operator not succeed in diverting the ball into any one
branch course, the ball advances in the straight channel and passes along the front
of the pen or pocket. The pen lever appertaining to such pen or pocket is tilted
by an opponent with a view to allowing the lever nose to strike the ball and project
it into the pen or pocket. If the opponent succeeds in this, the operator or player
who started the ball does not score. But, if the ball is not projected into the first
pen or pocket, it continues to advance in the straight channel, passing the exit
from the first branch course and if it be not diverted into the second branch course
it may be projected into the second pen or pocket, and so on throughout the series..
Should the ball not be projected into a pen or pocket, it is ultimately received❤

page_text: either in the chamber at the end, of the last branch course, or in that at the end of.
the straight channel. The value of the score determined upon per ball may be
made to vary with the particular chamber into which it is ultimately received.
The game may be played by two or more persons in. opposition to each other, or
it may be played by a party divided into equal "sides" or sections.
Dated this 25th day of August 1894.
I, JOHN FEATHERSTONEHAUGH PARSONS, of Siddington House, Kingsdown
Parade, Bristol, Artist, 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 consists in a game of skill and in apparatus for playing thereat.
The apparatus consists of a specially devised board or table fitted with mechanism
as hereinafter set forth. The game is played with marbles or balls of glass, stone,
clay, ivory, bone or other suitable substance.
The table diminishes in depth from the starting end to the finishing end.
Extending along the table is an approximately straight channel the bottom of
which is higher at one side than at the other. This channel may be formed either
by grooving the face of the table or by erecting barriers on the table. At intervals
the said channel has openings into branch courses between which and the channel
are situated pens or pockets also opening into the.channel which latter terminates
at the finishing end of the table in a chamber. The last branch course terminates
in a similar chamber. Opposite the entrance to each branch course is hinged
a trigger the inner end or nose of which projects into the channel aforesaid and is
normally kept depressed by the action of a spring. The triggers are capable
of being tilted on their hinges through the actuation of a rod common to them all
and operated from the starting end of the table.
Opposite the entrance to each pen or pocket is hinged a lever similar to the
triggers aforesaid.
These levers may, for convenience in description, be termed pen levers.
Each pen lever is independent of the others and each is normally held depressed
by a spring.
The game is played, as aforesaid, with marbles or balls of glass or other suitable
substance. The object of the player who operates the trigger-rod is to get each
ball into one or other of the two chambers at the finishing end of the table.
The player or players in opposition to the operator of the trigger-rod actuate in
turn the pen levers with a view to striking the balls into the pens or pockets and
thus arrest their course to the said chambers.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 represents, in plan, a table or board for playing at the game of skill which,
with the apparatus for playing thereat, constitutes this invention.
Fig. 2 represents a back view for the purpose of showing that the table is
inclined downwards towards the foot or finishing end.
The parts indicated by the letter a are raised above the general level of the
table, as seen in the enlarged views Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the first of which represents
a transverse section at x, x, Fig. 1, the second a similar section at y, y, Fig. 1, and
the third a similar section at z, z, Fig. 1. From the starting end A of the table to
the finishing end B thereof extends a channel b the bottom or floor of which
is inclined so as to keep the balls in contact with the rail-at the right hand side of

page_text: the channel as they pass down it.
channel b between which and the said
communicating with the channel b.
Branch courses 6' communicate with the
branch courses b¹ are pens or pockets c, also.
At the finishing end of the table the channel b terminates in a chamber d. The
last branch course terminates in a similar chamber d'.
Opposite the entrance to each branch course is hinged a trigger e extending
inwards beyond the rail bordering the right hand side of the channel b. The
triggers e are normally kept depressed below the floor of the channel 6 by
spiral springs el, one of which is seen at Fig. 4, where, however, the trigger e is
shown raised. A lever similar to the triggers e is hinged opposite the entrance
to each of the pens c. The levers, which may be conveniently termed pen levers,
are normally kept depressed by spiral springs f', one of which is seen at Fig. 5,
where, however, the lever f is shown raised.
Extending from the starting end A of the table to the last trigger, and capable
of turning on suitable journals let into the frame of the table, is a rod g which, by
means of the bolt hand spring i, is normally retained in the position shown at
Fig. 3. To the rod 9 is secured an arm j connected by a pink to the starting
lever surmounted by the head or button 1. From the bolt h an arın m extends
up through an aperture to the floor of the channel b and carries at its upper end a
head m² in advance of which is a bar n fixed to the table.
Under each trigger e and attached to the rod g is a crank e², as seen at Fig. 4.
The game is played in the manner following. A ball is placed on the head m¹
of the arm m and is retained there by the bar n.
The player whose office it is to operate the rod g depresses the starting lever l.
This action causes the rod g to turn on its journals, the bolt h turns on its pivot h¹,
the spring is extended and the arm m is raised. The ball is consequently
dislodged and rolls down the channel b. The triggers e are all raised to the point
shown at Fig. 4.
When the ball arrives opposite the entrance to the first branch course the rod
operator releases the rod with a view to striking the ball with the trigger and thus
to divert the ball into the said branch course. If the operator succeeds in this,
the ball passes round the first pen c and returns advanced to the channel b in which
it is conducted to the next trigger e, the rod 9 having been meantime again turned
to raise the triggers. The action at the second trigger is the same as at the first,
and so on for all the triggers.
Should the rod operator succeed in diverting the ball round all the pens c, the
pen levers fare not brought into action, and the ball passes to the chamber d¹ at
the end of the last branch course, and the rod operator scores.
Should, however, the rod operator fail to divert a ball round any one pen, the
ball advances in the channel b along the front of and across the entrance to the
said pen.
The pen lever appertaining to such pen, having been previously raised
by an opponent, is released smartly when the ball arrives opposite it with the
object of striking the ball and projecting it into the pen. If the opponent
succeeds in this, the rod operator does not score. But, if the ball is not projected
into the first pen or pocket, it continues to advance in the channel b, and, if it be
not diverted by the rod operator into the second branch course, it may be projected
by means of the next pen lever into the second pen, and so on throughout the
series.
Should the ball not be projected into any pen or pocket c it is ultimately received
into either the chamber d'or the chamber d', and, in either case, the rod operator
scores.
The value of the score determined per ball may vary according to which
chamber it is received in and may depend on such conditions as may be agreed
upon.
"
The game may be played by two or more persons in opposition to each other,
or it may be played by a party divided into "sides or sections and each player
may, in turn, or as otherwise arranged, operate the trigger rod g.

page_text: Instead of the springs c for depressing the triggers e, counterweights may be
adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the particular starting mechanism and trigger and
pen lever mechanism hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying sheet
of drawings; it being obvious that such mechanism is capable of variation by the
adoption of mechanically equivalent devices, but what i claim is :-
:-
A table or board for playing a game of skill, said board having a longitudinal
channel such as b, branch courses such as 6' and pens or pockets such as c, and
being fitted with triggers such as e, or their equivalents, operated through the
medium of a common rod or bar, and levers such as f, or their equivalents,
independent of each other; the arrangement being such that a marble or ball
travelling along the said channel may be diverted from the channel to any branch
course or into any pen or pocket, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 24th day of May 1895.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.