An Improved Game and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL, SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game and Apparatus therefor.
-I WALTER TAPLIN SYMINGTON of Market Harborough in the County of Leicester
Grocer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is to onable adults or children to obtain exercise or
amusement either under cover or in the open air and the novelty consists in the
arrangement and size of the Courts and in the make and length of the bats and that
the Game may be played on a small or circumscribed space which is not large enough
for other games of a like nature. The Game is to be played by 2 persons either on a
lawn of grass or on a floor made of asphalte boarding or other like material on which
a space is to be marked out 12 yards in length an·l yards in width by whitewash
The space so
or white paint either by a brush or in any other preferred manner.
marked out is to be divided into 3 Courts by drawing 2 lines with the same material
and in like manner from side to side thereof at a distance of 9 feet from either end.
The central Court will thus be 18 feet in length and 15 feet in width and the 2 end
Courts will each be 9 feet in length and 15 feet in width. The 2 end Courts are to be
subdivided by drawing like lines from the end boundary line to the Central Court
3 feet from each side making 2 lateral end Courts each feet wide and 1 middle end
Court 9 feet wide. Across the central Court equidistant from either end is to be
stretched from side to side netting made with a mesh 1 inch square 4 feet 6 inches from
and touching the material to be played upon and fastened by means of 4 hooks in the
meshes to round posts made of ash or other suitable wood 18 inch in diameter 4 feet eight
inches in length. The posts are to be made in 2 pieces of equal length so that one piece
may be inserted in the other. The upper piece to have a hole an inch in diameter
2 inches from the top through which is to be inserted a line running through the
nelting for the purpose of keeping the latter always tight the line to be fastened
round a hook placed 6 inches below the hole. The lower piece to have an iron spike
6 inches in length and of an inch in diameter protected by a brass ferule 1 inch
in height round the bottom of the post. The posts are to have 3 stays each made
of round iron of an inch in diameter 3 feet in length and bent at an angle
6 inches from the lower end that it may be inserted for that length in the material
played upon. The stay at the upper end is to he fastened to the post by an eye in
the stay and a staple in the post. One stay is to be fixed on the inside of the Court
at right angles to it the other 2 stays to be fixed in the lateral boundary lines.
The Balls to be of India rubber hollow and covered with wash leather and 6 inches
in circumference or thereabouts.
The Bats or Rackets are to be made of ash or lance or other suitable wood (the
handle being covered with roughed cedar) 22 inches in length and 48 inches in
circumference having a loop also made of wood pear shaped 6 inches in width
at the widest part and 8 inches in length. The loop to be strung crosswise at
intervals of of an inch with catgut wire or other suitable material so that the
surface so formed with which the ball is to be struck is flush or level with the
urface of the loop in front. The catgut wire or other material to be of an inch
in diameter.
The following are to be the rules of the Game which I call POKO.
1. The Player who commences shall be called the Leader his opponent the
Follower.
2. The Players are at the commencement of a Game to stand in the left hand
nd Courts one on either side of the net they shall change ends after every 2 sets
CAMMANCA each sat alternately

page_text: 3. The Leader is to strike the Ball into the middle end Court on his side of the
net so as to make it bound over the net anywhere into the Followers Court who is
in return to strike the ball to. the ground in his Court and make it rebound over
the net into the Leaders Court. The Ball may be struck by the Follower either
before it touches the ground or on its first bound.
4. When the Ball has once been bounded over the net according to the preceding
rule it is in play in any part of the Courts.
5. A "Miss" shall be called if the Leader does not strike the Ball into his own
middle Court and then over the net or if the ball when driven over the net falls
outside the Courts.
6. Scores. The Follower shall score one point if the Lender makes 3 misses.
7. If when a Ball is in play either of the Players fails to return the Ball or drives
it outside the Boundaries his opponent shall score one.
8. Five points shall make a Set and 4 Sets a Game..
9. Whenever the Game stands 3 Sets all it shall be called a "Tri" and shall be
drawn unless one of the Players in not more than 5 Sets shall win 2 consecutively.
10. Players must take the Ball on its first bound or may take it before it touches
the ground.
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יל
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game and Apparatus therefor.
1 WALTER TAPLIN SYMINGTON of Market Harborough in the County of Leicester
Grocer 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 :—
The Game may be played by either two or four persons who shall singly at the
commencement stand in the left hand Courts on either side of the Net. Ends to
be changed after every two sets and at the end of each. Game. The player who
commences is to be called the Leader and his opponent the follower and they shall
commence each set alternatively. The Leader commences by striking the Ball into
his own Middle End Court so as to make it bound over the Net anywhere into the
Followers Courts who in return shall strike the Ball on to the ground anywhere in
his Courts and make it rebound over the Net anywhere into the Leaders Courts.
The Ball shall be in play when it has been bounded over the Net by the Leader
and may then be struck either before it touches the ground or on its first bound..
Either player may then catch the Ball on the back of the Bat and throw it from
where it is caught over the Net. If the player fail to throw the Ball over the Net
or the Bat go over the Net his opponent shall score two points. When a catch has
been made the player who fails to return the Ball over the Net either by a. bound
or catch shall loose two points. If the Leader does not in three attempts strike the
Ball into his own middle end Court and then over the Net or if the Ball when in
play shall fall outside the boundaries or not be returned over the Net, it shall be
called a miss and the opponent shall score one point. Five points shall make a set
and Four Sets, a Game.
Whonever a Gaine stands three sets all it shall be called a Tri and shall be
drawn unless one of the players in not more than five attempts shall win two con-
secutive sets.

page_text: 2. When the Game is played on a Lawn or floor a space is to be marked out
12 yards in length and 5 yards in width by whitewash or white paint by means of
a brush or any other manner.
3. The space so marked out is to be divided into 3 Courts by drawing lines with
the same materials and in like manner from side to side thereof at a distance of 9 feet
from either end so that a midille Court will be formed 18 feet in lenth and 15 feet
in width and 2 end Courts each 9 feet in length and 15 feet in width.
4. Each end Court is to be divided into 3 Courts by drawing like lines from the
end boundary line to the Central Court at a distance of 3 feet from the side so that
a Central Court will be formed 9 feet in width and 2 lateral Courts each 3 feet
in width.
5. Across the middle Court equidistant from either end is to be stretched from side
to side netting made with a mesh small enough to provent Balls passing through
4 feet 6 inches in height from and touching the material played upon and fastened
by means of 4 or more hooks on 2 posts which are to be made of metal or any
suitable wood 13 inches in diameter or thereabouts and 4 feet 8 inches in length.
The posts may be made either in one piece or in two pieces of equal length so that
onė may be inserted in the other.
6. A hole in. in diameter or thereabouts is to be made in the post 2 inches from
the top through which a cord running through the top meshes of the netting is to
be drawn and fastened round a double hook placed 6 inches below the hole in
the post.
7. The bottom ends of the posts are to have iron spikes 6 inches in length and
in. in diameter or thoreabouts and a ferule of metal 1 inch in height.
8. The Stays are to be made of metal or wood in. in diameter or thereabouts
3 feet in length or thereabouts and bent so as to allow the lower end to be inserted
for a distance of 6 inches in the material played upon. The upper end of each Stay
is to be fastened to the post by a hinge to a ring on the middle of the Post or by a
Slot attached to a ring round the middle of the post in which one inch of the end
which is to be bent for the purpose is to be inserted.
9. Before commencing a Game the posts are to be fixed in the boundary line in
the middle Court equidistant from either end and one stay is to be in the Court in
the line of the Net the other 2 Stays in the boundary lines one on either side of
the post.
10. The Balls are to be of India Rubber hollow uncovered or covered with any
suitable material and 6 inches in circumference or thereabouts.
11. The Bats are to be made of any suitable wood or metal the handle being
uncovered or covered with any suitable material and 22 inches in length or there-
abouts having a hoop made of wood either pear shaped or circular, when made pear
shaped the hoop to be 6 inches in width and 8 inches in length when circular to be
6 inches in diameter. The hoop is to be strung crosswise at intervals of § in. or
thereabouts with catgut wire or other suitable material of a inch in diameter or
thereabouts and so that the surface with which the Ball is to be struck is level with
the edge of the hoop in front.
12. When the game is played on a Table the Bats to be made of the same materials
in the same manner, the handle being 9 inches in length the hoop when pear shaped
to be 4 inches in length and 34 inches in width and when circular to be 3 inches
in diameter. The Balls to be of the same materials 3 inches in diameter or there-
abouts. The Net to be 14 inches in height. The posts to be 15 inches in height
and inch in diameter or thereabouts, having instead of a spike a flange of wood or
metal inches in length, 1 inch in width and of an inch in thickness to rest on the
Table. The Stays are to be 9 inches in length and bent at a distance of 2 inches from
the lower end with flanges 1 inch in width, 3 inches in length and of an inch in
thickness to rest upon the table and fasten in the same manner to the posts. Courts
are to be formed by tapes, tied under the Table so that the centre Court will be
4 feet in length and the width of the Table in width and 2 end Courts 2 feet in
length and the width of the Table in width each end Court is to be divided so as the

page_text: central end Court be 18 inches in width the lateral end Courts each 16 inches in
width. Where the Table played on is more than 8 feet in length the Courts may be
increased in length proportionately.
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 :-
central end Court be 18 inches in width the lateral en Courts each 16 inches in
width. Where the Table played on is more than 8 feet in length the Courts may be
increased in length proportionately.
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 :-
1. The arrangement and size of the Courts.
2. The form and length of the Bats.
3. The shape and positions of the Stays.
4. The method of attachment of the Stays to the posts.
5. That the game may be played on a small or circumscribed space which is not
large enough for other games of a like nature or on a Table.
6. That the game may be played either in the open air, under cover, or on a
Table.
Dated this 10th day of November 1889