IMPROVE- MENTS IN BILLIARD TABLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BILLIARD TABLES." A communication from abroad by Moritz Hess,
of Berlin. in the German Empire.
Sealed the 11th May 1880, and dated the 19th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1879.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN BILLIARD TABLES." [A communication from
abroad by Moritz Hess, of Berlin, in the German Empire.]
This Invention relates to a construction of billiard table in such manner that it
can be used as an ordinary table, and can when required be extended in length for
that use.
For this purpose the legs and underframing are made separate from the
table itself (which may be of slate) which is provided with cushions and with a
deep rim extending downwards so as to enclose the framing and slide freely up
and down thereon. When the table is lowered down on the framing it can be
covered by an ordinary table board resting on its cushioned edges, and then can
serve as an ordinary table. For use for billiards the table board is removed, and
the table is then raised to the convenient level for playing in the following
manner: At each end there is mounted in bearings in the framing a transverse
rocking shaft which has arms projecting from its middle and from near its ends,
and has on it a socket or stud to which a hand lever can be applied to turn the
shaft partly round. When the table is down the arms of the rocking shaft lie
nearly horizontally inwards. When it is desired to raise the table the hand levers
are applied to the rocking shafts so as to turn them partly round, and thus their
arms are raised bearing up the table, and when they reach the vertical attitude
they form a rigid support for the table. In order to steady the table it has several
guide bolts projecting down from it, and sliding through guide eyes in the framing
below. For the purpose of extending the table when required for ordinary use
slides are fitted in the outer side rims, and these slides can be drawn out each way
and supported at their ends on additional legs, and then covered by table boards
or flaps so as to form extensions of the main table. The rocking shafts for raising
or lowering the table, instead of being moved by hand levers, may have on them
toothed racks worked by worms on a longitudinal spindle that can be turned in
either direction by a winch; the raising and lowering may also be effected by means
of sliding wedges instead of rocking levers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th May
1880.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BILLIARD TABLES." A communication from
abroad by Moritz Hess, of Berlin, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to a construction of billiard table in such manner that it
can be used as an ordinary table, and can when required be extended in length for
that use.
For this purpose the legs and underframing are made separate from the
table itself (which may be of slate) which is provided with cushions, and with a
deep rim extending downwards so as to enclose the framing and slide freely up
and down thereon. When the table is lowered down on the framing it can be
covered by an ordinary table board resting on its cushioned edges, and then can
serve as an ordinary table. For use for billiards the table board is removed, and
the table is then raised to the convenient level for playing in the following
manner: At each end there is mounted in bearings in the framing a transverse
rocking shaft, which has arms projecting from its middle and from near its ends,
and has on it a socket or stud to which a hand lever can be applied to turn the
shaft partly round. When the table is down the arms of the rocking shaft lie
nearly horizontally inwards. When it is desired to raise the table the hand levers
are applied to the rocking shafts so as to turn them partly round, and thus their
arms are raised bearing up the table, and when they reach the vertical attitude
they form a rigid support for the table. In order to steady the table it has several
guide bolts projecting down from it, and sliding through guide eyes in the framing
below. For the purpose of extending the table when required for ordinary use
slides are fitted in the outer side rims, and these slides can be drawn out each way
and supported at their ends on additional legs, and then covered by table boards
or flaps, so as to form extensions of the main table. The rocking shafts for raising
or lowering the table, instead of being moved by hand levers, may have on them
toothed racks worked by worms on a longitudinal spindle that can be turned in
either direction by a winch. The raising and lowering may also be effected by
means of sliding wedges instead of rocking levers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a part side view and part longitudinal section on the line A, B, (Fig. 3b)
of a table, according to this Invention; Fig. 2 is a part side view, shewing the
extension at one end; Fig. 3a is a part plan, looking from below, of the moveable
framing; Fig. 3b is a part plan of the underframing; Fig. 4 is a part end view and
part transverse section on the line C, D, (Fig. 1), shewing the table raised; and
Fig. 5 is a part end view and part transverse section on C, D, shewing the table
lowered down. The upper moveable frame A which carries the table slab b and
the cushions a has a deep moulding projecting down and embracing, when A. is
lowered, the lower or stationary frame B; it is guided in its up and down
movement by bolts c fixed to the frame A sliding through eyes f on the frame B.
At each end of the table is a rocking shaft g mounted in bearings d, and having
arms h, the middle one of which is extended to receive the socket of a hand lever o,
by which the shaft g is turned partly round, its arms h raising or lowering the
table. The side cheeks of the frame A have fitted in them slide bars i, which are
made with tongues fitting in grooves, and are connected by a crossbar m, into
which a leg D can be screwed, as shewn in Fig. 2, when the slide is drawn out to
extend the table. For ordinary use the table is lowered and covered by boards r;
for use as a billiard table these boards are removed, and the table is raised, the

page_text: raising and lowering being effected by turning the shafts g partly round by the
hand lever o. The sliding extension i may obviously be dispensed with when the
lengthening of the table is not required.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim,—
First. The construction of billiard table wherein the slab and cushions are
secured to a framing guided to be moved vertically by arms of rocking shafts
mounted on the stationary framing that rests on the legs of the table, substantially
as herein described.
Second. Fitting the sides of the framing of a billiard table with slides for the
purpose of extending the table, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Imray, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.