Improvements in the Construction of Billiard Tables.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Billiard Tables.
We, THOMAS EACHUS RAPER, and JAMES RICHARDSON RAPER, both of 10 Hilton
Street, Manchester, Billiard Table Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to the manufacture of Billiard-Tables, and have for object
the more sightly and secure finish of those portions thereof which are held on or held
together by means of large screws or bolts, the heads of which, in the ordinary mode
of manufacture are sunk into the wood and then covered with a wooden turned cap
or cover fitting tightly into the recess. Such caps or covers are liable to become
loose as the wood dries in use, and to fall or be knocked out, broken or lost; 'and form
a drawback in the finish of billiard tables.
To remedy this defect, and to accomplish our improvements, we form the heads of
the screws or bolts in cylindrical shape, so that the same may be screw-threaded, and
thus made capable of having screwed thereon a metallic cap, which may be orna-
mented at will, and is in no way liable to be knocked off by accident.
We prefer to not sink the head of the screw or bolt into the wood, but to allow the
same to project from the surface for the more simple screwing on of the cap; and we
also prefer to employ a metallic washer, let into the wood behind the screw head,
which may either be loose or attached, by means of small screws, to the wood; but
nevertheless the screw-heads may be sunk in if desired, and the washers may be
dispensed with, or varied, without departing from the peculiar character of the
invention.
Dated this 28th dox of March 1889
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Billiard Tables.
We, THOMAS EACHUS RAPER and JAMES RICHARDSON RAPER, both of 10 Hilton
Street, Manchester, Billiard Table Manufacturers, do hereby declaro 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 improvements relate to the manufacture of billiard tables, and have for object
the more sightly and secure finish of those portions thereof which are held on or held
together by means of large screws or bolts, the heads of which; in the ordinary mode
of manufacture, are sunk into the wood, and then covered with a wooden turned cap
or cover, fitting tightly, into the recess. Such caps or covers are liable to become
loose as the wood dries in use, and to fall or be knocked out, broken or lost, and form
a drawback in the finish of billiard tables.
To remedy this defect and to accomplish our improvements we form the heads of
the screws or bolts in cylindrical shape so that the same may be screw threaded and
thus made capable of having screwed thereon a metallic cap or a wooden cap in which
is recessed a metallic bush or ring which cap may be ornamented at will and is in no
way liable to be knocked off by accident.
We prefer to not sink the head of the screw or bolt into the wood, but to allow the
same to project from the surface, for the more simple screwing on of the cap; and we
also prefer to employ a metallic washer let into the wood behind the screw head,
which may either be loose, or attached, by means of small screws, to the wood; but

page_text: Fig. 1. shews a longitudinal elevation of a screw-headed bolt; and Fig. 2. an end
view thereof. Figs. 3. and 4. shew views of one form of screwed cap; and Fig. 5.
shews a view part section, part elevation of apparatus arranged in accordance with
our improvements. The same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever they
occur.
a. a. are portions of a billiard table. b. b. is the bolt, and c. c. the cylindrical head
thereof, screwed to receive the cap d. d. which in this case is shewn provided with
the recessed metallic bush or ringe. e. f. f. is the washer, which is, by preference,
sunk into the wood of the table, and attached thereto by screws, or other means.
g. g. is a nut or collar, of any convenient form, which serves to bind the bolt tightly
in position.
In operation, the bolt is passed through a hole bored for the purpose, in the requisite
portions of the table; after which the nut or collar g. g. is run on the screwed end
and the bolt tightened up.
The screwed head c. c., by preference, prevented from sinking into the wood, by
means of the washer f.f., allows of the ready attachment of the screwed cap d. d.
which, when placed in position, conceals the less sightly portions of the apparatus,
and as a consequence, forms an ornamental finish to that portion of the billiard table
under operation, and is not liable to drop or be knocked off.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed; we declare that what we
claim is-
:-
1. The employment, in bolts used in the construction of billiard tables of a
cylindrical screwed head, for the purpose of receiving a screwed cap, in manner
substantially as shewn and described.
2. The employment of a screwed metallic cap, or wooden cap having a screwed
metallic bush or ring for the purpose of forming a secure ornamental cover for the
heads of bolts used in the construction of billiard tables, substantially as shewn and
described.
3. The combination of the screwed head and cap, for the purpose and in manner
substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 13th day of September 1889.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent.