Improvements in or relating to Billiard Tables.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Billiard Tables.
I, EDWARD GREEN, of 99 Regent Street, London, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to billiard tables, and consists in further improvements on
the invention described in the Specification of prior Letters Patent granted to me
dated January 14th 1888, No. 635. The tables constructed according to the said
prior invention are provided with cushions that are not fixed upon the frames or
cushion-blocks, but are held in place by their coverings.
My present invention comprises an improved formation or construction of the
cushions, and also comprises the combination with the' cushion-block, of a cushion-
rail to which the said cushion-block and the cushion are secured by means of one
or more covers.
My said invention further comprises other improvements hereinafter referred to.
The bed of the table is made of slate, metal or other suitable material, as
heretofore, and is mounted upon a suitable frame supported upon legs in the
usual manner.
One form of my improved cushion consists of a body of wood, or of other
suitable material which may be of a more elastic nature than wood having
preferably a central rib or web, and provided with one or more strips of india-
rubber or other suitable elastic material at each side of the said central rib or web.
These strips, when there is more than one on each side, may be either secured to
or detached from each other. The said strips may moreover be secured to the
afore mentioned body if desired. In some instances, the aforesaid rib or web may
be dispensed with and one or more strips of india-rubber or other suitable elastic
material may then be used, each of which is of the entire width of the cushion.
Or the width of the cushion-block may be increased and that of the strips of
elastic material diminished as may be found necessary to afford the best results.
In combination with the cushion, and with the cushion-block situated behind the
cushion, I provide a cushion-rail to which the cushion and cushion-block are firmly
secured by means of the cover or covers. For example an inner cover may be
secured to the body of the cushion by means of a rod or bar of rectangular or other
suitable form in transverse section inserted in a corresponding longitudinal groove
or channel in the same body, and an outer cover may be secured to the rail or shoe
and partly stretched or tightened by means of rods or bars inserted in grooves or
channels in the rail or shoe, each cover being laid across the corresponding groove
or channel before the insertion therein of the rod or bar. Each of these rods or
bars may be either in one piece or in two or more lengths or sections. The cushion-
block is made of wood, metal slate or other suitable material and is also secured to
the said rail or shoe by the outer cover. The cushion and cushion-block are
preferably so constructed that when placed in their proper relative positions upon
the cushion-rail, the cushion will rest upon a shoulder on the said cushion-block,
whereby it will be very efficiently supported, thus improving the action of the
said cushion. This shoulder may, if desired, be arranged to press the inner cover
into a corresponding recess in the cushion and thus still further tighten the said
cover. It is not absolutely necessary that the inner cover should be tightly
stretched, and other suitable means may be employed for securing it upon the
cushion. For instance, it may be secured thereon by means of cement.
The cushion and cushion-rail are securely held in place on the table by means of
an upper portion of the cushion frame. For this purpose, and to provide for
still further stretching the cushion cover, the parts are preferably so arranged that,

page_text: when the upper portion of the frame is tightly screwed down, an inclined surface
thereof will press the cushion cover closely against a corresponding inclined surface
of the cushion-block thus stretching the said cover evenly or uniformly and tightly
over the cushion.
By the above described method of fixing and stretching the covers, I am enabled
to subject the said covers to an even or uniform stress throughout their entire area,
and thus avoid the rucks or inequalities which are frequently produced when nails
or tacks are used.
The covering of the table may be secured at the middle or centre pockets by
lacing, wedging or otherwise as found most convenient.
The pocket supports I sometimes arrange so that they serve for firmly securing
the rails or shoes upon the table before the upper holding down portion of the
cushion frame is placed thereon, and for rigidly uniting the said cushions. The
"said upper portion of the frame is formed with slots to fit over the arm of the
pocket supports. In some instances I provide for securing the pocket supports in
place before the cushion-rails are placed upon the table.
Additional buffers may, 'if desired, be arranged between the cushion and the
cushion-block to assist the action of the cushion.
My said improved cushions are reversible. If desirable the body portion of the
cushion may be secured at its underside to the rail or shoe in any convenient
manner.
Dated this 16th day of November 1891
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Billiard Tables.
I, EDWARD GREEN, of 99 Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to billiard tables, and consists in farther improvements on
the invention described in the Specification of prior Letters Patent granted to me
dated January 14th 1888 No. 635. The tables constructed according to the said
prior invention are provided with cushions that are not fixed upon the frames or
cushion blocks, but are held in place by their coverings.
An important feature of my present invention relates to the formation or con-
'struction of the cushions; another important feature relates to the provision of a
cushion-rail to which the cushion-block and the cushion are secured by means
of the cover.
The accompanying drawing shows a sectional perspective view of a portion of a
billiard table illustrating the construction and arrangement of my improved cushion
'and cushion-rail and other parts.
A is the bed of the table which is made of slate, metal or other suitable material,
and is mounted upon a suitable frame B supported upon legs in the usual manner.
C is a billiard-ball.
C,
a is the under portion of my improved cushion-frame which is secured to the
bed A of the table by means of screws b; or it may be secured thereto in any other
convenient manner. e indicate the cushion; d is a rail or shoe on which the
said cushion is supported and secured. This rail or shoe may be of wood or other
suitable material, e is the upper part of the cushion-frame which is placed upon
the rail or shoe d and is firmly secured thereto and to the frame a by screw-bolts f
which may be screwed into nuts placed in recesses formed in the woodwork. d¹ is
a cushion-block placed on the rail or shoe d between the cushion and the part, e
of the frame.

page_text: The cushion shown in the drawing consists of a body cof wood or of other
suitable material which may be of a more elastic nature than wood, faced on each
side with "cortecine". or like material e² of a less elastic or firmer nature than
rubber, and provided with strips c of india-rubber or other suitable elastic
material at each side of the central rib or web thereof.
Each of the parts c² may be moulded in one piece, or it may be formed of strips
built up and cemented together, or the rubber and "cortecine" or the like may be
combined or worked together to form a composite cushion. In some instances, the
said central rib or web c may be dispensed with and rubber, "cortecine," or the like
used in its place.
.:
The cushion is firmly held in place on the cushion-rail d by means of its cover.
In the arrangement shown, an inner cover g surrounds the cushion proper only and
which is secured thereto in a suitable manner. The outer cover g' is secured to
the rail or shoe d and partly stretched or tightened by, means of rods or bars h, h',
inserted in grooves or channels in the rail or shoe d, the said cover being laid across
the corresponding groove or channel before the insertion therein of the rod or bar.
Each of these rods or bars may be either in one piece or in two or more lengths or
sections. The cushion-block d¹ is made of wood, metal, slate or other suitable
material and is also secured to the said rail or shoe d by the cover g¹. The
cushion and cushion-block are preferably inclined so that when placed in their
proper relative positions upon the cushion-rail d, the cushion will rest upon or
against the said cushion-block whereby it will be very efficiently supported.
I prefer that the cushion-rail shall be recessed as shown at d² to receive the foot
of the cushion, the inner edge of the said recess is preferably slightly undercut.
The cushion and cushion-rail are securely held in place on the table by means
of the upper portion e of the frame. I preferably make the inner face of the
part e slightly inclined as shown so that, when the said portion e of the frame is
tightly screwed down, it holds the parts more firmly and securely in position.
When the upper portion e of the frame is screwed down it also operates to stretch
the cover evenly or uniformly and tightly over the cushion.
I
"
may if desired insert a strip of "cortecine or the like between the cushion-
block di and the part e of the frame. I sometimes bevel or curve the upper outer
edge of the cushion-block d¹ and provide the part e of the frame with a projecting
lip or flange el to fit over the bevelled or curved part of the cushion-block. This
construction facilitates the laying of the cloth cover and lessens friction and wear
and tear and enables me to keep the width of the cushion within a limit of 13 inch
if desired, while permitting greater width for elastic action.
"
The use of "cortecine or similar material of a less elastic or firmer nature than
rubber in the manner above described prevents noisy concussion when playing
upon the table and improves the general action of the cushion.
By the above described method of fixing and stretching the covers, I am enabled
to subject them to an even or uniform stress throughout their entire area, and thus
avoid the rucks or inequalities which are frequently produced when nails or tacks
are used.
If desired the cushion-block d¹ and the part c of the cushion may be secured on
the underside to the rail or shoe d in any convenient or suitable manner, or the
said cushion-block may be made in one piece with the rail or shoe.
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 :-
First. The cushion-rail having the cushion and cushion-block secured thereon
by the cover, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Second. The combination, with the cushion-rail, of a removable cushion and
cushion-block constructed substantially as described so that, when they are placed
in their proper relative position upon the said rail, the cushion will rest upon or
against the said block, as, and for the purpose, above specified.

page_text: Third. The combination of parts comprising the removable cushion and cushion-
block secured to the cushion-rail by the cover, and the upper portion of the frame
having the inner surface adapted to press the said cover against a corresponding
surface on the cushion-block and thus tighten or stretch the said cover, substantially
as described.
Fourth. The improved removable and reversible cushion substantially as
described and as shown in the drawing for the purposes above specified.
Fifth. A billiard-table having my improvements incorporated therewith or
embodied therein substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawing for the purposes specified.
Dated this 15th day of August 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.