Improvements in Appliances for Aiding Jumping.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Appliances for Aiding Jumping.
I, WOODY BERRY KELLY, of 39, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
Gymnast, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to improvements in appliances for aiding jumping.
My invention consists of a table-like structure advantageously of wood having
the middle or some other predetermined part of its top removed so as to form
a large hole, and part is replaced by a nicely fitting piece of strong non-
stretchable fabric preferably canvas, so as to completely cover the hole, the said
material being preferably painted, dyed or otherwise coloured similarly to the
surrounding surface, so as the better to conceal the presence of the said loose
fitting-piece.
This loose fitting piece is supported in position in such manner that it acquires
a yielding of springy property, this being preferably effected by means of a
number of short cords composed of solid rubber or rubber fortified by a casing
or brading of cotton, silk or other like suitable material, which cords have
one of their ends secured or attached to the edge of the filling piece, their other
ends being secured or attached to the surrounding frame of the table.
Preferably but not necessarily the table is constructed to represent a complete
billiard table and consequently in this instance, the filling piece and elastic
supporting cords are advantageously coloured green to represent the ordinary
cloth covering
An alternative method of construction within the scope of my invention would
be to make the filling piece of a sheet of some suitable elastic or springy material,
such for example as india-rubber, the same being supported by means of cords
of leather or other suitable non stretchable or elastic material.
Dated the 23rd day of October 1899.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, WOODY BERRY KELLY. of No. 39, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
Gymnast, 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 relates to improvements in appliances for aiding jumping.
and is particularly suitable for exhibitions of jumping feats at public entertain-

page_text: ments, it being so constructed as to assist the natural jumping powers of the
performer in such manner as to be undetectable by the audience, thereby making
the feats appear the more marvellous.
I will now proceed to describe my invention in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, its application to
a billiard table. In these drawings:-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the table, shewing the arrangement of the links
by which the centre material is supported taut upon the frame of the table.
Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the table corresponding to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail drawn on a larger scale in vertical section of one of the
elastic rubber connecting links and fragments of the adjacent parts of the
table.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the rubber link corresponding to Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating a modification of connecting link wherein
the link is composed of a helical spring.
My invention consists of a table-like structure a advantageously of wood having
the middle or some other predetermined portion removed so as to form a large
hole or aperture which latter is nearly filled-up or covered in by a piece of
strong non-stretchable fabric c, preferably canvas. The piece may be large
enough to completely cover-in the aperture made, but in that case the aperture
would not extend to the frame of the table but some distance short thereof,
and the remaining distance would be covered in by the ordinary fixed cloth or
equivalent material, and the links supporting the loose cloth or canvas would
then either stretch over or under the fixed cloth from the edge of the loose cloth
to the frame of the table.
The loose piece of material c is preferably painted, dyed or otherwise coloured
similarly to the surrounding surface (should there be any) in order the better
to conceal the presence of the said loose fitting-piece c.
This loose fitting-piece c is supported in position in such manner that it
acquires a yielding or springy property; this being preferably effected by means
of a number of short cords or links such as 7, composed of solid rubber, or
rubber fortified with a casing or braiding of cotton, silk or other like suitable
material which cords or links have one of their ends secured or attached to the
edge of the filling-piece, and their other ends secured or attached to the
surrounding frame of the table.
An advantageous method of securing the links d to the filling-piece c and to
the table frame a, is that shewn in detail in Figure 3. It consists in providing
the edge of the filling-piece e with a binding of some strong, tough material,
such for example as leather, and punching small holes through the bound edge
of the filling-piece at equal distances apart, as seen in Figure 1. These holes
are preferably lined with metal ferrules as shewn at e (Figure 5) and similarly
the links are provided at each end with a metal ferrule e¹ to prevent tearing.
A bolt f is passed through the hole in the edge of the filling-piece and through
the eye in one end of the link d, and a nut screwed on the projecting end
of the bolt. The other end of the link is passed over a hook such as h, which
is screwed into the surrounding frame.
In Figure 5 is shewn a modification of link wherein the link is composed of
a helically coiled, metal spring. This form of link may be substituted for that
shewn in Figure 4. or some of one kind and some of the other can be used
in one and the same table.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the table is constructed to represent a complete
billiard table and consequently in this instance the filling-piece and elastic
supporting cords or links d are advantageously coloured green to represent the
ordinary cloth covering. The links may, further, he covered over with flaps
of green cloth to hide them entirely from view, if necessary.
An obvious alternative method of construction which would attain the same
result as the above described construction would be to make the filling-piece a

page_text: of a sheet of some suitable elastic or springy material such for example as
india-rubber sheet, the same being supported by means of cords or links of
leather, metal or other suitable non-stretchable or non-elastic material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination with a table-like structure having an aperture in the
top thereof, of a piece of non-stretchable material substantially fitting said
aperture, and elastic links connected to the edges of said filling piece and to the
frame of the structure in such manner as to support the piece taut and flush
with the plane of the aperture, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a table-like structure having an aperture in the top
thereof, of a sheet of elastic material substantially fitting said aperture, and
non-elastic links connected to the edges of said filling-piece and to the frame
of the structure in such manner as to support the piece taut, and flush with
the plane of the aperture, substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of March 1900.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.