IMPROVEMENTS IN BILLIARD TABLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I THOMAS PITTS of the firm of Thurston and Company of 16. Catherine Street
Strand in the County of Middlesex Billiard Table Manufacturers do hereby declare
the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BILLIARD TABLES
"to be as
follows:-
"
The object of this invention is to improve the construction of billiard tables by
constructing an iron framing on which the slate or other bottom of the table rests
and so as to bind the parts securely together while at the same time to afford
facility for exact adjustment. The iron framing consists mainly of the two sides
and two end members and of longitudinal and transverse or diagonal bars which
are united thereto. The parts of the iron frame may be united by dovetail or
other socket joint such for instance as used for iron bedsteads, and I connect the
iron frame with the outer wood framing which may be done by socket joints or by
bolts and nuts, but so that the iron frame can be adjusted accurately in height
relatively to the wood frame by means of screws or screwed wedges and by
preference so that the screws are applied through the bottom or flange part of the
sockets. Where the longitudinal and transverse or diagonal bars cross each other
they are halved into each other and united by bolts which latter may assist in the
adjustment of the slate bottom resting thereon. I may also apply vertical adjust-
ment at the legs. The aforesaid iron parts are planed true and accurately fitted
together. The wood frame may as heretofore be morticed into the legs or it may
be let into them flush with their outside or thereabouts.

page_text: improvстония IШ ДИПати
I THOMAS PITTS of the firm of Thurston and Company of 16 Catherine Street
Strand in the County of Middlesex 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 object of this invention is to improve the construction of billiard tables by
constructing an iron framing on which the slate or other bottom of the table rests
so as to bind the parts securely together while at the same time to afford facility
for exact adjustment; all'as hereafter described.
1:
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect. I shall describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which Figure 1' is a plan view of the iron framing, Figures 2 to 5 enlarged
sections through various parts of same Figure 4A a detail view Figures 6 and 7
side view and end view of one of the brackets for supporting the iron frame and
Figure 8 plan view of another form of bracket. The iron framing consists mainly
of the two sides a, a and two end members b b and of the transverse bars c c as
here shown (or of longitudinal and transverse or diagonal bars) which are united
thereto. The side bars a and end bars b may suitably be of the angle section
shown in Figure 5, and the transverse bars c of the T section shown in Figure 2.
The parts of the iron frame may be united by dovetail or other socket joint such
for instance as used for iron bedsteads which form is shown here, Figure 4 being a
sectional view of the bar b at the place A A where the bar a Figure 4ª is united
thereto, the transverse bars c being united to the side bars a in a similar manner
as shown. The socket joints should be made with just so much slackness of fit as
to admit of the greatest expansion and contraction of the parts by variations in
temperature.
In order to admit of a slight adjustment after the frame abc has been put
together I may provide adjusting screws such for instance as g Figure 4 passing
through holes tapped in the bottom of the sockets for joining the transverse bars c
to the side bars a, so that the bars c may be set up perfectly flush with the bars a.
I connect the iron frame a b c with the outer wood framing d by socket joints such
for instance as by the brackets e shown separately in Figures 6 and 7 or it might
be by screws or bolts and nuts) but so that the iron frame a b c can be adjusted
accurately in height relatively to the wood frame d by means of screws or screwed
wedges and by preference as here shown so that the screws fare applied against
the bottom or flange part of the sockets provided in the under side of the bars a
and b as shown in the cross section D D Figure 3. Or the socket may be formed
in the bracket d and the corresponding projection provided on the bars a and b
and the said projections need not be made with an enlargement at the end as shown
in Figure 1 but plain square or half round as shown in the plan detail view
Figure 8 and so that the frame a b. c would be free to expand and contract
within the wood frame d, this form being also cheaper to fit up. When
longitudinal and transverse or diagonal bars are used they are halved into each
other where they cross each other and united by bolts which latter may assist in

page_text: the adjustment of the slate bottom resting thereon. I may also apply vertical
adjustment at the legs. The aforesaid iron parts are planed true and accurately
fitted together. The wood frame may as heretofore be morticed into the legs or it
may be let into them flush with their outside or thereabouts.
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 I am
aware that iron has heretofore been proposed for the framing of a billiard table,
but what I claim is
First. The manufacture and use of billiard table frames made of iron side and
end bars or members which are united by socket joints and of cross bars for
connecting the side members of the table to which they are united by socket joints
or by bolts and nuts or other suitable connections substantially as set forth.
Second. The application to iron billiard table frames of brackets fixed to the
wood framing and serving to carry the iron table frame to which latter the brackets
are connected by socket or other suitable connections admitting of vertical adjust-
ment of the table frame screws or screw wedges being provided for such vertical
adjustment substantially as set forth.
Third. The construction of billiard table shown on the drawing.
BREWER & JENSEN,
For the Applicant.