Improvements in Billiard Tables and Covers therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Billiard Tables and Covers therefor.
I, WILLIAM NISBET of 1284 Queen Victoria Street in the City of London,
Indiarubber Manufacturer 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 refers to an improved cover for billiard tables, and consists in
attachments for the table, and apparatus combined with a waterproof or other
sheet or cover, so arranged that the cover instead of being folded as heretofore is
evenly wound or rolled upon a moveable roller-the cover being thereby rendered
more lasting and more convenient to use.
My improved apparatus consists essentially of a roller of thin steel metal, wood
or other suitable material to which one end of the cover is attached. The roller is
When not in use
provided with journals and at one end with a handle. or wheel.
the roller with the cover rolled thereon, is kept in a rack in the room or other
convenient position. When required to be used one journal is inserted in an eye
or bearing formed in a sliding rod, the other journal (that to which the handle or
wheel is attached) is dropped into a cam hook or bearing formed in another sliding
rod to be presently referred to.
I will now proceed to describe my invention reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, of which :-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a billiard table shewing my improved
apparatus attached thereto.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of part of a billiard table shewing a portion of the roller;
one of the sliding rods and the cam hook or bearing.
Fig. 3 is a plan of same.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of part of the sliding rod, the cam hook and the
socket for carrying the rod.
Fig. 5 is an end view of same.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the other sliding rod and bearing.
Fig. 7 is an end view of same.
a, is a roller formed of thin steel, metal or other suitable material and having at
each end a flange b to protect the edges of the cloth or cover.
One end of the
roller has a journal c the other end a journal d and a handle or wheel e.
As it is essential that the cover should be wider than the table it is necessary
that the bearings for carrying the roller, should project beyond the table, but they
would form an obstruction to players if permanently fixed in that position.
I accordingly provide sliding rods f. f which are carried by sockets / attached
by wood screws to the underside of the cushion plate ; in the position shewn in
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4.
The sockets are formed with bayonet joints or slots k. I and the sliding rods
have pins
mn which can engage with the slots when the rods are pulled out or
pushed home. When the rod is pulled out, the pin in enters the slot k which
determines the distance it can be drawn out and keeps it in proper position. When
the rod is pushed home the pin n enters the slot causing the cranked end or bearing
of the rod to be turned back out of the way in the position indicated by dotted
lines at x Fig. 5. In order that the roller may be readily mounted in its bearings
I form one of the sliding rods with a cam hook or bearing p (Figs. 4 & 5). q is
a cam hook pivotted or loosely rivetted at r and having a small catch or projections.
In its normal position the cam falls as shewn in Fig. 5, but when the journal d is
inserted in the direction shewn by the arrow the cam is raised to the position
shewn by dotted lines at until the journal is in its place, when the cam returns
D

page_text: to its original position and prevents the roller from working out of the hook. When
required to remove the roller the cam is moved back by means of the projection 8
so that the journal d' is free to be lifted out.
To place the roller in position, the journal c is first inserted into the hole or
bearing g and the journal d is then dropped into the hook or bearing p. The cloth
or cover can then be drawn off the roller and over the top of the table. When
required to remove the cover the handle or wheel e is turned in the direction shewn
by arrow (Fig. 1) and the cover is evenly and equally rolled upon the roller, which
can then be removed, the sliding rods being pushed home out of the way as
described.
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.
1. In a billiard table cover the use of a roller combined with sliding rods or
bearings substantially as described.
2. The use of sockets having bayonet joints or slots arranged to engage with
pins upon sliding rods, substantially as described for the purposes set forth.
3. The use of an improved cam hook or bearing substantially as described for
the purposes mentioned.
4. The improved billiard table cover and apparatus substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of October 1891.
WILLIAM. NISBET.