Improvements in and relating to the Cushions of Billiard Tables and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Cushions of Billiard Tables
and the like.
I, WILLIAM JOHN RODD, of St. Leonards, near Sydney, in the Colony of
New South Wales, Accountant, 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 the cushions of billiard tables and the like and it
consists in the peculiar construction of pneumatic or air-inflated cushions and their
disposition around said tables whereby such cushions are rendered extremely
sensitive and effective in practical use.
Cushions for billiard tables and the like constructed according to this invention
instead of being made of one pneumatic tube or of a pneumatic tube in com-
bination with a nosing or other parts of elastic material are made wholly
pneumatic and consist of a multiplicity of pneumatic tubes whose disposition is
such that the resilient strength of each one supports the others. In use
anticipate that three such tubes will appropriately form effective cushions and
this number I prefer as being more easily disposed to form a cushion and more
easily handled in manufacture and repair. These tubes fit into appropriate metal
terminals and are cemented thereto such terminals having inlet valves thereon
similar to cycle tyre vaives for the allowance of the necessary air pumping and
such terminals being conveniently attached to the edge or rim of the table.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference will now be
made to the drawings herewith in which
Figure 1 is a full size cross section of a pneumatic cushion constructed according
to these present improvements and fixed in place upon a billiard table.
Figures 2 and 3 show on a reduced scale a plan and side elevation respectively
of a portion of a billiard table adjacent to the side or middle pockets while
Figure 4 is similar partial plan to Figure 2 in the vicinity of a corner pocket.
The bed A frame A' and rail A2 of the table are all of the usual construction
with the bed A of slate or other suitable material covered with the ordinary
cloth A³ fastened by strip A in the ordinary manner. The rail A is secured to
the bed A by bolts A screwed into nuts A in recesses A as well understood.
The cushions are formed of three inflated tubes 16 63 preferably of india
rubber B (or other suitable impervious elastic material) and each tube is covered or
encased in canvas linen or other like textile fabric B₁ exactly fitting the rubber B
or preferably just slightly larger than the tube. Each fabric casing has a double
tail or web B by which the tubes are fastened in place as hereinafter described.
The top backing C of the cushion is fixed to the rail in any ordinary manner say
by a glue joint and dowels c and the other parts of the backing attached thereto
by means of screws C whose heads take in recesses C³. The backing is made in
one piece with curved or angled faces c¹ and c² for the back tubes and when so
shaped it is then parted into four pieces by means of a saw or such like so that
strip C secures the tail web of the back upper tube b' to the top backing C to
which it is temporarily tacked so that strip C secures the tail web B of the outer
tube 62 to the strip C to which it is temporarily tacked and so that final or bottom
backing C3 secures the tail web B2 of the back lower tube 63 to the strip C³ to
which it is temporarily tacked. The screws (being then inserted and tightened
up will fasten the whole cushion together and the wrappings or casings C® being