Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan.. 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Jan., 1889
I EDWARD GREEN, of Halkin Lodge, Queens Road, Richmond, in the County
of Surrey, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to billiard-tables and comprises various improvements designed
to increase the resilience of the cushions and diminish the indentation thereof when
struck by the balls, and thus ensure greater "truth" than heretofore in the angles
of replication or repercussion, to provide for the adjustment of the cushions and to
otherwise improve the construction and increase the efficiency of billiard-tables.
One important feature of my said invention consists in so constructing and
arranging the cushions and their frames and coverings and attaching the same to the
table that they can be very readily detached and adjusted or removed without the
necessity of employing skilled labour.
Another important feature of my said invention is the employment of cushions
which are not fixed upon their frames or rails like the cushions heretofore used,
but are held in place by their coverings, and, if desired by being secured at their
base.
Another feature of my said invention is the provision of means for adjusting the
cushions to regulate the height of their operative edges above the surface of the table
according to the size of the balls.
My said invention, moreover, comprises the formation of the cushions in such a
manner that they are reversible and so that the force of impact of the balls will be
diffused or distributed throughout a considerable portion of the cushion, and, being
transmitted through the substance of the cushion, will compress the outer as well as
the inner edge thereof, I thus provide for ensuring a better rebound of the ball than
is obtained by the cushions as heretofore made and arranged. Moreover I am enabled
to employ firmer cushions than those commonly used. It will be seen therefore that
the angles of replication or repercussion must be much truer with my improved
cushions than with the ordinary cushions.

page_text: By my improvements I am enabled to readily convert a billiard-table with full sized
pockets into one with smaller pockets or into one without pockets for canons only
or vice versa.
I can moreover by adjusting the cushions adapt the table for use with
balls of different diameter.
My said invention is conveniently and advantageously carried into practice as
hereinafter set forth, that is to say I make each cushion-frame in two or more parts
and attach the main portion thereof to the table by means of screws or otherwise so
that it can be very readily detached. Another portion of the said frame (which I will
hereinafter term the slipper) is made to serve as a support for the cushion and is held
in place between the main portion of the frame and the table. The cushion-cover is
attached at one edge to the said main portion of the frame, and is passed around the
inner edge of the slipper; the other edge of the said cover is attached to, or wound
upon a rod or bar preferably of polygonal form in transverse section, which fits into
a groove or channel of corresponding form in the underside of the slipper and is
firmly held thereby.
When it is desired to tighten the said cover for the purpose of adjusting the
cushion or for other purposes, the remaining or outer portion of the frame is detached
from the table and the aforesaid rod or bar is partially rotated so as to wind the cover
thereon; the said portion of the frame is then again firmly secured to the table. By
making the said rod or bar of hexagonal, octagonal or other polygonal form and the
groove or channel in the slipper of corresponding form, I provide for the retention of
the said rod or bar in position after very slight adjustments of the same to tighten
the cover. I can, however, employ other means for tightening the cover or adjusting
the cushion.
My improved cushions are so made that they present a thin edge to the frame on a
level with their operative edge, or nearly so. They therefore act as buffers, that is to
say, when struck by a ball, the edge next the frame as well as the inner or operative
edge, will be compressed and will react, thus diminishing the indentation of the
operative edge and ensuring a better or truer return or rebound of the ball. I find it
advantageous to make the cushion of approximately triangular form in transverse
section, its sides being more or less convex, and to place the cushion
the slipper
upon
so that one angle of the triangle fits into a groove or channel therein. This angle
or lower edge is preferably rounded, the said groove or channel being made of
corresponding shape.
I make the pockets in such a manner that the cushion-frames can be moved inward
or outward to vary the size of the entrance to the pockets, and preferably so that the
metal arms of the said pockets serve to impart rigidity to the frame.
It may be advantageous to secure the cushion at its underside to the slipper.
The said cushion may if desired, be adjusted by placing strips of india rubber or
other suitable material between the same and the slipper.
Dated this 14th day of January 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Billiard-tables.
I, EDWARD GREEN, of Halkin Lodge, Queen's Road, Richmond, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 comprises various improvements herein-
after described, designed to diminish the indentation of the cushions when struck by
the balls and to obtain greater accuracy than heretofore in the angles of replication
or repercussion, to provide for readily and conveniently adjusting, removing and
replacing the cushions, and to otherwise improve the construction and increase the
efficiency of billiard-tables.
One feature of my said invention consists in so constructing and arranging the
cushions and their frames and coverings and attaching the same to the table that they
can be very readily adjusted, detached and replaced, or one set of cushions substituted
for another, without the necessity of employing skilled labour. I thus provide for
varying the height of the operative edges of the cushions above the surface of the
table according to the size of the balls 'to be used, and for readily converting a
billiard-table with full-sized pockets into one with smaller pockets, or into one without
pockets for the canon game only.
Another feature of my said invention is the employment of cushions which are not
fixed upon the frames, or cushion-blocks like the cushions heretofore used, but are
held in place by their coverings as hereinafter described. And my said invention
comprises simple and efficient means for stretching the coverings of the cushions and
also that of the bed of the table.
My said invention also comprises the formation of the cushions in such a manner
that the force of impact of the balls will be diffused or distributed throughout a
considerable portion of the cushion, and, being transmitted through the substance of
the same, will compress the outer as well as the inner edge thereof; and it also
comprises the construction of the cushions of firmer materials than those commonly
used and, in some instances, of a combination of materials of different degrees of
elasticity as hereinafter described. I thus provide for ensuring a better reaction of
the cushion and more perfect angles of replication or repercussion than are obtained
by the cushions as heretofore made and arranged.
My said invention further comprises the employment of reversible cushions, and
various other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of part of a billiard-table constructed in accordance
with my said invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional perspective view, drawn to an enlarged scale, illustrating
the construction and arrangement of the cushion and cushion-frame and other
parts.

page_text: Figure 3 is a plan or top view, and
Figure 4 a side elevation, drawn to a somewhat smaller scale than Figure 2,
showing one of the side or middle pockets.
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4, some of the parts being removed.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the bed of the table, which is made of slate, marble or other suitable material
and is mounted upon a suitable frame B supported upon legs in the usual manner.
C, C are the pockets. D is one of the billiard balls.
a is the main or 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. c, c is the cushion, d a block or rail upon which the
said cushion is supported. e is another part of my cushion-frame, which is placed
upon the main or under portion a and is firmly secured thereto by screw-bolts f, or it
may be secured by other suitable means. The bolts are passed through oval or
elongated holes al in the main portion a of the cushion-frame so as to permit lateral
adjustment of the cushions to vary the size of the entrance to the pockets.
The cushion shown in the drawings is made wedge-shaped in transverse section and
is provided with two strips c¹ of india-rubber or similar material one at each side
thereof. The said cushion is, however, in some instances made of a combination of
other materials as hereinafter specified. The strips c¹ are inserted in grooves or
channels in the part c and a plate is sometimes fixed upon the said part c to retain
the said strips in their grooves. The said cushion c is firmly held in place on the
cushion-block d by means of its cover g which is secured to the said block and partly
stretched or tightened by means of rods or bars h, h¹ of rectangular or other suitable
form in transverse section inserted in corresponding longitudinal grooves or channels
in the cushion-block d, the cover being laid across the 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 and cushion-block are securely held in place on the table by means of
the upper portion e of the cushion-frame. For this purpose and to provide for still
further stretching the cushion-cover 9. The said upper portion e of the frame is
made with a rib or projection e' which, when the said part of the frame is screwed
down, will enter a corresponding groove or channel formed between the upper surfaces
of the cushion and cushion-block and will draw the cushion-cover down into this
groove or channel, thus stretching the said cover as tightly over the cushion as may
be required.
I provide in a similar manner for securing and stretching the cover g' of the bed A
of the table, that is to say, I provide rods or bars whereby the edges of the said
cover are first secured in corresponding grooves in the top of the main portion a of
the cushion-frame. Rods or bars k of semi-oval or other suitable form in transverse
section are then laid upon the said cover above corresponding grooves or channels in
the said main portion a, and are pressed down into the said grooves or channels and
secured by screws or otherwise. The cushion-block and the upper part e of the
cushion-frame are then secured upon the main portion thereof, thus firmly retaining
the rods or bars k in their grooves. By using separate rods or bars k. I provide for
permitting lateral adjustment of the cushions for the purpose above specified. If it
is not desired to make the cushions adjustable, the separate rods or bars may be dis-
pensed with and the cushion-block be formed with longitudinal ribs or projections
fitting into corresponding grooves or channels in the main portion a of the cushion-
frame for the purpose of effecting the final stretching of the cover g¹.
I make the pocket supports or holders in such a manner that the arms or flanges
thereof are concealed, and the cushion-frames can be moved inward or outward to
vary the size of the entrance to the pockets, and preferably so that the arms of the
said pocket supports or holders serve to tie or bind the cushions together and impart
rigidity to the frame.
, are the said pocket supports or holders, each of which is formed with arms
fitting into oblong or elongated holes in the cushion-block d so that the latter may be

page_text: adjusted laterally, and into square or other suitably shaped holes in the main portion a
of the cushion-frame. Screws m are inserted from the underside of the said main
portion a and are screwed into the said arms ", thus drawing the pocket-supports
tightly down into their places. The said pocket-supports therefore serve for rigidly
securing the cushion-blocks d upon the table before the upper portion e of the
cushion-frame is placed thereon. The arms are, moreover, so arranged that they
are covered or concealed by the said upper portion e when the latter is in place,
leaving no projections above the frame to obstruct the players. In some instances,
I provide for securing the pocket-supports in place before the cushion-blocks are placed
upon the table. The arms of the said supports may pass through the rods or bars k
and assist in holding down the same.
For covering or concealing the heads of the screws b, instead of inserting in the
screw-holes as heretofore, circular pieces or rosettes, which are liable to fall out, I
employ sliding pieces n of wood or other suitable material which have rosettes formed
thereon, and which fit into dovetail grooves in the main portion a of the cushion-
frame. These pieces are dropped into their grooves before the upper portion e of the
frame is in place; this portion, therefore, when secured upon the table, prevents
displacement of the pieces n, but the said pieces can be easily withdrawn when the
part e is removed.
I sometimes place between the part c of the cushion and each of the strips c¹ of
india-rubber, one or more strips of leather, cloth or other material which is firmer or
less yielding than india-rubber. Or I make the part of the cushion between the
two strips wholly or partly of wood, metal, composite, cork, leather, felt or other
materials which are firmer or less yielding than india-rubber, or which differ from
india-rubber in their degree of elasticity. I thus make the cushion of a combination
of materials of different degrees of elasticity and obtain a regulated or varying
elasticity in the cushion, the lighter or more delicate "strokes" acting only upon the
strip of india-rubber or more yielding material, whilst the heavier "strokes" take
effect through the india-rubber upon the firmer or less yielding substance. The action
and reaction of the cushion will, therefore, vary according to the momentum of the
ball when it strikes the same, and the heavier the stroke, the firmer or less yielding
will be the resistance thereto. I thus provide for diminishing the indentation of the
cushions and ensuring a better and truer return or rebound of the ball than heretofore,
and consequently greater accuracy in the angles of replication or re-percussion, and the
spreading or distribution of the force of the blow through the substance of the cushion.
The strips of india-rubber should be made in such lengths that they will extend
from one pocket to another. The other parts of the cushion may be either in one
of two or more lengths or sections as desired.
length or made cushion is sometimes made of wood or metal, or partly of wood
The part cof
and partly of metal, or other suitable materials the strips of india-rubber or similar
material being made as thin as is practicable, that is to say, of just sufficient thickness
to ensure the required elasticity and to avoid a noisy concussion or rebound of the
ball. Or the cushion is made without the strips of india-rubber.
My improved cushions are, moreover, so made that they present a thin or sharp
edge to the frame on a level with their operative edge or nearly so. They therefore
act as buffers, that is to say, when struck by a ball, the edge next the frame as well
as the inner or operative edge will be compressed and will by its reaction assist in
effecting the return or rebound of the ball, the indentation of the operative edge is
thus diminished and a better or truer return or rebound of the ball inore effectually
ensured, especially when the cushion is struck with great force.
Moreover by constructing the cushions as above described, I provide for very
conveniently reversing the same. I sometimes make both sides of the cushion
symmetrical so that either side can be used with pockets in the usual manner, and,
in such case, one side of the cushion may be of native india-rubber and the other side
thereof of vulcanized india-rubber which will be less affected by cold than the native
india-rubber, so that one side can be used in summer and the other in winter. In

page_text: other instances, I make the cushions so that, by reversing them, the entrances to the
pockets can be increased or diminished in width, or playing into the pockets rendered
more or less difficult, or the pockets can be closed. Or I provide long strips of india-
rubber or like material which can be substituted for the shorter strips to convert the
billiard-table from one with pockets to one without pockets. Or 1 provide blocks or
short sections whereby the pockets can be closed.
If preferable, I provide a buffer on the cushion-frame, against which the outer edge
of the cushion will bear, to assist the action of the cushion.
If desired, the cushion may be secured at its underside to the cushion-block.
By my improved construction, it will be seen that all the more delicate and
important parts of the billiard table are placed under the command or control of the
possessor of the table, who can alter or adjust the same at will to vary the entrances
to the pockets, or the height of the cushions, or to replace a damaged or worn out
cover by a new one, or to stretch the cover of the table or cushion, or for other
purposes, and can readily effect various repairs in case of accident without the
necessity for employing skilled labour, thereby adding to or varying the interest and
amusement afforded to the possessor of the table and to the players.
By the construction of the frame and other parts as above described, the use of
glue and nails is avoided and the effects of shrinkage of the wood, which may happen
even when well seasoned, considering the great heat to which tables are at times
subjected, may be readily overcome. Moreover there is no liability to falling out of
the "rosettes," and my invention affords the means for very conveniently constructing
a billiard-table which is convertible into a dining-table.
My invention is advantageously applicable to existing billiard-tables, and some of
my improvements herein described are also applicable to bagatelle and other game-
tables.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I
claim is:-
First. A billiard-table wherein the cushions are arranged in combination with
means for conveniently effecting the adjustment of the same, for the purposes above
specified.
Second. A billiard-table provided with reversible cushions having their outer and
inner edges formed of india-rubber or other material of the same or of different
quality, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Third. The improved method of providing for securing and stretching or tightening
the cover of the cushion or of the table by means of a rod or, bar fitting in a groove
or channel in the cushion-block or in a part of the frame, substantially as described.
Fourth. The method of providing for stretching or tightening the cover of the
cushion or of the table by means of a rib or projection on one part of the frame or a
separate strip in combination therewith fitting in a groove or channel in another part
of the frame or in the bed of the table, substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth.
Fifth. The combination, with the table, of a cushion which is held in place by its
cover without being attached to the frame or cushion-block, substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the table, of the removable cushion and cushion-block
and the frame formed in two or more parts, substantially as, and for the purposes, set
forth.
Seventh. A cushion for a billiard or other game table formed of a combination of
materials of different degrees of elasticity as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Eighth. The cushion constructed and arranged substantially as described so that
both its inner and outer edges will be compressed when the cushion is struck by a
ball and will by their reaction effect the return or rebound of the ball, as above
specified.

page_text: Ninth. The combination with the removable cushions and cushion-blocks of the
pocket-support formed with arms which extend through the said blocks, as, and for
the purposes, above specified.
Tenth. The combination with the frame formed in separate parts, of the dovetail
sliding pieces for concealing the screws, substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth.
Eleventh. A billiard-table having my improvements incorporated or embodied
therein substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings, for
the purposes specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.