Improvements in Billiard Table Cushions."
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in Billiard Table Cushions."
I, THOMAS WILLIAM MEACHEM, of the Village of Onondaga Valley, in the
County of Onondaga and State of New York, United States of America, alanu
facturer, 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 relates to cushions for billiard tables, and the object is to provide
a cushion that will be permanently elastic and maintain substantially the same
elasticity whether in a humid or dry atmosphere, and at the same time possess
great durability.
To this end my invention consists in the combination of a rubber cushion and
a V or U shaped metallic spring completely enclosed therein, said rubber cushion
being secured to the cushion rail of a billiard table.
And my invention consists in certain other combinations of parts hereinafter
described and specifically set forth in the claims.
In the Drawings hereto annexed and forming a part of this specification,
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a billiard table embodying my inven-
tion, Figures 2 and 3 are modified forms of my improved cushions removed from
the table, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the metallic V-shaped
spring removed from the rubber cushion, and Figure 5 is an end view of a modi-
fied form of spring.
Referring specifically to the Drawings, A represents the metallic U or
V-shaped metal spring, which may be formed of steel or other suitable metal, and
which extends continuously or in suitable lengths within the rubber cushion on
each of the sides of the table, and B is the rubber cushion which surrounds and
completely encloses the spring. The rubber cushion, B, is preferably substan-
tially triangular-shaped in cross-section, and is secured by cement or other suit-
able and well known means to the cushion strip, C, surrounding the table.
It will be obvious that the rubber cushion may be shaped otherwise than
triangular in cross-section, as, for instance, like that shown in Figure 3, which
has four flat sides, the one for attachment to the cushion-rail being vertical. In
every case, however, the spring is completely enclosed by the rubber cushion, that
is, the rubber extends between the open side or separated edges of the spring as
well as on the other sides thereof.
As indicated in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings by the reference letter a, I
prefer to line or cover the rubber cushion on the inner walls with cloth or other
suitable fabric which is cemented to the rubber, and in some cases to cover the
rubber with cloth, b, on its exterior surface, as indicated in Figure 2 of the Draw-
ings. The cloth strengthens the rubber and affords better means for securing the
cushion to the cushion rail with glue or other cement.
In order to still further strengthen or stiffen the rubber, I may employ plain
or angular strips, c, of hard rubber in one or both of the upper corners of the
rubber cushion. When such strips are used they are embedded in the rubber
as shown by broken lines, c, e, in Figure 2 of the Drawings. The cross-section

page_text: of tave spring is varied ally hope depending.
of the spring is varied in shape depending upon the shape of the cushion, but is
In order to stiffen the edges of the spring, said edges may be turned over more
or less as indicated in Figure 5 of the Drawings, in which case, they are turned
inward toward each other.
In Figure 1, D represents the bed of the table, and E the framework secured
to the bed, to which framework the cushion strip for the rubber cushion is
attached.
F indicates the cloth covering the cushion strip and cushions in the usual
manner and G represents a ball on the bed in contact with the cushion.
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 of a V or U-shaped metallic spring and a rubber cushion
completely enclosing the spring, as set forth.
2. The combination of a V or U-shaped metallic spring and a triangular rubber
cushion completely enclosing the spring, as set forth.
3. The combination of a Vor U-shaped metallic spring, a rubber cushion com-
pletely enclosing the spring, and a fabric cemented to the rubber on the interior
walls of the cushion, as set forth.
4. The combination of a V or U-shaped metallic spring, a rubber cushion
shaped triangular in cross-section, entirely surrounding the spring, and cloth
between the rubber and the spring, as set forth.
5. The combination of a V or U-shaped metallic spring, an angular rubber
cushion completely enclosing the spring, cloth secured to the interior of the
cushion and cloth completely enclosing the cushion, as set forth.
6. The combination of a V or U-shaped metallic spring, an angular rubber
cushion completely enclosing the spring, cloth secured to the inner walls of the
cushion, and stiffening strips at one or more of the angles of the cushion embedded
in the rubber, substantially as described and shown.
7. The combination of a V or U-shaped metallic spring having its edges bent
inward, and an angular rubber cushion completely enclosing the spring, as set
forth.
8. The combination of a V or U-shaped metallic spring, an angular rubber
cushion completely enclosing the spring, cloth secured to the inner walls of the
cushion, and a cushion rail surrounding a billiard table to support the cushion,
substantially as described and shown.
THOMAS WILLIAM MEACHEM.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W,C. Agents for the Applicants.