An Improved Counterbalanced Suspender for Billiard Chalks and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 27th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Counterbalanced Suspender for Billiard Chalks and
the like.
We, ARTHUR CHARLES THOMAS, of 7, Highfield Square, Book-keeper, and
JOSEPH EDWARD ATKINSON, of 48, Derwent Road, Miller, both of Stoneycroft,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to counterbalanced suspenders for billiard chalks and
the like by means of which, say, a piece of chalk is suspended from the ceiling
so as to be out of the way when not in use, and yet to be accessible and adapted
to be conveniently used to chalk a billiard cue. In such apparatus in use at
present it is found in practice that trouble is experienced in consequence of the
cords of the suspender running off the pulleys, and fouling each other, and the
objects of our invention are to improve such apparatus in this respect, and to
cheapen the construction thereof.
We provide a bracket, adapted to be secured to, say, the ceiling of the room,
and consisting of a pair of side cheeks (which may be relieved and lightened by
suitable perforations) united together at the top by a cross piece through which
the attaching screw passes; between these cheeks, and abutting against the
inside face of each of them, we provide two pulley-like fixed guide pieces of
wood or other smooth material, and over these two guides we pass a cord of suitable
length whose two ends are fixed to a counterbalancing weight. At the centre of
the said cord, that is at a point in the cord between the two guides we attach by
means of a hook, loop or eye a second cord, which latter.passes freely through
the centre of the counterbalance weight, and to the other or lower end of which
is attached the metal clip adapted to hold the chalk.
The weight of the counter-balance is such, that when not in use the chalk is
raised to a convenient height, the eye referred to being in its highest position
and between the two guides. As the chalk is pulled down the eye automatically
adjusts itself to the centre of the cord attached to the counter-balance which is
thus raised symmetrically, and as there is no space between the guides and the
side cheeks of the bracket which carries them, the cord cannot slip off, and as
there is but one cord attached to the chalk which cord is guided through the
counter-balance, there is very little chance of fouling.
In order to still further provide against the displacement of the cord when,
for instance, the apparatus is carelessly jerked, we provide the side cheeks of the
bracket with lugs which are turned over and bridge across the guides above the
cords.

page_text: An Improved Counterbalanced Suspender for Billiard Chalks and
the like.
We, ARTHUR CHARLES THOMAS, formerly of 7, Highfield Square, Stoneycroft,
but now of 17, Woburn Hill, Book-keeper, and JOSEPH EDWARD ATKINSON, of
48, Derwent Road, Stoneycroft, Miller, both of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, 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 counterbalanced suspenders for billiard chalks and
the like, by means of which, say, a piece of chalk is suspended from the ceiling
so as to be out of the way when not in use, and yet to be accessible and adapted
to be conveniently used to chalk a billiard cue.
In such apparatus in use at present it is found in practice that trouble is
experienced in consequence of the cords of the suspender running off the guide
pulleys, and fouling each other, and the objects of our invention are to improve
such apparatus in this respect, and to cheapen and simplify the construction
thereof.
We have illustrated our invention in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. I is an elevation, and Fig. II a side elevation of the complete apparatus,
the length of the cord being somewhat reduced in order to shorten the drawing
and the chalk holder being shown in its uppermost position. Fig. III is a
sectional elevation of the bracket on the line A. A of Fig. IV; Fig. IV. is a
plan view; and Fig. V is a sectional elevation on the line B B of Figs. III
and IV.
We provide a bracket adapted to be secured to, say, the ceiling of the room and
consisting of side cheeks 3 united together by the cross-piece 1 through which
the attaching screw 2 passes; between these cheeks, and abutting against the
inside face of each of them, we provide two pulley-like fixed guide pieces 31 of
wood or other smooth material, and over these we pass a cord of suitable length
whose two ends are fixed to a counterbalancing weight 5. At the centre S of the
cord we attach a second cord which latter passes freely through a hole in the
counterbalance, and to other end of which the metal clip 4, which holds the chalk,
is attached.
The cheeks 3 and the pulley-like piece 31 may be made in a piece, and a pair
of these are attached by their cheeks to the cross-piece 1 by means of glue and
nails as shown. We find this construction cheap and effective as the piece 3, 3¹
can be turned in the lathe, and the cross-piece 1 shaped from wood of uniform
thickness.
The part 3 is well rounded, as shown, and is made very smooth so that the
cord may pass round with as little friction as possible, and always tend to run
midway between the cheeks 3. The under side of the portion 1 of the bracket
is curved as shown in Fig. III so as to leave ample clearance for the cord whilst
providing sufficient extent of surface to ensure the effective attachment of the
cheeks.
In some cases we prefer to modify the arrangement of the cords so that two
lengths only are used. This arrangement is the one illustrated in the drawings
and is as follows:-
A suitable length of cord 6 is attached at one end to the clip 4, and at the
other end to the counterbalance 5, passing, between these points, through the
central passage of the counterbalance and over the left hand guide; a second

page_text: cord, 7, is attached at one end to the cord 6 at the point 8, and at the other
end to the counterbalance, and passes over the right hand guide. The chalk
comes to rest in its uppermost position when the cords are in the position shown
in Figs. I and II, and as it is pulled down, the central portions of the cord pass
through the passage in the counterbalance 5 as the latter is raised symmetrically
by the outer cords. As the guides 3, 31 are fixed, it is practically impossible
for the cords either to foul each other or run off, as is the case in suspenders of
this type at present in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The improved counterbalanced suspender for billiard chalks and the like,
which consists of a clip to hold the chalk, a counterbalance connected by cords
to the clip, and a bracket formed of a cross piece such as 1 and a pair of fixed
guides whose cheeks embrace and are attached to the curved lower part of the
said cross piece, and over which the cords run; substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. The improved counterbalanced suspender for billiard chalks and the like
substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 26th day of April 1899.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Chartered Patent Agents, 34, Castle Street, Liverpool.