Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for use in Playing the Games of Billiards, Pool, or the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898
COMI LEIE DIEUIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for use in Playing the
Games of Billiards, Pool, or the like.
A communication from VICTOR BEAUFILS, of 96, Rue St. Front, Périgueux, in
the Republic of France, Engineer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a small portable billiard pool or like apparatus which
can be placed on an ordinary table and enables the game to be played by the
player whilst seated by means of mechanical spring cues which can be manipu-
lated by both hands and in any direction, without necessitating constant change
of place of the players.
In the accompanying drawing illustrating by way of example a billiard appara-
tus according to this invention, Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 a side elevation of
the table A which may be about 1 of the size of an ordinary billiard table. It
rests on four screw legs B enabling it to be adjusted in a perfectly level manner
the verification being effected by means of levels C.
Two kinds of counting devices may be adopted for said game. Placed at each
corner of the table on a small plate is a circular counting device provided with
a knob E, in the centre of which there is arranged a cup for chalk, and having
a flat ring z with a knob which the player can turn over a series of numbers or
points
Or counting devices G may be employed consisting of cylinders or discs marked
with figures and each provided with a milled knob H secured to a rod I passing
through a socket in the table whereby the figures on the disc K may be successively
brought under an opening in a plate L by turning the knob H. A spring.pawl D
may be employed to hold the cylinder to prevent it from being turned backwards
accidentally.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a spring cue in its "set" position at the
moment when the player is about to play the ball.
Figure 4 is an outside view of same.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the cue after it has been "fired."
The cue comprises a rod M with a stop N a small helical spring placed in a
recess O. On the rod there are two springs P and Q bearing against the ends
of the cue and acting at their inner ends on a ring N¹. The front spring P which
serves to reduce the shock of release is weaker than the rear spring Q. When
the cue is arranged for use the stop N is moved back to below an opening in the
casing under a knob R secured to a spring S secured to the outside of the cue.
The stop N is thus brought into engagement with the hole in the casing by
means of the spring in the recess 0 and prevents all movement of the rod M until
released by the knob R.

page_text: pin T
The central rod M is guided in the handle of the cue by means of
engaging in a recess U of the rod. When the knob is depressed by the fingers
the spring stop N is pushed in being thus released from its engagement with the
casing and the back spring expanding presses the rod M forwards. To the end
of said rod is screwed a tip holder V to which is secured the tip itself. .
When a stroke has been made the cue is set for another stroke by holding it
vertically in one hand and pressing on the tip which may be placed in the chalk
cup F.
Figures 6 and 7 show a cue operated by compressed air instead of springs and
is principally destined for larger billiard tables or for small ones, by suitably
reducing its dimensions. It comprises a cylinder a in which moves, under the
pressure of the hand, a piston 6 secured to a rod e sliding in a tube d secured
to the cylinder by a ferrule and a screw or pine which acts as a guide and engages
in a groove f in the rod c, a lever g under which is placed a spring / terminates
in a point i which can engage with the openings 1, 2, 3, or 4. When a wooden
handle is pressed the cue being held vertically point downwards the piston
compresses the air in the cylinder and the rod c is held by the pin i engaging in
one of its notches. Then in order to strike a ball, the rod is released by pressing
down the lever g. This cue is also provided with a screw tip-holder similar to
the spring cues.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
-
1. A billiard pool or like table provided with adjustable screw-legs the frame
being provided with counting devices substantially as described.
2. A mechanical spring cue provided with a spring stop a tip holder substantially
as described.
3. A compressed air cue the compression being effected by means of a piston
working in the handle of the cue and a device for releasing the rod by means of
a hand operated lever substantially as described.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete cue
substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 or in Figures 6
and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of July 1898
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.