IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING OR COLLAPSIBLE BILLIARD TABLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I EDWARD JOHN VAVASOUR EARLE of 119 Cheapside in the City of London
Agent do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FOLDING OR COLLAPSIBLE BILLIARD TABLES to be as follows:-
ور
According to this invention I form a billiard table with the bed divided
crosswise into sections. Preferably I hinge the several sections one to the other by
hinges at each side in such manner that they can be turned or folded together and
made to lie parallel with and one over the other or can be unfolded so that their
upper surfaces lie in one flat plane.
To keep the edge of any one section level with the edge of the adjoining section
against which it abuts when the bed is so unfolded I provide the edges of the
one section with a projecting feather or other projections to enter a corresponding
groove or recesses in the abutting edge of the other section.
When the sections are binged together I secure the cloth with which the bed is
covered to the upper surface of each of the sections and in order that where it
passes across the junctions between the segments it may not be squeezed and
creased when the bed is folded up I make the pins of the hinge joints to be
slightly above the level of the upper surface of the bed so that the cloth shall not
be doubled over in a close fold.
The side cushions are made separate from the bed and are applied to the bed
after it has been opened out.
Each side cushion is made in two lengths in each is a groove into which the
edges of the several sections of the bed are made to enter and so the sections are
prevented from turning on their hinge joints and are all retained in the same plane.
The upper side of the groove in each cushion is formed with semi-circular enlarge-
ments wherever it has to be passed over the semi-circular portions of the hinges
which stand above the surface of the bed. The groove is also so formed that after
the cushion has been placed on to the side edges of the sections of the bed it may
be slidden end wise a distance so that these semi-circular enlargements of the upper
side of the groove shall no longer remain opposite to the upward projecting portions
of the hinge joints and so that these upward projecting portions of the hinge
joints shall then enter undercut portions of the groove in the cushion and so lock
the cushion to the bed.
Each length of each side cushion passes from one end of the bed up to the middle
pocket. Each end cushion may be in one length-one rigidly fixed to its end of

page_text: the bed the other hinged to the other end of the bed so that when the bed is
folded together this cushion may be turned down on its hinge joints so that the
end section of the bed may lie flat over the surface of the next section of the bed
to which it is jointed.
The irons which carry the network of the pockets I make with pins projecting
downwards from each of their ends to enter socket holes in the upper side of each
of the cushions which are at either side of the pocket-and so lock the cushious
together.
Preferably I divide the bed into six sections four comparatively broad ones and
two narrow ones. One of the narrow ones is at the centre-to each side of it is
jointed one of the broadest sections. To one of these is again jointed a compara-
tively broad but not so broad a section and to the other is jointed the narrowest
section of all and this again has jointed to it a comparatively broad section but
less in width than the other broad sections.
When the table is to be folded up this last end section which has its end cushion
rigidly secured to it is folded inwards to bring it to a right angle to the narrow
section to which it is jointed and this narrow section is turned into a position at
right angles to the third section. The end section is thereby made to lie parallel
with the third section and a space is left between the two into which the side
cushions may conveniently be packed away.
The other end section is turned on its hinge joint to make it lie flat over the
section next to it and this section is turned at right angles to the central narrow
section and this again is turned at right angles to the next section.
When all the sections are so folded up the one over the other they may be locked
by end pieces then applied and fixed to their ends so as to form the whole into one
compact rectangular case within which all the parts of the table may be contained.
In place of the several sections of the bed being hinge jointed together they
might be separate one from the other and be made to fit together in the way above
described whenever the table is required to be set up for use-In this case the
cloth would preferably not be secured to the sections but would be stretched over
the surface of the table after the sections have been fitted together.
Thin 4th day of Mawab 1885
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, EDWARD JOHN VAVASOUR EARLE of 119 Cheapside in the City of London
Agent 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 :-
According to this invention I form a billiard table with the bed divided
crosswise into sections. The several sections I hinge one to the other by hinges at
each side in such manner that they can be turned or folded together and made to
lie parallel with and one over the other or can be unfolded so that their upper
surfaces lie in one flat plane.
To keep the edge of any one section level with the edge of the adjoining section
against which it abuts when the bed is so unfolded I provide the edge of the one
section with a projecting feather or other projections to enter a corresponding groove
or recesses in the abutting edge of the other section.
I secure the cloth with which the bed is covered to the upper surface of each of
the sections and in order that it may not be squeezed and creased where it passes
across the junctions between the segments when the bed is folded up I make the
pins of the hinge joints to be slightly above the level of the upper surface of the
bed so that the cloth shall not be doubled over in a close fold.
The cushions are made separate from the bed and are applied to the bed after it
has been opened out and then retain the sections of the bed all in one plane.
The irons which carry the network of the pockets I make with pins projecting
downwards from each of their ends to enter socket holes in the upper side of each
of the cushions which are at either side of the pocket and hold them down into
their socket holes by screw bolts.
Preferably I divide the bed into five sections four comparatively broad ones and
one central narrow one.
Figure 1 of the drawings hereunto annexed shows a longitudinal cross section and
Figure 2 a plan view of a billiard table constructed as above described. Figure 3
is a side edge view of the bed of the table with the cushions removed.-Figure 4
is a side edge view of this bed when folded up.-Figure 5 is a section on a larger
scale showing how the cushions are secured to the edge of the table.-Figures G
and 7 shew on this larger scale the way in which the sections of the bed are jointed
together. Figure 8 shews the manner in which the ends of the pocket irons are
secured to the sides which carry the cushions.
In these figures A A are the five sections of the bed fitting together edge to edge
as described.
Along each side edge is secured an iron bar B in lengths hinged together at C.
A similar bar is also secured to each end.
The way of forming the hinges so as not to allow of the cloth being creased at
the hinge joint is shown at Figures 6 and 7.
D D are the side cushions secured as shewn at Figure 5 by screw bolts E to the
iron bars B. The way in which I prefer to form the cushions is also shown in

page_text: this figure-D¹ is the elastic edge of the cushion formed of india rubber and D' is
the cloth covering by which it is covered-F F are the irons which carry the
network of the middle and end pockets-these ends drop into recesses in the
woodwork of the cushions and are held down into these recesses by screw bolts as
shown at Figure 8.
The table when opened out as shewn at Figures 1 and 2 can be supported upon
any table or stand of a suitable size.
When the pocket irons and side cushions have been removed the bed can be
folded up as shewn at Figure 4 and can be packed away together with the cushions
and irons in a suitable case or otherwise and will then occupy but little room.
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 construction of a billiard table with its bed in sections hinged together
as described in such a way as to avoid creasing the cloth and with side cushions
and pockets to be secured to the edges of the bed when it has been unfolded
substantially as described.
2. The construction of folding or collapsible billiard tables substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the drawing annexed.
Dated this 4th day of December 1985
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.