AN IMPROVED PORTABLE FRAME FOR PLAYING BILLIARDS UPON AN ORDINARY TABLE
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Henry Passingcomb Colson, of Bristol,
in the City and County of Bristol, Architect and Surveyor, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE FRAME FOR PLAYING BILLIARDS
UPON AN ORDINARY TABLE."
Sealed the 2nd August 1870, and dated the 12th February 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Henry Passing-
comb Colson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 12th February 1870.
's
I; JAMES: HENRY: PASSING COMB COLSON, of Bristol, in the City and
County of Bristol, Architect-and-Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE FRAME FOR PLAYING
BILLIARDS UPON AN ORDINARY TABLE," to be as follows :-

page_text: For this purpose I employ four or more pieces of wood or other
material having suitable cushions fitted or attached to their inner sides.
When these pieces are fitted together so as to form a square or oblong
frame they rest and fit upon the extreme edge or moulding of the table,
and being pressed firmly down with the cloth between the frame and
the table (which is slightly strained by that action) the frame is firmly
secured in its proper position without being attached to the table by
other apparatus.
By this arrangement the pockets required for the game are fitted to
the ledges or sides in the same relative positions as in an ordinary
billiard table, thus enabling a complete game to be properly played.
This object cannot be attained if (as has hitherto been the case) the
frame is placed upon the surface of the table.
•
A
In constructing my frame I usually form the longest portion or sides
in two pieces jointed together, and at the four corners I form suitable
connecting plates which are fixed together by any convenient mechanical
-means, as will-be-readily understood. I_prefer_that the connexion at
the several pockets shall be by means of plates with slotted holes, the
same being secured to the frame by means of a button. These plates
carry at the top a ring or segment to which the pockets are suspended.
TT.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
3.
filed by the said James Henry Passingcomb Colson in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 6th August 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HENRY PASSINGCOMB COLSON, of Bristol, in the City and County of
Bristol, Architect and Surveyor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her-
Letters Patent bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, för Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said James Henry Passingcomb Colson, Her special
licence that I, the said James Henry Passingcomb Colson, my executors,.
administrators, and assigns; or, such others as I, the said James Henry
Passingcomb Colson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at

page_text: any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE FRAME FOR PLAYING BILLIARDS UPON AN ORDINARY
TABLE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Henry Passingcomb Colson, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, tho said James Henry Passingcomb Colson, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being bad to the Drawing hereto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say:
The object of my Invention is to provide an improved portable frame
with suitable apparatus to enable the game of billiards to be played
upon an ordinary table, and so that the said frame may be rapidly fitted
thereto and removed therefrom. The improved frame or apparatus rests
on the extreme edges of the table or bed in the same relative position
and has the same relative drop for the balls as an ordinary billiard table,
enabling the various games usually played on a billiard table to be
completely and efficiently played.
To carry out my Invention. I employ four or more pieces of wood or
other suitable material having cushions of solid india-rubber or other
suitable elastic material of convenient form attached to their inner
surfaces. These pieces are fitted together by hinges, nuts, and scrows,
plates and sockets, plates and buttons, or other suitable appliances, so as
to form a square or oblong frame which rests and fits upon the extreme.
edge or moulding of the table, and being pressed firmly down over the
cloth, which is strained or stretched thereby between the frame and the
table, the frame is secured in its proper position without requiring to be
attached by other means.
By this arrangement the pockets required for the games may bu
attached or fitted to the ledges or sides of the frame in the samo relative

page_text: Figure 6 shews the button with projection e to fit into the slot holes
ff, Figure 7, which Figure shews the connecting plate (at one of the
middle pockets) curved at g to carry pocket; f,f, slotted holes to fit
projections e on buttons, Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a view shewing the manner in which the pieces of a side
are connected together by the metal plate,. Figure 7, and buttons,
Figure 6.
Figure 9 shews one of the metal sockets with spring catch therein.
Figure 10 is a view of a connecting plate with curve 9 to carry
pocket.
Figure 11 is a view shewing the manner in which the pieces of a side
are connected together by the metal plate, Figure 10, and sockets,
Figure 9.
And Figure 12 is a view of a side or ledge of the frame shewing
cushion and rebate c attached underneath.
Having now described my said Invention, and the best means I
am acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, what I claim is,
the improved arrangement or construction of portable frame applicable
to the extreme edges of an ordinary table in the same relative position
and having the same relative drop for the balls as an ordinary billiard
table, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before
described and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Henry Passingcomb Colson,
have hereto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.