Improvements in Tables for Games resembling Billiards.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 10th Aug.. 1893-Accented 30th Sept. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tables for Games resembling Billiards.
I, ANTON WOEBS, of Hogenstrasse 55, Hanover, Germany, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
---
This invention relates to improvements in tables for games resembling billiards,
whereby cannoning of a striking ball with the other balls is effected neither
directly nor indirectly by means of the fixed cushion, but by an adjustable cushion
or buffer which is adapted to be shifted along the fixed cushion of the table, the
shorter sides or corners of which are made of curved shape the arrangement
moreover being such that not only are points counted by the cannoning of the balls
but the particular position of the several balls on the table are of importance for
determining value of the points. With some forms of table according to this
invention it is intended that the person playing shall always approach the table
from the same side, that is to say from the narrow side, and consequently the table
requires considerably less room than is required for example for French billiard
tables which must be readily accessible from all sides. For large rooms or saloons
in which the space occupied is of less consideration, a table of the square shape
shown in Fig. 3 is very suitable. The game, in which four balls are employed, will
be hereafter briefly described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1 and 2 show respectively in plan and cross section a table constructed
according to this invention.
Fig. 3 is a plan illustrating a square table.
The billiard table shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a bed a consisting of a slab of slate
arranged perfectly horizontal and of approximately elliptical form in plan. This
bed is tightly covered with cloth, and is surrounded by a strong border b provided
with an elastic cushion. The bed is supported on the frame c of the table which is
carried by feet d and the cloth covering has at its central part a surface d divided
into one hundred squares, it may be by weaving, or by impression after the cloth
has been fixed to the bed, and at each end of which are two semi-circular parts e of
the table whereby the bed receives the above mentioned approximately elliptical
shape.
Two sides at right angles to each other of the said divided surface d are provided
at the ends of the several longitudinal rows or cross rows with numbers from
1 to 10. In playing, the position of the several balls upon this surface is of
importance, because the value of the points is determined by the said position.
The slate bed is provided all round near its edge with a ball path (Fig. 2)
bevelled off towards the border in which is located an adjustable rebounding
buffer h. This buffer may advantageously be made of cast zinc formed with curved
surfaces as shown, and either covered with soft felt, or provided with a wood
insertion around which a rubber cushion is placed. Its shape in plan is such that
the striking ball will be guided by the fixed cushion of the table, without shock or
jar, onto the curved side of the buffer by which it is guided so as to be projected in
a direction always at right angles to the fixed cushion of the table and on to the
squared or chequered surface d. The buffer is movable in the semi-circular portion
of the border b against which it normally bears, and rests with its lower surface on
the ball path f.
Each of the semi-circular parts e of the bed is or may be separated from the
central squared surface d by a partition in which is provided with an elastic
cushion and has an opening at each end adjacent to the border, and also one in the
middle. The openings at the border are each only large enough to allow of the

page_text: playing ball passing freely through the same, whilst the opening in the centre is
much larger and such as to allow of the playing ball passing through it when
projected by the buffer in various directions. In the example shown this opening
has a width equal to the width of two of the squares.
In the middle of each partition wall m, that is to say exactly above the centre of
the opening therein, is located a pin which I call a sighting pin to aid in accurately
adjusting the buffer h.
The game is played by projecting the striking ball by means of a cue along one
of the longer sides of the table. The ball then rolls along the curved portion of
the fixed cushion of the table by which it is guided onto the adjustable buffer h by
which it is further guided so as to be projected onto the playing surface for the
purpose of causing cannoning to take place with the other balls on such surface.
The game may be restricted solely to the cannoning of the balls, but points may
also be counted with the aid of the chequered surface. The several rules of the
game need not be discussed any further here as they are not essential and may be
varied.
The sighting pins serve for accurately adjusting the buffers. If it be desired to
direct the striking ball on to a determined point of the playing surface, the buffer
is adjusted in such a manner that the said point, the point of the sighting pin and
the point or apex of the buffer are brought into the same vertical plane. The
accuracy with which this operation is performed will depend on the skill of the
player.
The billiard table shown in Fig. 3 is similar in construction to that shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, but is of square form in plan, and the partitions m are dispensed with,
the striking ball in this case being directed, by the buffer, over one or other of
the corners of the chequered surface.
Dated this 10th dox f Nanamhon 1000
A. WOEBS,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tables for Games resembling Billiards.
I, ANTON WOEBS, of Hogenstrasse 55, Hanover, Germany Manufacturer, 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 improvements in tables for playing games resembling
billiards, whereby cannoning of a striking ball with the other balls is effected not by
means of the fixed cushion, but by an adjustable cushion or buffer, which is adapted
to be shifted along the fixed cushion of the table, the shorter sides or corners of
which are made of curved shape, the arrangement moreover being such that not
only are points counted by the cannoning of the balls, but the particular position of
the several balls on the table are of importance for determining value of the points.
With some forms of table according to this invention it is intended that the person
playing shall always approach the table from the same side, that is to say from the
narrow side, and consequently the table will require considerably less room than is
required for example for French billiard tables which must be readily accessible
from all sides. For large rooms or saloons in which the space occupied is of less
consideration, a table of the square shape shown in Fig. 3 is very suitable. The
game, in which four balls are employed, will be hereafter briefly described.
In the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification,
Figs. 1 and 2 show respectively in plan and cross section a billiard table
constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 3 is a plan illustrating a modification.
Figs. 4 & 5 of the accompanying drawings are respectively a sectional elevation
& plan to a larger scale of part of the table & an adjustable buffer thereon.

page_text: The billiard table shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a bed a consisting of a slab of slate
arranged perfectly horizontal and of approximately elliptical form in plan. This
bed is tightly covered with cloth, and is surrounded by a strong border b provided
with an elastic cushion. The bed rests on a frame c carried by feet k, and the cloth
covering has at its central portion a surface d divided into one hundred squares, it'
may be by weaving or by impression after the cloth has been fixed to the bed.
From opposite ends of this central marked part extend semi-circular parts e whereby
the bed receives the above mentioned approximately elliptical form.
Two sides, at right angles to each other, of the said surface d, are provided at the
ends of the several longitudinal rows or cross rows, with the numbers 1 to 10. In
playing, the position of the several balls upon this surface is of importance,
because the value of the points is determined by the said position, as hereinafter
described.
The slate bed is provided all round near its edge with a ball path ƒ (Fig. 2)
bevelled off towards the border in which is located an adjustable rebounding buffer h.
This buffer may advantageously be made of cast zinc formed with curved surfaces
as shown in Fig. 4 and either covered with soft felt, or provided with a wood
insertion m* around which a rubber cushion n is placed. Its shape in plan is such
that the striking ball will be guided by the fixed cushion of the table, without shock
or jar, onto the curved side of the buffer by which it is guided so as to be projected
in a direction always at right angles to the fixed cushion of the table and on to
the squared or chequered surface d. The buffer is movable in the semi-circular
portion of the border b against which it normally bears, and rests with its lower
surface on the ball path f is a handle by which it can be moved.
Each of the semi-circular parts e of the bed is or may be separated from the
central squared surface d by a partition m which is provided with an elastic cushion
and has an opening at each end adjacent to the border, and also one in the middle.
The openings at the border are each only large enough to allow of the playing ball
passing freely through the ame, whilst the opening in the centre is much larger
and such as to allow of the playing ball passing through it when projected by the
buffer in various directions. In the example shown this opening has a width equal
to the width of two of the squares.
In the middle of each partition wall m, that is to say exactly above the centre of
the opening therein, is located a pin which I call a sighting pin to aid in
accurately adjusting the buffer h.
The game is played by projecting the striking ball by means of a cue along one
of the longer sides of the table. The ball then rolls along the curved portion of the
fixed cushion of the table by which it is guided onto the adjustable buffer by
which it is further guided so as to be projected onto the playing surface for the
purpose of causing cannoning to take place with the other balls on such surface.
The game may be restricted solely to the cannoning of the balls, but points may
also be counted with the aid of the chequered surface. The several rules of the
game need not be discussed any further here as they are not essential and may be
varied.
The sighting pins i serve for accurately adjusting the buffers. If it be desired to
direct the striking ball on to a determined point of the playing surface, the buffer is
adjusted in such a manner that the said point, the point of the sighting pin and the
point or apex of the buffer are brought into the same vertical plane. The
accuracy with which this operation is performed will depend on the skill of
the player.
The billiard table shown in Fig. 3 is similar in construction to that shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, but is of square form in plan.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For playing games resembling billiards, a table constructed with a cushion

page_text: composed of straight and circular parts and with a bed bevelled all round at the
border so as to form a path for the striking ball, and provided with an adjustable
buffer h fitted with a cushion and having a profile such that the striking ball will be
guided always at right angles to the fixed cushion of the bed on to the playing
surface a¹ of the table substantially as herein described.
2. In a table of the kind specified in Claim 1, the arrangement of sighting devices
such as the pins i for the purpose of facilitating the adjustment of the buffer /
substantially as described.
3. The improved tables for playing games resembling billiards, constructed
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described with reference to
and shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and in Fig. 3 of the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of August 1893.
ANTON WOEBS,
By L. W., per F. B.