Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Points Scored in Billiards or similar Games, and for Recording the Number of Games Played.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL DI MUIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Points Scored in
Billiards or similar Games, and for Recording the Number of
Games Played.
I, OSWALD OSRIC ROTHWELL, of Oak Farm Hotel, Crewe, in the County of
Chester, Licensed Victualler, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for indicating the points as scored by players
at the game of billiards or other similar games, and is designed with the object of
producing an apparatus which, whilst indicating the individual scores of the players,
will at the same time record the number of gaines played, and so act as a check on
the receipts of the table.
It consists essentially of an apparatus constructed with pointers or fingers to
indicate the points as they are scored, attached to sliding pieces which gear with
notched or toothed bars or racks, to prevent the pointers being returned to zero,
until the game has been completed, in combination with mechanism for recording
and indicating the number of times the sliding pieces travel their races or paths.
As in the apparatus now in use the individual scores of the players will be
separately recorded, and I will describe the mechanism operated by one pointer, it
being understood that the arrangement of the mechanism for the other pointer may
require to be somewhat modified to suit its position.
In carrying out the invention the pointer, which travels in front of a plate
inscribed with numerals to represent the points scored, is attached to a sliding piece
which traverses a race or guide. This race or guide is supported by brackets or
otherwise attached to a suitable framing. On the top the sliding piece is provided
with one or two notches or teeth corresponding to those of a bar or rack with which
it gears, in order to prevent the pointer being returned to zero before it has
completed its full outward traverse. A notched or toothed bar or rack is supported
in contact with the sliding piece by U or other suitably shaped brackets or guides
at either extremity. These brackets allow of a slight vertical movement of the
rack as the sliding piece passes forward on its outward run, and of a horizontal
movement on its completing it. The rack is provided with a pin or projection at
each end to engage with an inclined surface on the sliding piece when completing
the outward or return traverse. The pin passing up the incline on the sliding
piece raises the rack out of contact with the sliding picce, and the end of the rack
is provided with an incline which keeps it out of contact until the sliding piece has
completed its return to zero. The sliding piece engaging with the other pin again
brings the rack into contact with it. The sliding piece will preferably be returned
to zero self-actingly by means of a weight or a spring controlled pulley through a
cord attached thereto.
The motion to operate the recording mechanism will preferably be derived from
the sliding piece on its returning to zero. The recording mechanism may be of
any suitable or known construction. The arm operated by the sliding piece to
transmit the movement to the recording mechanism may be of ✓ shape, and so
pivoted that one arm will be presented to the sliding piece on its outward run
to place the other in position for the return stroke to operate the recording
mechanism, or it may be in the form of a connecting link or rod and actuated at
either the outward or return stroke of the sliding piece.
In addition to this, mechanism will also preferably be provided to operate an

page_text: additional indicating device for say every 25 or 50 points scored, or for every
complete outward traverse made by the sliding piece. This mechanism may be
provided with means for returning it to zero independently of the recording
mechanism.
Although I have only described the mechanism for operating one pointer, similar
mechanism will be employed for operating the second pointer.
The apparatus will be enclosed in a suitable casing, leaving only the scores of
the players to view, or if desired the recording dials may also be left exposed.
Dated this 28th day of October 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Points Scored in
Billiards or similar Games, and for Recording the Number of
Games Played.
I, OSWALD OSRIC ROTHWELL, of Oak Farm Hotel, Crewe, in the County of
Chester, Licensed Victualler, 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 apparatus for indicating the points as scored by players
at the game of billiards or other similar games, and is designed with the object of
producing an apparatus which whilst indicating the individual scores of the players
will at the same time record the number of gaines played, and so act as a check on
the receipts of the table.
It consists essentially in constructing the apparatus with the pointers or fingers
which indicate the points as they are scored attached to sliding pieces or pawls
which gear with notched or toothed bars or racks to prevent the pointers being
returned to zero until they have travelled across the scoring board in combination
with mechanism for recording and indicating the total score or the number of
games played.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. Front elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2. Elevation of same from the back with the cover removed.
Fig. 3. Transverse section on line - Fig. 2.
Fig. 4. Transverse section on line y-y Fig. 2.
Fig. 5. Longitudinal section through the recording mechanism.
Fig. 6. Elevation of same looking from the back.
Fig. 7. Elevation of same with the toothed wheel removed.
Fig. 8. Elevation of same with the toothed wheel and the bottom plate
removed.
The case A and the pointers B B are of any ordinary construction and on the
face of the case A are inscribed the numerals C C₁ the individual scores of the
players are separately recorded and I will describe the mechanism operated by
the "spot" pointer B it being understood that the arrangement of mechanism for
the "plain
pointer B is similar with what slight modification is necessary to
suit the difference of position.
"
The pointer B travels backwards and forwards in front of the numerals C in a
slit a cut in the case A to the back of the pointer is attached a sliding piece D
which travels to and fro in a race or guiding groove a' in the inside of the case A.
The sliding piece D carries or is provided with a tooth or teeth preferably in the
form of a pivoted pawl d to engage with a rack or notched bar E and beside the

page_text: groove or race a¹ in which the sliding piece D travels is placed the rack or notched
bar E with the teeth e so cut or set that the pawl d can pass over them when
travelling in one direction but cannot be moved back again until thrown out of gear
with the teeth.
The pawl or teeth carried by the sliding piece D may be thrown out of gear
with the teeth of the rack E either by raising the rack or by applying a finger or
tumbler to the pawl by which it can be thrown out of gear at one end of the case
and back into gear again at the other end, and I at present prefer the latter
arrangement.
To the pivoted pawld I attach a projecting finger or tumbler d' and to the
rack E or other convenient place I affix pins el e" which cause the pawl d to rotate
on its pivot when it comes into contact with either of them. Thus at the end of
the forward travel of the sliding piece D and pointer B the pawl d is thrown
over out of gear with the rack E and at the end of the backward travel it is thrown
back again into gear with the rack.
When the rack E is made to move out of gear with the pawl or teeth on the
sliding piece D it is provided with an inclined plane at both ends and a shoulder
against which the sliding piece D comes in contact moving it longitudinally and
at the same time moving it laterally one movement being to move it away from
the sliding piece D and the other to move it back again and into gear therewith.
Or the sliding piece may have an inclined plane to pass under the end of the
rack and raise it.
The sliding piece D has also attached to it a cord or band F connected to a
spring operated pulley G by which as soon as it has completed its forward travel
and the pawl d has been released it and the pointer B are returned to zero.
The recording mechanism I prefer to employ is illustrated in detail in Figs. 5
to 8 and operated by the cord or band F which is unwound from or drawn
off the spring pulley G as the pointer is traversed along the numerals C and is
wound up thereon again by the action of the spring when the pointer B and
slide D are released at the end of their travel.
Two dials are provided a fixed dial J and a rotating dial K the fixed dial being
inscribed with three sets of numerals one set registering by 25.s the next set by
100.s and the third set by 1000.s and the rotating dial being inscribed with the
numerals 25, 50, 75, and 100.
The total number of points scored either by a single player when playing a long
game or during a succession of games is recorded on the dial J by the three
fingers L. These fingers are connected to an ordinary train of clock work wheels
which are actuated from the spring pulley G by the spur wheel M which gears
with the pinion g on the arbour of the pulley. To one side of the wheel M is
affixed a crank pin m which by the connecting rod m' moves the pivoted lever N
to and fro. At the end of the lever N is fitted a pawl n and ratchet n' by which
the train of clock work is actuated thus at each return travel of the pointer B the
large finger L is advanced 25 points on the dial J. By reversing the position of
the pawl n and ratchet n' at the foot of the pivoted lever N the clockwork may be
operated during the forward travel of the pointer B.
The individual points of the score of the player is indicated by the pointer B
against the numerals C and by the movable and rotating dial K. After each
forward travel of the pointer B when 25 points have been scored the pointer returns
to zero and 25, 50, 75, or 100 are exhibited on the dial K through the aperture k.
When 100 has been exhibited the dial K automatically returns to zero or blank.
This dial is also actuated by the pulley G and spur wheel M. The wheel M is
fast on the spindle m" to which is also attached the spring H the wheel is rotated
in one direction by the pinion g of the pulley G and in the opposite direction by
the spring H. Loose on the spindle m" is a ratchet wheel O with which engages
the dog or pawl o on the back of the wheel turning it in one direction and which is
rotated one fourth of a revolution at each stroke or partial rotation of the wheel M.
It is prevented rotating in the reverse direction by the pawl o' pivoted to the

page_text: plate P engaging with another ratchet wheel O'. The ratchet wheels O and O¹
are attached to a sleeve loose on the spindle m¹ which passes through the fixed
supporting plate P and this sleeve at its lower end carries the dial K so that the
rotary movement is imparted to the dial in one direction at intervals by the dog or
pawl acting on the ratchet wheel O. The dial is returned to zero by the
spring M when the pawl o' is released from the ratchet O¹. The pawl o' is lifted
from the ratchet teeth by a pin on the end of the lever R this lever is moved by
the pin on the back of the dial K each time the dial completes a revolution
exhibiting 100 and releasing the ratchet allows the dial to be turned back to zero
by the spring M₁. The action of the pin is to carry the lever R forwards and
the pin carries it back again to the position shown in Fig. 8. when the disc
returns to zero. The dial K may be returned to zero at any time by moving
the lever R forward by a slide or lever S which extends out beyond the edge
of the casing A.
In working the apparatus the pointer B is moved forward to indicate each
point as it is scored and when the 25 is reached the pawl d is thrown out of
gear with the rack E by the arm d coming into contact with the pin e¹. The
forward movement of the pointer B draws the cord or band off the spring pulley G
winding up the spring H and when the pawl d is released from the rack, the
slide D and pointer B are drawn back by the spring and return to zero.
This
return movement operates the clockwork and moves forward the finger Lover
the dial J indicating an addition of 25 thereon and at the same time rotates the
movable dial K part of a revolution indicating 25 or any additional 25 thereon.
As the pointer B cannot be returned to zero owing to its engagement with the
rack E until it has been moved forward to the end of the board all unfinished
games or scores must also be reckoned or counted up in full so that the total score
indicated on the dial J represents the number of games that have been played.
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. Apparatus for indicating and registering the score of billiard and other games
constructed with a toothed bar or rack working in conjunction with the pointer to
prevent its being returned to zero until it has travelled across all the figures on the
scoring board in combination with a clockwork mechanism whereby the total score
of any successive number of games is recorded substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for indicating or registering the score of billiards or other games
the combination with the pointer of the pawl sliding therewith on the inside of the
case, the rack or notched bar to prevent it being returned to zero before it has
completed its travel across the board the spring pulley connected thereto by a cord
or band to draw the pointer back to zero substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for indicating or registering the score of billiards or other games
the combination with the sliding pointer with a tooth or pawl thereon and a rack
or notched bar to prevent its being returned to zero before the forward travel is
completed of the spring pulley G the pinion g the spur wheel M the spring H the
ratchets OO and the pawls o o' the rotating disc K the train of clockwork the
fingers Land the fixed dial J substantially as described.
4. Apparatus for indicating and recording the scores of billiards and other games
having the several parts constructed and arranged in combination substantially as
described and shown.
Dated this 26th day of July 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.