IMPROVEMENTS IN BILLIARD AND BAGATELLE TABLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Buttery, of the Firm of Burroughes and Watts,
of Soho Square, London, in the County of Middlesex, Billiard Table Makers,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BILLIARD AND BAGATELLE TABLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Buttery at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1880.
WALTER BUTTERY, of the Firm of Burroughes and Watts, of Soho Square,.
London, in the County of Middlesex, Billiard Table Makers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BILLIARD AND BAGATELLE TABLES."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of billiard
tables, whereby a billiard table is rendered convertible into a ordinary or dining
table and reconvertible for billiards with great facility and rapidity, and it consists
essentially in the use of a sliding block so arranged as to automatically fix the
table to the proper level for playing at billiards, supporting it solidly and securely
in that position, and to be easily removed when it is desired to lower the table.
I propose to construct the frame of the table with its bed and cushions in the
ordinary manner, but to set the end crosspieces of the frame upon the table legs
or supports and the rail between them in such a manner that they may be raised.
vertically in suitable guides extending across each end of the table inside of and
parallel with the end of the frame of the table when lowered. I propose to place
blocks of wood or any suitable material of a depth equal to the difference of level
between a billiard and an ordinary table, and of any suitable breadth, these blocks
being set in guides and in connection with any suitable spring or springs which
will keep the block pressing against the end of the frame when this latter is resting
upon the cross rail and its legs or supports, a hand lever or any suitable means of
compression being provided to compress the spring or springs when the sliding
block is to be pushed off of the crosspiece or rail. When the table is to be used
for dining or general purposes I cover it with a board or boards resting upon the
frame or edges of the cushions, and I may prevent any lateral movement across
these cushions by forming a recess or flanging the underside of the board or boards,
which I may join together and keep down upon the frame by means of any
suitable catch or catches.

page_text: For the better comprehension of my Invention I have hereunto annexed a Sheet
of Drawing showing a billiard table embodying my improvements, but I would
have it understood that I do not propose to confine myself to the precise details
thereof, and that my Invention is equally applicable to bagatelle as to billiard
tables.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing
Figure 1 represents an end view of my table arranged and fitted for dining
purposes.
Figure 2 is a similar view but having top-boards or leaves removed, and table
raised for billiards.
Figure 3 is an inverted plan of Fig. 1, showing position of end crosspiece or rail
and sliding block, and
Figure 4 is an inverted plan of Fig. 2.
A, A, A, indicate the legs or supports, which may be of any desired shape and
material.
B is the end crosspiece or rail.
C, C, boards or leaves forming top of ordinary or dining table.
D, billiard table with ordinary bed, cushions, and pockets.
E, sliding block.
F, gussets or corner pieces.
G, guide plate.
H, spring bolt.
I, spiral spring
K, hand lever.
To convert this table, as at Fig. 1, for billiards, as at Fig. 2, the boards or
leaves C, C, are removed; the table D is then lifted at one end, and the block E,
pushed on to the crosspiece or rail B by the spring bolts H, immediately secures
the table D at the proper height at that end; the saine operation is then performed
at the other end, or both ends may be raised and the sliding blocks move into
position simultaneously.
To reconvert this table for dining or general purposes the table D is slightly
raised, and the block E pushed off of the crosspiece or rail B by means of the hand
lever K, when the table lowers of itself.
K, hand lever.
To convert this table, as at Fig. 1, for billiards, as at Fig. 2, the boards or 2
leaves C, C, are removed; the table D is then lifted at one end, and the block E,
pushed on to the crosspiece or rail B by the spring bolts H, immediately secures
the table D at the proper height at that end; the saine operation is then performed
at the other end, or both ends may be raised and the sliding blocks move into
position simultaneously.
To reconvert this table for dining or general purposes the table D is slightly
raised, and the block E pushed off of the crosspiece or rail B by means of the hand
lever K, when the table lowers of itself.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Walter Buttery in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
April 1881.
WALTER BUTTERY, of the Firm of Burroughes and Watts, of Soho Square,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Billiard Table Makers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BILLIARD AND BAGATELLE TABLES."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of billiard
tables, whereby a billiard table is rendered convertible into an ordinary or dining
table, and reconvertible for billiards with great facility and rapidity; and it consists
essentially in the use of sliding blocks so arranged as to autoinatically fix the table
to the proper level for playing at billiards, supporting it solidly and securely in
that position, and to be easily removed when it is desired to lower the table.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is an end view of my improved table, arranged and fitted for dining
purposes.
Figure 2 is a similar view as it appears after the removal of the top boards, and
its being raised to the level for billiards.
Figure 3 is an inverted plan of Figure 1, showing position of end crosspiece or
rail and sliding block.
Figure 4, an inverted plan of Figure 2, and
Figure 5, a perspective view of the table arranged for billiards.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A indicates the legs or supports, which may be of any desired shape and material;
B, end crosspiece or rail; C, boards or leaves forming top of ordinary or dining
table; D, billiard table with ordinary bed, cushions, and pockets; E, sliding block,
there is one at each end of the table; F, gussets or cornerpieces; G, guide plate;
E, spring bolt; I, spiral spring; K, hand lever.
To convert this table, as at Figure 1, for billiards, as at Figures 2 and 5, the
boards or leaves C are removed; the table D is then lifted at one end, and the block E,
pushed on to the crosspiece or rail B by the spring bolts H, immediately secures
the table D at the proper height at that end; the saine operation is then performed
at the other end, or both ends may be raised and the sliding blocks move into
position simultaneously.
To reconvert the table for dining or general purposes the table D is slightly
raised, and the block E pushed off of the crosspiece or rail B by means of the hand
lever K, when the table lowers of itself.
The arrangement shown is equally applicable to bagatelle as to billiard tables.
The frame of the table with its bed and cushions is constructed in the ordinary
manner, but the end crosspieces B of the frame are set upon the table legs or
supports and the rail between them in such a manner that they may be raised
vertically in suitable guides G. The sliding blocks E which extend across each
end of the table inside of and parallel with the end of the frame of the table when
lowered may be of wood or of any suitable material but of a depth equal to the
difference of level between a billiard and an ordinary table, and of any suitable
breadth, these blocks being set in guides; and instead of the springs H, I, any
suitable spring or springs may be used which will keep the block pressing against
the end of the frame when this latter is resting upon the cross rail B and
the legs or supports A. In lieu of the hand lever K, I may use any suitable
means to compress the spring or springs when the sliding block E is to be pushed
off the crosspiece or rail B. The board or boards C with which I cover the

page_text: table when it is to be used for dining or general purposes rest upon the frame or
edges of the cushions, and I may prevent any lateral movement across these
cushions by forming a recess or Hanging the underside of the board or boards,
which I may connect and keep down upon the frame by any suitable catch or
catches.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed,
I claim, as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent,―
In a billiard or a bagatelle table the sliding blocks E, arranged to operate
substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Buttery, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
W. E. GEDGE,
Patent Agent,
11, Wellington St., Strand,
London.
WALTER BUTTERY. (L.S.)