An Improved Appliance or Device for Facilitating the Painting of Golf Balls and similar Objects.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 4th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance or Device for Facilitating the Painting of
Golf Balls and similar Objects.
1, ALLAN BROWN FULLER of 9 Mincing Lane in the City of London, Tea
Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved appliance or device for facilitating the
painting of golf balls and similar objects whereby they can be held stationary
during the application of the paint and be rendered capable of turning when a
fresh portion of the surface thereof is to be operated upon, by merely altering the
pressure exerted by the hand upon the appliance.
In accordance with my invention the appliance or device may consist of a pair of
arms or members provided near their outer or free ends with prongs or points pro-
jecting inwardly towards each other and between which the ball or other object is
held when the appliance is in use and these arms or members are pivotted or otherwise
connected together in such a manner as to permit of their free or outer ends
approaching each other under the pressure of the user's hand.
The before mentioned prongs or points are advantageously arranged so that
there are three on one arm or member of the appliance, and one on the other, this
latter prong being diametrically opposite to or central with the middle one of those
on the other arm or member. This middle prong is capable of movement
longitudinally and is controlled by a spring or other suitable means so that it
normally projects beyond those prongs in proximity to it.
Thus when a comparatively slight pressure is put upon the appliance the ball will
be held between the two prongs that are diametrically opposite, in which position
said ball is free to be revolved between them as centres; but when greater pressure
is put upon the appliance the middle prong becomes pushed in to such an extent
that those in proximity to it also come to bear upon the ball and effectually
prevent the ball from being revolved by reason of their being out of centre or
alignment with the prong on the opposite arm or member of the appliance.
By regulating the pressure of the hand the ball or other object can be held
stationary during the application of the paint or be rendered free to turn when a
fresh part of the surface is to be brought into position for painting.
If desired means may be provided for enabling the arms or members of the
appliance to be retained in their fully pressed in position so as to permit of the
appliance being hung up, or being supported in a suitable pedestal or support,
while the ball dries.
When the prongs or points are formed with sharp extremities it may be found
desirable to provide protrusions at a short distance from the extremities to prevent
the prongs entering the ball too far.
Dated this 16th day of June 1894.
WM. MELLERSH-JACKSON,
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Appliance or Device for Facilitating the Painting of
Golf Balls and similar Objects.
I, ALLAN BROWN FULLER, of 9, Mincing Lane, in the City of London, Tea
Merchant, 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 an inproved appliance or device for facilitating the
painting of golf balls and similar objects whereby they can be held stationary
during the application of the paint and be rendered capable of turning when a
fresh portion of their surface is to be operated upon, by merely altering the
pressure exerted by the hand upon the appliance.
In accordance with my invention the appliance or device may consist of a pair of
arms or members provided near their outer or free ends with prongs or points
projecting inwardly towards each other and between which the ball or other object
is held when the appliance is in use and these arms or members are pivoted or
otherwise connected together in such a manner as to permit of their free or outer
ends approaching each other under the pressure of the user's hand.
The before mentioned prongs or points are advantageously arranged so that
there are three on one arm or member of the appliance and one on the other, this
latter prong being approximately opposite to the middle one of those on the other
arm or member. The middle prong is capable of movement longitudinally and is
controlled by a spring or other suitable means so that it normally projects beyond
those prongs in proximity to it.
Thus when a comparatively slight pressure is put upon the appliance the ball
will be held between the two prongs that are approximately opposite, in which
position said ball is free to be revolved hetween them as centres, but when greater
pressure is put upon the appliance the middle prong becomes displaced to such an
extent that those prongs in proximity to it also come to bear upon, and effectually
prevent, the ball from being revolved.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an elevation of the appliance or device' as it appears when its arms
or members are in their fully open position.
Figure 2 is a similar view but shewing the arms in an intermediate position,
and,
Figure 3 is another similar view but with the arms in their fully closed
position.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary view shewing a modified form that may be given to
the prongs or points.
A. A are the arms or members of the appliance which are pivoted together
at B. B¹ is a spring which normally tends to keep the arms in their extended
position. The upper portion of arm A is provided with a single prong or point
and the upper portion of arm A¹ with three prongs or points a¹ a² a the inter-
mediate one a' of these latter being moveable while the others are fixed. The
said intermediate prong a projects through an aperture in the arm A¹ and is carried
at the upper extremity of an exterior spring a whose lower end is secured to the
said arm A¹ by a rivet a'. The dotted lines C in Figures 2 and 3 represent a
golf-ball.

page_text: When a comparatively light pressure is exerted upon the appliance by the
operator the arms A A'assume the position indicated in Figure 2 in which position
only the prongs a and a' come into contact with the ball C. Said ball is
consequently free to be revolved about the said prongs a and a³ as centres so as to
bring a fresh surface of the ball into position for being painted. By exerting an
increased pressure upon the appliance the arms A A' assume the position shewn at
Figure 3, the intermediate prong a² remaining in its former position or approxi-
mately so with respect to the ball while the points a a³ are permitted to approach
and come into contact with the ball by reason of the spring a giving way. In
this position the prongs prevent the ball from being revolved and thus hold it
stationary so that the painting operation can be conveniently performed.
In order to enable the arms to be retained in the position indicated in Figure 3
and to permit of the appliance being hung up while the painted ball is drying the
lower end of one of said arms may be furnished with a pivoted link c which when
turned into the position shewn at Figure 3 will engage with a notch c¹ in the
opposite arm and thereby keep said arms closed.
When the prongs are formed with very sharp extremities it may be found
advantageous to provide them with protrusions d at a short distance from the
extremities, said protrusions serving to prevent the points of the prongs entering
the ball too far.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An appliance or device for facilitating the painting of golf balls and similar
objects whereby they can be held stationary during the application of the paint or
be rendered capable of turning when a fresh portion of their surface is to be
operated upon, by merely altering the pressure exerted by the hand upon the
appliance substantially as described.
2. The construction and arrangement of the prongs or points a a¹ a² a³
substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings and for the
purpose specified.
3. The improved appliance or device for facilitating the painting of golf balls
and similar objects having its parts constructed arranged and combined to operate
substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of March 1895.
WM. MELLERSH-JACKSON,
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.