Apparatus for Scoring the Game of Billiards and Automatically Registering the Number of Games Played.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Scoring the Game of Billiards and Automatically
Registering the Number of Games Played.
I, HERBERT SIDNEY WOOSTER Chief Clerk Post Office Bath residing at
2 York Buildings Bath do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
A billiard marker which automatically records the games :-Each of two markers
scoring the games moves over two grooved rollers, one of which revolves by means
of cog wheels a numbered roller for scoring the game from 1 to 100 and the other
revolves a 66
spiral" roller over which an indicator moves automatically recording
against numbers the revolutions of the grooved roller-one complete revolution of
which marks a game of 100 points. By means of a lever arrangement the numbered
roller is reversible from "51" back to "1" when the marker revolving the opposite
set of rollers is at "51."
LM 1000
HERBERT S. WOOSTER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Scoring the Game of Billiards and Automatically
Registering the Number of Games Played.
I, HERBERT SIDNEY WOOSTER, Chief Clerk Post Office, Bath, residing at
2 York Buildings, Bath, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be. performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention consists in an improved appliance for scoring at the game of
billiards and, through indicating the total points made, affording a return of the
number of games played. The appliance is, therefore, a provision against false
returns by attendants as to money due by them to proprietors of billiard tables.
66
In the appliance which constitutes this invention each pointer whereby the
points" as they are made by the respective players are indicated (which pointers
may for convenience be termed the units indicators) is secured to a plate free to
slide with the pointer and carrying at its back a yoke engaging with a pair of
rollers fitted at one end with toothed wheels. The toothed wheel of one of the
pair of rollers gears with a toothed wheel fitted on one end of a roller which bears
the units for scoring the points. The toothed wheel of the other roller of the pair
aforesaid gears with a pinion gearing with a toothed wheel fitted on one end of a
roller on which a screw thread is formed. This screw passes through a loosely
fitting sleeve carrying a lever which, by means of a spring, is normally made to lie
partially in the recess of the screw, that is to say, in the part thereof of smaller
diameter.
Extending outwards from the front of each sleeve is a pointer or index finger.
These index fingers may, for convenience, be termed the games indicators.
Behind the games indicators is a flat plate or board graduated and bearings
numerals from 1 to 25 in regular consecutive series, each graduation being of the
value of one game of 100 points as spaced upon the rollers along which the units
indicators aforesaid work.
The rollers above mentioned as engaged by the yoke of the units indicators are
grooved for such engagement. Each of these rollers has four longitudinal grooves

page_text: connected by diagonal grooves. The yoke above mentioned as carried by the
sliding plate of each units indicator has at both ends a short arm. The upper arm
extends into one of the grooves of one of the pair of grooved rollers and the lower
arm into one of the grooves of the other of the said pair of grooved rollers.
The modus operandi of the appliance is as follows:-Prior to the commencement
of a game the units indicators are moved to the left of the numeral 1 on their
respective rollers. The games indicators are, by raising the levers of the sleeves,
brought opposite the zero on the graduated face behind them. In travelling from
to 25 the outer arms of the yokes of the units indicators move in longitudinal
grooves and the inner arms in diagonal grooves in the respective pairs of grooved
rollers, but when either yoke is being brought back towards the left the outer arm
is diverted into a diagonal groove and the inner arm runs in a longitudinal groove.
By the forward motion of the units indicator rotatory motion is imparted to the set
of rollers in connection with the games indicator appertaining to that set, which
indicator is thereby moved through one-fourth of a graduation, and, by the moving
backward of the units indicator, rotatory motion is imparted to the set of rollers in
connection with the units indicator roller causing the numeral 26 to appear at the
left end thereof. The action is repeated as the marking continues and, consequently,
when a game of 100 points has been scored by a units indicator, the games indicator
connected therewith stands at "1." When two games of 100 points each have been
scored the games indicator thereby actuated stands at "2," and so on. Games of
50 points are indicated by dots placed midway between the major graduations of
the games index board. By means of levers, rods, pawls and ratchet wheels the
units indicator rollers are interlocked in such manner that before either is reversible,
(through the medium of a handle), from 51 back to zero, the indicator of the other
must be at 51. This arrangement admits of bringing both units indicators to zero
at the conclusion of a game of 50 points without indicating on the flat plate behind
the games indicators more or less than the said 50 points.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation and Fig. 2 a partial vertical transverse section
of my improved appliance for scoring at the game of billiards and, through
indicating the total points made, giving a return of the number of games played.
Fig 3 represents a rear elevation, the cover of the back being removed.
Towards the top and bottom respectively of the appliance are the usual marking
rollers a bearing numerals from 1 to 100 arranged in four series of 25 each. In
front of the rollers a are the pointers 6 by which the "points" are marked as they
are made by the respective players. These pointers may, for convenience in
description, be termed the units indicators.
They are respectively secured to plates e which are free to slide on rails d (Fig. 2)
fixed behind the face of the appliance. Each plate e carries a yoke e having a short
arm at top and bottom projecting backwards. These arms extend into grooves
provided in rollers ff arranged parallel with the rollers a.
Each roller a is fitted
at one end with a toothed wheel al gearing with a toothed wheel g fitted on each
roller. The rollers f¹ are fitted with toothed wheels h gearing with pinions i
which gear with toothed wheels ; fitted on the screws k. Each screw k passes
through a sleeve l, a separate view of which, drawn to an enlarged scale, is shewn
at Fig. 4. Each sleeve / carries a lever m pivotted to a plate secured to the sleeve.
The levers m are normally tilted forward by the springs n so as to rest in the
recesses of the screws, that is to say, in the part thereof of smaller diameter.
Upon the spindles o extending outwards to the front from the sleeves are carried
the pointers for indicating the number of games and half games played and scored
by the units indicators b. The pointers p may, for convenience in description, be
termed the games indicators. Behind them is a flat plate or board y bearing
numerals, 1 to 25, arranged at equal distances apart in regular sequence, each
major graduation, that is to say from one numeral to another, being of the value of
one game of 100 points as spaced upon the rollers a. Each roller ff¹ has four
P

page_text: longitudinal grooves connected by four diagonal grooves. The yoke e, which has
short arms extending into the grooves, couples the rollers, as seen at Fig. 2.
As the action is similar in both sets of indicating mechanism, it will simplify
description by setting forth the modus operandi with respect to one set only. In
scoring from 1 to 25 by a units indicator b the outer arm of the yoke e carried at
the back of the said indicator remains and slides in a longitudinal groove of the
roller and in its passage from left to right the yoke raises a spring switch which
switch is closed by its spring after the yoke has passed free of it to the right. The
inner arm of the yoke e travels in a diagonal groove of the roller f¹ causing that
roller to revolve until the said inner arm of the yoke reaches the next longitudinal
groove.
"
On the return of the yoke e from right to left the outer arm of the yoke e is
diverted by the closed switch into a diagonal groove on the roller f causing it to
rotate and the inner arm remains and slides in a longitudinal groove of the
roller f
As the yoke approaches the left end of the appliance its inner arm, following the
conformation of the groove in which it is travelling, passes out of its plane of travel
and is thereby diverted so that on its return from left to right the inner arm of the
yoke passes into a diagonal groove preventing it from returning in the same longi-
tudinal groove by which it has been brought from right to left.
It is to be understood that instead of employing switches such as r, Fig. 3, for
diverting the outer arm of either yoke e from a longitudinal to a diagonal groove,
the transfer may be effected in the same way as above described with reference to
the inner arm. Each diagonal groove is of such pitch that whilst the arm of the
yoke e is travelling in it the roller for f¹, as the case may be, is rotated through
one-fourth of a revolution.
The roller a, is by the intervening gearing a¹ and g, rotated to a like extent and
hence the second set of numerals commencing with 26 appears at front instead of
the first series, and so on. When rotatory motion is imparted to either roller f' as
aforesaid, by means of the toothed wheels hi and j, the screw is caused to rotate
to such an extent as to move the sleeve longitudinally through one-fourth of the
distance between two consecutive numerals on the plate or board behind the games
indicator. Accordingly, a complete revolution of the roller a, which is made in
scoring 100 points, moves the games indicator p connected with such roller a through
one complete graduation. Half of a graduation indicates 50 points. It will readily
be understood that the position of the games indicators is a true index of the total
number of points played and thus a check is provided upon the return given by
attendants to proprietors of billiard tables as to the payments which are due to
them, the computation being based on the usual system of a fixed charge for each
game of 50 or 100 points respectively.
When it is required, as after each payment made by the attendant, to return the
games indicators to the starting point, the windows is unlocked by a key (not kept
by the attendant) inserted in the key-hole seen at Fig. 1, and after the window has
been opened on its hinges t an inward pressure is applied to the stud u-see Fig. 4-
and the spring behind it is thus compressed and the wedge w is forced back raising
the lever m out of engagement with the screw. The sleeve is then free to be drawn
along the screw without rotation of the latter. On withdrawal of the pressure
from the stud u the spring n restores the lever m to engagement with the screw, and
the spring returns the stud u to its normal position.
After concluding a game of 50 points it becomes necessary, in order to
commence a fresh game, to return both of the units indicators to zero. To
enable this to be done without causing the games indicators to indicate more or
less than such game of 50 points, the groove in each roller f in which at the
termination of such game the yoke e is returned from right to left opens at the
left end into a part of the roller which is of smaller diameter than the general
body of the roller, as seen more particularly in the separate view Fig. 5.
The part which is of reduced diameter extends around one half of the

page_text: roller. The groove in each roller 6 by which, when 25 points have been scored,
the yoke e is returned from right to left, is blocked at the left end, as seen
at Fig. 6. Also the groove in each roller 6 by which, when 75 points have
been scored, the yoke is returned, is not-see Fig. 7-run out to the roller neck.
At the gearing end of each roller a is a ratchet wheel-see Fig. 9. The ratchet
wheel of the upper units indicator roller engages with a pawl y pivotted at y'
to the frame of the apparatus and connected at the outer end to a rod y' which
extends downwards and is connected at the lower extremity to one end of a
bell-crank lever 3 pivotted to a fixed bracket y. The pawly is normally kept
in gear with the ratchet wheel a by a spiral spring y bearing at the upper end
against a shoulder on the rod y² and at the lower end upon a stop fixed to the
frame. The upper yoke carries a curved arm which extends backwards so
as to come into contact with the lower limb of the bell-crank lever y³ when the
upper units indicator is moved sufficiently far to the left. The ratchet wheel
of the lower units indicator roller engages with a pawl pivotted at to the
frame of the apparatus and connected at the outer end to a rod 3 which extends
upwards and is connected at the upper extremity to one end of bell-crank
lever pivotted to a fixed bracket. The pawl is normally kept in engage-
by a spiral spring bearing at the lower end against
ment with the ratchet
=
a shoulder on the rod and at the upper end against a stop fixed to the frame.
The lower yoke carries a curved arm which extends backwards so as to come
into contact with the upper limb of the bell-crank lever when the said units
indicator is moved sufficiently far to the left. It will be seen that under this
arrangement of ratchet wheels, pawls, levers and springs, the upper pawl y is
freed from engagement with the ratchet wheel only when the lower bell-crank
lever is tilted by contact therewith of the arm 2 of the lower units indicator.
Similarly, the lower pawl is freed from engagement with its ratchet wheel only
when the upper bell-crank lever y³ is tilted by contact therewith of the arm
of the upper units indicator. Accordingly, the pawls can be freed from engage-
ment with the ratchet wheels of the rollers a only when both units indicators
stand at 51 to which position both must consequently be brought before either
roller can be reversed to zero through the medium of its handle a². When
the rollers a have been so reversed, the yokes e enter the grooves in the roller f
at the zero point passing over and depressing a spring tongue t-Figs. 6 and 8-
which thereafter rebounds blocking the groove and preventing withdrawal thereat
of the yokes.
To prevent the machine being tampered with in the absence of the attendant
the yokes e are capable of being rendered inoperative by locking. A convenient
form of locking gear for this purpose_is_shewn at Fig. 10. It consists of a
system of articulated levers A, B, C, D, E, F of which A, C and F are pivotted
to the frame.
Into the slot G in the lever D takes a tongue fixed to the spindle of the
handle H, Figs. 1 and 3.
By moving the lever D downwards on the stud I by means of the said handle
the levers A and F are turned upon their pivots so as to cause the teeth A'
and F to take into notches provided in the slides c of the units indicators. In
this position the mechanism is locked by the bolt of an ordinary lock being shot
into the slot B¹ of the lever B by turning the key of the said ordinary lock.
The spring L serves to maintain the levers either in the position shewn at Fig. 10
or in the position occupied by them when the teeth of the levers A and Fare
engaged in the notches of the slide c until such positions are changed by turning
the handle H.
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. In an appliance for marking or scoring the game of billiards.
an arrangement

page_text: of rollers such as f and f', grooved and coupled by yokes such as e, screw-
threaded rollers such as k carrying sleeves such as 1, or their equivalent, said
arrangement being such that as each series of units displayed from end to end
on the units indicator rollers is indicated by the units indicators in the progress
of the game, the games indicators, actuated through the said screws and sleeves,
indicate, through the medium of a graduated board such as 7, the total number
of points and, by consequence, games or half games played, substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In a billiard marking appliance of the kind set forth in the preceding claim,
the mechanism for interlocking the units indicator rollers whereby, on the con-
clusion of a game of 50 points, both units indicators must be returned to the
starting end of the apparatus before either of the units indicator rollers can be
reversed to zero, as hereinbefore set forth with special reference to Figs. 5 to 9
inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
3. The spring sleeve or clip carrying the games indicators, consisting of the
lever m, spring n, spindle o with wedge piece w, spiral spring and stud u,
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with special
reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination of parts constituting the improved appliance for scoring
at billiards and preventing false returns as to the number of games played, con-
structed, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore set forth with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Deted this 26th day of March 1901
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.