Improvements in the Construction of Billiard Scoring Boards.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1888
Specification Accepted, 27th July, 1888
Improvements in the Construction of Billiard Scoring Boards.
I, RODERICK NICHOLSON MONTGOMERY, of Salisbury Buildings, Bourke Street
West, in the City of Melbourne, and Colony of Victoria, Produce 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 of improvements in the construction of billiard scoring boards, has
been designed for the purpose of enabling such a contrivance to automatically register
the number of games played, as well as the numbers scored by each player. 1
accomplish this by attaching to one of the pointers (and preferably the lower pointer
of a scoring board) a registering apparatus consisting of a train of wheels leading to
an index-finger which travels around a circular dial in substantially the same manner
as in ordinary gas meters. The contrivances used for this purpose are so arranged as
that when once the pointer has been moved forward, even to the extent of the first
number scored, it cannot be re-placed to the starting point, until it has travelled the
whole length of the scoring board, so that when once started it cannot be re-placed
until a game has been scored on the registering dial. In order to prevent the
apparatus being tampered with when the table is not being used, I provide a lock-
catch which prevents the movement of the scoring pointers, until said catch is removed
out of its way. This I effect by means of a key somewhat like a clock-key. In order
however that my invention may be clearly understood I will now refer to the drawings
hereto attached, in which
Figure 1 shows face view of a billiard scoring board constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 2 is a back view of so much of same as is necessary to illustrate my
invention.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line A A, Figure 2.
Figure 4, a vertical section on the line B, B, Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the right hand end of the back of the apparatus,
shewn in Figure 2.
Figure 6 is perspective view of another form of a billiard scoring board constructed
according to my invention, in which the figures are placed upon a revolving roller and
D. Q17

page_text: the registering apparatus is connected with its end in such a manner as that when it
has scored the fifty points it will move the index finger so as to indicate that one game
has been played.
Figure 7 is an end view of same on a larger scale and with part of the casing
broken away in order to show the working parts.
Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the line C, C, in Figure 7.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5 ;-A represents the lower pointer which is attached to a
plate B at the back of the scoring board by means of a screw A¹. At the lower end
of this plate is a pawl B' centred on pin B2 and having stop-stud B3 behind it. B* is
a piece of coiled wire to act as a spring and pressing against the face of said pawl.
B is a projecting stud or head which is bevelled from being flush at that part of it
which is nearest the centre of the plate to say one-eighth of an inch at that part which
is nearest the side of the plate. Cis a steel plate having a row of holes therein
marked C, and having bevelled projections on its back face marked C², and having
also three other holes in it through which pass the studs C³, which just reach to the
back of the scoring board. Around each of these studs is a coiled spring C4 for the
purpose of giving an elastic pressure to the plate C. These studs also pass through
an outer plate D which is screwed to the back of the board by screws D'. This plate
acts as a resistance to the springs on the studs C³. The near end C³ of plate C is
turned outwards so as to facilitate the entrance of the plate B between it and the
scoring board when the pointer commences to score. E is a ratchet having ten teeth
which is kept in check by a spring pawl E¹. On the spindle of this ratchet is a small
pinion E2 having eight teeth which gears into a larger toothed wheel F having eighty
teeth, on the spindle of which is another pinion F¹ having thirty teeth which drives
another toothed wheel G having sixty teeth, on the spindle of which is the index
finger H on the dial I.
The operation of this scorer is as follows:-When the game is about to be
commenced, the pointers are of course at the left hand end of the board. The action
of the upper pointer does not affect my apparatus, but immediately the lower one
commences to score it carries with it the plate B, which enters behind and presses out
the plate C, overcoming the pressure of the springs (". As the pointer arrives at each
successive number, the bevel stud or projection B at its back enters one of the holes (¹
in the plate C, and whilst this stud affords no resistance to the onward travel of the
pointer, it presents an effective obstacle to its being moved backward, as the projecting
edge of the stud comes against the edge of the hole and prevents its return. This
plate C is continued as shewn unto very nearly the end of the board leaving only just
sufficient room for the plate B, to get free from it prior to its return. When it has
become free and is returned, the springs C4 press the plate C close to the back of
the scoring board and so prevent the plate B from travelling in front of it and compel
it to travel outside as is shewn in Figure 2, where it is supposed to be on its way back
to its initial or starting point. The bevelled studs C² prevent the return of the plate B
with its attached pointer until it has reached its initial or starting point. As the
plate B moves forward, its pawl B¹ comes into contact with one of the teeth of the
ratchet E, which it moves round to the extent of one notch and then passes onward
the game which has then been commenced is thus scored, inasmuch as the motion of
this ratchet is communicated by the train of wheels shewn, to the index finger H,
which is caused to move to the extent of scoring one on the dial I. In order to
prevent the apparatus being used when no games are being played, a catch is provided
which consists of a stop J formed on a pivot J¹ which can be opened and closed by
means of a key, such as a clock-key, as clearly shewn in Figures 1 and 2..
;
Referring now to Figures 6, 7 and 8-In this case the registering contrivance is
worked from the end of the lower scoring roller, on the spindle of which is a five-
toothed ratchet E, on the spindle of which is pinion E2, which gears into and operates
the tooth-wheel G, on the spindle of which is the index finger H. B₁ is the retaining
pawl which prevents the return of the ratchet. In this case I provide a lock in the
shape of a retaining-pawl J, which is affixed to and operated by means of a spindle J¹,
as before.

page_text: 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 :-
First. The combination with billiard scoring boards of an apparatus for registering
the number of games played, such apparatus being operated by one of the scoring
pointers or rollers used in scoring the game, substantially as herein described and
explained.
Second. The combination of one of the scoring pointers of a billiard scoring board
with a plate at its back carrying a pawl which operates a ratchet and thus sets in
motion a train of wheels by which motion is imparted to an index finger in front of a
dial, substantially as herein described and explained.
Third. The combination with a plate at the back of one of the scoring pointers
described in the preceding claim and having a bevelled projection or stud on its back,
of a spring-bar having a perforation therein at each number to receive said bevelled
stud as and for the purposes herein described and explained.
Fourth. The combination with a rolling scorer as shown in Figure 6, of a ratchet
by which motion is imparted through suitable intermediate gearing to an index finger
in front of a dial as and for the purposes herein described and explained.
Fifth. The combination with the automatic registering apparatus herein described
and illustrated in my drawings, of a lock-catch or stop to prevent its registering when
not required.
of
thonsond sight hundred and eighty-eight
Witness,
WALTER S. BAYSTON,
- Melbourne,
Patent Agent.
Dated 25th June 1888.
RODERICK NICHOLSON MONTGOMERY.
ABEL & IMRAY,
28, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.