Improvements in Miniature Tables for Playing the Game of Pyramids.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Miniature Tables for Playing the Game of
Pyramids.
ARTHUR COOMBER, Builder, 64, Sternhold Avenue, Streatham, S.W., I do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A small table with glass top, to play on, usual pockets and cushioned sides,
any number of red balls one white one, the balls are to be knocked into the
pockets as usual, on passing through pockets they fall on to an inclined plane
which conveys them on to a movable bottom which is connected with a handle
bar which is locked with a balanced lever, a coin must then be dropped into
an appeture and is conveyed on to one end of balanced lever by its weight
raises catches and allows the handle bar to be drawn out over a lid of tray at
end of table which must be shut to allow handle bar to pass by. On pulling
out handle bar, the movable bottom attached to same is withdrawn allowing
the balls resting on its surface to fall on to another incline plane which conveys
them to the bottom of tray the handle bar must then be returned to allow fid
of tray being lifted and to relock handle bar the balls can then be taken out
and a new game played.
TJ 11. 10h of Tule 1800
ARTHUR COOMBER.
Improvements in Miniature Tables for Playing the Game of
Pyramids.
I, ARTHUR COOMBER, of 142 (late of 64), Sternhold Avenue, Streatham Hill,
London, S.W., Buikler, 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:-
1
This invention consists of a miniature billiard table for playing the game
of pyramids. The top consists of a sheet of glass which is provided with openings
coincident with the usual "pockets." The red balls (any number of which may
be used) are knocked into the pockets in the ordinary way by the white ball.
They fall on to a platform underneath the glass top sloping towards the centre
where they fall into a receiver provided with a removable bottom. This may
be drawn back when a penny or other coin is inserted in a coin slot and actuates
certain coin-freed mechanism. When this is effected, the balls fall onte

page_text: sloping shoot which brings them into a casing at one end of the table. They
are taken out after the mechanism is restored to its normal position, and another
game can be played.
I will now describe my invention in detail with reference to the accom-
panying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the table with the balls in position for com-
mencing the game.
Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of same.
Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal vertical section of the table on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 4 shews a vertical section on line y-y Fig. 3 looking in the direction
of the arrows, and showing the coin-freed mechanism in the balanced position.
Fig. 5 shews a horizontal section on line - Fig. 4.
a is the glass top of the table provided with openings corresponding to the
Ն
usual pockets. The red balls are knocked into the pockets and fall onto
the sloping platform d, the sides of which slope towards a central receiver or
trap e. This latter is fitted with a removable bottom f which is adapted to be
drawn back by a rod g and handle. When the bottom f is drawn back, the
balls fall onto and travel down a sloping shoot g' which leads into a casing i
attached to one end of the table. The table is provided with a hinged lid.
While the bottom is drawn out, the lid of the casing cannot be opened,
since the outer end of the rod y and cross bar are drawn out over it. Guides
are attached to the frame of casing i for the cross bar h¹.
The coin-freed mechanism is as follows:-
The coin is inserted in the slot j, falis down the coin shoot and upon the
balanced lever k. One end of the lever k (fulcrummed at ) is provided with
a detent engaging a tooth on the rod g in the closed normal position. The
weight of the coin at the opposite end of the lever just raises the detent / out
of engagement with the tooth P, thus permitting the rod and movable bottom
to be drawn back. The other end of the balanced lever is fitted with a coin
box m having one side open for the escape of the coin. To release the coin
from the coin box, a weight n in a casing n is attached in any suitable way
such as string to the movable bottom f. When it is withdrawn the string
is slackened and the weight falls on the balanced lever and lowers it suffi-
ciently to allow the coin to escape from the coin box. 2, 3, are weighted
arms pivotted at ',, to return the lever k to its normal position.
When the removable bottom to the trap e is pushed back, the parts will
resume their normal positions. fare guides for the to and fro movement of
the bottom f. Wedges o, o are formed on the rod g to prevent the action
failing should the weight of the coin be insufficient to raise the balanced lever
high enough.
The legs of the table are fitted with screw joints, see Fig. 2, to enable the
table to be properly levelled.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1. An improved miniature table for playing the game of pyramids, consisting
of a glass topped table with openings serving as pockets, the balls falling into
said pockets which lead to a central receiver, the bottom of which is removable
when the coin freed mechanism is operated which permits the balls to descend
by a shoot into a casing at one end of the table from which they cannot be
removed until the coin-freed mechanism is replaced, substantially as described
and shewn.
2. In an improved miniature table for playing pyramids, the combination of
the matter specified in Claim 1, with the coin freed mechanism as herein before
described and set forth.
3. In a coin-freed pyramid table, the combination of the glass top a, openings b,

page_text: sloping platforms d, trap e, movable bottom f. rod g, shoot g', casing i, with
hinged lid, balanced lever k, detent 1, tooth , with coin box, coin shoot and
weight actuated by shoot g', substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1900.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 38, Cannon Street, London, E.C.,