IMPROVEMENTS IN ADAPTING OCCASIONAL DINING AND OTHER TABLES TO THE PURPOSES OF PLAYING GAMES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Richard Broadbridge, of Hawkhurst Lodge,
Petworth, in the County of Sussex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ADAPTING OCCASIONAL DINING AND OTHER TABLES TO THE
PURPOSES OF PLAYING GAMES."
Sealed the 8th September 1864, and dated the 14th March 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Richard Broad-
bridge at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th March 1864.
I, CHARLES RICHARD BROADBRIDGE, of Hawkhurst Lodge, Petworth, in the
County of Sussex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADAPTING OCCASIONAL DINING AND OTHER TABLES
TO THE PURPOSES OF PLAYING GAMES," to be as follows:-
My improvements in rendering occasional dining and other tables applicable
to playing games relate to their adaptation for playing billiards, and consists
in a particular mode of fitting the cushions and parts to be raised above the
surface thereto, and the further fitting a drawer, which shall be capable of
containing the cues, balls, marking board, and other appurtenances of a
billiard table.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer to make the surface of the table of
slate, covered with green cloth as usual, but it may be made of wood or other
material. To the sides and ends of the table I attach the cushions by hinges,
so that they can be raised or lowered by simply turning them on their hinges.

page_text: The hinges are so arranged that when the cushions are down they pass and
hang under the edge and within the limits of the table top; if necessary they
may be attached with double hinges to facilitate this object. The metal
fittings of the pockets are received in suitable sockets, and simply required to
be dropped in the pockets, being attached thereto; buttons or other fixings
are applied to keep the -cushions in position when folded down. When the
table is required for play it is simply necessary to turn up the cushions on
their hinges, and fasten them by the metal bands of the pockets that drop into
sockets, as before explained, the side and end cushions at the ends forming a
further support for each other by such connections. The side cushions if long
may have spring catches to assist in holding them up, the metal bands at the
middle pockets not offering so much support as the corner ones. By this
arrangement very little trouble is necessary to convert the table, which is at
once ready for play. The corners of the table should be adapted somewhat to
the pockets, as also at the positions of the middle pockets. When the
cushions are lowered. I propose to place an oil-skin cover over the table to
protect the cloth from damage, over which an ordinary table cover may be
placed, which will hide all appearance of a billiard table. The cushions
should be stuffed with india-rubber as usual, and the table-made of the usual
proportions, that is to say, the length equal to about twice the breadth. In
order to level the table I furnish each of the legs with a screw or screws
(right and left, hand), which can be readily turned, and the table thereby
adjusted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Richard Broadbridge in the Great Seal Patent 2
Office on the 14th September 1864.
¤ TO ALL TO WHƠM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
RICHARD BROADBRIDGE, of Hawkhurst Lodge, Petworth, in the County of
Sussex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 80
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
'Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
'me, the said Charles Richard Broadbridge, Her special licence that I, the
said Charles Richard Broadbridge, executors, administrators, and assigns, 35
or such others as I, the said Charles Richard Broadbridge, my executors, admit

page_text: nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADAPTING OCCASIONAL DINING AND
OTHER TABLES TO THE PURPOSES OF PLAYING GAMES," upon the condition (amongst
others) (that I, the said Charles Richard Broadbridge, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Richard Broadbridge, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described. and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):-
My improvements in rendering occasional dining or other tables applicable
to playing games relates to their adaptation for playing. billiards, and consists.
in a particular mode of fitting thereto the cushions and parts to be raised
above the surface, and the further fitting a drawer, with arrangements, which
shall be capable of containing the cues, balls, marking board, and other appur-
tenances of a billiard or other table for games.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer to make the surface of the table of
slate, covered with green cloth, as usual, but it may be made of wood or other
material. To the sides and ends of the table I attach the cushions by hinges,
so that they can be raised or lowered by simply turning them on their hinges.
The hinges are so arranged that when the cushions are down they pass and
hang under the edge, and within the limits of the table top; if necessary ther
may be attached with hinges to facilitate that object. The metal fittings of
the pockets are received in suitable sockets, and simply required to be dropped
or screwed into position, the pockets being attached to the metal fittings.
Buttons or other fixings are applied to keep the cushions in position when
folded down. When the table is required for play, it is simply necessary to
turn up the cushions on their hinges, and fasten and secure them by the metal
bands of the pockets that drop into sockets, as before explained, the side and
end cushions being steadily and securely, kept in place by the metal bands at

page_text: the angles to which the pockets are attached. The side cushions may have
spring catches to hold them up if necessary, the metal bands of the middle
pockets not offering so much support as the corner ones. By this arrangement
very little trouble is necessary to convert the table, and which is at once ready
for play. The form of the table at the corners should be such as to be
adapted for the pockets, as also at the positions of the middle pockets. When
the cushions are lowered, I propose to place an oil-skin cover over the table to
protect the cloth from damage from water or other fluid, over which an
ordinary table cover may be placed, which will hide all appearance of a
billiard table. The cushions may be stuffed with india-rubber, or other
suitable material, and the table made of the usual proportions, that is to say,
the length equal to about twice the breadth. In order to level the table, I
furnish each of the legs with a screw or screws (right and left hand), which
can be readily turned, and the table thereby adjusted.
- DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a table constructed according to my
Invention; Fig. 2 represents the table top in a converted form; while Figs.
3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 represent the details of construction; Fig. 2 represents the
table top with the cushions lowered, and as it would be used for a library,
occasional dining, or other suitable tables; Fig. 8 is a plan of the cushions
at corner in a raised position; Fig. 4, a plan of the cushions at the middle
pocket; Fig. 5, a partial section of table top and cushion, as for play; while
Fig. 6 is a similar section, showing the cushion lowered, and as in the form of
an occasional or dining table.
The table A, A, I prefer to make entirely of slate, & rounded at the edges,
as seen in the sections Figs. 5 and 6; the corners of the table top are adapted
to the form of the pockets, as in an ordinary billiard table. When the table
top is entirely of slate I strain the cloth round the outer edges and underneath
'the top, fixing it to the framing, or to a fillet let into the under side of the
slate. Instead of the top being entirely of slate, I sometimes make it with
a fillet of wood A' around it, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6, which fillet
is secured by dowels and screws or otherwise to the edges of the slate. In
"this case I stretch the cloth on the slate only, and fold it down between the
fillet A and the slate, which may be sufficient to hold it in position, or it may
be further secured underneath if desired. The framework of the top I make
in the ordinary way, but lighter than usual; and as such tables may neces-
sarily be of comparatively small size, I provide them with four legs only;
B, B, are the cushions, which, as usual, are in six separate pieces, and consist

page_text: of a wood backing D, with an india-rubber cushion E, of the ordinary kind.
I mount each piece of wood backing and cushion on two metal hinges F, the
one part e of the hinge being fixed to the cushion, and the other part f to the
under side of the table. The screws fixing it may either be screwed into the
wood A¹, or into lead sockets run into holes in the slate, or to both. Sup-
posing the absence of the pockets and metal frames thereof it will be readily
understood that the cushions may easily be folded up, as seen in Fig. 5,
or down, as at Fig. 6, in the one case preparing the table for play, in the other
as an occasional or dining table. To hold the cushions in the upward.position,
it is simply necessary to apply the metal bands H, furnished with suitable
pins g, which drop into metal sockets let into the wood D, as seen in section
Fig. 5. The metal band H has formed with it a light wire or other frame,
taking the form and fitted to the mouth of the pocket to which the netting K
of the pocket is attached. The band or bracing H is sufficiently strong to
give the stability required in the cushions, and in the case of the middle
pockets, the pins and sockets may be square or of other form, so as to transmit
the stability of one part of the side cushion to the other. To secure the
cushion in position under the table, I apply a spring catch h to each, fixed to
under side of table, which takes into a notch i in the part D of the cushion.
I provide such notch with a metal facing, to prevent wear of the wood D. In
connecting the table it is simply necessary to release the catch h by pressing
it with the thumb, when the cushions are free to be raised up and fixed
in position for play, as before described.
Fig. 7 represents a section of a table having the cushions hinged by a
different form of hinge, and in which the cushion requires no fastening to keep
it within the limits of the table top in its lowered position; Fig. 7 represents
the cushion raised, as for play, while Fig. 8 represents it in the lower position,
and as for the occasional or dining table. The only difference in this arrange-
ment consists in the one part of the hinge f¹ being bent at right angles, and
the joint p thrown inwards under the table top, which has the effect of
disposing and suspending the cushion when out of use within the
limits of the table top, as seen, without fastening catches h, as before
explained and required for the foregoing arrangement. In the Figures 7 and
8 I have represented the slate top A of the table as being laid on a wooden
top L, previously fixed to the framing. This wooden top need not extend over
the entire area of the table unless the slate be very thin, a broad bordering on
the frame, as shown in the section, being sufficient. This will give increased
facilities for fastening the cloth and the hinges e, f. The application of an
entire top of wood to the table may be of advantage to place a thin slab

page_text: of slate upon it (or it may be of metal), more especially if the table-is of such
size that the slate top can be made of one piece conveniently.
Fig. 9 represents a leg and part of a table detached, which may be applied
if it is desired that the table top shall be raised or lowered to suit the purpose
required. I form it in three pieces, 1, 2, 3; pieces 1 and 3 having sockets
.with female screws, while part 2 is furnished with right and left male screws,
5 and 6; fitting thereinto; by turning the part 2 in the one direction or the
. other the leg will be lengthened or shortened. All four legs of the table being
similarly fitted, it may be readily raised or lowered to the desired height.
These expanding legs are also available for levelling the table. M, M, is the
drawer fitted below the bed of the table, for the purpose of containing
the balls, cues, and other appurtenances for playing at billiards; pyramid,
and pool.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of perform-
.ing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the fitting of cushions and
parts connected therewith to tables, in order to adapt occasional dining and
.other tables to the purposes of playing games, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Richard Broadbridge, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
W. CLARK,
Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
CHAS. R. BROADBRIDGE. (L.S.)