An Improved Apparatus for Measuring the Distances between Balls on a Billiard Table as Required in the Game of Pool and other Games Played on such Tables.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 23rd Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1887
An Improved Apparatus for Measuring the Distances between Balls
on a Billiard Table as Required in the Game of Pool and other
Games Played on such Tables.
I, CONRAD WILLIAM ENGELHARDT of 28 Norfolk Square Hyde Park W., Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
My invention consists of an apparatus which may be made in two parts, or in one
comprising the two said parts.
When made in two parts, one part is a vertical stand (preferably made of metal or
of wood loaded with a heavy metal so as to give it a convenient stability) carrying a
horizontal arm of sufficient length to project just beyond the centre of a ball of the
maximum size used in the game in which the apparatus is to be employed when lying
at the foot of the stand.
At the end of this horizontal arm is a vertical bearing carrying a vertical spindle
of small diameter pointed centrally at the lower end this spindle works sufficiently
stiffly in the bearing to be supported thereby or is supported in any position by other
suitable means; round the vertical bearing a turned channel is provided in which a
circular ring, preferably of metal, can revolve concentrically with the point of the
vertical spindle above described; a hook is attached to the outer circumference of this
ring.
The other part of the apparatus consists of a measuring tape with a ring at one end
to be attached to the hook above mentioned on the revolving ring. This tape (which
may be conveniently made in the ordinary form of a measuring tape in a case, with
or without spring motion for winding it in, or otherwise) has upon it a sliding block
with a pointer attached to the under side & sharpened at the end similar to the vertical
spindle above mentioned. Thus when it is desired to measure the distance between
two balls, or to compare the distances between a given ball and two or more other
balls 1 place the stand before described by the side of the given ball so that when I
press down the vertical spindle the sharpened point may be above the apex thereof.
I then attach the tape to the hook on the revolving ring & drawing it taut from the
DO1

page_text: stand bring the pointer on the under side of the sliding block over the apex of the
other ball or balls the distance or distances of which from the given ball I require to
determine or compare.
A comparison of the adjustment of the sliding block necessary to bring the pointer
over the apices of the respective balls shows their respective distances from the given
ball.
When I make the apparatus complete in one part I attach the measuring tape to
the vertical bearing above described, making the case containing the said tape revolve
round the said bearing instead of the metal ring above described.
If preferred I make the metal ring or the measuring tape revolve on the vertical
spindle itself instead of on the bearing thus securing the convenience of the measuring
tape being in a horizontal plane when measuring the distances between balls of any
but equal size.

page_text: An Improved Apparatus for Measuring the Distances between Balls
on a Billiard Table as Required in the Game of Pool and other
Games Played on such Tables.
I, CONRAD WILLIAM ENGELHARDT of 28 Norfolk Square Hyde Park, W. Gentleman
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:-
My invention consists of an apparatus which may be made in two parts or in one
comprising the two said parts.
When inade in two parts one part is a stand (preferably made of metal or of
wood loaded with a heavy metal so as to give it a convenient stability) carrying
a horizontal arm of sufficient length to project just beyond the centre of a ball of the
maximum size used in the game in which the apparatus is to be employed when
lying at the foot of the stand. At the end of this arm is a vertical bearing carrying
a vertical spindle of small diameter pointed centrally at the lower end: this spindle
works sufficiently stiffly in the bearing to be supported thereby, or is supported in
any position by a spring or other suitable means: round the vertical bearing a turned
channel is provided in which a circular ring, preferably of metal, can revolve con-
centrically with the point of the vertical spindle above described; a hook is attached
to the outer circumference of this ring.
The other part of the apparatus consists of a measuring tape or line with a ring
at one end to be attached to the hook above mentioned on the revolving ring;
this tape (which may be conveniently made in the ordinary form of a measuring
tape in a case, with or without spring motion for winding it in or otherwise) has
upon it a sliding block with a pointer attached to the under side and sharpened at
the end similar to the vertical spindle above mentioned.
Thus when it is desired to nicasure the distances between two balls or to compare
the distances between a given ball and two or more given balls I place the stand before
described by the given ball so that when I press down the vertical spindle the point
may be above the apex thereof; I then attach the tape to the book on the revolving
ring and drawing it taut from the stand bring the pointer on the underside of the
sliding block over the apex of the other ball or balls the distance or distances of which
from the given ball I require to determine or compare. A comparison of the
adjustment of the sliding block necessary to bring the pointer over the apices of
the respective balls shows at a glance their respective distances from the given ball.
When I make the apparatus complete in one part, I attach the measuring tape or
line to the vertical bearing above described, making the case containing the said
tape or line revolve round the said bearing instead of the metal ring above described.
If preferred I make the metal ring or the measuring tape or line revolve on the

page_text: vertical spindle itself instead of on the bearing thus securing the convenience of the
measuring tape or line being in a horizontal plane when measuring the distances
between balls of any but of equal size.
The illustrations drawn show, figure 1, the stand A. with arm and bearing bin
which the spindle C. is shewn supported in a triangular hole by a spring d; the
ring E. revolves on the bearing concentrically with the point of the spindle. In
fig. 2 the sliding block f. is shewn on the tape.
In fig. 3 the pointer G. of the sliding block is shewn.
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. The employment of a stand holding a spindle which can be placed over the
centre of a given ball with a ring revolving concentrically with the point of the spindle
from which a tape or line can be stretched to the ball or balls the distances of which
from the given ball it is desired to measure or compare, substantially as described &
illustrated.
2. The employment of a sliding block upon the tape or line bearing a pointer to place
over the centre of the ball or balls whose distances are to be measured or compared,
substantially as described.
3. The combination of the measuring tape or line and the stand, substantially as
described.
Date : 00-1 day of Novamban 1907