Improvements in Billiard Tables for Automatically Collecting the Balls.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1887
Complete Left, 14th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 14th Oct., 1887
Improvements in Billiard Tables for Automatically Collecting
the Balls.
We JAMES KENDAL of 106 Cheapside in the City of London Watch and Clock
Manufacturer and MARC LAVAL also of 106 Cheapside in the City of London
Commission Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The application or addition to ordinary Billiard Tables of an apparatus for or the
means of automatically collecting the balls from all or any of the pockets into a
receptacle conveniently placed to receive them at whichevor of the two ends of the
table a player may for the time being desire or into a single receptacle placed at the
baulk end of the table.
The apparatus consists of a rectangular frame of four tubes or channels joined
together with rounded corners made of metal wood or other substance corresponding
in length and breadth with the size of the table and the width or diameter of the tubes
or channels being such as to allow a billiard ball to move freely along them containing
an opening with a receptacle beneath in the centre of either one or both of the end
tubes or channels as the case may be and with branch tubes passages or openings in
positions corresponding to the positions of the pockets of the table for allowing the
balls to pass from the pockets (which are open at both ends) into the tubes or channels.
In the case of one receptacle only (at the baulk end) being required, the apparatus is
fitted on the table with one end a little below the level of the bottom of the pockets
at the spot end of the table and the other end containing the receptacle at a distance
below such level as will give the necessary slight incline for the balls to travel along
the tube into the receptacle.
In this case the apparatus may either form part of the framework of the table itself
or be affixed thereto by means of fixed supports.
In the case of two receptacles being required (one at each end) the apparatus is
fitted on pivots placed at or near the centre of each side of the table with suitable
handles attached so that a player may depress the one end or the other at will. Blocks
are fixed at each end of the table with suitable fastenings or catches attached for
keeping the apparatus rigid on its being inclined one way or the other and such pivots

page_text: and blocks are fixed at such a level below the bed of the table as to permit a sufficient
incline for the purpose aforesaid without allowing the elevated end to be above the
ordinary level of the bottom of the pockets immediately above it. The pockets are
connected with the apparatus by means of the branch tubes or openings before
mentioned in such a way as not to interfere with the movement of the apparatus. The
tubes or channels are lined with baize cloth or other suitable material for preventing
noise and for the same purpose any points where the balls may strike are padded
with india rubber.
The receptacles at either end may be either a net or an open wood or metal square
or circular box in the latter case also padded with india-rubber.
Dated this 7th da CM 1007
LESLIE, ANTILL & ARNOLD,
1, Gresham Buildings, Basinghall Street, E.C.,
Agents for the said James Kendal and Marc Laval.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Billiard Tables for Automatically Collecting
the Balls.
We JAMES KENDAL of 106 Cheapside in the City of London Watch and Clock
Manufacturer and MARC LAVAL also of 106 Cheapside in the City of London
Commission Agent 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 consists of an arrangement of shoots or channels placed round a
billiard table in such a way that the balls on dropping into the pockets of the table
may be caused to roll to either end of the table as may be desired. One form of the
apparatus is shown in figs. 1, 2 & 3. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a billiard table with
the automatic collector attached. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the table & collector.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the collector detached from the table. In this form the collector is
a light rectangular frame of wood (a) pivotted at bb to each side of the billiard table.
Mounted on the wooden frame are two tubes or channels c c so placed as to be directly
under the pockets of the table. There are no bottoms to the pockets of the table and
a ball on dropping into any one of the pockets is consequently at once received by the
tube or channel c. The tubes or channels may be lined with cloth or other suitable
material and the points where the balls strike may be padded with indiarubber. As
the whole of the frame a, a is free to turn on the pivots b. b it may be inclined so that
the ball will, by the action of gravity run to either end of the tube or channel. The
pivots b b are below the centre of gravity of the frame so that the frame on being
tilted or inclined will remain in the position so placed, but spring or other catches
may be used for securing the frame if desired.
The tubes or channels can be so arranged that when the frame is tilted the lowest
point of the tubes or channels shall be at the corners of the frame or at the middle of
the ends of the frame, and the receptacles for the balls, whether such receptacles are
at the corners of the frame or at the middle of the ends of the frame may be in the
form of pockets or round or square boxes as may be preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the natnre of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :--
1. The application to ordinary billiard tables of an apparatus as above described for
automatically collecting the balls at either end of the table by the action of gravity.
Dated this 14th day of September 1887
LESLIE, ANTILL & ARNOLD,
1, Gresham Buildings, Basinghall Street, E.C.,
Solicitors,
Agents for the said James Kendal and Marc Laval.