Improvements in Electric Clock Alarm and Time Indicator for Billiard Rooms, Hotels, and other places.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Clock Alarm and Time Indicator for
Billiard Rooms, Hotels, and other places.
I, DAVID FRASER LAING, of 94 South Portland Street, Glasgow, Electrician,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in electric clock alarm and time
indicator for Billiard Rooms, Hotels, and other places.
This alarm and indicator is for checking time for Billiard Room tables that are
played by time. It is very simple in working order and any number of tables
may be worked by one clock at once or separate times. When a table is taken
for say 30 minutes you look the time and and set switch (switch representing face
of a clock with as many points as on face of a clock for 30 seconds, 125 points on
switch each numbered as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on up to twelve with the minutes and
half minutes in between) to the time the table is to finish playing as for example,
if a table were taken at 2 p.m. for 30 minutes you would put switch round to
6=30 minutes past two, and 9 for 45 minutes past two and so on. When the minute
hand of the clock comes round to time it makes connection and rings a bell at
the centre of the table or above the mark board, therefore preventing all disagree-
able arguments in the Room as to time played.
The clock and switches with mechanical indicator may be fitted up in the
Billiard room, Hall, Manager's Office or other convenient place. When the bell
rings at table a number drops at an indicator showing which table is up at once
and the attendant has just to go and ask if they are going again and if so sets
the switch to the further time play is to stop at
The bell only rings a few seconds and then stops, and as a check against the
party saying they did not know or hear the bell there is a special indicator if
required so actuated that when the bell rings, a curtain turns round or falls down
showing the words "Time's up" or other similar notice, letting the players' know
what the bell has rung for.
The foregoing may also be used for other purposes in which an alarum and time
indicator would be required.
Improvements in Electric Clock Alarm and Time Indicator for
Billiard Rooms, Hotels, and other places..
I, DAVID FRASER LAING, of 94 South Portland Street, Glasgow, Electrician,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is.
Price 8d1

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in' electric clock alarm and time
indicators for Billiard Rooms, Hotels; and other places and purposes and has for
its main object to enable the time that the Billiard tables are in use to be checked
and indicated to the players and markers thereby preventing all disagreeable
disputes regarding the proper duration of time played.
Any number of these alarms or indicators, which are very simple to work, may
be employed, one for each table worked or governed by one clock in such a
manner that that they can all be set to operate at the same or separate times as
may be required.
But in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect I will proceed' to describe the details of the same with referenco
to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation and
Fig. 2 a side view shewing the clock, alarm bell, mechanical indicator, and
switches arranged for billiard room work, and the method of "wiring" same.
Fig. 3 is a diagramatical view shewing the method of arranging the parts and
slight differences of constructiou in the apparatus used for Hotel and private
house work:
Referring to the said drawings, which do not however illustrate the various
parts in the correct positions relative to one another when fitted up, I employ a
clock A of any good make having strong works and provided, with contact pins a
screwed or otherwise attached to the wooden rim of the clock; the ends of the said
pins a protruding through the face of the clock for the required distance.
As shown in the drawings there are 12 pins a arranged around the face of the
clock thus enabling the hand of the clock to make and break the contact; the
number of pins however may be varied as required.
Secured upon the underside of the minute hand B is a small metal spring b
(Fig. 2) of such a length and strength as to enable it to make connection with the
pins a and at the same time allow the hand to pass the said pins without stopping
the clock.
The switches C are provided with a number of contacts e corresponding to the
number of contacts a on the clock; the said contacts passing right through the
switch board or base and having connections at the back for the wires.
The indicator D is of the usual mechanical type and has a number for each
table. in use.
The bells E E are circular and may be suspended from the ceiling over the
centre of the table or above the mark board or other position as desired.
The action of the foregoing is as follows:-
If the table has been taken at 11.30 for say half an hour set the switch handle cl
to 12 so that when the hand B reaches the contact at 12 upou the clock the circuit
will be completed. The current will then start at the cells F, pass along the
wire f to the works of the clock, then to the minute hand B, from spring bon
minute hand to contact 12 of clock, from thence to contact 12 of switch by the
wire f', across the handle C to centre of switch, from there to the bell E, ring
bell then back to indicator number which shall fall and shew attendant which
table's time is up, and from indicator back to the cells F.
The foregoing is an example and serves to illustrate the action which takes
place when any of the switch contacts are in use.
It will be seen also that any number of switches can be employed with one clock.
When used as an alarm, for use in Hotels or other places, the arrangement is
as shewn in Fig. 3. The clock in this case is provided with a second or inner
circle of contact pins a' fastened upon a false base secured behind the clock face;
the said contacts being connected with the contacts upon the switch maked
"Hours" whilst those of the outer circle are connected to the contacts of the
switch marked "Minutes,"
AMA!

page_text: Each of the hands of the clock is provided with a contact spring, that upon the
minute hand B being the same length as that in use in the first described arrang-
ment that is to say just long enough to make and then break the connection with
one or other of the minute contacts while the spring 6 upon the hour hand B¹
is provided with a tail so that as soon as the connection is broken at one or other
of the hour contacts it is immediately completed at the next, no time elapsing
between same as is the case with the minute service.
Suppose therefore it is desired to ring a bell at a predetermined time in one of
the rooms of a Hotel, such for instance as 9 a.m. set the handle II of the hour
switch at 8 and the handle of the minute switch to 12 so that when the time
arrives the circuit will be completed and the action of the current as follows:-
From the cells along the wire to the centre of "Hour" switch, across handle cl
to contact 8, from contact 8 ou switch, to Hour contact 8 on clock, across spring
on hour hand to the minute hand and out at "minute" contact 12 (therefore 8:60
or 8hrs + 60min 9 a.m.). From contact 12 to contact 12 on minute switch across
handle to the bell, from Bell to Indicator and thence back to the cells.
After the bell has rung the switch is turned to "off" or set to any other time
required.
Each room may be provided with a pair of switches & bell so that the occupant
can set the alarm to ring at any time to suit himself, the bell and indicator being
arranged in the Hall or other convenient position.
One of the numerous benefits of the foregoing is that when the time for which
a table was taken has elapsed, indication is given to both the attendant and the
player so that the table can be retaken or not, as required, without any disputes.
The bell only rings a few seconds and then stops, and and as a check against
the user saying they did not know of or hear the bell I may employ a special
indicator of any suitable form so that when the bell rings a curtain turns round
or falls down displaying the words "Time up" or other similar notice to inform
the player what the bell has rung for.
If desired a counter for registering the number of games played, or occasions
upon which the circuit has been completed, may be employed, the connection being
made by a moving portion of the mechanical indicator referred to coming against
a contact after the number has fallen or been exposed to view.
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:-
The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts constituting
the improvements in electric clock alarm and time indicators for Billiard Rooms,
Hotels and other places and purposes, substantially as hereinbefore-described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Date 94th day of Cantambon 1907
JOHNSONS,
Applicant's Agents, 115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.