Improvements in Apparatus for Levelling Billiard Tables and other Heavy Pieces of Furniture.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Levelling Billiard Tables and other
Heavy Pieces of Furniture.
I, CHARLES RICHARDS of 200 St. Helen's Road, Swansea, Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The principle of my invention is a system of mortises, sockets, cores, and wedges
in wood or metal for the purpose of raising or lowering minutely and bringing to a
perfect level, billiard tables, and other heavy pieces of furniture which require to be
level. Any person without mechanical aid can with a spirit level in one hand and
hammer in the other effect this in a few seconds.
My invention consists in employing hollow shoes into which each of the legs of the
billiard table stand. The table legs rest on wedges at the bottom of the shoes.
When the table is required to be raised or lowered at any particular leg, a slight tap
on the required end of the wedge is all that is necessary.
Two wedges may be used if thought desirable, being driven in opposite directions.
Similarly a wooden or metal core may be used, to project downwards and raise or
lower the table by its vertical adjustment, a hole being made at the bottom of the leg
to receive it. A mortice is made through the leg for the reception of the wedges,
which wedges would be treated in the same manner for raising or lowering as those
for the shoes.
T
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Levelling Billiard Tables and other
Heavy Pieces of Furniture.
I, CHARLES RICHARDS of 200 St. Helen's Road, Swansea, 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 :-
This invention is designed to supply a ready means of steadying and levelling
billiard tables and other articles of furniture, which are required to be level, even
when they are placed on an uneven floor.
The principle adopted is that of one or more wedges working in prepared sockets or
mortises and with or without cores or vertical extending plugs.
The several parts may be made in wood or metal and will be found very effective
for the speedy adjustment of such tables however minute or considerable may be the
amount of variation to be rectified.
Any person without mechanical aid can with a spirit level in one hand and hammer
in the other effect this in a few seconds.
My invention consists in employing hollow shoes into which each of the legs of the
billiard table stands. The table legs rest on wedges inside of the shoes. When the
table is required to be raised or lowered at any particular leg, a slight tap on the one
or other end of the wedge is all that is necessary to alter the level. Two wedges may
be used if thought desirable, being driven in opposite directions.
Similarly a wooden or metal core may be used to project downwards and raise or
lower the table by its vertical adjustment, a hole being made at the bottom of the leg
to receive it. A mortise is made through the leg for the reception of the wedges,
which wedges would be treated in the same manner for raising or lowering the legs as
those for the shoes.

page_text: I will now refer to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 shews in elevation the bottom part of a table resting in my improved shoe
with one wedge.
Fig. 2 shews a sectional elevation of Fig. 1 but with 2 wedges.
Fig. 3 shews a modification of Figs. 1 and 2 shewing wedges above a core.
a, a, are wedges, b, is the shoe or socket. c, is the core or plug. d, is the table leg.
It will be seen that the shoe b, slides over the lower end of d, in Figs. 1 and 2 and
by driving in the thick end of the wedge or wedges a, the leg is lengthened, while by
striking the thin end of the wedge and thus driving back the thick end, the leg is
shortened.
In Fig. 3 the shoe may be dispensed with and a hole mortised in the leg to receive
the wedges which would exert their pressure on the vertical core c. This core slides up
and down in a hole formed in the shoe or leg to receive it. When the table is properly
adjusted the wedges if made of wood may be sawn off close to the leg so that no
unsightly projection remains. They may also be fastened in place by external plates,
or caps, or by horizontal pins, if desired, to prevent subsequent displacement through
vibration. It is however believed that they will remain perfectly still without
fastenings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In the legs of tables for billiards or other purposes, the use of a sliding vertical
core with horizontal wedges with or without a shoe as herein explained and set forth.
2. In the legs of tables for billiards or other purposes the use of an adjustable shoe
or socket with horizontal wedges as herein explained and set forth.
Dated this 29th day of August 1899.
S. S. BROMHEAD.
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.