Tell-tale Apparatus. for. Use in connection with Billiard Tables.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd. Apr., 1895-Accepted, 6th July, 1895
COMPLETE. SPECIFICATION.
Tell-tale Apparatus. for. Use in connection with Billiard Tables.
I HENRY WILLIAM DOUGLAS of the Hôtel Windsor, Victoria Street,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Billiard Marker, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide apparatus which will serve as a storage.
case or cabinet for billiard balls and which is furnished with means whereby when
the balls are removed from said case or cabinet a clock or other time-measuring
mechanism is automatically started and continues to go until the balls are replaced
in the case or cabinet. The invention therefore provides a reliable tell-tale or
record of the period or length of time during which the billiard balls have been out
of their proper places in the storage case or cabinet, and presumably in play on
the billiard table, thus enabling the proprietor or other responsible person to
ascertain exactly for how long a time the table has been used since the last inspection
of the apparatus and thus to calculate the sum due for the hire thereof.
The apparatus and the mode of operation will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings wherein
Figure 1 shews a longitudinal section of my tell-tale apparatus provided with a
pendulum clock and adapted for containing three balls for playing the ordinary
game of billiards.
Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line x-x of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line y-y of Figure 1; .and
Figure 4 is a transverse section through the drawer E..
Figure 5 is a longitudinal elevation of my tell-tale apparatus, provided with a
lever or horizontal movement clock and adapted for containing three balls, the side
of the case being removed to show the interior.
The same letters of reference where they occur are used to denote the same or
corresponding parts in the various figures.
The apparatus is entirely enclosed in an outer case or cabinet A through the.
side of which appears the dial face of the clock B, which is so fixed in the cabinet.
that the hands cannot be manipulated from the outside. C and D are lock up doors
or flaps allowing access to the interior of the cabinet the keys of said doors or flaps
being in the possession of the proprietor of the billiard table, or other responsible.
person. E is a drawer, lock-up or otherwise, the key or other opening device for
which is given to the billiard room attendant or to the persons using the table. The
drawer E is furnished with compartments E' E and E' corresponding to the
number of balls F' F' aud F' to be used in the game, in this case three. Each
compartment is provided with a base cup G, and two side spring or counter-
weighted lever clips H which are pivotted at H¹ in or to the opposite sides of
the drawer E in such a. position that their spoon shaped ends H' which under the
action of the springs H or counterweights tend to meet over the centre of the
base cup G are pressed back towards the sides of the drawer. E by the ball when
the latter is lying in position in the cup G (see Figure 4). In this position the tail
or heel end H³ of each of said lever clips H lies in an aperture E in the side of the
drawer E, but when the ball is removed from the base cup G the spoon ends H³ of.
the lever clips H turn inwards under the action of the springs Hor counterweights.
and the heels H³ of the clips H are thereby caused to project through the
apertures E sufficiently to prevent the drawer E from being shut back into its

page_text: frame; which latter forms part of the outer case or cabinet A. Figure 4 shews in
full and dotted lines the two extreme positions of the lever clips H.
Referring now to the arrangement of mechanism for starting the pendulum clock
as shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Above the compartments of the drawer E is a
frame containing three other compartments J1 J2 J³, corresponding to the com-
partments E E E in the drawer E, and in each of said compartments is a block
or weight K loosely threaded on a cord, chain or other flexible line L which is
secured at one end, L', to the outer case or cabinet A, passed over suitable guide
pulleys 11 12 13 14 15 and secured at the other end to a stop piece L³ (see Figure 2)
the raising of which in its guides L³ will start the clock going. Should an
unprincipled person essay to close the drawer when one or more of the balls has
been removed from the compartments, by pressing inwards the heels H³ of the
spring clips H, one or more of the blocks or weights K will fall by gravity into
the empty compartment or compartments E', E2, E3, as it comes thereunder in the
course of closing the drawer, thus automatically locking the drawer. The falling
block or weight K will drag on the chain, cord or line L and will thus operate the
stop piece I at the other end of the line and start the clock going in the manner
hereinafter explained. It will thus be seen that an attempt to stop the mechanism
by closing the drawer E when the balls are removed therefrom would result in
automatically locking the drawer the unlocking of which could only be effected
by the proprietor or other responsible person having the custody of the key of the
door or flap C.
The drawer E is provided with a rear extension E' having a roof or cover E
which passes under the blocks or weights K as and when the drawer E is pulled
out and keeps them up in the position shewn in Figure 1. To the rear of the
drawer extension E is secured an arm M which when the drawer E is operated
works in a slot A¹ in the bottom A³ of the rear compartment A³ containing the
clock work mechanism. In rear of the arm M and arranged transverse to the
slot A (see Figure 3) is a cross bar N which is threaded on rods N' each of which
carries a spiral spring N2 bearing at one end on the back of the case A and the
other end on the cross bar N. The pressure of the springs N will tend to push the
cross bar N forward on the rods N¹ and consequently to push forward the arm M
lying in the path of travel of the cross bar N carrying with it the drawer E to
which said arm M is connected. To the cross bar N is secured one end of a chain,
cord, or other flexible line M' which is passed over suitable pulleys mm² m² and is
connected at the other end to a quadrant piece 0 (see Figs. 2 & 3) which is
pivotted at O¹ to a fixed part of the case or cabinet A and is secured to one end of
a spiral spring P whose other end is fixed to the case or cabinet A. To the
quadrant piece is secured a frame having two horizontal sides 02 and 0* or two
horizontal pins only may be used, which, when the drawer E is closed, lie in the
path of the pendulum 6 and at one end of its arc of swing so that one of said sides
or pins O or O holds said pendulum and prevents it from oscillating. This is the
position of the parts shewn in the drawings and particularly in Figure 2.
the quadrant piece is also secured a radial pin O³ which is so disposed that when the
quadrant is turned over on its pivot O¹ said radial pin slips over the hook nose R¹
of a trigger R pivotted at R2. The other end of the trigger R is connected by the
link S to one end of a lever S¹ which is pivotted at S2 and whose other end lies
behind and in the path of the cross bar N. A spring T secured to or bearing on
the lever S or on the link S tends to pull the link S to the rear and thus to cause
the lever S¹ and the trigger R to turn on their pivots. If desired the trigger R
may be counterweighted and the link S instead of being coupled thereto may abut
against the rear thereof.
To
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When the drawer E is pulled out the
arm M secured to the rear thereof travels forward in the slot A¹ in the bottom of
the rear compartment A³ and the cross bar N will then be free to travel forward
under the action of the springs N*. As the cross bar N travels forward it will
draw with it the line M' which being secured to the quadrant piece O, will turn

page_text: the latter over on its pivot O¹ against the power of the spring P which is weaker
than the springs N2. By its forward travel the cross bar N is removed from the
end of the lever S which is then free to turn on its pivot S under the action of
the spring T whereby also the trigger R is turned on its pivot R and its nose is
pressed forward so as to lie in the path of the radial arm 03 on the quadrant.
When the quadrant turns on its pivot the radial arm thereon falls on the trigger
nose R presses the same to the rear against the action of the spring T and having
passed thereover is caught thereunder by the hook shape of the trigger nose and
tius held. By this turning over of the quadrant the horizontal frame or pins O* O*
thereon has been removed from the path of the pendulum & entirely out of its arc,
it is therefore free to swing and the clock starts going. When the balls are
replaced and the drawer closed the reverse operation of the mechanism will take
place, which will be well understood without further description, and the parts will
be returned to the position shewn in the drawings.
During the time the balls are out of the drawer E it is intended that the latter
should be left open, this is the object of the clips H, but, in the case of a fraudulent
attempt to close the drawer without previously replacing the balls, then the weights
or blocks K come into operation in the manner already described and the gravity
stop piece L is raised by the drag on the cord L. On referring to Figure 2 it
will be seen that this raising of the stop piece L will entirely remove it from the
path of the quadrant O, so that should the drawer be closed so far as to cause the
quadrant to turn on its pivot, it will by the action of the spring P be turned over
beyond the position shewn in Figure 2 so that the horizontal frame or pins 0° 0
will be out of the arc of swing of the pendulum, all that the frame (20₁ will do
as it passes from one extreme position to the other will be to carry the pendulum to
the highest point of one extremity of its are and then pass away under it.
Referring now to the arrangement of mechanism for starting the lever or
horizontal movement clock as shewn in Figure 5. In this case the quadrant piece is
dispensed with and the two lines L and M' are passed through holes in the end L*
of a cylinder L' and are both connected to a piston or disc L to which is.
rigidly affixed a rod L' which protrudes through the further end of the cylinder L³
and terminates in a brake or pawl L. L is a spring in the cylinder L' which
bears against the piston or disc L and tends to keep the brake or pawl L normally
in gear with the balance wheel of the clock and which is removed therefrom by
pull on either of the lines L and M'. For the purpose of economising space the
bar N rods N¹ and the springs N' are shewn arranged vertically instead of
horizontally as in Figures 1 and 3, but otherwise the apparatus for giving a pull
to the lines L and M¹ is constructed and operates in the manner hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.
.a
I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the details
hereinbefore described for starting or for stopping the clock-work or other time-
measuring device as any suitable mechanism which will perform these functions, under
the action of the pulling out or closing of the drawer containing the billiard balls, or
the dropping of the weights or blocks suspended above the balls in the drawer,
may be adopted without departing from the scope of my invention. If desired the
mechanism may be arranged so that the clock is going when the drawer is closed
with the balls therein, and is stopped by the opening of the drawer and started
again by its closing.
As a further prevention against the fraudulent closing of the drawer a flexible
line W may be attached to a spring controlled lever arrangement W' for regulating
the supply of gas to the lights above the billiard table or for operating an electric
switch. The line W passes through apertures in the rear of the case or cabinet A
and the drawer extension E' respectively, and its other end is secured to a drum W
forming part of or fixed to a cog wheel W³ (see Figures 1, 2 and 5) which latter
rotates in fixed bearings W secured to the bottom E' of the drawer extension E'
and protrudes through an aperture Es in the said bottom E' and gears with a rack W
fixed to the base of the case or cabinet A. When the drawer is pulled out the

page_text: cog wheel W is by the rack W caused to rotate in the direction of the arrow
shown in Figures 1 and 5 and the line. W is thus wound up on the drum W. Thus
the opening of the drawer will turn the gas or electric light on full, whilst by the
closing of the drawer the spring W on the lever arrangement W will operate and
turn off or lower the supply. Thus if the drawer should be fraudulently closed
the gas or electric light will be wholly or partially turned off. I do not however
claim this regulation of the supply of light by the operation of the drawer except,
as an adjunct to my invention to prevent the fraudulent closing of the drawer.
For other games played with billiard balls such as pool, the apparatus is
precisely the same as hereinbefore described there being a compartment and a
suspended weight for each ball, and for ordinary or "black pool" three separate
cases or cabinets each complete as before described, one case having a drawer with.
compartments for six balls, the second having a drawer for three balls, and the
third a drawer for four balls, so that the proprietor or other responsible person can
ascertain how many persons have been playing and at what game.
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. Tell-tale apparatus for use in connection with billiard tables comprising a case
or cabinet containing a clock-work or other time-measuring mechanism a drawer or
the like for containing billiard balls, and means connected to such drawer or the
like for starting or stopping the clock mechanism when the drawer or the like is
operated substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. In combination with apparatus of the kind described in the preceding claim
means for preventing the fraudulent closing of the drawer consisting of weights or
blocks suspended above the drawer on a flexible line which is connected to a stop
or brake which allows the clock or other time-measuring apparatus to start going
or stops it when the weights or blocks fall into the drawer thereunder arranged
substantially in the manner herein before described.
3. In combination with apparatus of the kind described in Claim 1 hereof means
for preventing the fraudulent closing of the drawer consisting of weights or blocks
suspended above the drawer on a flexible line which is connected to a stop or
brake which allows the clock or other time-measuring apparatus to start going or
stops it when the weights or blocks fall into the drawer thereunder and a flexible
line secured to the drawer and connected to a spring actuated lever arrangement
controlling the gas or electric light supply, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The combination of parts forming my tell-tale apparatus for starting and
stopping a clockwork or other time-measuring mechanism when a drawer is
operated and for preventing the fraudulent closing of the drawer the parts being
arranged so as to operate substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 1st day of April 1895.
F. W. GOLBY,
36 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicant.