Improved Check on Billiard Markers and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISI NAL SPECIFI
An Improved Check on Billiard Markers and the like.
I, JOHN GEORGE DIXON, of Don Villa, Penistone, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
At the present time there is practically no check upon billiard markers to
ensure that the number of games played or the amount of time for which a
billiard table is used, is correctly accounted for to the employer.
I purpose with my invention to arrange such a check, so that if the table is
not in use the several pockets will be obstructed and when the table is required
for use the pockets have to be released, the action of such release in licating
the time the release has taken place and consequently the time at which the table
was brought into use. Until the pockets are again obstructed it is to be assumed
that the table is in use and is therefore to be paid for or accounted for to the
employer.
The way in which I carry out my invention is as follows:-
Assuming the ordinary billiard table has 6 pockets, (the number of pockets is
immaterial to my invention), each pocket in the normal condition of the table,
that is to say when it is not in use, has a peg or obstruction fixed preferably
in the centre, so that a ball cannot locate in the pocket, the distance between
the peg (which is in the centre) and the-side of the pocket being smaller than
the diameter of a ball. Below the pocket is an electrical contact, and in the
normal condition of the peg or obstruction no current is flowing. From the
contact a wire or wires are taken to any spot, preferably near the marker, and
in connection with the electric wire there is any means of indicating by pencil,
needle, or otherwise, when the peg is removed from obstructing the pocket,
and such indication is continued until the peg is placed normal and again
obstructs the pocket.
To get a time gauge as to how long an average game of billiards should take
for ordinary players, the action of a clock is made to turn out or revolve paper
or other means upon which the pencil, or needle, or the like, indicates the time
at which a game is started and concluded. Such paper has marked upon it
the hour and minute divisions similar to a clock, and the paper and clock are
made to start in unison, the paper following and indicating the movement of the
clock; for example, if a table is brought into use at 25 minutes past 3 the
pencil or needle will mark that time on the paper when the obstruction of
the pocket is thrust down or removed, and the pencil or needle will continue
marking on the paper until the pocket is again obstructed at which time the
marking will cease, and the time from the commencement of the marking at
25 past 3 until the time at which the obstruction to the pocket is replaced and
the marking ceases is the time occupied by the game or for which the table is
supposed to be used.
1906
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
Agent for the said Applicant.

page_text: I, JOHN GEORGE DIXON, of Don Villa, Penistone, in the County of York,
Engineer, 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 :-
At the present time there is practically no check on billiard markers to ensure
that the number of games played or the amount of time for which a billiard table
is used is correctly accounted for to the employer.
I purpose with my invention to arrange such check, so that if the table is not
in use the several pockets will be obstructed and when the table is required for use
the pockets have to be released, the action of such release indicating the time the
release has taken place and consequently the time at which the table was brought
into use. Until the pockets are again obstructed it is to be assumed that the
table is in use and is therefore to be paid for or accounted for to the employer.
The way in which I carry out my invention is as follows:-
Assuming the ordinary billiard table has 6 pockets, (the number of pockets is
immaterial to my invention), each pocket in the normal condition of the table, that
is to say when it is not in use, has a peg or obstruction fixed preferably in the
centre, so that a ball cannot locate in the pocket, the distance between the peg
(which is in the centre) and the side of the pocket being smaller than the diameter
of a ball. Below the pocket is an electrical contact, and in the normal condition
of the peg or obstruction no current is flowing. From the contact wires are taken
to any spot, preferably near the marker, and in connection with the electric wire
there is any means of indicating by pencil, needle, or otherwise when the peg is
removed from obstructing the pocket, and such indication is continued until the peg
is placed normal and again obstructs the pocket.
It is understood that the removal of the obstruction from any one of the pockets
sets up action indicating that the table is brought into use, but the table continues
to be indicated as in use until every one of the obstructions are again placed at
all of the pockets on the table, that is to say, that the table is indicated as out of
use when the last pocket is obstructed.
In order that my said invention may be better understood and more readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a plan of a corner pocket.
Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section A-B of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan of the equivalent contact device for such tables as have
no pockets. The obstruction is placed in the corner and must be removed to
play the game.
Figure 5 is a section C-D of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a plan of the box showing the magnet and clockwork mechanism.
Figure 7 is a side elevation partly in section of the instrument shown in
Figure 6, with the lower part added showing the roll of indicating paper, in
position.
Figure 8 shows a design of paper for indicating the time during which the table
On this paper the hours, half hours, and quarters are shown so that
the time may be gauged with accuracy.
is in use.
Figure 9 is a plan of the table showing the electrical connections from the
several pockets to the electro-magnet and indicating pencil.

page_text: The same numbers refer to the same parts in the several gures of the
rawings.
1 is the corner pocket of the table. 2 is the cloth, and 3 the table leg. 4 is the
bstructing slide and 5 the case in which the said slide moves up and down; 6 is
he thumb screw or handle by which 4 is operated, 7 is a spring normally out.
of contact with the terminal 8 and normally in contact with the terminal 9; the
terminals 8 and 9 are insulated from each other. The obstructing slide carrier 5.
10 is a billiard ball..
is screwed to the leg of the table as shown in Figure 2.
11 is the handle of the obstructing arm shown on plan Fig. 4 for tables not.
provided with pockets. 12 and 13 are contact springs for setting up the electric
current to indicate the time the table is in use, the action being similar to that
with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 9. 14 is the plate to which the magnet is.
attached. 15 is the electro-magnet for indicating when the table is brought into-
use, while it is in use, and again indicating when it is put out of use, 16 is the
projecting core of the electro-magnet 15, 17 is the armature fulcrumed at 18, the
end 19 forming the pencil carrier for indicating on the paper when the table is
brought into use, while it is in use and when it is put out of use.
jecting arm from which a spring 21 is connected to the armature 17, 22 is the
special paper for recording the time during which the table is in use; 23 is a roll
or barrel over which the paper passes; 24 is a cog-wheel operating the barrel 23,
the said cog-wheel is geared to another cog-wheel 25 connected to and operated by
the clockwork mechanism. 26 is a roller for keeping the paper flat on the barrel,.
rendering the marking by the pencil easier. 27 is the pencil for marking on the
paper; 28 is a weight for ensuring that the pencil is kept in contact with the
paper. 29 (Fig. 9.) is the battery.
The action of my invention is as follows:-
20 is a pro-
In the drawing, Figure 9. for the purposes of illustration, one stop or obstruction 30
It will
is shown thrust down or removed clear of the pocket and making contact.
be seen on following this that the current flows from the copper end of the battery
along wire 31, through contact 32, wire 33, through the electro-magnet 15 along
wire 34 to the zinc end of the battery 29. The result of this is that the armature 17
is attracted to the magnet 15 in the position shown in this diagram. The line 44.
in this diagram, when the armature is normal, is the line which is made by the
pencil when the table is out of use, that is when the pockets or corners are
obstructed, the paper being revolved by the clockwork mechanism so that there is
When the table is brought into use as
always a line being made on the paper.
hereinbefore described the attraction of the armature moves the pencil from the
line 44, makes the cross line 45 and then while the table is in use (or as long as the
pockets are freed) continues to make the parallel line 46. When the table is put.
out of use again (pockets again obstructed) the armature ceases to be attracted
and assumes its normal straight position through spring 21, making another cross.
line 47, Figure 8; the pencil then continues to mark on the right hand vertical
line 48, the table not being in use. On reference to Figure 8 it will be seen that,
assuming the table is brought into use at 10 o'clock and continues to be used
3 till 11-30 when it is put out of use, the line 47 indicates when it was put out of use.
and the line 45 indicates when it was brought into use.
It is obvious that the particular shape of the obstruction to the pocket, or its
position and method of working whether vertical or horizontal, might be varied;
the form of contact by which electricity is set up through the release of the pocket
0 taking place might also be varied, or the particular method of indicating when the
table is brought into use and put out of use might be varied.
5
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 ;-
Providing at all the pockets of a billiard table obstructions, any one of which
on being removed electrically indicates the time of such removal but all of which

page_text: obstructions must be again put up obstructing the pockets before the table is
indicated as out of use, substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of November 1806
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 & 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.