Improved Means for Recording the Length of Time and the Number of Times a Billiard Table has been Played Upon.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
Improved Means for Recording the Length of Time and the Number
of Times a Billiard Table has been Played Upon.
We, ARTHUR CHARLES THOMAS, of 7, Highfield Square, Book-keeper, and
JOSEPH EDWARD ATKINSON, of 48 Derwent Road, Miller, both of Stoneycroft,
Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:--
This invention relates to improved means for recording the length of time and
the number of times that a billiard table or the like has been played upon, so that
where tables are hired, as is usual in the case of public tables, a check may be
kept on the earnings thereof.
We provide a device, preferably connected with the table, so arranged that it
can be moved at pleasure into either of two positions, in one of which it forms an
effectual obstruction to the use of the table, and in the other of which it leaves the .
table perfectly unobstructed.
As the table cannot be played upon excepting while the obstruction is placed
out of the way, it is only necessary, in order to obtain the desired record, to provide
means for recording the number of times and the aggregate length of time during
which the obstruction is so placed out of the way.
The obstructing device may take a variety of forms and may be adapted to
obstruct the surface of the table, the cushions or the pockets, but we prefer to make
it in the form of an arm or the like, pivoted at the edge of the table, so that it can
be swung out over the cloth in order to obstruct the play, or be swung snugly out
of the way under the cushion when the table is to be used. The obstructing device
is connected to a recorder which gives a record of the number of times it is moved
out of the way.
In:
In order to record the aggregate time during which the table is used for playing,
we provide a clock which is kept continuously going and which is enclosed under
lock and key so that it cannot be interfered with by unauthorised persons.
addition to the ordinary clock face and hands, we provide an independent recording.
mechanism adapted to be thrown into or out of gear with the clock by the motion
of the obstructing device already referred to, the arrangement being such that it
is impossible to move the obstruction out of the way, so as to permit the table to
be used, without throwing the recording mechanism into gear with the clock and
so leaving a record of the length of time the table is used.
The connection of the obstructing device with the recording mechanism, in order
to throw the latter into or out of gear, may be purely mechanical or pneumatic or .
electrical, but we prefer a spindle penetrating the woodwork or slate of the billiard
table; and the clock may be attached to the table or placed some distance away,
although we generally prefer the former. The independent recording mechanism is.
adapted to record a much greater length of time than an ordinary clock, as its .

page_text: function is to sum up all the various lengths of time that the table may have been
in use during a considerable period. By means of the ordinary hands, the rate of
the clock may be checked and any necessary correction made in the aggregate
record.
It will be observed that our invention is specially applicable to cases where the 5
tables are hired and paid for by time, but we provide also for registering the number
of times the table is used.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26 Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improved Means for Recording the Length of Time and the Number
of Times a Billiard Table has been Played Upon.
We, ARTHUR CHARLES THOMAS, of 7 Highfield Square, Book-keeper, and 1
JOSEPH EDWARD ATKINSON, of 48 Derwent Road, Miller, both of Stoneycroft,
Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improved means for recording the length of time and 20
the number of times that a billiard table or the like has been played upon, so that
where tables are hired, as is usual in the case of public tables, a check may be
kept on the earnings thereof.
We provide a device, preferably connected with the table, so arranged that it
can be moved at pleasure into either of two positions, in one of which it forms an 24
effectual obstruction to the use of the table, and in the other of which it leaves the
table perfectly unobstructed.
As the table cannot be played upon excepting while the obstruction is placed
out of the way, it is only necessary, in order to obtain the desired record, to provide
means for recording the number of times and the aggregate length of time during 30
which the obstruction is placed out of the way.
The obstructing device may take a variety of forms and may be adapted to
obstruct the surface of the table, the cushions or the pockets, but we prefer to make
it in the form of an arm or the like, pivoted at the edge of the table, so that it can
be swung out over the cloth in order to obstruct the play, or be swung snugly out 3
of the way under the cushion when the table is to be used. In order to give the
desired record, we provide in conjunction with the obstructing device, a clock-
work mechanism controlled thereby, as hereinafter fully described.
We have illustrated a typical form of our invention in the accompanying draw-
ings, in which Figs. I to IV show a portion of the billiard table and the arrange- 40
ment of the apparatus in relation thereto; Figs. V and VI are detail views to
larger scale of the recording part of the apparatus. Figs. VII and VIII are frag-
mentary views showing a modification of part of the apparatus.
Referring in the first place to Figs. I to IV; Fig. I is an elevation, Fig. II is an
elevation partially in section on the line A. A. of Fig. I; Fig. III is a plan and 4
Fig. IV is a sectional plan on the line B. B. of Fig. II.
Throughout the drawings, the same parts are indicated by the same reference
figures, and in the case of sections, the direction in which the section is viewed is
indicated by the small arrows adjacent to the letters denoting the plane of section.

page_text: 1 is the cloth covered slate, 2 the cushion, 3 the cushion rail and 4 the frame of
the table, all these being of usual construction.
5 is the obstructing device, in the form of an arm secured to a spindle 6 housed
within the tubular stem 7 carried by the case 8 of the recording mechanism. The
arm 5 is adapted to be swung through a right-angle, as indicated in Figs. II, III
and IV; in the position shown in full lines in Figs. II and III and in dotted lines
in Fig. IV, it projects over the cloth and effectually obstructs the use of the table.
In the position shown in dotted lines in Figs. II and III and in full lines in
Fig. IV, it lies snugly under the cushion and offers no obstruction.
-
The case 8 carrying the stem 7 is fastened to the frame of the table, the parts of
the table being cut away just enough to clear-the stem and the arm 5; the latter -
is bent as shown so as to minimise the amount of cutting away required.
Referring now to Figs. V and VI; Fig. V is a front elevation with the door
removed, and Fig. VI is a sectional plan on the line C. C. of Fig. V.
The recording mechanism is entirely enclosed within the case 8, provided with
a door; as shown, which is adapted to be locked so as to prevent interference by
unauthorised persons. It comprises an ordinary clock, shown on the left, kept
constantly going, and a special clock and paper drum shown on the right. As
the clock on the left may be of ordinary construction, only such parts of it are
shown as are necessary in order to show. its connection with the remainder of the
mechanism.
The arrangement for throwing the special clock, (which has no motive power of
its own), into or out of gear with the ordinary clock by the motion of the arm 5,
is as follows.
The spindle 6 already referred to is carried down into the case, and has a stem
or cam 9, adapted when the spindle is turned, to engage against the disc 10 on
the end of the spindle 11 and to push the latter axially in opposition to the
spring 12. The spindle 11 carries the toothed wheel 13 adapted to gear simulta-
neously with the minute wheels 14 and 15 of the two clocks, and so couple them
together. In the drawings the clocks are shown coupled, the arm 5 being in the
non-obstructing position shown in full Jines in Fig. IV. When the arm 5 is
turned into its other position the stem 9 pushes 13 out of gear with 14 and the
special clock stops. The stem 9 should stand accurately at the same height as the
centre of 11 so as not to communicate any rotation to it, and with the object of
preventing accidental rotation, the spring 16 is arranged to bear against the back
of 10 when the clocks are uncoupled.
15 drives an ordinary minute hand over an ordinary dial and it is connected by
an ordinary hour train 17 with the hour hand.
18 is a spindle driven by the gearing 19 so as to revolve once for twelve revolu-
tions of the hour hand; it carries a finger moving over a "day" dial and recording
days" of twelve hours each.
66
The arrangement described provides a recording capacity of 144 hours, but of
course this may be extended and the hands and dials may be arranged in various
ways. It is preferable however to assimilate the indicating part of the clock as
closely as possible to the ordinary form.
A second hand is shown, driven from 15 by the train 20; this is of service for
showing at a glance that the apparatus is in working order.
The means for recording the number of times that the table has been used com-
prise the recording drum 21, adapted to carry a sheet of paper, driving mechanism
therefor, the pencil 22 and the means for throwing the latter into and out of con-
tact with the paper. The drum 21 turns on the fixed screw 23 and it is continu-
ously rotated by the toothed wheel 24 gearing with the long toothed wheel 25 driven
through the toothed wheel 26 from the toothed wheel 27 on the spring case 28.
26 is loose on the spindle 29 and drives the latter through the spring friction coup-
ling 30 which is sufficient to drive the drum but permits it to be turned back.
It is clear that if the pencil 22 be kept in contact with the paper mounted on the

page_text: drum it will trace a continuous spiral of the same pitch as the screw 23. The
pencil holder 31 is mounted loosely on the spindle 32 and the pencil is urged
towards the paper by the spring 33. As shown in the drawing, the arm 5 being in
the non-obstructing position, the pencil is in contact with the paper and tracing a
line thereon; when the arm is turned into the obstructing position, the spindle 32
is rotated by the levers 34 and 35 connected by the link 36 and the stem 37 fixed
to 32 lifts the pencil clear of the paper.
Thus the pencil only traces a line while the arm 5 is so placed as to permit the
table to be used, and the number of the lines gives a record of the number of times
the arm has been so placed, while their aggregate length affords a corroboration
of the time aggregate recorded by the recording clock hands.
The ordinary clock being provided with hands, its rate may be checked, and any
necessary correction made in the aggregate record.
Referring now to Figs. VII and VIII which are fragmentary views analogous
to Figs. V and VI respectively, and show a modified arrangement for coupling and
uncoupling the ordinary clock and the special clock.
38 is one of the toothed wheels of the ordinary clock and is constantly in motion;
39 is the corresponding wheel of the special clock, and 40 is the toothed coupling
wheel, analogous in function to the wheel 13 of Figs. V and VI. The wheel 40,
instead of being arranged to slide axially into and out of gear, is arranged to move
radially with respect to the wheel 39 sufficiently to engage and disengage the teeth,
being mounted on the frame 41 which is pivoted co-axially with the wheel 38.
91 is a stem on the spindle 6, analogous in function to the stem 9 of Figs. V and VI,
and adapted to engage with the pin 42 on the frame 41 and to swing the frame a
little so as to disengage the clocks when the obstructing arm 5, attached to the
spindle 6, is swung into the obstructing position. The frame 41 drops by gravity
when the spindle 6 is in the position shown in the drawings, the wheel 40 being.
always in gear with the wheel 38 so that it is always in motion and therefore
adapted to readily engage with the wheel 39 when required.
While we have, for the purpose of illustration, described an obstructing device
adapted to obstruct the surface of the slate, it is obvious that the obstruction might
be applied to any essential part of the table, such as the pockets or the cushions.
Moreover a special obstructing arm or the like is not essential, as the removal or
displacement of an essential part of the table, such as one or more of the cushions,
would serve the purpose.
We have shown a direct mechanical connection between the obstructing device
and the recording mechanism. In some cases the connection may be made by
pneumatic or electrical means, and no difficulty in arranging such connection
would be experienced by one skilled in the art. Where an electrical or pneumatic
connection is used, the recording mechanism may be conveniently fixed at some
distance from the table.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The improved apparatus for recording the length of time and the number of
times a billiard table has been played upon, which comprises a recording
mechanism, a constantly going clock, an obstructing device and means connected
therewith and adapted, when the obstructing device is in its non-obstructing posi-
tion, to couple the clock to the recording mechanism; substantially as described.
2. In combination with the obstructing device and the constantly going clock;
a recording mechanism comprising day, hour and minute hands, a paper-carrying
drum to which a helical motion is imparted by the clock, and a marker therefor;
and means operated by the obstructing device adapted when the latter is in its
non-obstructing position to couple the clock to the recording mechanism and to
bring the marker into contact with the paper, substantially as described.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved apparatus

page_text: for recording the length of time and the number of times a billiard table is used;
substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 30th day of September. 1897.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
26 Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.