Improvements in Billiard Score-indicating and Recording Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Billiard Score-indicating and Recording Apparatus.
I, ALBERT BATCHELOR, of No. 41, Brayburne Avenue, Clapham, London, S.W.,
Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in billiard score-indicating and
recording apparatus, and consists in providing means whereby the number of
points scored in a game of billiards can be automatically scored at the finish
of the game in such a manner that the proprietor of the table or other authorized,
person can determine at a glance the number of games that have been played
upon the table, and by this means effectually check the amount that has been
received by the billiard-marker or other person in charge of the table, in pay-
ment for the games played.
A further object of the invention consists in means for preventing the scores
being put back when once the pointer or pointers have been moved upon the
scoring-board, and thereby reduce the risk of cheating to a minimum.
In carrying my invention into practice I employ a scoring-board, possessing
many features in common with the usual scoring boards employed, but having
a rack along the under side of the top groove, in which rack slides the indicating
pointer.
1
The said groove communicates at each end in vertical grooves which also
communicate with a lower groove whose upper side is also provided with a rack
the teeth of which may be oppositely inclined to those of the upper rack.
The face of the scoring-board has displayed thereon a row of suitable numerals
in the usual manner, for indicating the consecutive scoring of the player from
say 1 up to 50 or up to any other suitable total.
A groove may also be provided in the board in which slides a recording pointer
for recording every 50 or 100 points made by a player after the first 50 or 100
points have been scored.
The first-mentioned indicating pointer is provided with a pawl pivoted or
hingedly connected to the upper part of the said pointer, a similar pawl being
pivoted upon the lower part of such pointer.
When the pointer is moved along the upper groove, the lower pawl engages
with the teeth of the rack and prevents such pawl being moved back, the upper
pawl during this time being out of engagement.
One of the vertical grooves is extended downwardly below the lower hori-
zontal groove and has located therein a slide plate carrying a plunger.
A suitable spring (or springs) is interposed between the said plate and the
bottom of the vertical groove for normally supporting the plate in its elevated
position on a plane with the lower side of the upper groove.
When the pointer has been moved along to the end of the score board it rests
upon the slide plate which is depressed until the said pointer is allowed to be
moved into the lower groove and along same into position ready for scoring the
next came

page_text: As the slide plate is depressed and when same reaches the point where the
pointer is moved into the groove, the lower extremity of the plunger carried
by the said slide plate comes in contact with a projection on the face of the
groove and depresses same, thereby closing an electric circuit and causing an
index to be moved round upon a dial until same registers the number of points
scored in the game.
In lieu of operating the registering mechanism by means of an electric cur-
rent, may operate same by means of springs, suitable gear-wheels, compressed
air, or other suitable means.
Instead of carrying the vertical groove aforesaid down below the level of the
bottom horizontal groove, I may dispense with such downward extension and
terminate the said groove at the point where it joins the lower horizontal
groove, and also dispense with the spring and slide plate, the push or projec-
tion being so arranged that the pointer will depress same, to operate the
registering mechanism, when said pointer has reached the end of the upper
horizontal groove.
. The registering dial can be situated in a private office or in any other con-
venient place, at any desirable distance from the billiard room.
Dated this 5th day of August 1899.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., for the Applicant.
Improvements in Billiard Score-indicating and Recording Apparatus.
I, ALBERT BATCHELOR, of No. 41, Brayburne Avenue, Clapham, London, S.W.,
Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in billiard score-indicating and record-
ing apparatus, and the object thereof is to provide means whereby the number
of points scored in a game of billiards is automatically recorded at the finish of
the game in such a manner that the proprietor of the table or other authorised
person may ascertain at a glance the number of games that have been played
upon the table, and by this means a check upon the amount that has been
received by the billiard-marker or other person in charge of the table in pay-
ment for the game played is effectually secured..
A further object of my present invention consists in mechanism for prevent-
ing the scores being put back when once the pointer or pointers have been moved
upon the scoring board, and thereby reducing the possibility of cheating to
a minimum.
To attain the said objects therefore I arrange and construct my improved
score-indicating and recording apparatus substantially as described with refer-
ence to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1, is a front elevation of our improved apparatus showing the scoring
and recording mechanism complete, that is looking from the back of scoring
board and recording dials, and Fig. 2, is a front view of said apparatus showing
face view of scoring board and dials. Fig. 3, is a view in detail of a modified
means of recording the games, and Fig. 4, is a detail of a further modification
for the same.
Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view.
Referring to Figs. 1. and 2.

page_text: The scoring board B has a groove, slot or opening near the upper part,
under which on inside of board is fixed a rack R, into which rack R meshes a
pawl fitted to pointer block N..
The groove or opening communicates at each end with vertical grooves b
which also communicate with a lower horizontal groove whose upper inner
side is provided with a rack R³, the teeth of which are inverse to those of the
upper rack R.
The before described mechanism and slots are arranged on the board B in
duplicate so that spot and plain may be scored as will be well understood.
The inner side of the pointer carrying block N is as before described provided
with a pivotted pawl and also a reversed pivotted pawl p situated at the
upper part thereof.
When the pointer with block N is moved along the groove 1 the pawl
engages with the teeth of the rack R. and so prevents it being moved back, the
upper pawl p during this time being out of engagement.
-
A spring plate representing the positive pole of an electrical terminal, and
a plate the negative pole, is interposed at the end of the scoring board B in
such a way, that immediately the pointer n scores say 50, or any other number
as arranged, a projecting part or presser n² of pointer block N presses against
the plate and brings it into contact with the plate so completing an elec-
trical circuit, by which means the recording mechanism is operated as follows:-
At the back of a recording dial 1), I mount well known electrical coils or mag-
nets M, having an armature m¹ fitted with pawl m². This pawl m2 meshes with
a ratchet wheel W mounted on spindle S to which a pointer s¹ is fixed. It is
obvious that as soon as the electrical circuit is made by contact of terminals
as aforesaid, the magnet M will attract the armature m¹ so causing it to move
the pawl m2, and thereby the ratchet wheel W, to a distance of one tooth, and
the pointers records the game on dial D. The ratchet wheel is prevented
returning by a check pawl m³.
The back or inner side of block N has a rack or teeth n which come into
contact at times with pawl n pivotted to back of scoring board so as to prevent
it being moved back again or upwards.
The pointer is taken down the vertical slot 2, when the part n² comes in
contact with a further terminal, so operating an electrical bell L in a well known
manner, or the terminals may be reversed as will be obvious so as to cause the
bell to ring first before recording, or both can work simultaneously.
It is then passed along the groove 63 and up the opposite vertical groove 2
and into the upper groove b₁ ready for scoring a new game.
The board may be marked with numerals as shown at Fig. 2, and may
receive a groove with pointer for indicating or scoring over 50 or a hundred
points played.
Instead of an electrical arrangement, the projection n² may operate a plun-
gers in air cylinders q' so moving the pawl m2 by compressed air, as shown at
Fig. 3, or the part 2 may operate a lever q connected to bell crank or levers g³
upon which pawl m² is mounted, as shown at Fig. 4, so operating the recording
mechanism mechanically.
The dials D may be situated in any part of a building far away or near the
billiard room as may be required, and the whole constitutes a mark-well safety
billiard scorer as described.
The marking board is hinged to a box and may be locked or otherwise sealed.
and may be opened when required by person holding the key or seal.
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:-
1. In billiard score-indicating and recording apparatus, the use of a mark-
ing board with upper and lower grooves, slots, channels or openings, connected

page_text: by vertical or other grooves, slots or openings, in such a manner that the
pointer can be taken right round in one direction and is prevented returning
in the opposite direction by means of racks, and pawls; or any mere modifica-
tion for substituting the same, substantially as described and for the object
specified.
2. Arranging electrical or mechanical mechanism in connection with a billiard
scoring board in such a way, that the pointer when pointing to the finish of
any required number scored, will come into contact with a terminal for operat-
ing a pointer on dial by means of pawl and ratchet electrically, or will operate
said pawl by compressed air or by levers or bell-crank and wire substantially
as described.
Dated this 9th January 1900
H. F. BOUGHTON,
Patent Agent, 114, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.