IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TABLES TO BE USED FOR BILLIARDS, DINING, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Beer Hawkes and Charles Joseph
Freeman, both of Weymouth, in the County of Dorset, Uphol-
sterers, Cabinet Makers, &c., for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TABLES TO BE USED FOR BILLIARDS, DINING, AND
OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 26th November 1872, and dated the 30th May 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Beer Hawkes
and Charles Joseph Freeman at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 30th May 1872.
We, THOMAS BEER HAWKES and CHARLES JOSEPH FREEMAN,
both of Weymouth, in the County of Dorset, Upholsterers, Cabinet
Makers, &c., do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TABLES TO BE USED FOR BILLIARDS,
DINING, AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The improvements have for their object the construction of tables
so that they may more conveniently than heretofore serve for the joint
purposes of billiards, dining, or other purposes, and consist in the con-
struction and use of a rising and falling horizontally telescopic and

page_text: expanding or moveable frame in addition to a fixed frame, together
with moveable and adjustable covers or flaps, so that when it is
necessary to convert the billiard table to a dining table the top or bed
thereof can together with its rising and falling frame be lowered,
and the top or bed covered with suitable lids or covering pieces the
size of the billiard table, and when desired suitable flaps, trays, or
additional length of covering pieces or lid can be pushed out or drawn
in by means of the horizontal telescopic or expanding part of the frame,
or when required to be converted from a dining table to a billiard table
the top or bed can be elevated, the lid pieces removed, and the
projecting lid drawn in or shortened if desired.
The improvements may be performed as follows:-The legs of the
table are fashioned so as to receive and allow to work therein a rising
and falling screw attached to the rising and falling framing supporting
the top or bed of the billiard table; these legs are connected or kept
firmly in place and together by suitable ties or under framing which is
not moveable, and on which the rising and falling frame rests when at
its lowest position. The billiard table and its cushions is furnished with
a suitable lid or cover which may be in one or more pieces, and is put
on when it is desired to use the table for other purposes. Attached to
the frame are sliding shelves, trays, or flaps, which by means of a screw
can be pushed out or drawn back, and so lengthen and shorten the table
lid or cover when desired. When the table is elevated and used as
a billiard table suitable moveable wedges or other convenient means
can be used to steady the table.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions, of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Beer Hawkes and Charles Joseph
Freeman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th November
1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
BEER HAWKES and CHARLES JOSEPH FREEMAN, both of Weymouth, in
the County of Dorset, Upholsterers, Cabinet Makers,, &c., send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the

page_text: thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Thomas Beer Hawkes and Charles
Joseph Freeman, Her special licence that we, the said Thomas Beer
Hawkes and Charles Joseph Freeman, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Beer Hawkes and
Charles Joseph Freeman, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time.
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TABLES
TO BE USED FOR BILLIARDS, DINING, AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the con.
dition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas Beer Hawkes and
Charles Joseph Freeman, our executors or administrators, by an instru-.
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Beer Hawkes and Charles
Joseph Freeman, do hereby declare the nature of our said 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 these improvements is to construct tables so that they
may be rendered more convenient than heretofore for the purposes of
| billiards, for dining, or for other purposes, and consists in the construction
and use of a rising and falling horizontally telescopic and expanding or
moveable frame, in addition to a fixed frame, together with moveable
and adjustable covers or flaps, so that when it is necessary to convert
the billiard table to a dining table the top or bed thereof can together
with its rising and falling frame be lowered, and the top or bed covered
with suitable lids or covering pieces the size of the billiard table, and
when desired suitable flaps, trays, or additional length of covering
pieces or lid can be pushed out or drawn in by means of the horizontal
telescopic or expanding part of the frame. Or when required to be
converted from a dining table to a billiard table, the top or bed can be.
elevated, the lid pieces removed, and the projecting lid drawn in or.
shortened if desired.

page_text: These improvements may be carried out in practice by forming the
legs of the table so as to receive and allow of the working of a rising
and falling spring attached to the rising and falling framing supporting
the top or bed of the billiard table, such legs to be connected or kept
firmly in place and together by suitable ties or under framing, which
is not moveable and on which the rising and falling frame rests when
at its lowest position.. The billiard table with its cushions is furnished
with a suitable lid or cover, which may be in one or more pieces and is
put on when it is desired to use the table for other purposes. Attached
to the frame are sliding shelves, trays, or flaps, which by means of a
screw can be pushed out or drawn back and so lengthen and shorten
the table lid or cover when desired. When the table is elevated and
used as a billiard table suitable moveable wedges or other convenient
means can be used to steady the table.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINngs and of the Manner of Performing
AND PUTTING IN PRACTICE THE SAID INVENTION.
Fig. 1, view as dining table; Fig. 2, view as billiard table; Fig. 3,
view showing the framings; Fig. 4, section through centre of a leg;
Fig. 5, view of plug.
A is a wooden plug which works on the spring B in the centre of each 1
leg. X, X, the iron collar or plate which secures the plug A, the hole
in the iron plate being only made of sufficient size to allow the smaller
part of the plug A to pass, and such part makes the exact difference
between the height of the billiard table and the dining table; B is a
spiral spring which lifts the billiard table working in the cavity of each 1
leg; C is the screw toe fixed to the pro-castor D for levelling the
table should the floor be uneven; D is the pro-castor for the protection
of the carpet; E is a wedge-shaped lever screwed or bolted to each
corner of the table frame L, passing under the inner frame K when
raised to the billiard table height, and making it perfectly firm and
steady; F is a screw turned with a winch or handle in the centre of
the table underneath for regulating the raising and lowering of the
table; G is a telescopic slide at each end working under the billiard
table in the inner frame K, drawing out when the dining table is
lengthened by the table expander or screw I; H, three flaps opening:
out of the telescopic slide G for making it the required level for
receiving the extra leaves of the dining table; I, the two table
expanders for drawing out the telescopic slides G ; K, the inner frame

page_text: which falls into the outer frame L when the table is lowered to the
dining table height.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of our said Invention, and in what manner the same may be
performed or put in practice, we hereby declare that we claim the
herein described Invention of "Improvements in the Construction of
Tables to be used for Billiards, Dining, and other Purposes," wherein the
following are important points or features:-
(1.) These tables can only be raised to the proper height of a billiard
table or lowered to that of a dining table.
(2.) These table are perfectly firm and true, both as a dining and as
billiard tables.
(3.) Such tables can be raised or lowered in a short time even by an
inexperienced person and with great ease.
(4.) The construction of these tables is so simple that liability to
derangement is reduced to a minimum.
(5.) These tables can quickly be extended so as to make the dining
table eight, ten, or twelve feet, or even longer, and first cost is
economised.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Beer Hawkes and Charles
Joseph Freeman, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
E. W. CROSS,
(L.S.)
THOMAS BEER HAWKES.
CHARLES JOSEPH FREEMAN. (L.S.)
4, Spring Gardens,
Weymouth,
Bankers' Clerk.