IMPROVE- MENTS IN BILLIARD OR DINING TABLES, ALSO SUITABLE FOR OTHER TABLES, BEDSTEADS, OR PURPOSES REQUIRING VARIED HEIGHTS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Poole, of Great George Street, in the
City of Westminster, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BILLIARD OR DINING TABLES, ALSO SUITABLE FOR OTHER TABLES,
BEDSTEADS, OR PURPOSES REQUIRING VARIED HEIGHTS.”
Scaled the 28th October 1873, and dated the 18th July 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Poole at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th July 1873.
I, JOHN POOLE, of Great George Street, in the City of Westminster,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BILLIARD OR DINING TABLES, ALSO SUITABLE FOR OTHER
TABLES, BEDSTEADS, OR PURPOSES REQUIRING VARIED HEIGHTS;" to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved method of altering the level of
billiard and other tables by means of a double frame, spindles, and
wheels of different kinds, so that the strength and stability of the table

page_text: may not be endangered at any height; and so far as regards the
construction of billiard tables the general method of using solid legs
and slate beds of any reasonable thickness may not be interfered with,
and that the table may be elevated for billiards or lowered for dining or
other purposes to any height (within the limits) without complicated
mechanism, difficult to be got at, but with expedition and ease.
be
This Invention applies also to nursery tables, which may
constructed in a similar manner, to admit of the table being speedily
lowered to suit the age of children; avoiding the necessity of placing
them on high chairs; and thereby tend to prevent accidents. Bedsteads
may be similarly constructed to suit the comfort of invalids or others.
My Invention is thus applicable to various purposes, and consists as
follows:-
For billiard tables I construct the outer frame similar to the ordinary
method by which it is firmly attached to the solid legs, as before.
Within the outer frame is another frame of similar strength, and upon
which the bed of the table rests. This inside frame is made to rise and
fall by means of a spindle passing through a slot in each end of the
inner frame and resting upon bearings attached to or let into the ends
of the outer frame; to one end of this spindle there is fitted a small
winch handle to turn it as desired; attached to the spindle are two worms
working into worm wheels fixed to the centre of two other spindles, the
ends of which pass through the inner frame by slots, and resting upon
bearings in the outside frame, as in the former case, and working at
right angles to the first spindle. To these last spindles and near the
sides of the table are fixed cog wheels, and to the inner frame of the
table are pieces of rackwork screwed thereto, into which the cog wheels
work. Thus by turning the handle of the spindle motion is given by
the worm wheels to the two other spindles, and they in turn impart it
to the cog wheels, by which the table is elevated or
depressed as the
handle is turned in either direction.
For a large or full size billiard table, or other tables or things,
additional support can be given by increasing the rackwork motion at
any point desired.
For light tables or other things requiring rapid motion I also use rose
or bevel wheels instead of the worm wheels.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Poole in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th November 1873.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
POOLE, of Great George Street, in the City of Westminster, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of July, in the year of
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the 37th year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Poole, Her special license that I, the
said John Poole, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or sucli
others as I, the said John Poole, my executors, administrators, or
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 BILLIARD OR
DINING TABLES, ALSO SUITABLE FOR OTHER TABLES, BEDSTEADS, OR PURPOSES,
REQUIRING VARIED HEIGHT," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Poole, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Poole, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and Figures marked thereon, that is to
say:―
My said Invention consists of an improved method of altering the
level of billiard and other tables by means of a double frame combined
with spindles and wheels of different kinds so that the strength and
stability of the table may not be endangered at any height, and so far

page_text: as regards the construction of billiard tables, the general method of using
solid legs and slate beds of any reasonable thickness may not be inter-
fered with, and that the table may be elevated for billiards or lowered
for dining or other purposes to any height within ordinary limits
without complicated mechanism difficult to be got at, but with expedition
and ease.
My Invention applies also to nursery dining tables, which I also so
construct as to admit of the table being speedily lowered to suit the age
of children, thereby avoiding the necessity of placing them on high
chairs, and so. preventing accidents. Bedsteads may be similarly con-
structed to suit the comfort of invalids or others.
According to one mode of carrying out my said Invention as applied to
billiard tables I construct the outer frame similar to the ordinary method
by which it is firmly attached to the solid legs as heretofore. Within
this outer frame there is another frame of similar strength upon which
the bed of the table rests. This inside frame is made to rise and fall by
means of a spindle passing through a slot or under each end of the
inner frame and resting upon bearings attached to or let into the ends of
the outer frame. To one end of this spindle is fitted a small winch
handle for turning it as desired; attached to the spindle are two worms
working into worm wheels fixed to the centre of two other spindles, the
ends of which pass through slots in the inner frame and rest upon
bearings in the outside frame as in the former case, and work at right
angles to the first spindle. To these last mentioned spindles and near
the sides of the table are fixed toothed wheels, and to the inner frame of
the table are secured racks into which the toothed wheels gear. Thus
by turning the handle of the spindle motion is given by the worm wheels
to the other spindles, and they in turn impart it to the toothed wheels
by which the table is elevated or depressed according to the direction in
which the handle is turned.
I also construct billiard tables so as to allow the outside frame to be
raised and the inside frame to be firmly secured to the legs. This is
accomplished by a variation in the method of lifting the bed of the table
as herein-after fully described.
For a large or full size billiard table, or other tables or things, addi,
tional support can be given by increasing the rach work motion or the
other means of lifting at any point desired.

page_text: 4
For light tables or other things requiring rapid adjustment I also use
bevil wheels instead of the worm wheels.
The bedsteads are constructed to admit of the frame and bed being
lowered nearly to the floor and raised nearly to the top of the bed posts,
as herein-after described, to suit the comfort and convenience of the
person using them, and in case of dangerous illness the patient can be
suspended upon a sheet from the bed posts, the bed lowered for necessary
purposes as often as may be required without distressing the patient or
requiring him to be placed in an erect position for a moment.
The improved dining table, which is more particularly designed and
applicable for the purposes of the nursery, consists in so constructing the
table that it will admit of being readily elevated or lowered at will. The
machinery for elevating or lowering the table is similar to the foregoing,
but may be varied according to the design of the table.
And in order that said Invention
my
be
may fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed two Sheets of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
corresponding Figures:-
Figures 1, 3, and 5 (Sheet 1) are sectional elevations of billiard dining
tables, and Figures 2, 4, and 6 are plans of the same respectively. The
lower half sections, Figures 1, 3, and 5, represent the table lowered as a
dining table, and the other half sections shew it elevated for billiards.
A, A, represent the outside frames.; B; B, the inside frames; C, C, the
slate bed of tables; D, D, the leaves when used for dining tables; and
E, E, stretchers or bearers of the frames.
In Figures 1 and 2 F is a spindle running through the centre of the
table and resting in bearings at G, G. To it and near the ends are fitted
worms H, H, working into worm wheels I, I, fixed to the transverse
spindles J, J. These short spindles pass through slot holes K, K, K, K,
in the inside frame B, and rest in bearings at L, L, L, L, which are set
into the outside frame A. M, M, M, M, are toothed wheels geared to
the racks N, N, N, N, which are fixed to the inside frame B. By turning
the handle O a uniform motion is given to the different spindles and
wheels, which cause the inside frame B to ascend and with it the bed of
the table, as represented by the half section Figure 1;

page_text: In Figures 3 and 4 F, F, are two short or transverse spindles carrying
respectively toothed wheels and pinions G, G, G, G. One of the spindles
has two worms H, H, working into worm wheels I, I, which latter are
mounted on the longitudinal spindles J, J. The whole of the spindles
rest in bearings at K . . . . K, which are fixed to the sides of the inside
frame B. Power being applied to the handle O, motion is given to the
spindles and wheels, and as the worms H.... H, are respective right
and left screws the cams or eccentrics L, L, L, L, mounted on the long
spindles J, J, turn first inwards and then outwards, working in
guides M, M, M, M, which are fixed to the slate linings N, N, N, N.
As these cams rise the frame A and the table are carried with them, as
represented in half section Figure 3.
In Figures 5 and 6 F, F, are two spindles running longitudinally
through the table, and attached to them respectively are the toothed
wheels and pinions G, G, G, G, both spindles resting in bearings at
Á, Á, Á, Á, fixed to the inside of the inner frame B. I, I, are two
drums fixed to one of the spindles, and J, J, J, J, are bands of leather,
steel, or other suitable flexible material passing over small pullies at
K, K, K, K, attached to the fixed frame B, one of the ends of each band
being attached or secured to the lower portion of the outside or adjustable
frame A, and the other end secured to the corresponding drum I. Two
of these bands are fixed to each drum I, one being secured to the upper
portion of the drum, and the other to the lower portion, so that when the
handle M is turned they coil or wind round a portion of each side of the
drum and elevate the outside frame A, and with it the bed of the table
as before. A ratchet wheel and detent are provided at N to retain the
table at the required height.
In Figures 1 and 2 the inside frame is intended to rise, and in
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 the outside frame is made adjustable. The knees
or upper portion of the legs in all these arrangements are so made as to
receive and support the main frame.
In the above illustrations I have only shewn four racks, four cams, and
four bands, but any number can be used according to the size and weight
of the table.
Figure 7 (Sheet 2) is a perspective view of an invalid bedstead 3
constructed according to my present Invention. A, A, A, A, is the
lower or outside frame fixed to and supporting the bed posts B, B. At

page_text: or near the feet C, C, is an upper frame made adjustable or moveable,
and D, D, are clips or braces on the adjustable frame encircling the
posts B, B, and forming a part of the frame itself, and moving up or
down as may be required along the posts. E is a spindle disposed
transversely under the centre of the moveable frame which carries it.
Attached to this spindle are two worms F geared into worm wheels G
which are fixed to two long longitudinally disposed spindles H at each
side of the bed. At each end of these spindles H are fitted toothed
wheels I . I, working into racks J, J, J, J, affixed to each bed post.
In Figure 7 only one of the spindles H and parts in connection therewith
can be seen, but the arrangement is the same on both sides. The
spindles E and H rest in bearings at K. K, formed in or fixed to
L, L, are double stays to
the angle iron of the frame of the bedstead.
support the bed posts at the top, between which the ornamental head
and foot rails pass when ascending or descending; M is a winch handle
for turning the machinery.
Figure 8 is also a perspective view of an invalid bedstead similar to
the above. A is the lower frame; C, the upper frame; B, the bed
posts, and D the sliding clips or braces; E, the actuating spindle
running through the centre of the bedstead longitudinally, and having
attached thereto two drums F, F; G. . . . G, are ropes of hemp, gut,
or suitable material fastened to opposite sides of the drums and passing
under small guiding sheaves in each corner of the adjustable frame C at
H.... H, and lying in a groove in the bed posts; these ropes are secured
at the top of the bed posts by pins or collars at I I. L, L, are
double stays to support the posts; M, is a handle by which the spindle
E is turned, and N is a ratchet and detent to retain the bed frame in
the required position.
•
"
Figure 9 is a plan of an invalid bedstead with machinery similar to
Figure 7, but having the spindles and wheels reversed; C, C, are
the sides and ends of the adjustable frame having the posts B.... B,
encircled by the sliding clips D, D; E, is the actuating spindle disposed
longitudinally and having worms F, F, at each end working into worm
wheels upon the transverse spindles H, H; I, I, are toothed wheels
geared into racks affixed to or formed on the posts B as previously

page_text: Figure 10 is a perspective view showing in part section and part
elevation an adjustable nursery dining table constructed according to
this Invention, which arrangement is equally applicable to school desks.
A, A, is the outside or fixed frame; B, B, is the inner and moveable or
adjustable frame which carries with it the top of the table C, C; F, is
the actuating spindle having worms at H, H, geared into worm wheels
I, I, mounted on the transverse spindles J, J; at each end of the latter
are toothed wheels M, M, working through the upper portion of the
knees of the fixed legs or supports, so as to gear into racks fixed to or
formed on the inner or sliding legs or supports N, N. K, K; are the 1
bearings for the spindles, and O the winch handle for raising or lowering
the top of the table, which top when in its lowest position is sufficiently
low to accommodate the smallest child, the table being thus adapted to
the height of the child in lieu of as heretofore the chair being elevated to
suit the height of the table. It is obvious that this table may be 1
constructed with a single pillar or with two or more legs or supports.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may
be used or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention a
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The peculiar mode of constructing tables with a double under
frame in such manner that either frame may ascend or descend with or
without the aid of mechanism so as to be used for billiards, dining, or
other purposes, substantially as herein-before described.
Second. The combination with a double under frame of worm and
toothed wheel gearing and racks for elevating or lowering billiard or
other tables, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings annexed.
Third. The combination with a double under frame of cams or 3
eccentrics and worm and toothed gearing for elevating or lowering
billiard or other tables, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated by Figures 3 and 4 of the Drawings annexed.
Fourth. The combination with a double under frame of bands and
drums and worm or toothed gearing for elevating or lowering billiard or 3
other tables, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by
Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawings annexed.

page_text: Fifth. The mode of constructing bedsteads with an adjustable frame
which embraces and slides up and down the posts in combination with a
second and fixed frame whereby the posts are bound together and
mutually supported at any height of the bed, substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before described and illustrated by Figures 7, 8,
and 9 of the Drawings annexed.
Sixth. The peculiar combination and arrangement of mechanism for
adjusting the said moveable frame of a bedstead, as herein-before
described and illustrated by Figures 7, 8, and 9 of the Drawings here-
unto annexed.
Seventh. The construction and use of a nursery dining table or a
school desk, the top of which is capable of being raised to any required
height, and of being lowered at will to such an extent as to accomodate
the smallest child, substantially as herein-before described.
Eighth. The combination.of worm and toothed gearing with racks or
their equivalent for adjusting the height of the said nursery dining table
or school desk, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Poole, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of November,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.