IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACING, TIPPING, AND SUSPENDING BILLIARD CUES, APPLICABLE IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Fredrick Hengst, of Forest Gate, in the County
of Essex, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACING,
TIPPING, AND SUSPENDING BILLIARD CUES, APPLICABLE IN PART TO OTHER
PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Fredrick Hengst
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th November 1880.
CHARLES FREDRICK HENGST, of Forest Gate, in the County of Essex, Engineer.
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACIng, Tipping, and Suspending BILLIARD CUES,
APPLICABLE IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improved apparatus for facing, tipping, and suspending
billiard cues, applicable in part to other purposes.
According to my Invention for suspending, the billiard cues are inserted into a
'conical clip of wood or metal formed in two parts, each part being suspended
between a pair of links, and having a lateral movement. Between the ends of
these links are two levers which work on an axis. On one side of each lever is a
cam, which bears against the conical clips, the other end of the lever being attached.
by links or connecting rods of the desired length to a gudgeon or yoke working in
guides fitted in the centre with a screw for raising or lowering the same, the end
or screw bearing on a horizontal bar or frame supported by any suitable means.
On the underside of this frame is a stop of any suitable material, to which the top
of the cue comes in contact. The action of the apparatus is as follows:-A cue is
inserted between the cones, and can be pushed through to the stop or to any
desired distance, where it is held by the automatic action of the cones produced by
the weight of the cue, and links, and levers combined, causing the cam to press
against the outer surface of the said cones, and by lifting the cue and action it is
instantly released. When it is desired to fasten the top on a cue the whole action
is lifted with the cue against the stop by means of a screw which lifts the
apparatus. Any number of these movements may be combined in one frame to
hand up in a billiard room to hold the cues, and to one end of this frame is attached
the movement for facing the ends of the cues instead of by filing, and so as to
Prison C21

page_text: produce a perfectly smooth and true surface almost instantaneously. The upper
end of the cue is inserted in a hollow cylinder formed in halves, about four inches
long, with lap and guide pins at each side, and with a tightening cramp or set
screw at centre of cylinder to fix the cue in position. At the upper end of the
cylinder is a projecting bearing which takes the axis of a rotary cutter. The end
of cue is brought in contact with same, and the former revolved, when a smooth
and true surface is obtained. The automatic action of that part of the apparatus
for holding the billiard cues can also be used for a variety of other purposes, such
as suspending sticks and umbrellas, and for holding and dropping life boats instantly,
or for suddenly 'gripping and releasing any article which requires hoisting or
drawing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Frederick Hengst in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th May 1881.
t
CHARLES FREDERICK HENGST, of Forest Gate, in the County of Essex, Engineer,
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACING, TIPPING, AND SUSPENDING BILLIARD CUES,
APPLICABLE IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improved apparatus for facing, tipping, and suspending
billiard cues, applicable in part to other purposes.
And in order that the Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe it with the aid of the accompanying Drawings,
reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon, and in which Fig. 1
is a side elevation of apparatus constructed according to my Invention, and Fig.
edge views of several grips in combination as an apparatus to be fixed to a wall to
hold several billiard cues; Fig. 3 shows the grip movement slightly modified for
holding ropes or bars for suspending boats or other purposes.
The billiard cue or other article to be clipped is inserted in the internally conical
clip A made in two parts, the parts being capable of a lateral motion along the
rest or link B. Bearing against the two parts of clip A are the cam ends c of levers C,
which cross, as seen at Fig. 1, and are suspended from two connecting rods D hung
at E. When the cue or other article is inserted into the clip A it raises rest B, and
the levers C turn slightly on the centres c' (the hanging connecting rods by moving
from one another at their lower ends allowing of this), and so bring fresh
portions of the cams C to bear against the parts of clip A, and allowing room for
the entering cue or other article to force the parts of clip A apart to gain an
entrance and be inserted through it. If it be attempted to withdraw the cue and
the upward or lifting force is thus withdrawn, the weight of levers C, rest B, and
clip A cause them instantly to descend and bring the jamming effect of cams c
to bear on the cue, and then any attempt to withdraw same only causes (by reason
of the friction on the internal surface of the clip parts) a still stronger bite.
To

page_text: release the cue or other article the clip must be raised and held up whilst the cue
is withdrawn. Fig. 3 shows the grip arrangement constructed by itself, without
the other parts of the combination shown at Fig. 1. In this Figure (Fig. 1)
several of the grips are shown in combination with a framework to be attached to
the wall, the whole intended to hold a succession of billiard cues, which are inserted
and withdrawn in the manner described. For tipping the cues a screw F is
inserted in the framework above each of the grips, so that when desired, after the
cue has been inserted and raised as high as it can be, this screw is turned down
until it presses with as much pressure as desired on the cue tip, thus holding the
latter on very firmly till set. For facing the ends of cues I use a socket G, which
is made in two parts, the moveable part being supported on pins h so that it can
travel thereon, and thus make the opening within in the socket larger or smaller as
desired. Around the two parts is a band H with a set screw I passing through it,
and bearing on the moveable part of socket G. The cue to be faced is passed up
the socket G until its upper end rests against the cutting face of a circular
revolving cutter J turning on a vertical spindle, and operated by the handle j.
The cue is then bound in position by turning set screw I, and the cutter set in
action, when the cue will be quickly and neatly faced.
The grip action may be used for any purpose requiring suspending, hoisting, or
drawing, and easy release.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Frederick Hengst, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.