Improvements in Billiard Cues.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Billiard Cues.
I, HENRI VICTOR BEAUFILS, of Périgneux, in the Republic of France, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved mechanical billiard cue, which is more
particularly adapted for use with small billiard tables and is designed to permit
the players to remain seated and to avoid the necessity of displacing the billiard
table.
The invention consists in providing each end of the mechanical cue with a tip,
one of these tips being operated directly by a spring which actuates the cue and
the other by the reaction resulting from the expansion of the said spring.
To employ a very simple comparison, one of the tips may be taken to produce
an effect of the same kind as that of a projectile thrown by a fire-arm and the
other tip to produce an effect comparable to that resulting from the recoil of
the arm.
This improved cue permits of adjusting to any degree, as may be desired, the
intensity of the effect which it is intended to produce upon the balls by providing.
the possibility of utilizing the first tip for energetic strokes and the second for
less energetic strokes; the variations in the intensity for intermediate effects
being obtained by the holding the tip at a greater or less distance from the ball
at the moment of liberating the spring.
In carrying the invention into practice the improved cue is formed of a tubular
cylindrical body or casing of any convenient section which is closed at one
extremity by means of a stopper or plug and at its other end by a perforated cap.
designed to be freely traversed by a rod carrying one of the tips. The other tip
is provided at the end of a short rod secured to the stopper or plug at the closed
end of the casing the said rod being therefore integral with the casing. The
plug at one end of the casing and the cap at the other end thereof may be secured
to the extremities of the tube or casing, by screwing or in any other convenient
The rod is formed with a collar or cylindrical shoulder of such a
diameter as to enable it to slide freely within the tube or casing. On each side
of this collar there is a helical spring; the stronger one is arranged between the
shoulder and the plug, while the other spring, which is much weaker, is located
between the said shoulder and the cap at the opposite end of the tube. In the
said collar is formed a groove which corresponds to and fits a longitudinal rib
provided in the interior of the tube, the object being to guide the rod and to
prevent it from turning during its longitudinal movement.
manner.
A hole or cavity formed in the shoulder serves to receive a pin or stud provided
with a small helical spring disposed at the bottom of the hole and tending to expel
the pin or stud from its cavity. At the point in the tube corresponding to the
innermost limit of the stroke of the collar, there is formed an aperture which
affords a passage to the said spring-pin or stud and facing this aperture is a
button attached to the end of a spring fixed to the tube.

page_text: The manner of using the improved cue and its operation is as follows:
The cue, being in its normal condition, is held by its tubular part and the tip
is then pressed against any convenient stationary object. This causes the rod
to enter the interior of the tube by compressing the spring until the pin or stud
is opposite the aperture in the casing. The spring at the back of the stud then
presses the same forward into the said aperture and causes it to engage against
the inner portion of the button. In this manner the cue is cocked ready for use.
For causing the cue to strike, it is only necessary to press with the finger
upon the spring-button which latter then presses the stud inward until the rod
is released, whereupon the spring expands and projects the rod fitted with its tip
forward, whilst producing by reaction the recoil of the tube and tip secured
thereto, at the opposite end.
The front or weaker spring has for its object to gradually reduce the force of
the stroke.
According to whether it is desired to obtain a more or less energetic blow upon
the ball and thus to either increase or reduce the intensity of the effect, the blow
should be effected either by the main tip that is to say by direct stroke, or by
the tip at the opposite end and so act by the force of the recoil. By placing
the tip at a greater or less distance from the ball at the moment of striking it
will be easy, owing to the action of the counter spring, to alter the intensity of
the effect and even its nature.
I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact form, dimensions
or details of construction herein-described by way of an example as the device
may obviously be modified without departing from the nature of the invention.
Dated this 29th day of November 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
7.
Improvements in Billiard Cues.
I, HENRI VICTOR BEAUFILS, of Périgneux, in the Republic of France, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 an improved mechanical billiard cue, which is more
particularly adapted for use with small billiard tables and is designed to permit
the players to remain seated and to avoid the necessity of displacing the billiard
table.
The invention consists in providing each end of the mechanical cue with a tip,
one of these tips being operated directly by a spring which actuates the cue, and
the other by the reaction resulting from the expansion of the said spring.
To employ a very simple comparison, one of the tips may be taken to produce
an effect of the same kind as that of a projectile thrown by a fire-arm and the
other tip to produce an effect similar to that resulting from the recoil of the arm.
This improved cue permits of adjusting to any desired degree, the force of the
stroke intended to be given to the balls by providing means whereby the one tip
is utilized for energetic strokes and the other for less energetic strokes; the

page_text: variations in the intensity for intermediate effects being obtained by holding
the tip at a greater or less distance from the ball at the moment of liberating
the spring.
In order that my invention may be clearly and readily understood I will now
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the improved cue in its normal
position of rest.
Figure 2 is a similar view but cocked ready for striking.
Figure 3 is also a similar section indicating the extreme position the cue takes
immediately after its liberation, and
Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line A-B of Figure 2.
In carrying the invention into practice the improved cue is formed of a tubular
cylindrical body or casing a of any convenient section, which is closed at one
extremity by means of a stopper or plug and at its other end by a perforated
cape designed to be freely traversed by a rod d carrying one of the tips e. A
ferrule or rodo integral with the plug b, and consequently with the tube a, is
fitted with the other tip p. The plug 6 and the cap c may be secured to the
extremities of the tube or casing by screwing or in any other convenient manner.
The rod is formed with a collar or cylindrical shoulder f of such a diameter
as to enable it to slide freely within the tube or casing a. On each side of this
collar is provided two helical springs rs; the stronger one being arranged
between the shoulder f and the plug b, while the other spring s which is much
weaker, is located between the said shoulder f and the cap c at the opposite end
of the tube. In the said collar f is formed a groove which corresponds to,
and fits a longitudinal ribh provided in the interior of the tube a, the object
being to guide the rod and to prevent it from turning during its longitudinal
movement.
A hole or cavity formed in the shoulder f serves to receive a pin or stud i
provided with a small helical spring k disposed at the bottom of the hole and
tending to press the pin or stud i outwardly from its cavity. At the point in
the tube a corresponding to the innermost limit of the stroke of the collar
9 there
is formed an aperture which affords passage to the said spring-pin or stud,
and facing this aperture is a button m attached to the end of a blade spring n
fixed in the interior of the tube a.
The operation of my improved cue is as follows:
The cue, being in its normal condition as shown in Figure 1, is held by its
tubular part and the tip e is then pressed against any convenient stationary
object. This causes the rod d to enter the interior of the tube a by compressing
the spring until the pin or stud is opposite the aperture in the casing a.
The spring at the back of the stud then presses the same forward into said
aperture and causes it to engage against the inner portion of the button m.
In this manner the cue is cocked ready for use, as shown in Figure 2.
For causing the cue to strike it is only necessary to press with the finger upon
the spring-button m which latter then presses the stud i inward until the rod d
is released, whereupon the spring r expands and projects the rod d fitted with
its tip e forward, whilst at the same time, producing, by re-action, the recoil of
the tube a and tip ? secured thereto at the opposite end as shown at Figure 3.
The front or weaker spring s has for its object to gradually reduce the force
of the stroke.
According to whether it is desired to obtain a more or less energetic blow
upon the ball and thus to either increase or reduce the intensity of the effect, the
blow should be effected either by the main tip that is to say by direct stroke,
or by the tip at the opposite end and so act by the force of the recoil. By
placing the tip at a greater or less distance from the ball at the moment of
striking it will be easy, owing to the action, of the counter spring s, to alter the
intensity of the effect.
I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact form, dimensions

page_text: or details of construction hereindescribed by way of an example as the device
may obviously be modified without departing from the nature of the invention.
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. An improved mechanical cue furnished with a tip at both ends, one of
which is operated in a direct manner by the expansion of a spring, while the
other tip operates by the reaction resulting from the stroke substantially as
described.
2. In a mechanical cue the combination of a tube fitted at its rear with a tip,
a rod arranged partially in such tube and provided at its outer extremity with a
second tip, the said rod being connected with the tube by an intermediary
operating spring, a second or counter spring, and a catch, so arranged as to cause
the operating spring to simultaneously affect both tips, one in a direct manner
by the expansion of the spring, and the other by the recoil of the tube produced
by the reaction, while permitting the intensity of the stroke to be varied by
using the one or the other of the two tips at a greater or less distance from the
ball substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a mechanical cue the arrangement of a plug-ferrule furnished with a
tip, and secured to the rear of a mechanical cue, in which the action is obtained
by the projection of a rod provided with a tip, under the sudden expansion of an
operating spring, for the object of utilizing the recoil of the cue under said
expansion of the operating spring such cue being specially intended for use with
small billiards or the like so as to permit the player to remain seated without
displacing the billiard table substantially as described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of Avoust 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.