Checking and Scoring Apparatus for Billiards.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1896-Accepted, 8th May, 1937
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Checking and Scoring Apparatus for Billiards.
I, JOHN GEORGE DIXON, of "Don Villa," Penistone, in the County of York,
Engineer, 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 :-
In my application for Letters Patent dated February 8th 1896 and numbered 2928,
I stated as the object of my invention that, as at the present time there was practically
no check upon billiard markers to ensure that the number of games played or the
amount of time for which a billiard table was in use, was accounted for to the
employer, I proposed in that invention to arrange such a check that if the table is not
in use the several pockets are obstructed and when the table is required for use the
pockets have to be released the action of such release indicating the time the release
took place by clock mechanism. Until the pockets were again obstructed the
indicating mechanism registered the table as in use and the marker had to account for
such time to the employer or proprietor of the table.
With my present invention I supplement my former invention above referred to
to the extent that in addition to indicating the time when the pockets are freed to
the time when they are again obstructed (that is to say, indicating practically the
whole of the time during which it may be assumed that the table is in use) a marking
apparatus is also provided which indicates the movements of the present scoring
rollers. These rollers are, for example, numbered up to 50, and the first turn of the
roller indicates, by electrical means, on the paper operated by the clockwork
mechanism that 50 had been marked, and the second turn of the roller in the same
direction indicates 100, a third turn would indicate 50 again and the fourth 100 again,
making for four turns of the roller a total score of 200.
It is of course understood that although I have referred to the roller as being
marked up to 50, yet it may be marked up to 20, 30, or any number that may be
considered suitable.
1 attach my invention to the mechanical marking or scoring apparatus as now
generally in use, which usually consists of a roller or its equivalent for indicating the
score of the plain ball player and a similar roller for indicating the score of the spot
ball player. I provide specially ruled and printed paper showing the hours, half hours,
and quarters, or other divisions of time, and having a column for showing when the
obstruction is removed from the pockets (i.e., when the table is brought into use), a
second column for indicating scores of 50 made by the players and a third column
for indicating scores of 100, the latter being provided on the assumption that games
are usually played up to 100. If a game of 50 is played, the first indication in the
50 column will denote the finish of the game.
Attached to the mechanical indicating rollers are projections or contact pieces, so
that when the roller is moved round indicating that the highest number on the
roller has been scored by a player electric contact is made and a current set up
through electro-magnets, indicating on the special index paper the time that such
50 or 100, as the case may be, is made.
The pockets of the table are normally obstructed and the act of removing the
obstruction sets up a current which indicates on the special paper connected to the

page_text: indicate by a special line on the paper during the whole time the obstructions are
free of the pockets. When the obstructions are placed over the pockets again the
time of such obstruction is also indicated.
In order that my said invention may be better understood and more readily carried
into effect I will describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a plan of a corner pocket.
Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section A-B of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan of the equivalent contact device for such tables as have no
pockets. The obstruction is placed in the corner and must be removed to play
the game.
Figure 5 is a section C-D of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a plan of the box containing the magnets, and clockwork and indicating
mechanism, showing indicating apparatus for two billiard tables.
Figure 7 is a side elevation partly in section of the instrument shown in Figure 6,
with the lower part added showing the roll of indicating paper in position.
Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the three magnets at the left hand side of
Figure 6, showing a complete machine for one table, the first magnet indicating the
time during which the table is in use, the second indicating scores of 50 and the
third scores of 100.
Figure 9 shows the pencil holder or other marking appliance for indicating the
time the table is in use, the 50 and the 100 scores.
Figure 10 shows a diagram of the magnets and wires from the table to the scoring
apparatus; and to the indicating apparatus.
Figure 11 shows a design for the paper for indicating the time during which
the table is in use and the 50 and 100 scores. It is of course understood that the
paper may be altered to suit special requirements. The divisions of time may be
increased or the design modified, the main idea being to indicate the time at which
the table is brought into use, the time during which it is in use and the time it
ceases to be used, together with the score of the first player who makes 50 and 100.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 show front and side view and plan respectively of the
electrical connections to the mechanical marking roller comprising the ordinary
billiard marker as now generally use:l.
The same numbers refer to the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.
1 is the corner pocket of the table, 2 is the cloth of the table, 3 is the table leg,
4 is the obstructing slide and 5 the case in which the said slide moves up and down;
6 is the thumb screw or handle by which 4 is operated, 7 is a spring normally out
of contact with the terminal 8 and normally in contact with the terminal 9; the
terminals 8 and 9 are insulated from cach other. The obstructing slide carrier 5 is
screwed to the leg of the table, as shown in Figure 2. 10 is a billiard ball. 11 is
the handle of the obstructing arm shown in plan Figure 4 for tables that are not
provided with porkets. 12 and 13 are the contact springs for setting up the electric
current to indicate the time the table is in use, the action being similar to that with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3. 14 (Fig. 6) is the plate to which the magnets are
attached, 15 is the electro-magnet for indicating when the table is brought into use
and when it is put out of use, 16 is the electro-magnet for indicating the scores
of 50, and 17 is the electro-magnet for indicating scores of 100. 18 is the
projecting core of the electro-magnet 15, 19 the projecting core of the electro-
magnet 16, and 20 the projecting core of the electro-magnet 17. 21 is the armature
of magnet 15, fulcrumed at 22, the end 23 forming the pencil carrier for indicating
on the paper when the table is brought into use; 24 is a projecting arm from which
a spring 25 is connected to the armature 21; 26 is the armature of electro-magnet 16,
fulcrumed at 27, 28 is the pencil carrier at the end of the armature 26, 29 is the
projection connecting the spring 30 to the armature 26; 31 is the armature of
the electro-magnet 17, fulcrumed at 32; 33 is the pencil carrier at the end of the
armature 31, 34 is the projection connecting the spring 35 to the armature 31.

page_text: 36 is the paper in position under the three pencil carriers 23, 28 and 33, passing
over the roller or barrel 37; the said roller or barrel 37 is operated by a cog-
wheel 38 which is geared to a cog-wheel 39 connected to and operated by clockwork
mechanism. 40 (Figs. 7 & 9) is the pencil or other point for marking on the paper
with a suitable weight 41 for ensuring that the pencil point is kept in contact with
the paper. 42 (Figs. 6 & 7) are rollers for keeping the paper flat on the barrel
rendering the marking hy the pencil easier. 43, 44 are the standards or supports
supporting the magnets and indicating apparatus. 45 (Fig. 10), is the table. 46 is.
the battery from the copper end of which a current flows along wirs 47 through
electro-magnet 15, through wire 48 to contact 50 (similar to 8 in Figure 2), along
wire 51 to contact 52, through wire 53, contact 54, wire 55, contact 56, wire 57,
contact 58, wire 59, contact 60, wire 61, to the zinc end 62 of the battery 46. The
result of this is that the armature 21 has been attracted to the electro-magnet 15,..
the pencil moved out of the normal line in which it is marking and making a
line parallel to the normal line indicating that the table is in use. As long as the
table is in use the armature 21 is in the position shown in Figure 10, and the
apparatus is indicating a line distinct from the normal line. 63, 64, diagram
Figure 10, are the two ordinary mechanical rollers for marking for the spot and
plain ball players respectively. In order, however, to show the wire connections two
end views of each of the rollers are shown. The rollers 63 and 64 may be used
by either the spot ball player or the plain ball player, but when a score of 50 is made
by either of the players the particular roller allocated to spot or plain (whichever
makes the score first) is moved and in moving it the pin 66 makes contact with
springs 69 which completes a circuit from battery 46 along wire 47, through
magnet 16, along wire 73, through springs 69, through wire 74 and back to the
battery, which action operates the armature 26 making a straight line at right angles
to the ordinary marking of the pencil by the clock mechanism. Should the other
player score 50 before the first player who has scored 50 scores 100, the same action
is set up in regard to roller 64 and a second score of 50 is indicated in the column
for scores of 50. When the first player scores 100 the mechanical roller or marker
on which his score is marked is moved a second time to indicate 100 and that
movement brings into operation a pin 65 which coming in contact with springs 70.
completes a circuit starting at the copper end of the battery, through the wire 47,
magnet 17, wire 75, springs 70, wire 74, back to the battery. The current thus set
up attracts the armature 31 and the pencil at the end of the armature makes a
straight line in the "100" column of the paper, similar to that in the "5" column,
indicating that 100 has been made. In the case of the second roller 64, the
pins 67 and 68 operating respectively on the springs 72 and 71 act in precisely the
same manner as described with reference to roller 63, and in the case of scoring
50 when the roller is turned to mark such score a circuit is completed through
wires 47, magnet 16, wire 73, springs 71, wire 74 back to the battery 46. For a score
of 100 the pin 67 forins contact with springs 72 and makes a circuit through wire 47,
magnet 17, wire 75, springs 72, wire 74, back to the battery.
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. The combination of parts indicating when obstructions have been removed from
the pockets of a billiard table and also when the pockets are again obstructed, with
the method described of indicating the time when the rollers are moved to indicate
scores of 50 or 100 or any predetermined number, substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. In marking or scoring apparatus for billiards means by which on revolving the
indicating roller or its equivalent the time is indicated on moving paper at which
the 50 and 100 scores, or any predetermined figures, are made, substantially as
described and illustrated.

page_text: 3. The combination of clockwork and electrical mechanism substantially as
described and illustrated for indicating the scores made at the game of billiards.
Dated this 14th day of May 1896.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 & 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.