Improvements in the Construction of Billiard Tables
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Billiard Tables,
HENRY WALDER 13 Moorfields in the City of London Billiard Table
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
―:
This invention relates to the improved construction and method of covering
billiard cushions its object being to dispense with the groove and wedge and the
nailing on of the cloth and to facilitate the covering and recovering of the cushions
and to give solidity and durability to same.
The rubber block of an ordinary billiard table is glued and screwed to the cushion
frame a groove being left between them into which one end of the cloth is inserted
and wedged therein by means of a long strip (or strips) of wood and the other end
of the cloth is carried round the rubber block and nailed or tacked upon the bottom
or under side. The wedges are liable to shrink work loose and otherwise get
damaged and broken (each time the cushions are covered adding to the injury).
This not only produces a disagreeable hollow sound when the balls strike the cushion
but the framework not being rigid and solid the speed of the ball when it strikes the
cushion is thereby diminished.
The nails or tacks used to secure the cloth flay and in time injure the woodwork.
To obviate these defects I construct and cover my improved cushions as
follows: :-
In securing the rubber block, instead of making a groove between this and the
cushion frame, I make the back of the rubber block flat so that its entire width
rests against the cushion frame and having no groove I dispense with the long wedge
or wedges.
I cover the rubber block by stretching the cloth round same drawing the ends of
the cloth together or nearly together on the flat side of the rubber block by means
of a needle and thread or the like and thus by large open stitches the cloth is held
in position until the cushion frame and rubber block are fastened together with the
cloth between them.
The covered rubber block is drawn tightly as possible to the cushion frame by means
of screws passing through the latter and into the woodwork of the rubber block (the
stitched part of the cloth being between the two). The screws being well screwed
up, the cushion frame and rubber block are drawn firmly together jaming the cloth
between and making the whole one solid mass with no wedges between to shrink
break or work loose and with no tacks to injure the woodwork.
Should any part of the woodwork shrink or warp, by tightening the screws the
defect may be remedied, thus always keeping a rigid solid framework which is
desirable to give greater resistance so that the balls on striking the cushion rebound
freely and with as little loss of speed as possible.
Where the screws enter the woodwork of the rubber block metal nuts or threads
may be inserted to add to its durability.
By my method of construction the rubber block can be readily removed from the
table without taking off the cushion frame thus saving much time and the cushion is
also uncovered and re-covered with less labor there being no nails or tacks to remove
and replace as in those cushions constructed in the ordinary manner; further, by
dispensing with the nails the woodwork remains uninjured.
Dated this Tenth day of January 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Billiard Tables.
I HENRY WALDER Billiard Table Manufacturer of 13 Moorfields in the City
of London 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 the improved construction and method of covering
billiard cushions its object being to dispense with the groove and wedge and the
nailing on of the cloth and to facilitate the covering and re-covering of the cushions
and to give solidity and durability to same.
The rubber block of an ordinary billiard table is glued and screwed to the cushion
frame a groove being left between them into which one end of the cloth is inserted
and wedged therein by means of a long strip (or strips) of wood and the other end
of the cloth is carried round the rubber block and nailed or tacked upon the bottom
or under side.
The wedges are liable to shrink work loose and otherwise get damaged and
broken, each time the cushions are covered adding to the injury. This not only
produces a disagreeable hollow sound when the balls strike the cushion but the
framework not being rigid and solid the speed of the ball when it strikes the cushion
is diminished.
The nails or tacks used to secure the cloth flay and in time injure the woodwork.
To obviate these defects I construct and cover my improved cushions as
follows:-
:—
In securing the rubber block, instead of making a groove between this and the
cushion frame, I make the back of the rubber block flat so that its entire width
rests against the cushion frame and having no groove I dispense with the long wedge
or wedges.
I cover the rubber block by stretching the cloth round same drawing the ends of
the cloth together on the flat side of the rubber block by means of a needle and
thread or the like and thus by large open stitches the cloth is held in position until
the cushion frame and rubber block are fastened together with the cloth between
them.
The covered rubber block is drawn as tightly as possible to the cushion frame by
means of screws passing through the latter and into the woodwork of the rubber
block (the stitched part of the cloth being between the two). The screws being
well screwed up the cushion frame and rubber block are drawn firmly together
jaming the cloth between and making the whole one solid mass with no wedges
between to shrink break or work loose and with no tacks to injure the woodwork.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. I is a back view and Fig. II a cross section through a rubber block showing
a way of constructing and covering the same in accordance with my improved
method.
Fig. III is a cross section showing my improved method of fixing the above to a
cushion frame.
a is a rubber block. b is the woodwork of same. e is a cushion frame. d is
the slate bed of a billiard table.
To cover or re-cover the cushion a 6 (Fig. I II), after passing the cloth round
same I draw the ends tight at the back by means of open stitches ƒƒƒ.
To fix the rubber block to the cushion frame I pass bolts or screws g through the
cushion frame c into the nuts or threads h h let or fixed into the wood part 6 of the
cushion a band by means of screwing I draw the rubber block a band cushion
frame c together as tightly as possible securing the cloth between them and making
the whole one firm frame & block.
To recover or repair the rubber block I take out the screws or bolts g cut the
threads fff and the block is ready for recovering or repairing.

page_text: Although in practice this way of carrying out my invention answers well, I do
not confine myself to this one method, for instance, it is obvious that the bolts or
could be secured or fixed in the woodwork and after passing through
screws g,
cushion frame c (nuts h h h) could be used to screw on the ends and pull the rubber
block and cushion frame together. Also instead of stitches fffgummed paper or
any other suitable material could be used to hold the cloth in position temporarily
until the rubber block and cushion frame are pulled together to secure it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
I. In the covering of billiard cushions the combination of parts a bef substan-
tially as described and for the purpose specified.
II. In the construction of billiard cushions the combination of rubber block a b
nuts h h bolts g g cushion frame c clothe & fastenings ff substantially as illus-
trated and for the purpose specified & described.
III. The detachable rubber block a b for the purpose described.
1
ו:
1001
HENRY WALDER.