Improvements in and relating to Billiard Cues.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
Improvements in and relating to Billiard Cues.
I, ALFRED EHRENZWEIG, of 15, Lutherstrasse, Leipzig-Lindenau, Germany,
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 :—
"
This invention refers to improvements in and relating to billiard cues and has
for object to provide an improved "tip" for the same.
Leather has usually been applied to the ends of billiard cues in the form of a
tip one side of which is flat and secured directly or indirectly to the end of the cue,
the other outer side of the tip being flat or slightly rounded off.
This tip has the disadvantage that the leather can easily be knocked off and
requires careful treatment and attention in the replacing of the same.
1
Apart from this, good leather is necessary if the cue is to be useful for playing
purposes. In order to remedy its disadvantages I use instead of a disc of leather
a, ball or sphere of the same material, or of rubber or other similar and suitable
substance which is secured by a ferrule or a socket at the end of the cue.
Such balls are in themselves elastic and naturally resilient. They are easy to
fit to the billiard cue, and when worn at one place they can be turned, and when
actually impaired by long use or worn out, they can easily be replaced by others
without requiring skilled labour.
Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings shew in section various modes of
securing the ball to the end of the cue.
According to Figure 1 the elastic ball K is held by a ferrule H which is attached
to the cue by means of a screw S. To prevent the moving of the ball when this
latter is not desired, the ferrule is provided with a point or spiked projection on
which the ball bears.
Figure 2 shews a form of the invention in which the ferrule consists of two
parts. The inner part H¹ is provided at its periphery with a screw thread and has
a cup-shaped depression which serves as a seat for the ball. By means of screw S
the ferrule is screwed to the cue Q. The outer ferrule H2 is arranged to be
screwed over the ball and the inner ferrule H¹.
On Figure 3, the end of the billiard cue is shewn provided with a screw which
on its outer periphery is fitted with a screw thread on which the ferrule H can be
screwed.
According to Figure 4, the ball K can be held in position by the direct screwing
of the ferrule H on to the cue Q. As will be seen this figure illustrates the simplest
form of the invention.
In this particular arrangement the ball rests directly on the cue-end and not
upon the head of a spike or a screw which latter may be liable to become loose.
In Figure 5 also the ball K. rests directly on the end of cue Q. The inner ferrule
is screwed externally towards its base, and is split longitudinally these ends being
held together and the whole secured to the cue by means of the internally screwed
ferrule H2.

page_text: To prevent any shifting of the inner ferrule H¹ the latter is provided with a
beading which fits into a corresponding groove in the cue.
The aforesaid modes
of fastening effect a firm connection between the cue and the leather or similar
ball so that there will be no rotation or slipping round of this sphere whilst using
the cue to play a stroke.
Any other suitable and convenient means for securing the socket to the billiard
cue may be employed.
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. A billiard cue characterised by the use of an elastic and revoluble ball (K)
which is the striking medium.
2. In billiard cues, a ferrule or socket adapted to be secured to the end of a cue
and provided with a leather or other elastic ball retained and rotatable within the
said socket, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In billiard cues, the combination with a socket or ferrule H capable of being
screwed or otherwise secured to the end of the cue, of a sphere K rotatable within
said socket and of means for attaching to the cue the socket holding the sphere,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this Eighth day of February 1898.