Improvements in Billiard-tables or the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: DI BOLTICATION.
Improvements in Billiard-tables or the like.
I JAMES FORMAN, of 67, Mill Road, New Brompton, Kent, 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:-
My invention relates to Improvements in Billiard-tables or the like, and has for
its object to provide means for conveying the balls employed in playing the games
of billiards, pyramids or the like, to the baulk or stroke ends of such tables, when
the balls have been sent into the pockets or under similar circumstances where it
is necessary that such balls should be returned to the baulk or stroke ends aforesaid.
And in order that the said invention may be the more readily understood, I have
shewn same upon the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, wherein :
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a billiard-table constructed according to my
invention,
Fig. 2 being an end view of same, and
Fig. 3 is an underside view, whilst
Fig. 4 is a view of a detail.
Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate similar parts
throughout the figures, I have there shewn a billiard-table similar in the main parts
of its construction to those heretofore in use, that is to say it comprises a bed a
supported upon legs or standards a', and having strengthening ribs or stays at such
bed being enclosed by cushions a² provided at each of the four corners and at a
point midway of the length of each side with a pocket a³.
Now as is well known during a game of billiards, for instance, when a ball is
propelled into a pocket, considerable time is lost, and inconvenience occasioned, by
one of the players or onlookers having to walk around the table to the pocket into
which the ball has been propelled, to remove the latter from such pocket, and to either
return it to the baulk or stroke end of the table or place it upon the "
my invention I provide a number of shoots or inclined paths B communicating from
spot." By
the pockets a³, with a receptacle b at the baulk end of the table.
These shoots or inclined paths B may take the form of tubes or they may be
trough-like, whichever is desirable, the ends being enlarged so as to fit around
the bottoms of the pockets a³ as shewn, whilst the said bottoms of the pockets are
open so as to allow a ball or balls that fall into such pockets, to drop through into
the enlarged ends or mouths of the shoots or inclined paths B, and so travel
along the latter until they reach the receptacle b, which is also preferably slightly
inclined towards the end so that the balls will roll thereto.
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. In billiard-tables or the like, the shoots or inclined paths communicating with
à receptacle beneath one end of the table, in combination with bottomless pockets,
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated.
2. The improvements in billiard-tables or the like, substantially as set forth and
shewn by the drawings.
Dated this 11th d...
In 1004
HUGHES & YOUNG,
12, Basinghall Street, London, Agents for the Applicant.