A New or Improved Instrument for Marking or Registering the Points Obtained in Playing the Game of Billiards and other Games.
Year: 1888

page_text: A New or Improved Instrument for Marking or Registering the
Points Obtained in Playing the Game of Billiards and other Games.
I FREDERICK GEORGE RUSSELL of No. 2 Holyrood Terrace Great Malvern in the
County of Worcester Jeweller and Watchmakor do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in constructing and arranging in the manner hereinafter
described the parts of an instrument for marking or registering the points obtained
in playing the game of billiards and other games.
The case of the instrument constituting my invention may vary in form so as to fit
the said instrument to be carried in the pocket like a watch or fitted to a billiard table
or mounted in a stand or otherwise mounted but the mechanism of the instrument is
in all cases the same or varies only in size.
I will describe my invention as constructed for carrying in the pocket like a watch
the case of the instrument having the shape of the case of a watch and pendant. The
dial or face of the instrument has two concentric circular series of numerals the one
Hands nearly resembling the
series indicating units and the other indicating tens.
hands of a watch have motion on spindles or arbors at the centre of the dial and
indicate the units and tens of the points obtained by performing motions similar to
those performed by the hands of a watch.
In the stem to which the pendant of the case is attached is an axial pusher forced
outwards by a spring. Each time this pusher is pressed upon the units finger moves
through one division (and the instrument having been previously set to zero) points
to and registers the numeral one. By a second pressing upon the pusher the unit.
finger moves to and rest at two and so on. The series of unit figures from 1 to 9
followed by 0 or zero extend around the dial near its inargin and the series of tehs
are within the unit series both series being concentric with the circular dial.
relative positions of the units and tens series may be inverted by slight change of
the mechanism.
The

page_text: When the pusher described is pressed upon its inner end which bears against one
of the teeth of a star wheel having ten teeth pushes the said star wheel round through
-one-tenth of a rotation. The said 'star wheel gears with a similar wheel the arbor of
which is at the centre of the dial and carries the unit finger. A pawl engages with
the last named wheel retains both wheels in position and prevents the backward motion
of the wheels. The first named star wheel is capable of motion in the line of its axis
by which motion it may be ungeared from the second star wheel. It is pressed to its
normal position that is into gearing with the second star wheel by a spring and when the
pressure of this spring is removed as herein after described the wheel is raised out of
its normal plane by a light spring bearing against its underside. Underneath the
central star wheel is a third star wheel on a tube working freely on the arbor of
the central star wheel. The first named star wheel has underneath it a radial finger
which on each rotation of the wheel engages with and moves the tens star wheel and
consequently the tens hand through one tenth of a rotation and registers ten on the
dial. On each of the central star wheels is a heart shaped cam lying flat on the said
wheels and the inclined ends of the long arms of two levers jointed to the edge of the
plate can be made to bear against each of the heart shaped cams. In the normal
position of the parts the said levers do not bear upon the said cams. At the edge of
the case is a slide or finger piece which when pressed upon operates the said levers
jointed to the plate and makes their inclined ends operate the said levers. The said
finger piece at the same time lifts the spring which presses the first star wheel into
the plane of the second star wheel thereby allowing the said first star wheel to pass
out of gear with the second or central star wheel. The said finger piece when
pressed upon also lifts the pawl from the teeth of the said second star wheel. The
inclined ends of the levers by their pressure on the heart shaped cams cause them to
turn until the said ends bear upon the flat sides of the said cams in which positions
the units and tens hands are brought to zero. On ceasing to press the finger picco
it is brought back to its normal position the first star wheel gears with the second or
central star wheel the pawl engages with the second star wheel the levers no
longer press upon the heart shaped cams and the instrument is ready for commencing
a fresh marking and registering.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that each time the pendant
pusher is pressed upon the unit hand is made to advance from one of the unit numerals
to the next higher on the dial. On the tenth pressure on the pusher the tens hand
registers one and so on. When it is wished to bring the hands to zero it is only
necessary to press the slide or finger piece when the bands on the dial return to
zero and a fresh marking or registering may commence.
Dated this Fighth day of March 1900

page_text: VR WE
**WLED
537 4433
A
AWA M
I FREDERICK GEORGE RUSSELL of No. 2 Holyrood Terrace Great Malvern in the
County of Worcester Jeweller and Watchmaker do hereby declare the nature of
my 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 consists in constructing and arranging in the manner hereinafter
described the parts of an instrument for marking, registering or scoring the points
obtained in playing the game of billiards and other games.
The case of the instrument constituting my invention may vary in form so as to fit
the said instrument to be carried in the pocket like a watch or fitted to a billiard
table or mounted in a stand or otherwise mounted but the mechanism of the instru-
ment is in all cases the same or varies only in size.
I will describe my invention as constructed for carrying in the pocket like a watch
the case of the instrument having the shape of the case of a watch and pendant. The
dial or face of the instrument has two concentric series of numerals, the one series
Hands nearly resembling the hands
of a watch have motion on spindles or arbors at the centre of the dial and indicate
the units and tens of the points obtained by performing motions similar to those
performed by the hands of a watch.
indicating units and the other indicating tens.
In the stem to which the pendant of the case is attached is an axial pusher forced
outwards by a spring. Each time this pusher is pressed upon the units finger moves
through one division (and the instrument having been previously set to zero) points
to and registers the numeral one. By a second pressing upon the pusher the unit
finger moves to and rests at two and so on. The series of unit figures from 1 to 9
followed by 0 or zero extend around the dial near its margin and the series of tens
are within the unit series both series being concentric with the circular dial. The
relative positions of the units and tens series may be inverted by slight change of
the mechanism.
When the pusher described is pressed upon its inner end which bears against one
of the teeth of a star wheel having ten teeth pushes the said star wheel round through
one tenth of a rotation. The said star wheel gears with a similar wheel the arbor of
which is at the centre of the dial and carries the unit finger. A pawl engaging with
the last named wheel retains both wheels in position and prevents the backward
motion of the wheels. The first named star wheel is capable of motion in the line of
its axis by which motion it may be ungeared from the second star wheel. It is
pressed to its normal position that is into gearing with the second star wheel by a
spring and when the pressure of the spring is removed as hereinafter described the
wheel is raised out of its normal plane by a light spring bearing against its underside.
Underneath the central star wheel is a third star wheel on a tube working freely on

page_text: the arbor of the central star wheel. The first named star wheel has underneath it a
radial finger which on each rotation of the wheel engages with and moves the tens
star wheel and consequently the tens hand through one tenth of a rotation and
-registers tens on the dial. On each of the central star wheels is a heart shaped cam
lying flat on the said wheels and the inclined ends of the long arms of two lovers
jointed to the edge of the plate can be made to bear against each of the heart shaped
cams. In the normal position of the parts the said levers do not bear upon the said
cams. At the edge of the case is a slide or finger piece which when pressed upon
operates the said levers jointed to the plate and makes their inclined ends operate tho
said cams.
The said finger piece at the same time lifts the spring which presses the
first star wheel into the plane of the second star wheel thereby allowing the said first
star wheel to pass out of goar with the second or central star wheel. The said finger
piece when pressed upon also lifts the pawl from the teeth of the said second star
wheel. The inclined ends of the levers by their pressure on the heart shaped cams
cause them to turn until the said ends bear upon the flat sides of the said cams in
which positions the units and tens hands are brought to zero.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents an external elevation of my
new or improved instrument for marking registering or scoring the points obtained
in playing the game of billiards and other games the said instrument being arranged
in a case resembling a watch case. Figures 2 and 3 represent back elevations of
the plate carrying portions of the mechanism, the case being represented in section:
Figure represents a front elevation of the plate carrying other portions of
the mechanism and Figure 5 represents a portion of the mechanism in the position
represented in Figure 3. In Figure 2 the parts are represented in their normal
positions and in Figure 3 the pusher slide is indicated in dotted lines in action and
the mechanism for releasing the star wheels and for returning the units finger to
zero is represented in its advanced position.
The several Figures are drawn to a large scale in order the better to exhibit the
"construction and action of my improvements but 1 do not limit myself to any particular
size of the instrument nor to arranging the mechanism in a case for the pocket as
hereinbefore pointed out.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the
Drawing.
a is the dial or face having two concentric circular series of numerals the outer
series indicating units and the inner series indicating tens is the finger traversing
the units series and c the finger traversing the tens series. The units finger b
of the instrument is carried on the arbor of the central star wheel & gearing with
the star wheel e excentric to the axis of the case. Each of the said star wheels d, e
has ten teeth. On the arbor of the central star wheel d is a tube or sleeve carrying
the tens finger c as well as the third star wheel (see Figure 4) situated at the
front of the plate under the dial. The star wheel has ten teeth like the wheels d
and e.
On the axis or arbor of the excentric star wheel e is a tooth or finger g by
means of which tooth or finger y the tens wheel (and the finger on it) is actuated
at each complete rotation of the said star wheel e so as to give rotation through a
tenth of a circle to the said wheelf and its tens finger c. By means of a pawl h
pressed into gear by the spring 2 engaging with the central star wheel d the back-
ward motion of the said wheel and the wheel e gearing with it is prevented. This
pawl is thrown out of gear at the proper times in the manner hereinafter described.
The star wheel e is capable of motion in the line of its axis for ungearing it from the
star wheel and the star wheel from the tooth g. The star wheel e turns in the
fixed plate and is held in its place by the spring plate k pressing upon its axis.
When the plate is lifted in the manner hereinafter described the star wheel e is
ungeared from the wheel d by the spring and the tooth g is at the same time
liberated from the star wheel f
I will now describe the parts by which the
pusher in the stem of the pendant. The inner
pusher slide having a toothed end or arm.
fingers b, c are actuated; m is an axial
end of the pusher m operates upon tho
The slot in the pusher slide m works

page_text: on a fixed pin n. The pusher slide m² besides its sliding motion is also capable of a
slight swinging motion on the pin n for the purpose of causing its toothed lower end
or arm to gear with and ungear itself from the teeth of the star wheel e. The return
motion of the pusher slide m² and pusher m is effected by the strong spring m³. When
the pusher m is pressed upon the pusher slide m³ descends and takes the position
indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3 and gearing with the star wheel e gives motion
to the central star wheel d carrying the units finger b; the said units finger is thereby
moved through one division of the outer series or units divisions of the dial Figure 1.
Thus, each time the pusher m is pressed upon the units finger b moves through one
division and points to and registers it on the dial. When the star wheel e has made
a complete rotation the tooth g on its axis acts upon and moves the tens star wheel f
(Figure 4) and consequently the tens finger c through one tenth of a rotation and
registers or scores ten on the tens series of divisions on the dial that is the said
finger c is moved through one of the divisions of the said tens series. In Figure 1 the
units finger bis represented at zero and the tens finger c registering or scoring twenty
on the tens series of the dial.
I will now describe the mechanism for releasing the star wheels and returning the
units finger and tens finger to zero.
On the central star wheel d carrying the units finger 6 is a heart shaped cam p
lying flat on the said wheel and on the other central star wheel carrying the tens
finger c is another heart shaped cam p². The heart shaped camp is operated upon to
turn the wheel d by the inclined end of the lever 7 (shown detached in Figure 5) and
the other heart shaped cam p² is operated upon to turn the wheelf by the inclined end
of the lever q² (see Figure 4). The lever q is returned to and maintained in its withdrawn
position by the coiled spring q3 and the lever 7 by the curved spring q. Parallel
with the lever is a second lever r the short upper arm of which operates upon the
lever and through the pin on the other lever q² (see Figure 4). At the edge of
the case is a slide or finger pieces which when pressed upon operates through the
inner piece représented the lever and takes it with the lever q into the positions
represented in Figure 3. The lever q is at the same time put into its acting position.
The lever besides operating the two levers 7q2 effects the withdrawal of the pawl h
for releasing the star wheel d and also effects the ungearing of the star wheel e from
the star wheel d and the star wheel from the tooth g. The withdrawal of the pawl h
when the lever is acted upon by the slide or finger piece s is effected by the action
of the arm on the said lever r upon the arm ³ on the pawl h as seen in Figure 3
and the ungearing of the star wheels is effected by the curved inner end of the longer
arm of the lover advancing under the spring plate k and lifting the latter by acting
on an inwardly projecting tongue on the said spring plate k. By the lifting of the
spring plate it is removed from the axis of the said wheel e and the said wheel e and
the tooth g upon it is moved in the line of its axis by the spring and the wheel e
thereby ungeared from the wheel d and the tooth g from the wheel f. The central
stars wheels d f being thus ungeared are free to be turned by the pressure of the
inclined ends of the levers 77 upon the heart shaped cams pp² on the said central
star wheels the said heart shaped cams being turned by the said levers until their ends
bear upon the flat sides of the said cams in which position the units and tens fingers
are brought to zero on the dial. On ceasing to press the finger piece s it is brought
back to its normal position and the star wheel e gears with the central star wheel d
the pawl h engages with the central star wheel d, the levers, 9 and q² no longer
press upon the heart shaped cams p p and the instrumont is ready for commencing a
fresh marking and registering.
From the foregoing description and reference to the accompanying Drawing it will
be understood that each time the pendant pusher m is pressed upon the units hand b
is made to advance from one of the unit numerals to the next higher one on the dial a.
On the tenth pressure on the pusher m the tens hand c registers or scores one and so
When it is wished to bring the hands to zero it is only necessary to press tho
slide or finger pieces when the hands on the dial return to zero and a fresh marking
registering or scoring may commence.
on.

page_text: Although I have only described and prefer to use star wheels arranged with reference
to decimal notation yet my improvements are equally applicable to duodecimal or
other system of notation by varying the number of teeth in the star wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declaro that I
claim as my invention of "A new or improved instrument for marking or registering
the points obtained in playing the game of billiards and other games
First The combination of the central star wheels d and f carrying the units and
tens fingers with the driving star wheel e and its finger or tooth by which the
units finger is moved through a tenth (or other desired portion) of a rotation at each
motion of the pusher and the tens finger is moved through a tenth (or other desired
portion) of a rotation at each complete rotation of the units finger substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly The construction and combination of the pusher and pusher slide for
operating the driving star wheel e of the mechanism as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly The combination of the heart shaped cams on the faces of the units and
tens star wheels with the levers q and g² for turning the said star wheels through tho
required angle to bring the units and tens fingers to zero substantially as herein before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly The combination with the levers q² of the nearly parallel lever operated
from a side slide or finger pieco for bringing the said levers into action and for
releasing the pawl lever and ungearing the units and tens star wheels from the driving
star wheel substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing.
Lastly The general arrangement or combination of the parts of an instrument for
marking registering or scoring the points obtained in playing the game of billiards
and other games hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Dated the 17th day of November 1888.
FREDERICK GEORGE RUSSELL.