Improvements relating to Billiard and like Tables.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1993-Accepted, 2nd. Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Billiard and like Tables.
I, EDWIN JOHN MERLET CLAPHAM, of Claramont, Cheshunt, in the County
of Hertford, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference to billiard and like tables and consists in providing
improved means for the ready delivery of such balls, after having been pocketed,
at that portion of the table most convenient to the player.
According to my invention I suitably affix under the bed of the table ducts
leading from the base of the pockets (which are bottomless) to a point, preferably
central, under the table. At this point, is a cup or equivalent receptacle which
is adapted to be raised, tilted, and lowered when required, by mechanical, electrical,
or other suitable means for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. At the position
where the said cup or receptacle is placed, but in a different plane to it when in
its normal position, are two ducts lending to either end of the table and
terminating in suitably shaped receivers. The ducts from the pockets decline
therefrom towards the central cup and those from the cup towards the ends of
the table.
The operation of my apparatus is as follows ;-)
-Upon a ball entering any of the
pockets it reaches and remains within the cup. The position of the cup is then
adjusted by the player or other person operating the apparatus by the means
above indicated, to the level of the receiving ducts and then tilted, at the discretion
of the operator, in a direction that, if either of the white balls are pocketed they
will travel to the receivor at the 'baulk' end of the table, and if the 'red' ball is
pocketed it travels to the receiver at the 'spot' end.
Dated this 30th day of January 1893.
A. F. SPOONER,
124, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Billiard and like Tables.
1, EDWIN JOHN MERLET CLAPHAM, of Claramont, Cheshunt, in the County
of Hertford, Gentleman, 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 has reference to billiard and like tables and consists in providing
improved means for the ready delivery of the balls after they have been pocketed
at that portion of the table most convenient to the player.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention and to which
reference is hereafter made,
Fig. 1 is a plan, and
Fig. 2, is a side elevation of a billiard table with my improvements attached
thereto.
Figs. 3 to 5 are plan, sectional elevation, and end view respectively of essential
parts of my invention drawn to an enlarged scale.
According to my invention I suitably affix under the bed A of the table,
ducts a leading from the base of the pockets aa" respectively (which are
bottomless) to a point 6 preferably central undor the table,
Price Rd1

page_text: When applying my invention to tables made for its attachment the ducts a², a',
a', and a may be carried through the legs o of the table as shown in Fig. 1.
In applying my invention to existing tables I may carry the ducts in a curved
direction. round such legs. The ducts slope from the pockets to the central point b.
At this point, but in a lower plane, is located a cup or equivalent receptacle B
pivotted as shown at d between two uprights e, e secured under the table. This
cup or receptacle is normally held in a horizontal position by the springs for
equivalent means but it is adapted to be tilted in either direction as shown by
the dotted lines in Fig. 4. This is effected by means of rods y, g' passing under
the table as shown and terminating in knobs or pushes h, h'. Springs or equivalent
means are provided serving to maintain the rods and pushes thrust outwardly.
Two ducts i, slope from each edge of the tilting cup or receptacle towards the
respective ends of the table and terminate in suitably shaped receivors k, k'.
The ducts may be either open or closed and may ha lined or padded with
suitable material to prevent damage to the balls and lessen or overcome noise
during their travel.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows;-Upon a ball entering any one of
the pockets it gravitates to, and remains rested upon, the cup or receptaclo B
till the latter is caused to tilt in the desired direction by the player or other
person operating the apparatus pushing one of the knobs h, h' thereby causing the
ball to travel at the discretion of the operator along either of the ducts i, i to
one of the receivers A, whichever is the more convenient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. In billiard and like tables the tilting cup or receptacle B operated by knobs
or pushes h, through the medium of rods 9, g' or their equivalents serving as
& means for delivering pocketed balls at either one or other end of the table
substantially as set forth.
3. In combination with billiard and like tables, ducts thereunder sloping from
the pockets to a central point and other ducts sloping from such central point to
each end of the table and terminating with receivers, together with means at such
central point for tilting the balls in either direction substantially as set forth.
Dated this 30th day of October 1893.
A. F. SPOONER,
124, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.