AN IMPROVED BILLIARD REST
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Watson, of Inchalloch, Row, in the County of
Dumbarton, North Britain, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED BILLIARD
REST."
Scaled the 29th November 1878, and dated the 31st August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Watson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st August 1878.
THOMAS WATSON, of Inchalloch, Row, in the County of Dumbarton, North
Britain. "AN IMPROVED BILLIARD REST."
This Invention, which relates to an improved rest to be used in playing the game
of billiards, has for its object to enable the player to vary the height of the rest
above the table at times when the position of the ball to be played relatively with
any other ball on the table is such that it cannot be properly struck by the cue
with the stationary rest at present in use.
The Invention consists in so constructing the rest that by a slight turn of the
butt on which it is held the fore part of the rest may be elevated or depressed to the
required distance or height above the table for enabling the ball to be suitably
driven.
A rest constructed according to this Invention consists of two plates or frames,
one of which is attached to the butt in such manner that the butt may be turned
therein, the other plate or frame being moveable vertically in front of the former
plate or frame, so that by slightly rotating the butt the toothed wheel gearing with
the rack is also rotated, and the front plate or frame elevated or depressed to the
extent required.
In place of operating a toothed wheel directly, the butt may rotate by gearing a
vertical screw, moveable in a nut, and thereby raise or lower the moveable plate or

page_text: frame of the rest; or it may operate a wedge, which, according to its position,
regulates the height of the rest above the table.
In place of one plate or frame being placed in front of the other, the moveable
piece may be placed inside or partly inside the stationary part of the rest, in which
case the stationary part is of a hollow or box-like form.
The improved rest may be constructed of metal, wood, ivory, vulcanite, or of
other suitable material.
The essential feature of this Invention is a rest in which the part on which the
cue is supported is capable of being raised or lowered by a slight rotation of the
butt.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Watson in the Great, Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
February 1879.
THOMAS WATSON, of Inchalloch, Row, in the County of Dumbarton, North
Britain. "AN IMPROVED BILLIARD REST."
My said Invention relates to an improved rest to be used in playing the game of
billiards, which rest is so designed as to enable the player to vary the height thereof
above the table, and is especially intended for use at times when the position of the
ball to be played relatively with any other ball on the table is such that it cannot
be struck easily or surely by the cue when resting upon the stationary rests at
present employed.
The essential feature in the construction of my new or improved rest is that it is
formed of two principal parts with their necessary adjuncts, so that the part of the
rest upon which the cue is supported when playing a stroke is moveable vertically
in or on the other part of the rest, which is supported on the flat surface of the
table.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say-
Figure 1 is a front end elevation; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section with the
rest in its lowest position; and Figure 3 is a similar section shewing the rest in its.
highest position.
Figure 4 is a front view of the second or back plate, the front plate being
removed, and the rack which is thereon being shewn in section.
The rest consists of two parts or plates, a stationary one A, which, when the rest
is in use, bears upon the table, and of a moveable part B. The shaft or handle C of
the rest passes through the stationary plate A, terminating in a screwed pin a,
which passes to the front of the plate B, where a nut a¹ is screwed upon the said
pin. A bracket a supports the inner end of the handle C. The shaft or handle C
has fixed upon it, and between the two plates A and B, a pinion a², and a rack bis
formed on or attached to the front plate B, with which rack the pinion a² engages.
The plate B is secured to the plate A by screw nuts b' screwing upon the projecting
ends of the distance pieces b².
In order to elevate the plate B when the rest is in use, a motion of partial
rotation is given to the handle C, and consequently to the pinion a², whereby,
through the rack b, the front plate B is raised to the desired elevation, and, in
playing, the cue is rested upon the top of the said plate. By giving a motion of
partial rotation to the handle C in the other direction the plate B may be lowered.
In order to allow of the motion of the plate B, the distance pieces 62 and the
pin a at the end of the handle C pass through slots 63 in the said plate B. 6' are
guides for steadying the motion of the said plate.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a rest, shewing a mode of effecting the
movement of the plate B by means of an inclined plane.
The plate A is formed with a box-like or tubular piece a, and the end of the
handle C has upon it a socket piece C in which is formed a female screw to receive
the rapid screw d upon the end of the inclined piece D. The socket piece C has a
flange c, the handle C being secured to the plate A by means of a collar c' screwing
upon the piece a, and bearing against the flange c so that the handle is capable of
being rotated.
The front plate B is secured to the back plate A by distance pieces, and guides,
and nuts, as in the arrangement, Figures 1 to 4.

page_text: The raising of the front plate B is effected by turning or rotating the handle C
in one direction, whereby the screw nut in the socket piece C₁acting upon the
screw urges the inclined piece D outward into the position shown in dotted lines,;
and the said inclined piece, by bearing against the inclined cut-away part 6 of the
plate B, urges the said plate upward into the position indicated by the dotted
lines. The said plate B is lowered by rotating the handle in the reverse direction,
whereby the inclined piece D is withdrawn, and the plate B descends, its descent
being ensured by the spring e fixed at one end to the plate A, and bearing upon
the part b' of the plate B.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of an arrangement wherein the movement of
the front plate is effected by means of a bevel wheel f fixed upon the end of the
handle C, which is supported by the bracket a. The said wheel f, when the said
handle is rotated, transmits motion through the wheel to the screw g, secured in
lugs i, i, on the stationary plate A. A lug upon the plate B has a female screw
formed in it to run upon the screw g. The raised position of the plate B is indi-
cated by dotted lines.
I have shewn and described the best means with which I am at present acquainted
of carrying my Invention into effect, but I do not limit myself to these means; as it
will be evident that my said Invention is capable of being carried into effect in
other essentially similar ways, giving the same result.
The improved rest may be constructed of metal, wood, ivory, vulcanite, or of
other suitable material, or of such materials combined.
By reversing the rest, that is, by bringing the part with the hollows for the
cue uppermost, the rest can be used for side shots or strokes.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or,
may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that.
what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved
billiard rest hercin-before described, that is to say, a billiard rest so constructed that
its height or distance from the table may be varied essentially as set forth, and.
shown on the accompanying Drawings..
•
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Watson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.