An Improvement connected with Billiard or such like Tables.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement connected with Billiard or such like Tables.
J, GEORGE CUMMINGS, Waterloo Road Blyth Northumberland Boot Dealer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention consists of a method or methods whereby the charge for persons
playing on a billiard table (or such like table) can be automatically collected, and the
duration of such game automatically terminated.
The invention can be carried out in the following manner-
A light frame of dimensions about the size of billiard chandeler, is suspended
horizontally over table, & capable of being moved up to level of lights, or down on
to table--in the first position allowing game to be played, & in the latter, by
stopping the balls from rolling, prohibiting game.
Fixed on wall of room is a simple piece of mechanism, enclosed in a case, with
a lever protruding & with a slot for admission of coin or coins. Proposed player
drops the required coin or coins into slot-presses down the lever & thereby raises
frame from table, turns up the gas, and winds up a clock placed inside the case.
When the duration of time allowed for the game has expired, the mechanism
automatically lowers the frame on to table & turns down the gas.
The mechanism can be arranged as follows-The coin dropped into slot unlocks
the lever & allows it to be moved. When the lever is moved it turns a drum on
which is wound a cord connected with frame suspended over table. When frame is
fully raised up the drum is held in place by a catch. The movement of lever also
winds up the clock. After the stated duration of game has expired, the weight of
the clock descending depresses the catch of drum, and releasing same allows the
frame to fall on to the table & thereby stops the play. The gas is raised or
lowered by the cord moving a small lever connected with the gas tap.
Dated this 14th day of May 1896.
GEO. CUMMINGS.
An Improvement connected with Billiard or such like Tables.
I, GEORGE CUMMINGS, of Waterloo Road, Blyth, in the County of Northumberland,
Boot Dealer 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 consists of a method or methods whereby the charge for the use of a
billiard table or the like table can be automatically collected and the duration of such
use automatically terminated.
The invention can be carried out in the following manner :-
A light frame of dimensions approximate to those of a billiard chandelier, is
suspended over table so that it can be moved up to the level of the lights (thus

page_text: allowing players to play on the table) or let down on to table, thereby stopping such
play.
Fixed on the wall of room is a simple piece of mechanism enclosed in a
case with a lever protruding, and with a slot for admission of coin or coins.
A proposed player drops the required coin or coins into the slot, presses down
or turns the lever and thereby raises the frame from the table and permits play
to commence; at the same time the action of lever turns up the gas (which has
been lowered) or otherwise causes the table to be lighted up and winds up a clock
which is set to go for a stated period.
When the time has expired the mechanism lowers the frame on to the table and
turns down the gas or light and the play is stopped.
The coin or coins cause
the lever to be unlocked so that the lever can be moved, and turns a drum on
which is wound a cord which passes from the frame up to and across the ceiling
and down the wall to the drum. The turning of the drum winds the cord
which lifts the frame and also turns up the gas or light by a simple arrangement.
The automatic mechanism can be very easily arranged.
The drum, when cord is fully wound up, is held by a catch. The motion of the
lever also winds up the clock. After the clock has gone the required time the
weight of the clock descending acts on the catch which holds the drum thus releasing
the same, and the frame thereupon descends on to the table and the gas or light is
turned down.
The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the general arrangement of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 shows the arrangement for turning down the lights.
Fig. 3 shows the locking arrangement when table is not in use.
Fig. 4 is an exterior view of the case or box containing the coin feed
apparatus.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the case with front removed and showing the coin
feed apparatus.
A, is the billiard or other table, B, a frame of wood or other material, preferably
made in the form of a cross, and counterbalanced by weight G hanging in some
convenient place D, is a crosshead or box containing a locking bolt or bar Jand
connected to frame B by rods (or other suitable ineans. E, is a lever fixed to
the supply cork on the gasalier F, or the switch of an electrolier, H, a guide rod
fixed to the ceiling on which crossheal D slides, J, is a locking lever which fall-
into a suitable recess in rod H when frame B is resting on the table A. K, box
or case fixed in a suitable position containing a coin feel apparatus.
handle for revolving the mechani-m in the box K. M stop piece for the handle.
N glass disc in the front of the case permitting the po-ition of the pointer Qof
the clock P to be seen. R pulley fixed on shaft or spindle 21 of lever L and
provided with a cord carrying a counterweight S for bringing the handle back
to its normal position. T is the slot in which coin is put. U the pocket on the lever
into which the coin drops. V balance lever moving on knife edges at 8. W is a
lever connected to lever V and pivoted at 10. X a cam fixed on the spindle 21 and
when in normal position pressing against pin 2 on lever W. Z is a collar fixed to
the spindle 21 and having a projection to catch against a pin Y in the palley or
drum 12. 11 is a cam fixed to the spindle 21. 4a pin on lever 4 which is pivoted
at 5, and connected to lever 17 of clock P. 12 pulley riding loose on spindle 21 and
carrying the cord 18 connected to the crosshead D) and so to the frame B. 13 is a
projection or catch piece on the rim of pulley 12 and engaging with lever 14.
16 lever pivoted at 22 and provided with catch pieces 15 and 23 for engaging with
levers 14 and 17 respectively. 17 is a weighted lever on the clock and actuating the
clock P. 6 is a tube for guiding the coins to the drawer 7. All the levers are
provided with stops when necessary to keep each of then from moving through too
large an angle. Surfaces that are subject to jerks are cushioned with india rubber or
other suitable material. A switch for an electric bell may rest in a notch in the rim

page_text: of pulley 12 and another in a notch in rim of pulley R. Directly either of these pulleys
begins to turn the switch is raised and the circuit completed thus causing the bell to
ring. and it will continue to ring until the notch comes round again to allow the
switch to fall and break circuit. The switches can be worked by any other simple
contrivance. These arrangements are not shown on the drawings.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-A coin being dropped into chute T fall-
into pocket U and the lever V drops to first dotted position where it is held by a check
spring not shown on the drawings. This raises the lever W with its pin 2 free of
cam X. The handle I can now be turned in the direction of the arrow until it
comes again against stop piece M when being let go, it will return to its normal
position by the action of the counter-weight S. During the turning of the handle 1.
the car will be revolved and lift the pin 2 further thus causing the lever V
to come into the second dotted or lowermost position and bringing the pocket U
opposite the opening permitting the coin to drop down chute 6 into the drawer 7.
Also during the turning of handle L the pulley 12 will be caused to revolve by the
rojection on collar Z pressing against pin Y thus first drawing the locking lever .J
at of notch in rod H by tightening the cord 18 then lifting the frame B from
the table A. When the frame B is near its top position the crosshead D striking
the lever E will turn up the lights. The projection 13 on pulley 12 will also
have heen brought into the position shown in dotted lines, and pressing against
one end of lever 14, the other end being held by the catch piece 15 on th
balanced lever 16. The weighted lever 17 on clock P will also have been liftel
to the dotted position thus winding up the clock. The handle L being let go after
turning goes back to its normal position and by a simple arrangement starts the
clock, both cams and the collar Z will also return to their normal positions, and
in the result the clock P is set going, the frame B is elevated and the lights are
turned full on. As the time passes, lever 17 moves towards its lowest position
until it depresses lever 16 thus pulling away the catch piece 15 from lever 14.
Directly 14 is released pulley 12 commences to revolve and lets down the frame B.
the lights are turned down by a spring acting on lever E, and the bell rings until
frame B rests on table A. Should anyone attempt to stop the frame descending the
bell will continue ringing and thus attract attention. The cord 18 is hidden from
view where it is within reach. The apparatus can be constructed for any
duration of time by varying the levers, or one or more sets of levers may be
added so that one machine inay control two or more different times for play on
paying corresponding sums of money.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a billiard table, or like table, of a device adapted to be
lowered thereon to hinder the use of such table, and mechanism in connection
with said device for locking the same irremovably and for replacing it auto-
matically at the expiration of a definite period after it has been unlocked and
removed.
2. The combination with the device claimed above, of a coin operated or coin
released mechanism adapted to unlock the devi 'e on receipt of predetermined coin
or coins and permit of its removal from the table.
3. The combination with a billiard table, or like table, of a frame adapted to be
lowered thereon to hinder the use of such table means for guiding the same and
locking it upon the table, a clock, a cord or the like connected to the locking detent
and to the frame, a drum and handle for winding said cord, and said clock, a coin
freed mechanism for enabling said drum to be operated to raise the frame and means
operated by the clock to cause the fall of the frame at the expiration of given time
substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with a billiard table or like table and the device for hin lering

page_text: use thereof as described, of means for causing the rise or removal of the device
to turn up or on the gas or other light to illuminate said table and for causing
the replacement of said device to turn down or off the said gas or other light.
Dated this 28th day of September 1896.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.