Improvements in Cushions for Billiard Tables, applicable also to Cushions for Bagatelle Boards, and for similar purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cushions for Billiard Tables, applicable also to
Cushions for Bagatelle Boards, and for similar purposes.
I WALTER FLEMING TELFER of No. 31 Holly Avenue in the City and
County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tobacco Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
" of
My invention of improvements in what are technically called "cushions
billiard and bagatelle tables consists in making the cushion elastic by means of
pneumatic pressure on the same principle as pneumatic tyres for bicycles are
constructed. And I use the elasticity due to the pressure of air in substitute for
or in addition to any elasticity which may exist in the material of the cushion
itself. That is to say I make a hollow and air tight cushion of india rubber or
other suitable material with or without canvas or other stiffening material and fitted
with valves and such attachments as may be required for the purpose, and I inflate
it with air; producing and maintaining within it such a degree of pneumatic
pressure as shall give the desired degree of recoil from the impact of the ball.
It is well known that in very cold weather unless the temperature of a billiard
room be artificially maintained to the required degree india rubber cushions become
somewhat hard so that occasionally hot water appliances are used to soften them.
And with changes of temperature some difference in the degree of recoil or of what
is called the quickness of the cushion is produced. Now I by my invention produce a
quick acting cushion at all ordinary temperatures. In order to produce at all times
uniform recoil I may construct my cushion with an escape valve loaded by spring
or otherwise so as to allow any surplus air to escape which might be forced in beyond
the desired standard pressure, by this arrangement a small supply of air may at
any time be introduced without perceptible difference in the degree of elasticity of
the cushion which may therefore be kept practically uniform for any length of time
and at all times of inflation. I construct the cushion of such form as to give when
inflated to the standard degree the desired form of cushion but I prefer to shape it
so that even if not inflated the cushions shall be available for play altho' not for
such scientific or careful play as when inflated. Instead of or in addition to the
escape valve before referred to I may use a pressure gauge attached so as to be in
communication with the compressed air within the cushion and thus to indicate the
amount of such pressure.
Mh 1901

page_text: Improvements in Cushions for Billiard Tables, applicable also to
Cushions for Bagatelle Boards, and for similar purposes.
I, WALTER FLEMING TELFER, of No. 31 Holly Avenue, in the City and
County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tobacco Manufacturer, 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 of improvements in what are technically called "cushions" of
billiard and bagatelle tables consists in making the cushion elastic by means of
pneumatic pressure on the same principle as pneumatic tyres for bicycles are
constructed. And I use the elasticity due to the pressure of air in substitute for
or in addition to any elasticity which may exist in the material of the cushion
itself. That is to say I make a hollow and air tight cushion of india rubber or
other suitable material with or without canvas or other stiffening material and
fitted with valves and such attachments as may be required for the purpose, and
I inflate it with air; producing and maintaining within it such a degree of pneumatic
pressure as shall give the desired degree of recoil from the impact of the ball.
It is well known that in very cold weather unless the temperature of a billiard
room be artificially maintained to the required degree india rubber cushions become
somewhat hard so that occasionally hot water appliances are used to soften them.
And with changes of temperature some difference in the degree of recoil or of
what is called the quickness of the cushion is produced. Now I by my invention
produce a quick acting cushion at all ordinary temperatures. In order to produce
at all times uniform recoil I may construct my cushion with an escape valve
loaded by spring or otherwise so as to allow any surplus air to escape which
might be forced in beyond the desired standard pressure, by this arrangement
a small supply of air may at any time be introduced without perceptible
difference in the degree of elasticity of the cushion which may therefore he kept
practically uniform for any length of time and at all times of inflation.
I construct the cushion of such form as to give when inflated to the standard
degree the desired form of cushion, but I prefer to shape it so that even if not
inflated the cushions shall be available for play altho' not for such scientific or
careful play as when inflated. Instead of or in addition to the escape valve before
referred to I may use a pressure gauge attached so as to be in communication with
the compressed air within the cushion and thus to indicate the amount of such
pressure.
In the drawing hereto attached in Fig. 1 A. B. C. D. E. and F. represent the
pneumatic cushions of a billiard table according to my invention. These cushions
are uniform in construction excepting in length. The dotted lines upon the table
represent small pipes of copper or other suitable material secured beneath the table.
These pipes communicate at one end with a charging box G. Fig. 1 to which all
the pipes are attached and at the other end with a coupling piece in communication
with the hollow inside of each cushion. I prefer to make the pipes very small in
fact of hollow drawn copper wire as there is practically almost no passage required
through them.
The pump I employ to fill the charging box, and so the cushions, may be such
as is used for inflating pneumatic tyres of bicycles or footballs. The pressure
gauge is of any ordinary construction excepting that I prefer to make its range as
to pressure very small and its range as to scale extended so as to indicate with
greater accuracy any slight variation of pressure. An escape valve to open at a
fixed pressure of any ordinary construction may be fixed on the charging box or in
any other convenient position.

page_text: I prefer to make the core of the cushions of peculiar shape such as I have shewn
in section in Fig. 2, so as to give elasticity due to the pressure of air as nearly as
possible at the point at which the impact of the ball falls. I do not confine myself
to the exact form shewn altho' I believe that form to be the best but I have
indicated the special form which I prefer to use in the carrying out of my
invention for the purpose of shewing its superiority over say a merely round tube
within an ordinary cushion.
The cushions may be constructed in various ways (that mere construction being
not a part of my invention) but I prefer that they should be constructed four alike
for the sides, and two alike for the ends; in a mould and with a solid core, held
securely in its place in regard to the mould, by a web fitting into the mould, which
web would leave an opening O. P. Fig. 2. through which the core could be
withdrawn when the mould is taken off. This opening would be afterwards
cemented up.
Fig. 3. represents the ends of the cushion according to my invention at a corner
pocket shewing how the core tapers away to nothing over the pocket.
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
1st. The construction of pneumatic billiard table cushions, similar substantially
to those described.
2nd. The use of a pressure gauge with or without an escape valve so as to
indicate and afford means to maintain uniformity of pressure.
3rd. The use of an escape valve with or without a pressure gauge to prevent
accident and for the purpose of securing uniformity of pressure in the cushions.
Dated this Twenty-first day of December 1894.
J. JAMESON,
Akenside Hill, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Agent for Applicant.