An Apparatus for Measuring the Distances Between Balls on Billiard Tables.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1892-Acceped, 1st Apr., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Measuring the Distances Between Balls on
Billiard Tables.
I, WILLIAM HUNTER MILLER of Beaufort Ville, Avenue Road, Torquay, in
the County of Devon 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 relates to the construction of an apparatus for readily and
accurately measuring the distance apart of balls upon a billiard table, and the
main object of the said apparatus is to measure the exact distance apart of two or
more balls in a game of pool, when a dispute arises in such game as to the next
ball to be played upon.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, which forms part of this Specification,
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a measuring apparatus, constructed in accordance with
my invention.
Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the line A A in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the line B B in Fig. 1, and,
Fig. 4 is a diagram shewing the mode of using the apparatus.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout all the figures.
C is a light tube, and D is a second light tube, or rod fitted to slide within the
said tube, so that the said two parts C and D form a light extensible telescopic
shaft. A thumbscrew E, entering a tapped hole in a socket F on the tube C,
bears against the inner tube D and thus fixes the said inner tube in position when
it has been extended to any required distance. Any other suitable gripping device
may however be employed to effect the above purpose.
The end of the tube C, opposite to that carrying the socket F, may be terminated
by a knob H, or by a ring, or other suitable device.
The outer end of the tube D is secured within a socket J, carrying on its outer
face a light square plate K.
Upon the tube C is a slidably adjustable socket L carrying a light rectangular
or square plate M.
The said socket may be fixed in position upon any part of the said tube by means
of a thumbscrew N, screwed into a tapped hole in the said socket and bearing
against the said tube, or by means of any other suitable gripping device.
The tube C is preferably made of metal, but the tube or rod D may be of
metal or wood. It is advantageous in practice to have these parts as light as
possible. The plates K and M are preferably made of wood.
The following is an example of the mode of using the apparatus.
Supposing in a game of pool, a dispute arises as to which ball, say red or green
is the nearer to the ball in play, say white, the plate K is placed against the white
ball P (Fig. 4) and the socket L is then slid along the tube C until the plate M
touches say the red ball Q. The said socket is then fixed in position by the
screw N, and the distance between the plates K and M accurately measures the
distance between the said balls.
The apparatus is next placed in line with the white and green balls, the plate K
being placed against the white ball as before and the plate M will then at
once shew whether the green ball is nearer or further from the white than the red
ball.
When the distance between the balls is considerable, as for instance when they
are at or near the opposite ends of the table, the tube D will require to be extended,
but for short distances this is not necessary. The length of the apparatus when

page_text: fully extended is sufficient to enable the plates K and M to measure the greatest
distance that can occur between any two balls on a table.
For the purpose of portability, the apparatus may be formed of three or more
tubes sliding within one another, each provided with a suitable gripping device, so
that when the apparatus is closed up, its length will be reduced to short
dimensions.
By means of my apparatus the exact distance between balls on a billiard table
can be readily and accurately measured, such measuring being plainly visible to
the players and others interested, and such measurement cannot be tampered with,
so that the use of the apparatus will prevent, or at once settle, all disputes as to
the distances between such balls as may require measurement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is :-
1. A shaft telescopically extensible as to length, means for fixing the parts of
said shaft relatively to each other, a plate attached to one end of said shaft, a
plate sliding on said shaft and means for fixing said sliding plate, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
2. A shaft, consisting of a tube C, and a tube or rod D, sliding in said tube C,
a socket F, a thumbscrew E in said socket fixing said tube or rod D relatively to
said tube C, a socket J on said tube or rod D carrying plate K, a socket L sliding
on said tube C and carrying a plate M, and a thumbscrew N fixing said socket,
on said tube C, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 16th day of December 1892.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.