Reversible Inclined Plane Applied to the Billiard Table.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Reversible Inclined Plane Applied to the Billiard Table.
1, JAMES NEWMAN, 37 Jane Street Hetton Downs, R.S.O. in the County of
Durham, Miner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows: :-
This invention has for its object to provide means for facilitating the game of
billiards by causing the balls to gravitate to the player in balk, and by reverse
process to send the object ball home to be respotted.
In the accompanying drawings:.
-
Fig. 1. is a perspective view of table (with the top removed) embodying my
invention.
"
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same with home receptacle.
Fig. 3 is side elevation shewing lever and fulcrum bolt.
Fig. 4 is a circular bracket (to be fixed to the lever) supporting railway whereon.
balls may travel.
Fig. 5. is corner bracket (sufficiently open to admit balls from corner pocket).
The corner bracket supports the curve.
Fig. 6. is plan of corner bracket.
Fig. 7. is the friction guard.
Fb. marks fulerum bolt, g, guards, h, brackets fg: friction guard, and i, the lines
of which any number, not less than four may be used.
The plane is constructed as follows:-The railway encircles the table and works
from centre of side on a falorum bolt; when in use the plane is inclined towards
the player in balk; the ball falls through a bottomless pocket on to the railway and
gravitates to the receptacle. The object of friction guard is to fix the position of
the plane.
The plane is reversible:-1. To return object ball to the proper end of table to
be respotted. 2. To allow for balk end of table being changed.
Dated this 1st day of March 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Reversible Inclined Plane Applied to the Billiard Table.
1, JAMES NEWMAN of 37 Jane Street, Hetton Downs, R.S.O. in the County of
Durham, Miner 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 has for its object to provide means whereby the game of billiards
may be facilitated, by causing the balls 10 gravitate to the player in baulk, and by
reverse process to send the object ball home to be respotted.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1. is a perspective view of the table (with top removed) embodying my
invention

page_text: Fig. 2 is an end view of the same showing connecting bar and home receptacle.
Fig. 3. is side view of the same showing lever and fulcrum bolt.
Fig. 4. is circular bracket supporting the railway whereon the balls may travel.
Fig. 5 is a plan showing :-
i. Curvature of railway round the corner of the table.
ii. Brackets supporting the railway.
iii. Corner plate strengthening the joint of the rectangle.
iv. Ball in act of turning the curve.
Fig. 6. is a section showing fulcrum bolt.
Fig. 7. is a section of lever passing through the friction guards.
The plane is constructed as follows:-
It is a rectangular frame surrounding the table and consisting of two levers, a,
and two connecting bars, l.
The joint of the rectangle is strengthened by a corner plate, h.
The frame is fixed to the table by means of a fulcrum bolt, b, screwed to the side
of the table and passing through the centre of the lever.
The levers are maintained in position by means of guards, c & d, fixed to the side
of the table.
The guards, c, nearest the end of the table are friction guards.
Their purpose is to regulate the inclination of the plane.
These guards are fitted with thumb screws, k, by means of which the required
inclination of the plane is maintained.
Attached to the lever and connecting bar are circular brackets e. These
support the wires, which form the railway whereon the balls travel.
Two-thirds of the wire (diameter) must be embedded in the bracket thereby
preventing the tendency of the wire to start out of position.
The remaining third will ensure free passage for ball through the brackets.
Any number of wires (but not less than four) may be used.
On the two lower wires the ball travels. The remainder are guide wires which
must be continued in an unbroken line.
The guide wires may be slightly distended below the pockets to afford more space
(if required) for the ball falling from the pocket to wires.
The tension on the guide wires may be maintained by means of a ferrule with
right and left screw placed at each end above the home receptacle, g. and midway
along each side. An extra guide wire ought to be inserted where the railway
curves round the corner of the table. This may be continued entirely round the
table at discretion.
The travelling wires must necessarily terminate at both sides of the home
receptacle g. to allow the ball to come to a position of rest in the receptacle.
The wires should be composed of stout material and may be coated with
gutta percha or any such like substance so as to ensure smooth and silent
running.
The only noteworthy feature of the pockets is that they are bottomless to allow
the ball to fall on to the wires.
The home receptacle may be a larger pocket suspended by means of hooks from
terminating brackets and must hang sufficiently loose to admit of a hand being
inserted to withdraw the balls.
The utility of having the plane reversible and inclined is :-
1. To return the object ball to the proper end of table to be respotted.
2. To allow for the baulk end of the table being changed.
8. To increase the speed of the ball travelling from pocket to home
receptacle.
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 :-
Reversible, inclined plane, applied to the billiard table, providing means for

page_text: facilitating the game of billiards by causing the balls to gravitate to the player in
baulk, and by reverse process to send the object ball home to be respotted.
Dated this 28th day of November 1895,
JAMES NEWMAN,
Applicant.