US620026A

US620026A - Pool-table

Info

Publication number: US620026A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1899-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1916-02-21

Description

No. 620,026. Patented Feb. 2|, I899. D. A. FLETCHER.

POOL TABLE.

(Application filed Nov. 10, 1898.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 620,026. Patented Feb. 2|, I899. D. A. FLETCHER.

POOL T'ABLE.

(Applicati on filed Nov. 10, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Gui/1%. v:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL A. FLETCHER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

POOL-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,026, dated February 21, 1899. Application filed November 10, 1898. Serial No. 696,101. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL A. FLETCHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pool-Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pool-tables of the type havingan inclined surface with a number of pins thereon and a number of openings arranged at various points among said pins and into which a ball may roll when rolled upon the table and deflected in various directions by coming in contact with the said pins.

The object of the present invention is to make the game more interesting by improving the table to such an extent as to make it more difficult for the ball to enter the said openings and to provide means for preventing noise due to the movement of the balls in contact with the pins and their dropping through the openings in the table.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table having my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the table. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the under side of the table. Fig. 4 is an,enlarged view of a portion of the table surrounding one of the openings or traps. Fig. 5 is a section on the line m 00 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the under side of the table and one of the traps.

In the description similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The tableAhas two alleys B B, out of which the balls are impelled by the players similar to the manner of impelling a billiard-ball. O designates a ball which is rolled in such manner onto the table.

D designates a number of metallic pins projected from the table and 'incased in rubber tubes or other sound-deadening material. E designates circular openings in said table and of a diameter sufficient to permit a ball to fall therethrough should it roll onto any of the trap-doors F, which normally close said openings from the under side of the table. The openings E are of two diameters, as shown in Fig. 5, in order to let the trap-doors F enter them and move down and out of said openings when a ball rolls onto said traps. The smallest or top diameter F is filled up, as shown in Fig. 4, when the trap-door enters the opening, and the upper surface of said door lies on a plane with the upper surface of the table or as far as it can go. The larger diameter F admits of the door moving in an are when being lowered or opened under the weight of a ball or when being closed under the weight I.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the traps or doors each consist of a circular block the diameter of which is slightly smaller than the diameter F of the opening. Each of these circular blocks has a number or numbers indicating the number of points made by a player who causes a ball to enter such trap. The block F is fixed to an oblong piece H, which has a rubber teat H on its upper side that comes against the under side of the table when the trap-door is closed under the weight of the gravity-piece I. This prevents any noise. The weight I, attached to the arm I, is secured to the piece H and causes the trap-door to remain normally closed, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In order to obtain a proper entry of the doors F into the openings, it is necessary to connect the pieces H in a mannerto enable them to close in a parallel position with the table. This is done by providing a block J, which is the same thickness as the larger end of the piece H. The said block J is secured to the under side of the table, and the piece H is connected thereto by a hinge G. L designates pieces of sound-deadening material secured to the under side of the table. When the trap-doors are lowered by a ball rolling thereon, the weights I come in contact with these pieces L, and thereby all annoyingsound is obviated. The teats H deaden the sound when the said trap-doors are closed under the weights I, and the parts L deaden the sound when said traps are opened.

The pins D, as before stated, are inclosed in rubber, so as to prevent any noise due to "the balls coming in contact therewith. The

lower end of the table is provided with a series of pockets M, which are lined with sounddeadening material, as is also the top of the table, so that the rolling ball causes no annoyance that might be due to noise.

As before stated, each trap-door is numbered, a ball rolling in any of which or in any of the pockets M counts as many points as the value of the figures or numbers indicated.

I do not claim the game as my invention nor do I claim the general construction of the table; but

What I claim is- 1. In a table of the character described, the combination with the table A having a series of circular openings E the diameters of said openings being less near the upper surface of the table than elsewhere, of a series of trapdoors F conforming to the shapes of said openings, and of such diameters as to enable them to enter the smallest diameters of said openings and to lie flush with the top of the table, oblong shanks H extending from said doors F, projections on the lower side of the table to which said shanks are hinged and whereby said shanks are enabled to lie normally in a plane substantially parallel with the table so that the doors F may properly enter the openings, and gravity-Weights connected to said shanks at their hinged ends to norm ally maintain said doors in the openings, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a table of the character described, the table A having a series of pins projected there from and incased in sound-deadening material, a series of circular openings, the said openings being of two diameters, trap-doors normally closing said openings, said trapdoors each consisting of a circular piece and an oblong piece, a block fixed to the under side of the table and adjacent to the end of said oblong piece, and a hinge connection between said block and oblong piece whereby the said circular door may enter the opening in the table with its upper side flush with the upper side of said table, a gravity-weight on the hinged end of said oblong piece to main tain the said door normally in such position, and means for deadening the sound of the door when it opens and closes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL A. FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

BENJ. F. McOANN, E. J. FARRELL.