US732503A

US732503A - Register for pool-tables.

Info

Publication number: US732503A
Application number: US13272402A
Authority: US
Inventors: George C Beck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1902-11-25
Filing date: 1902-11-25
Publication date: 1903-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1920-06-30

Description

PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

G. C. BECK. REGISTER FOR POOL TABLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1902.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

LJ/fnesses PATENTED JUNE-3Q, 1908.

G. C. BECK. REGISTER FOR POOL TABLES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 25, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

R0 IODEL.

' UNITED STATES IPatented June 30, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

REGIS TERFOR POOL-TABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,503, dated dime 30, 1903.

Application filed November 25, 1902. Serial No.132,724. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. BECK, of Beavercreek, Rock county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Registers for Pool-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

In pool-rooms, particularly where a number of tables are used, the attendant has to be constantly on the alert to keep track of the number of games played at any one of the series of tables, and he must always be present when atable is in use or some unscrupulous person might deceive him in regard to the number of games to be charged to a table, and thus defraud the pool-room proprietor of his just revenue.

The object, therefore, of my invention is to provide means connected with a suitable registering mechanism and with the triangle used for setting the balls to prevent the use of the triangle until the game is charged to that table, and thus render the constant presence of the attendant unnecessary.

Other objects of the invention; will appear from the following detailed description.

The invention consists generally in an operating mechanism whereto the pool-table triangle is connected and suitable connections between said operating mechanism and a register whereby when the triangle is grasped by the attendant to set the balls on the table the register will be operated to charge a gamelto that table.

Further, the invention consists in a trip device provided in connection with said operating mechanism for withdrawing the triangle after it has been used to set the balls and the game has been charged.

Further, the invention consists in a register provided with a counter and a mechanism for operating the same and a trip device for releasing the counter to allow it to return to zero when a certain predetermined number of games have been registered.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the operating mechanism connected with a register and ready for use. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the same. -Fig. 4 is a section on the line w w of Fig. 3. m m of Fig. 2. V

In the drawings I have shown a registering mechanism that is preferably arranged near the cashiers desk to enable the cashier or an attendant to determine at a glance the number of games registered against one table and the total of all the games played. This registering mechanism forms the subjectmatter of a companion application herewith, and I do not, therefore, in this case illustrate and describe the same in detail, it being sufficient to state that there is a registering-counter for each table arranged within casings 2, that are so constructed that they can be fitted together or separated to. increase or decrease the size of the register, according to the number of tables used. Each casing is provided with a suitable peep-hole 3, through which the figures on the registering-counters are visible. A total-counter-wheel casing is provided having a door 26, provided with peep- Fig. 5 is a section on the line holes 25, through which the total-counter v wheels may be read.

39 represents keys provided on levers (not shown) that engage the table counter-Wheels and normally prevent backward movement thereof.

To operate the registering devices, I provide a mechanism consisting of a suitable frame 40, secured to a plate 41, that is supported on the wall or suspended near or over the table for which the mechanism is appropriated. 42 is a shaft mountedin bearings in the frame 40, and loosely mounted thereon is a drum or barrel 43, within which a fiat coil-spring 44 is arranged, having one end secured to said shaft and its other end to said drum. An arm 45 is provided on said shaft and normally secured to the frame 40 by any suitable means, as a machine-screw. Upon removing this screw and revolving the shaft 42 the tension of the spring may be increased or diminished. The drum has a hollow face 47 and a hub 48 of considerably less diameter, forming one section or portion of a differentia'l pulley, the other section beingthe drum. A cord 31 is attached to a counter-operating mechanism within the casing 2 and to the hub 48, and a similar oppositely-wound cord 49 is secured to the drum 43 and passes down through a hole 50 in said frame and is attached to a pool-table triangle 51 and supports the same. The cord 49 is made of such length that the triangle will be suspended upon the wall or over the table at a sufficient height so that it will not interfere with the players during the progress of the game, but can be easily grasped and drawn down by the attendant when it is desired to set the balls on the table.

In pulling down the triangle the drum will be revolved, unwinding the cord thereon and winding up the cord 31 on the hub to operate the register. I prefer to provide a spring 52 in the cord 31 between its hub and the register, so that the cord may be short enough to V insure the operation of the register when the through a hole 58 in the bottom of the frame triangle is drawn down, but at the same time through the yielding of the spring will permit the use of the triangle without danger of breaking the operating mechanism or the register.

The triangle is drawn down against the tension of the drum-spring, and as it is necessary that the triangle should lie on the table during the operation of arranging the balls without being held by the operator I prefer to provide means for locking the operating mechanism when the triangle has been drawn down a certain predetermined distance. This mechanism consists, preferably, of a gear 53, mounted in the frame 40 on a stud 54 and having a series of teeth to engage a pinion 55 on and has a forked lower end that after passing through guide-rings 59 on the cord49issecured to a spool 60. The latch 56 is held in the path of a pin 61 onthe gear 53 by means of aspring 62. WVhen the operator draws down the triangle, the gear 53 will be revolved one complete revolution and after passing the latch 56 will be locked thereby against backward mot'ement, and through the teeth of the gear 53 and the pinion 55 backward movement of the differential pulley will be prevented also until such time as the operator has arranged the balls on the table, when he willgrasp the spool 60, operate the trip mechanism to disengage the latch 56 from the pin 61, and allow the drum-spring to return the pulley to its normal position and wind up the cord 49 and unwind the cord 31 that was wound on the hub 48 or the other half of the difierential pulley when the operator drew down the triangle to operate the register.

The following is a brief description of the operation of my register: The registering devices, one for each table of which it is desired to keep a record of the games, are placed near the cashiers desk, and the cords leading therefrom are run to the operating mechanisms that support the triangles near the tables. Whenever two or more players desire to use a table, the attendant will pull down the triangle and operate the register for that table, and as soon asthe gear 53 has made a complete revolution the catch will lock the operating mechanism from returning to its normal position, and the operator can then place the triangle on the table and arrange the balls therein. As soon as the balls have been properly placed on the table the attendant will remove the triangle, operate the trip mechanism, and the drum-spring being released will wind up the cord 49 on the drum and release the registering mechanism, allowing it to return to its normal position. With each movement of the individual table-register counter the total-counter will be operated also, and when sixteen games have been played at one table the counter connected therewith will be returned to zero, as heretofore described,while the total of the games for all the tables will be indicated on the total-counters. If any less than sixteen games are played at one table, the cashier as soon as the table is surrendered will press on the key 89 and allow the counter to be returned byits spring to zero. In this way a complete accurate register is kept of all the games played at each table and the sum-total of all the games played at all the tables, and as the triangle cannot be used 1. In a pool-table register, the combination, I

with a registering mechanism, of a differential pulley, a pool-table triangle, cords connectingsaid pulley and said registering m echanism and triangle respectively, and a spring put under tension when the pulley is revolved in one direction to unwind the triangle-cord and operate the registering mechanism for returning the triangle to its normal position when the operation of registering the game and arranging the balls fora new game is completed.

2. In a pool-table register, the combination, with a registering mechanism, of a pulley, a spring connected therewith, cords connecting said pulley and said registering mechanism and triangle respectively, means for locking said pulley against the tension of said spring when the pulley has been revolved a certain predetermined number of times to allow the triangle to be placed on the table, and a trip device for releasing said locking mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In a pool-table register, the combination,

ITO

I with a registering mechanism, of a pulley arranged over or near a table, a cord secured thereon, a triangle attached to said cord, a spring within said pulley to keep the cord wound thereon, a hub provided on said pulley at one side thereof, and a cord secured to said hub and connected with said registering mechanism and arranged to be wound on said hub to operate said register when said pulleycord is unwound, substantially as described.

4. In a pool-table register, the combination, with a suitable frame arranged over a table, of a pulley mounted therein, cords oppositely wound on said pulley and connected respectively with the table-triangle and with a registering mechanism, means for locking said pulley when it has made a certain predetermined number of revolutions to unwind the triangle-cord and wind up the register-cord, a trip device for releasing said pulley, and a spring for returning said pulley to its normal position when released.

5. In a pool-table register, the com bination, with a suitable frame, of a pulley mounted therein, a cord wound upon said pulley and secured thereto, a table-triangle attached to said cord, a spring provided within said pulley to revolve the same and wind the cord thereon, a hub of less diameter provided at one side of said pulley, a cord secured thereto and oppositely wound thereon from said first-named cord, a gear driven by said pulley, a pin provided on said gear, a lockinglatch provided in the path of said pin and arranged to lock said gear and pulley with each revolution of the former and a cord connected with said latch for tripping the same to allow said spring to return said gear and pulley to their normal position.

6. In apool-table register, the combination,

. with a suitable frame arranged over or near the table, of a pulley mounted therein, a registering mechanism, a pool table triangle, cords connected respectively with said registering mechanism and with said triangle and oppositely wound upon said pulley, a spring arranged to be put under tension by the revolution of said pulley to unwind said trianglecord, a gear driven by said pulley, a locking device arranged to lock said pulley and gear with each revolution of the latter, and means for tripping said locking device to allow said spring to return said gear and pulley to their normal position.

7. In apool-table register, the combination, with a suitable frame, of a differential pulley mounted therein, a spring arranged to revolve said pulley in one direction, cords oppositely wound on said pulley and secured thereto, a registering mechanism connected with one of said cords, a spring provided in said cord between said register and pulley, a pool-table triangle connected with the other cord, a lockingmechanism operated by said pulley for locking the same when it has made a predetermined number of revolutions, and means for tripping said locking device to allow said spring to return said pulley to its normal position.

8. In apool-table register, the combination, with a suitable casing, of a counter-wheel mounted therein and provided with a series of ratchet-teeth on its periphery, a plate slidable in guides in said casing and having a hook to engage said teeth and move said counter forward, a dog carried by said plate, a bar having a slot to receive said dog, a second dog provided on said bar, atable-counter operated by said second dog, acord connected with said plate, a pool-table triangle, and an operating mechanism provided between said plate and said triangle for operating said counters when said triangle is drawn down to be placed upon the table to receive the balls.

9. An operating mechanism for pool-table registers, comprising a differential pulley, flexible connections provided between said pulley a suitable registering mechanism and the table-triangle, and a spring mechanism for returning the triangle, means for locking said pulley when said triangle has been drawn down to set the balls for a new game to its normal position when the operation of registering the game and arranging the balls for a new'game iscompleted.

10. The combination, with a suitable registering mechanism, of a differential pulley, flexible connections provided between said pulley and said registering mechanism and a pool-table triangle, respectively, and means for locking said pulley when said triangle is placed upon the table to arrange the balls for a new game, and means for revolving said pulley to unwind said register connection and wind up said triangle connection when the operation of registering a game and arranging the balls for a new game is completed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of November, 1902.

GEORGE O. BECK.

In presence of- RICHARD PAUL, M. O. NOONAN.