US751814A - Geokge w - Google Patents

Description

No. 751,814. PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904. G. W. SPEGHT 6: W. P. WET'ZLER.

BALL RACK.

APPLICATION nun APR. 14, 1903.

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N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented February 9, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. SPECHT AND WVILLIAM P. VYETZLER, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALL-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,814, dated February 9, 1904.

Application filed April 14, 1903. Serial No. 152,513. (No model.)

To all whom it nuay concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE WV. SPEoH'r and XVILLIAM P. WETZLER, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Racks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ball-racks such as are employed for the holding of billiard and pool balls; and the primary object of our invention is to construct a rack in such a manner that the balls may be instantly released from the rack when desired and will fall by gravity into a basket or other suitable receptacle to receive the same whereby to materially facilitate the replacing of the balls upon the table for another game.

Briefly described, our invention comprises a rack embodying a series of separate supporting-shelves, all of which are at an incline, the balls being adapted when placed on the shelves either from the front of the rack or from one side thereof to roll toward the lower end of the shelf or shelves and said end of the rack at the lowest end of the shelves being provided with openings to permit the balls to pass therethrough. The halls are held in the rack by means of a vertically-movable retainer-bar provided with a plurality of openings, one for each shelf in the rack, and when this retainerbar is elevated whereby to register openings therein with those in the side of the rack the balls are free to roll from their shelves into the receptacle to receive the same. A supporting-shelf is provided for the basket or other receptacle employed for receiving the balls, and we also preferably construct the rack with registering or tally means whereby to keep account of the games as they are played.

Our invention further consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a view of our improved rack, partly in central vertical section. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view thereof.

Our improved rack embodies a frame comprising a back or base 1, bottom board 2, top board 3, which latter may have asuitable ornamental piece 4 secured to the front edge thereof, a side strip 5, and a side strip 6. Secured to the side strips 5 and 6 and extending at an angle to the horizontal line are a plurality of shelves 7, which are preferably provided in their upper face with grooves 8 in order that the balls may be readily retained thereon. The insertion of the balls onto the shelves'of the rack may be either from the front of the rack, in which event the shelves will be placed a sufficient distance apart in order to permit the balls being placed on the respective shelves, or the balls may be entered through openings 9 in the side wall 5. The side wall 6 is provided with openings 10, one for each shelf, whereby the balls will roll by gravity from off the shelves when the retaining means for the balls is released. The retaining means comprises a verticallyreciprocatory retaining-bar 11, which operates through openings made therefor in extensions of the bottom board 2 and top board 3. This retaining-bar is provided with a plurality of openings 12, one for each space between the shelves, and when the retaining-bar is in position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the portion of material between each adjacent pair of openings is opposite the openings 10 in the wall 6, whereby the balls 1 1 lodge against this portion of the bar and are retained on their respective shelves. WVhen the bar is elevated whereby to register openings 12 with openings 10, the balls are free to roll from their shelves into the basket 15 or other suitable receiving-receptacle. -A shelf 16 is provided upon which the basket or other receptacle is supported, this shelf being suspended from the bottom board 2, and in order to limit the downward movement of the retaining-bar 11 we provide a stop 17 on the upper end of the bar and for convenience in operating the bar provide a handle 18 at its lower end. In construction of the case we also provide a box 19 to form a chute to guide the balls to the basket or other receptacle and provide the front of this box with openings 20, in which pegs may be inserted to indicate the number of games played.

It is believed that the operation of our device as above described when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings will be clear to those skilled in the art, and while we have shown and described the invention as the same is practiced by us, yet it will be noted that various slight changes may be made without departing from the general spirit of our invention.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination in a ball-rack with a back, top and base boards, inclined shelves'and side strips at each end of the rack having openings coinciding with the spaces between the shelves,

the top and base boards being extended beyond the side strip at one end of the rack and formed with openings in said extended portions, of a movable retaining-bar having a handle at its end and fitting and slidable in the openings in the top and base boards and beyond the extreme ends of the shelves, said bar being adapted to fall of its own weight and when in its lowest position having its openings out of alinement with the openings in the adjacent side strip, and a, stop on top of the bar. for maintaining said retaining-bar in lowered position whereby an unobstructed View of all the balls on said racks will be had and provision made for allowing the balls to roll out of the racks simultaneously by raising said bar substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. SPECHT. WILLIAM P. WETZLER.

Witnesses:

A. M. WILSON, E. E. POTTER.

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