Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6312342
-
Patent Number
6,312,342
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, February 29, 200025 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 6, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Chapman; Jeanette
- Aryanpour; Mitra
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 473 40
- 473 41
- 473 FOR 40
- 473 FOR 41
- 206 3151
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A pocket pool or billiard rack that incorporates in its rearmost side outwardly and angularly extending lever portions that permit upward rotation of the billiard rack upon the application of downward pressure with the thumbs or other fingers prior to removal of the billiard rack from about the balls in the ball racking operation. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, cut outs or reliefs are provided in the interior walls of the billiard rack below the points of contact of the billiard rack with the balls to further facilitate the rotational removal of the billiard rack from about the balls.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to billiard racks for pool or billiard balls and more particularly to an improved such device that simplifies the racking operation while assuring a tight racking of the balls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the racking of pocket pool or billiard balls prior to the initiation of play, the balls are placed in a triangular rack, the head ball located on the appropriate spot, the balls forced toward the front of the rack with the fingers (generally the thumbs) and the rack vertically removed from about the balls. During the removal of the rack from about the balls, it is not uncommon that one or more portions of the rack contacts the balls causing the rack to “loosen”. The occurrence of such a condition requires that the balls be “reracked” until a tight i.e. all balls touching, rack is achieved.
The design of a rack that permits even the most inexperienced player to properly rack the balls without the possibility of “loosening” the rack in the process of removal of the billiard rack would be of significant benefit to the pool and billiard playing community.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pocket pool or billiard ball-billiard rack that allows even the most inexperienced player to properly rack the balls before the onset of play.
It is another object of the resent invention to provide a ball-billiard rack that rotates out or contact with the balls during the racking operation rather than requiring vertical removal of the rack from about the balls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a generally triangular billiard rack that incorporates in its rearmost side at least one outwardly and angularly extending lever portion that permits upward rotation of the billiard rack from contact with the balls upon the application of downward pressure with the thumbs or other fingers prior to removal of the billiard rack from about the balls in the ball racking operation. According to various preferred embodiments of the invention, a pair of lever portions are incorporated in the rearmost side, cut outs are provided in the interior walls of the billiard rack below the points of contact of the billiard rack with the balls to further facilitate the rotational removal of the billiard rack from about the balls and the lower portions of walls are cut away to further facilitate removal of the rack from about the balls.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a partially phantom top plan view of the billiard rack of the present invention oriented about the pool balls after the balls have been tightened in the billiard rack
FIG. 2
is a partially phantom top plan view of the billiard rack of the present invention oriented about the pool balls just prior to removal of the rack from about the balls.
FIG. 3
is a partially phantom side view of the billiard rack of the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a rear view of the billiard rack of the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a partially phantom side view of the billiard rack of the present invention in the rotated position preparatory to removal from the racking position.
FIG. 6
is a bottom plan view of the billiard rack of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The billiard rack of the present invention through the incorporation of outwardly extending angular lever portions in its rearmost side permits upward rotational removal thereof from about the periphery of pocket pool or billiard balls located therein for racking and location on the playing surface. This design permits even the most inexperienced player to properly rack the balls without accidentally striking one or more of the balls during vertical removal of the billiard rack from about the balls in the racking operation.
In the conventional racking operation, the balls are placed within the confines of the billiard rack, tightened against the front apex thereof by pressure with the fingers or thumbs against the rearmost balls, properly located on the playing surface, the rack moved backwards slightly to permit disengagement with the balls and the rack then lifted vertically from about the balls. The billiard rack of the present invention eliminates the vertical lifting of the rack and substitutes therefor a rotational removal of the rack from about the balls.
Referring now to
FIG. 1
that depicts the condition where the balls have been tightened against the front apex of the billiard rack, the billiard rack
10
of the present invention is generally triangularly shaped having two front sides
12
and
14
and a rear side
16
that contain balls
15
in the racking operation. This triangular shape is substantially the same as that of prior art such devices. However, front sides
12
and
14
and rear side
16
are preferably slightly longer than those of a conventional billiard rack since front sides
12
and
14
have angularly extending extremities
20
and
22
resulting in distance d (the distance between the tightened balls and rear side
16
) being preferably about ¾″ rather than ¼″ as is typically the case. The apex
18
of device
10
comprises the forwardmost portion of billiard rack
10
and the junction of front sides
12
and
14
. According to the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 1
, rear side
16
incorporates at its opposing extremities that form the junctions
21
and
23
of front sides
12
and
14
with rear side
16
, outwardly and angularly extending lever portions
24
and
26
that permit engagement with the fingers or thumbs. Upon the application of downward pressure on lever portions
24
and
26
, upward rotational removal of billiard rack
10
from about balls
15
as shown in FIG.
5
and described in greater detail hereinafter is obtained. It should be noted that a single partial or full width lever portion or multiple, i.e. greater than two such lever portions, may also be incorporated into rear side
16
to produce equivalent functional results. Such modifications are clearly anticipated as being within the scope of the instant invention.
As is readily discerned from
FIGS. 1 and 2
, in the embodiment depicted in these Figures, front sides
12
and
14
and rear side
16
, although defining a containment triangle for balls
15
, do not themselves literally form a triangle since extremities
20
and
22
of front sides
12
and
14
turn inward at an angle θ of 30° prior to their intersection or meeting with rear side
16
. In the embodiment depicted in these Figures, the points of intersection
21
and
23
are the edges of lever portions
24
and
26
. According to alternative embodiments not represented in the drawings, lever portions
24
and
26
could be located closer to the center of rear side
16
, and, accordingly, intersections
21
and
23
would occur with vertical portions of rear side
16
forming square right angles rather than the angularly displaced angles depicted in the drawing.
The angle of lever portions
24
and
26
is not of particular importance to the successful practice of the present invention so long as proper upward rotation of billiard rack
10
as described herein is achieved. An angle of about 50° has, however, been found to provide an optimum result.
Referring now to
FIG. 2
that depicts the situation where the balls have been properly located on playing surface
11
and billiard rack
10
pushed forward slightly in the direction of arrow
40
to allow disengagement of front sides
12
and
14
and apex
18
from about balls
15
, the advantage of the preferably slightly “oversized” dimensions of the preferred embodiment of billiard rack
10
can be observed. The additional space provided by the oversized condition permits easier, non-contacting removal of billiard rack
10
. In the condition depicted in
FIG. 2
, removal of billiard rack
10
is achieved by simply applying pressure with the thumbs or fingers to lever portions
24
and
26
causing billiard rack
10
to rotate upwards out of proximity with balls
15
as shown in FIG.
5
. As shown in
FIG. 4
, bottom surfaces
43
of lever portions
24
and
26
may incorporate reliefs or cutouts
48
and
50
to minimize the area of contact between bottom surfaces
44
and
46
and playing surface
11
. This makes rotation of billiard rack
10
about pivot point
47
as shown in
FIG. 5
easier, i.e. requiring the application of less pressure to achieve rotation.
Referring now to
FIG. 3
that depicts a right side view of billiard rack
10
, and
FIG. 4
that depicts a rear view of billiard rack
10
, the preferred configuration of front sides
12
and
14
(front side
14
being a mirror image of front side
12
) and rear side
16
and lower surface
42
of rear side
16
are best observed. As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
front sides
12
and
14
and rear side
16
preferably incorporate a cutout
17
. Cutouts
17
are provided by the simple removal of about the bottom one third of front sides
12
and
14
between apex
18
and extremities
20
and
22
and that portion of rear side
16
that does not include lever portions
24
and
26
. From a manufacturing standpoint, cutouts
17
reduce the amount of material required in billiard rack
10
. From a functional standpoint, cutout
17
minimizes the potential for contact of front sides
12
and
14
and rear side
16
with balls
15
during the rack removal process.
The shape of lower surface
42
may be varied widely to achieve the functional result described herein. For example the shape of lower surface
42
depicted in
FIG. 5
that provides a rapid transition between two flat surfaces at the bottom
43
and rear lower surface
45
provides one such configuration. In the alternative configuration depicted in
FIG. 3
a radiused transition
47
a
is provided between bottom
43
and relatively flat rear lower surface
45
. While either of these configurations is operative, the radiused configuration depicted in
FIG. 3
is preferred as providing a smoother transition in the rotating process.
According to another preferred embodiment best shown in
FIG. 6
, arcuate cutouts or reliefs
28
,
30
and
32
are provided in apex
18
and front sides
12
and
14
below the points of contact
34
,
36
and
38
where balls
15
a
,
15
b
and
15
c
contact apex
18
and front sides
12
and
14
. The utility of cutouts or reliefs
28
,
30
and
32
will be described more fully in connection with the rotational operation of billiard rack
10
hereinafter. Cutouts or reliefs
28
,
30
and
32
are shown in phantom in
FIGS. 1
,
2
,
3
, and
5
and are produced by removal of about one half of the thickness of the material in apex
18
and front sides
12
and
14
in the areas of reliefs
28
,
30
and
32
that lie just below contact points
34
,
36
and
38
.
As shown most clearly by a comparison of
FIGS. 1 and 2
, in use or operation, balls
15
are first placed into billiard rack
10
and tightened as shown in FIG.
1
and appropriately located at the proper spot on the playing surface
11
. In this configuration, balls
15
a
,
15
b
and
15
c
come into contact with contact points
34
,
36
and
38
. Billiard rack
10
is then slid forward in the direction of arrows
40
to disengage balls
15
with any contact with front sides
12
and
14
while not permitting contact with rear side
16
. Downward pressure is then applied with the thumbs or fingers to lever portions
24
and
26
causing billiard rack
10
to rotate upward about pivot point
47
as shown in FIG.
5
. Billiard rack
10
is then slid rearward away from the racked balls
15
or simply picked up as it rotates into the hands. Upon rotation by downward pressure on portions
24
and
26
, as shown in
FIG. 5
the incorporation of preferred cutouts or reliefs
28
,
30
and
32
and cutouts
17
minimizes the possibility of accidental contact of apex
18
or front walls
12
and
14
of billiard rack
10
with balls
15
a
,
15
b
and
15
c
during the upward rotation and subsequent removal of billiard rack
10
.
As the invention has been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same may be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Any and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A billiard rack defining a triangular ball containment area and comprising:A) a pair of front sides that meet at an apex and have extremities away from said apex, that extend at an angle of 30° toward; B) a rear side having left and right extremities joining said front sides at said front side extremities; and C) lever portions in said rear side which impart upward rotational movement to said billiard rack when downward pressure is applied thereto, and wherein, said front side extremities and said rear side have lower surfaces that define pivot points where said front side extremities and said rear side extremities join and said lever portions extends upwardly, outwardly and angularly from said rear side lower surface at or near the points where said rear side extremities and said front side extremities join.
- 2. The billiard rack of claim 1 further including cutouts along said lower surfaces of said front and rear sides.
- 3. The billiard rack of claim 2 wherein said cutouts comprise about one third of the height of said front and rear sides.
- 4. The billiard rack of claim 1 having contact points at said apex and on the interior of said front sides defined by the location of balls at the apexes of the triangle formed by contained balls that contact these points during tightening of the rack and further including reliefs in said apex and said front sides below said contact points.
- 5. The billiard rack of claim 4 wherein said reliefs comprise areas where said apex and said front sides are about one half of the thickness of said apex and said front sides.
US Referenced Citations (8)
