Patent Application
20230201701
The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to a billiard ball rack and more particularly to a foldable self-aligning billiard ball rack suitable for arranging billiard balls on a table.
Racks for positioning billiard balls on a pool or billiard table typically include fixed sides, and therefore, are bulky and difficult to store and carry from place to place.
This presents a challenge for some pool and billiard players, specifically, for serious pool and billiard players who like to use their own personal rack when competing in tournaments and other competitions. The size of a conventional three-sided billiard ball rack requires a considerable amount of room in a cue case, necessitating a cue case that is oversized and bulky. Furthermore, billiard ball racks that are designed to be foldable fail to provide the same level of support when arranging billiard balls as racks with fixed sides.
Accordingly, there is a need for billiard ball rack that can be easily stored and transported but that also provides adequate support for arranging billiard balls.
To address the foregoing problems, in whole or in part, and/or other problems that may have been observed by persons skilled in the art, the present disclosure provides compositions and methods as described by way of example as set forth below.
A foldable self-aligning billiard ball rack is provided, comprising:
In other embodiments, the pins comprise a first pin and a second pin, wherein:
In some embodiments, the hinge structure and the base arm are configured to pivot relative to each other about a central longitudinal axis of the first pin, and wherein the hinge structure and the side arm are configured to pivot relative to each other about a central longitudinal axis of the second pin.
In other embodiments, the billiard ball rack further comprises a third hinge structure pivotally coupled to the second end portion of one of the side arms, wherein the third hinge structure comprises a third pin configured to extend through the second elongated hole, and wherein the third hinge structure and the side arm are adapted to pivot relative to a central longitudinal axis of the third pin. In some embodiments, the side arm is configured to be removably coupled to the third hinge structure. In other embodiments, the second end portion of the side arm comprises a hook structure.
In other embodiments, the second end portion defines a step along an inner surface of the side arm adapted to contact billiard balls.
In further embodiments, the billiard ball rack is configured to be folded such that the base arm and the two side arms are arranged in a side-by-side arrangement while remaining interconnected, wherein the base arm abuts the two side arms, and wherein the folded billiard ball rack measures less than 15″ in length, 3″ in height, and 1″ in width.
In another embodiment, the billiard ball rack is configured such that the base arm and the side arms may be assembled into a substantially triangular configuration whereby the base arm and the side arms define a triangular shaped space therebetween for receiving billiard balls.
In another embodiment, the billiard ball rack is configured such that when the billiard rack is positioned with a set of billiard balls in the triangular shaped space and downward pressure is applied equally to the base arm and the side arms, the base arm and side arms of the billiard rack automatically adjust such that an angle subtended between any two adjacent arms of the base arm and the side arms is approximately 60 degrees.
In further embodiments, the inner surfaces of the side arms and the inner surface of the base arm are tapered at an angle relative to a top surface of the billiard ball rack, particularly wherein the angle of the taper ranges from 10 degrees to 90 degrees, and more particularly wherein the angle of the taper is about 62 degrees. In other embodiments, the inner surfaces of the side arms and the inner surface of the base arm comprise a planar, curved, cammed, concave, or convex surface, wherein the planar, curved, cammed, concave, or convex surface comprises paint, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), neoprene, plastic, or is bare.
In other embodiments, the base arm and side arms are configured to enable the racking of at least 3, 6, 10, or 15 billiard balls.
A method of racking billiard balls is also provided using any embodiment of billiard ball rack described herein, comprising:
Additional features of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Having thus described the subject matter of the present invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The subject matter of the present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the subject matter of the present invention are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The subject matter of the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the subject matter of the present invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the subject matter of the present invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the subject matter of the present invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
The presently disclosed invention relates to a foldable self-aligning billiard ball rack, comprising:
In other embodiments, the pins comprise a first pin and a second pin, wherein:
In other embodiments, the billiard ball rack further comprises a third hinge structure pivotally coupled to the second end portion of one of the side arms, wherein the third hinge structure comprises a third pin configured to extend through the second elongated hole, and wherein the third hinge structure and the side arm are adapted to pivot relative to a central longitudinal axis of the third pin. In some embodiments, the side arm is configured to be removably coupled to the third hinge structure. In other embodiments, the second end portion of the side arm comprises a hook structure. In other embodiments, the second end portion defines a step along an inner surface of the side arm adapted to contact billiard balls.
In further embodiments, the billiard ball rack is configured to be folded such that the base arm and the two side arms are arranged in a side-by-side arrangement while remaining interconnected, wherein the base arm abuts the two side arms, and wherein the folded billiard ball rack measures less than 15″ in length, 3″ in height, and 1″ in width.
In another embodiment, the billiard ball rack is configured such that the base arm and the side arms may be assembled into a substantially triangular configuration whereby the base arm and the side arms define a triangular shaped space therebetween for receiving billiard balls.
In another embodiment, the billiard ball rack is configured such that when the billiard rack is positioned with a set of billiard balls in the triangular shaped space and downward pressure is applied equally to the base arm and the side arms, the base arm and side arms of the billiard rack automatically adjust such that an angle subtended between any two adjacent arms of the base arm and the side arms is about or exactly 60 degrees. Referring now to
Similar to the base arm 102, the first side arm 104 includes a first end portion 134 defining a first pivot structure of the first side arm 104 and a second end portion 136 defining a second pivot structure of the first side arm 104. As shown, the first end portion 134 and the second end portion 136 defines steps 138, 140 along an inner surface 142 of the first side arm 104 adapted to contact the billiard balls 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the base arm 102 and the first side arm 104 are identical in structure and construction, and the first end portion 134 is pivotally coupled to the first end portion 120 of the first side arm 104 via the first hinge structure 110. The first end portion 134 of the first side arm 104 defines a first elongated hole 146 (best shown in
Similar to the first hinge structure 110, the second hinge structure 114 includes two link plates 152a, 152b and two pins 154a, 154b and is coupled to the second end portion 122 of the base arm 102 and a first end portion 162 of the second side arm 108. The second hinge structure 114 is identical to the first hinge structure 110, and a first pin 154a of the two pins 154a, 154b extends through the second through hole 132 of the base arm 102 to pivotally engage the second hinge structure 114 with the base arm 102. The base arm 102 and the second hinge structure 114 may pivot relative to each other about a central longitudinal axis of the first pin 154a. To pivotally engage the second hinge structure 114 with the second side arm 108, a second pin 154b of the two pins 154a, 154b extends through an elongated hole 160 (shown in
Additionally, the rack 100 includes a third hinge structure 116 identical to the first hinge structure 110 and is pivotally coupled to the second end portion 136 of the first side arm 104. As with the first hinge structure 110, the third hinge structure 116 includes two link plates 170a, 170b and two pins 172a, 172b joining the two link plates 170a, 170b together. To enable the pivotal coupling of the first side arm 104 with the third hinge structure 116, a first pin 172a of the two pins 172a, 172b of the third hinge structure 116 extends through a second elongated hole 174 (best shown in
Moreover, the second side arm 108 is removably coupled to the third hinge structure 116, and hence the first side arm 104. To facilitate the removable coupling of the second side arm 108 with the third hinge structure 116 (i.e., a second pin 172b of the two pins 172a, 172b of the third hinge structure 116), the second side arm 108 includes a hook structure 180 (best shown in
In the racking position, as shown in
In further embodiments, the inner surfaces of the side arms and the inner surface of the base arm are tapered at an angle relative to a top surface of the billiard ball rack, particularly wherein the angle of the taper ranges from about or exactly 10 degrees to about or exactly 90 degrees, and more particularly wherein the angle of the taper is about or exactly 62 degrees. In other embodiments, the inner surfaces of the side arms and the inner surface of the base arm comprise a planar, curved, cammed, concave, or convex surface, wherein the planar, curved, cammed, concave, or convex surface comprises paint, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), neoprene, plastic, or is bare.
Accordingly, to enable smooth positioning of the rack 100 around the billiard balls 200 in the racking position, inner surfaces 128, 142, 166 of each of the arms 102, 104, 108 that contacts the billiard balls 202 are tapered. For example, the inner surface 128 of the base arm 102, as shown in
Also, although the rack 100 is shown for arranging 8 balls, it may be appreciated the lengths of the arms 102, 104, 108 can be suitably selected for use with any number of balls 200, for example 3, 6, 10, 15 or more balls.
A method of racking billiard balls is also provided using any embodiment of billiard ball rack described herein, comprising:
Accordingly, to use the rack 100 for racking or arranging the balls 200 on a billiard table, a user may unfold the rack 100 from the compact storage position (i.e., folded position), and connects the first side arm 104 to the second side arm 108, by coupling the second side arm 108 with the third hinge structure 116. For so doing, the user may insert the second pin 172b of the third hinge structure 116 inside the groove 186 of the hook structure 180 of the second side arm 108. Subsequently, the user may shape the rack 100 into an approximate equilateral triangle. Further, the user aligns and positions the balls 200 together on the table in a substantially triangular shape in close proximity to each other. Thereafter, the user may position the rack 100 on top of the balls 200 and presses down the rack 100 gently to arrange the rack 100 into an equilateral triangle shape. When surrounding the outer edges of the billiard balls 200, the rack 100 will automatically adjust to an equilateral triangle forming 60 degrees angles at its vertices when pressure is applied equally to the top of all three arms 102, 104,108 of the rack 100 when the rack is positioned on top the billiard balls 200.
Further, the user may then slide the rack 100 with balls 200 positioned underneath the rack 100 to the desired position on the table. After positioning the balls 200 and the rack 100 at the desired position, the user may apply pressure on all the arms 102, 104, 108 simultaneously to press the rack 100 downwardly. As the downward pressure is applied to all three arms 102, 104, 108 of the rack 100 simultaneously, the billiard balls 200 are forced together and the outer-edge balls 200 are forced downward. In this manner, the rack 100 will align the balls 200 in the close formation. Also, the downward force on the balls 200 helps keep the balls 200 in position when the rack 100 is removed. Moreover, as the inner surfaces 128, 142, 166 of the arms 102, 104, 108 are inclined, the rack 100 is able to move downwardly in a smooth manner, keeping the balls 200 together.
Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in this application, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a subject” includes a plurality of subjects, unless the context clearly is to the contrary (e.g., a plurality of subjects), and so forth.
Throughout this specification and the claims, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and “comprising” are used in a non-exclusive sense, except where the context requires otherwise. Likewise, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items.
For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, sizes, dimensions, proportions, shapes, formulations, parameters, percentages, quantities, characteristics, and other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” even though the term “about” may not expressly appear with the value, amount, or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by the subject matter of the present invention. For example, the term “about,” when referring to a value can be meant to encompass variations of, in some embodiments ±100%, in some embodiments ±50%, in some embodiments ±20%, in some embodiments ±10%, in some embodiments ±5%, in some embodiments ±1%, in some embodiments ±0.5%, and in some embodiments ±0.1% from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate to perform the disclosed methods or employ the disclosed compositions.
Further, the term “about” when used in connection with one or more numbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to refer to all such numbers, including all numbers in a range and modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers, e.g., whole integers, including fractions thereof, subsumed within that range (for example, the recitation of 1 to 5 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, as well as fractions thereof, e.g., 1.5, 2.25, 3.75, 4.1, and the like) and any range within that range. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of those skilled in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent application, patent, and other reference was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. It will be understood that, although a number of patent applications, patents, and other references are referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents forms part of the common general knowledge in the art.
Although the foregoing subject matter has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.
