AU2017101194B4

AU2017101194B4 - Pool table with equilateral triangle hole of the playing surface with inset inbuilt auto or manual triangle platform that descends from the hole for racking of pool object balls and once racked ascends back up into the triangle hole

Info

Publication number: AU2017101194B4
Application number: AU2017101194A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Graham Steven Ginard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-08-30
Filing date: 2017-08-30
Publication date: 2017-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2025-08-30
Also published as: AU2017101194A4

Abstract

A pool table purposely made or converted with equilateral triangle hole of the playing surface at the foot end foot spot with inset inbuilt auto or manual triangle platform that descends down a triangle chamber from the triangle hole for racking of pool object balls and once racked ascends back into the triangle hole level and flush of the playing surface with racked object balls upon, via battery linear actuator stroke end adjoined to the base of the triangle platform activated by an descending press button and an ascending press button and manual turn handle screw jack in another version. INVENTED BY GRAHAM STEVEN GINARD.

Description

POOL TABLE WITH EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE HOLE OF THE PLAYING SURFACE WITH INSET INBUILT AUTO OR MANUAL TRIANGLE PLATFORM THAT DESCENDS FROM THE HOLE FOR RACKING OF POOL OBJECT BALLS AND ONCE RACKED ASCENDS BACK UP INTO THE TRIANGLE HOLE.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention allows for instant racking of the object balls to be racked automatically or in another version manually both versions save time and effort than the conventional way, and still allowing for the white cue ball return in both versions. Firstly and for both versions the pool table would look like a normal pool table from all sides and above and the playing surface maybe of slate bed, wood, acrylic, glass or other materials but has a triangle hoie through it, size of which equal to the inner perimeter of a equilateral rack triangle ( as associated to the size of pool table and object balls) the triangle hole has been precision cut out of its playing surface one would normally position a conventional racked triangle at the foot end, the triangle hole dimensions equal to that of the inner perimeter of a rack triangle. Affixed under the playing surface and aligned to the triangle holes perimeter is a triangle chamber in other words an extension of the triangle hole, the triangle chamber is open at the top end but has a base at its other end with a centred hole, this hole is large enough to allow for an linear actuator stroke length to go through it, the triangle chamber also has six outlet holes strategically placed about the triangle chamber these holes are a bit larger in diameter to that of a object ball, the outlet holes are each connected to its individual descending rail, the rails descend from the six pockets, a pocketed object ball would descend down its rail through its triangle chamber outlet hole and drop onto the triangle platform within the triangle chamber, the triangle platforms base rests with on the triangle chambers base and sit just below the outlet holes, (this triangle platform is part made up of the off cut from the cut out hole of the triangle hole of the playing surface but still retains its parent cloth upon it) the triangle platform has a slightly smaller perimeter to that of its confining triangle chamber, in the auto version the linear actuators stroke end is connected affixed and centred to the underside of the triangle platform, for in the descended position the exposed open outlet holes allows the queued up object balls to drop onto it and after all the object balls have been pocketed they form a triangle as racked and by pressing the ascending button activates the linear actuator stroke that ascends the triangle platform with racked object balls with on to enter into the playing surface triangle hole flush fitting and level to its surrounding playing surface, the sides of the triangle platform block off the triangle chambers outlet holes so the object balls don't drop out, so during and after the game the pocketed object balls will have queued up with on their individual descending rail, then one presses the descending button, this activates the linear actuator stroke to retract as to descend the triangle platform to the bottom of the triangle chamber, the queued up pocketed object balls drop onto the triangle platform racked and ready to ascend back up to the playing surface for the next game.

[0002] The manual version involves a turn handle at the head end of the pool table which one can turn clock wise or anti clockwise which turns a connecting rod that makes a screw jack ascend or descend the affixed upon triangle platform.

[0003] The white cue ball being slightly smaller in diameter but same density as its fellow object balls when pocketed travels down the same descending rail as its fellow object balls but very shortly along and before it picks up speed drops down through a slightly bigger diameter hole with in the rail but not large enough for a object ball to drop through, a object ball will just over ride it and carry on down the rail, the white cue ball drops onto a track that leads to and stops at an outlet that is found below the ascending and descending press buttons found at the head end of the table . Other methods envisaged such as light sensors as to detect the white cue ball thus to send it on a different path to that of the object balls, or the white cue ball having magnetic material and an iron plate about the descending rails as to attract and swerve the white cue ball to a different path to that of the object balls.

[0004] This invention is based on the object balls and white cue ball return type of pool tables and all sizes as found in domestic homes, pubs, clubs, hotels, hostels, airports and leisure facilities that may be coin operated or not, also for toy sized pool tables table top type with or without legs as to be found in toy shop outlets.

[0005] It is envisaged and still keeping with the spirit of the invention other modifications and changes, such as ascending and descending of the triangle platform by (IR) remote control or RF frequency by connecting appropriate circuitry controllers, relays and sensors to the outgoing wiring from the linear actuator. The inclusion of a transformer DC /AC mains electric all of which found in the domain.

BACKGROUND

[0006] It is found that after a game of pool one has to rack up the object balls so that the pool table is ready for the next game, it involves wasted time and effort to physically place the object balls from their collective outlet into the rack normally an equilateral triangle then to shuffle as to slide the triangle with contained object balls to the foot end and designated foot spot with on the table, when this is done one then judges by eyesight that the back rail of the triangle is parallel to the table rear cushion which can cause non precision in alignment. INVENTED BY GRAHAM STEVEN GINARD. POOL TABLE WITH EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE HOLE OF THE PLAYING SURFACE WITH INSET INBUILT AUTO OR MANUAL TRIANGLE PLATFORM THAT DESCENDS FROM THE HOLE FOR RACKING OF POOL OBJECT BALLS AND ONCE RACKED ASCENDS BACK UP INTO THE TRIANGLE HOLE.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a pool table, No 1 shows ascended triangle platform flush and level of its surrounding playing surface with racked object balls upon and in situ at the foot spot, No 2 shows press button as to ascend the triangle platform, No 3 shows return outlet for white cue ball, No 4 shows press button as to descend the triangle platform.

[0008] Fig 2 shows a perspective view of a pool table, No 5 shows a descended triangle platform with object balls entering onto the triangle platform through the triangle chambers outlet holes of the triangle chamber (refer to Fig 8 No's 26 27) [0009] Fig 3 shows a part perspective view of the head end of a pool table, No 6 shows the white cue ball at its returned outlet as to be taken out and placed back on the playing surface.

[0010] Fig 4 shows an open side(side panel removed) perspective view of a pool table, No 7 shows a descended triangle platform affixed to a battery linear actuator at its stroke end, and come to rest of the triangle chamber base but just below the triangle chamber outlet holes, the outlet holes previously been blocked by the triangle platform sides of the ascended triangle platform, see Fig 5 No 12, thus putting the pocketed object balls in a holding que with on their appropriate descending rails. Fig 4 No 8 shows wiring from the battery linear actuator leading to No 9 which houses the control /circuitry to the ascending/ descending press buttons, found at the head end above the white cue ball return outlet at No 10. No 11 shows 12v (re- chargeable) battery with connected wires from No 9.

[0011] Fig 6 shows a open side (side panel removed) perspective view of a pool table, this manual operated version shows at No 13 a screw jack with fixed triangle platform centred with on the end of the stroke riser/retractor, No's 14 and 15 show supports for connecting rod with screw thread turn handle at No 16, turn handle clockwise as to descend triangle platform, turn handle anti clockwise to ascend the triangle platform, see Fig 7 at No 17.

[0012] Fig 8 shows an Ariel x ray over view of playing surface revealing six pockets and descending object balls delivery rails to the outlet holes of the triangle chamber at No 28, No's 18 to 23 show pockets, No 24 a rail with a diameter hole that allows for the white cue ball to fall through as shown at No 25 onto the white ball descending track to the return outlet found at No 30 being the same white ball return routine as for the other pockets, No 26 shows descended triangle platform from triangle hole of the playing surface with six object balls upon it representing a object ball from each outlet, No 27 shows an example of 1 of the six outlet holes, No 29 shows a object ball over riding white cue ball hole as it is of a larger diameter heading towards the outlet hole (the other object balls have yet to be pocketed).

[0013] Fig 9 Shows an Ariel x ray over view of the playing surface No 32 shows ascended racked triangle platform level with playing surface.

[0014] Fig 10 shows the actual triangle platform a triangle base capped with the off cut from the triangle hole as at No 33 and covered with original cloth as of its parent playing surface cloth at No 32.

[0015] Fig 11 shows the flip side of Fig 10 No 34 shows a screwed on triangle metal or plastic plate with protruding hollow stem to the underside of triangle platform and at No 34 indicating one of three fixing screws, No 35 shows hollow stem with securing screw in wing nut as for the stem to accommodate and secure the end of a linear actuator stroke end. Fig 12 shows the triangle chamber and at No 36 shows perimeter lip with three holes at each apex as to affix by screws and as to secure the triangle chamber to the underside of the playing surface and in alignment to the perimeter of the surface triangle hole, No 37 shows one of six object balls outlet holes, No 38 shows hole that allows linear actuator stroke to freely go through it to allow adjoined triangle platform to ascend or descend with in the triangle chamber.

[0016] Fig 13 No 39 shows fully ascended triangle platform (adjoined extended linear actuator stroke not shown) and only the top area (see Fig 10 No 32) would enter into and flush level of the playing surface triangle hole as represented by No 40 and associated broken lines, No 41 shows one of six outlet holes that when in the ascended positon the sides of the triangle platform blocking out the outlet holes as represented by the chevron lines, as Fig 14 No 42 shows the descended triangle platform come to a halt as to be resting with on the base of the triangle chamber and sitting just below the outlet holes. ( adjoined retracted linear actuator stroke not shown). INVENTED BY GRAHAM STEVEN GINARD.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A pool table purposely made or converted with equilateral triangle hole of the playing surface at the foot end foot spot with inset inbuilt auto or manual triangle platform that descends down a triangle chamber from the triangle hole for racking of pool object balls and once racked ascends back up into the triangle hole level and flush of the playing surface with racked object balls upon, via battery linear actuator stroke end adjoined to the base of the triangle platform activated by an ascending press button and a descending press button and manual turn handle screw jack in another version.
2. As from claim 1 and for both auto or manual versions to have a precision cut triangle hole of the playing surface, the surface maybe of slate, wood, acrylic or other playing surface material, the hole being of the same inner perimeter of that of a pool object balls equilateral rack triangle as associated with the size of the pool table and object balls, the triangle hole located and positioned and parallel to the foot end rail cushion the correct spot for the position of racked object balls.
3. As from claim 1 for both versions auto or manual a triangle chamber screwed in by three screws to the underside of the pool tables playing surface aligned to the triangle hole, the triangle chamber is open ended but closed at its base end except for a centred hole, the hole diameter as to allow through it as in the auto version a battery operated linear actuator stroke end or in the manual version a screw jack stroke, the chamber having six outlet holes diameters being larger than the object balls, the outlet holes in alignment and each one facing and aligned to its nearest designated pocket, descending rails from each pocket lead to and affixed to their designated outlet hole.
4. As from claim 1 and claim 3 a metal or plastic triangle plate with centred hollow protruding stem with securing hole, the plate fixed to the underside of the triangle platform via 3 screws, the hollow stem to fit over and secured to the linear actuator stroke end by the screw and wing nut, and in the manual version to the screw jack stroke end.
5. As from claim 3 descending rails from each pocket with a diameter hole within each rail as to allow a cue ball that being slightly smaller than the object balls to exit and drop onto a track that leads to an outlet holding area found at the head end of the table, the object balls being larger in diameter would override the cue ball exit holes.