GB2132097A - Feed channels in pool tables - Google Patents

Abstract

Internal feed channels of a coin- freed pool table include a main feed channel 1 which connects with the racking arrangement 30 and further feed channels 2 between the pockets and the main feed channel. The main feed channel has a base and side walls. The base has a central recess 19 which defines rails 20,21, along which the balls can run, while the side walls have platforms 22, on which channels 2 sit, and stops 23 which slowdown movement of balls along the channel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Feed channels in pool tables The present invention relates to a games table hereinafter referred to as a games table of the kind defined, which may be used for playing pool, and which comprises: a floor-standing housing supporting a playing surface, pockets at the periphery of said surface, a ball outlet at a side of the housing, a racking arrangement within the housing comprising a ball storage rack and a ball separator for separating a cue ball from object balls, and channels within the housing between said pockets, said outlet and said racking arrangement.

Pool tables are frequently installed in public places and their operation controlled by a coin-operated mechanism. The table must provide for the return of the cue ball throughout the game but the trapping of the object balls after they are pocketed. To this end feed channels lead from the pockets disposed around the periphery of the table to a central collection point where provision is made for the retention of the object balls and, until the game is over, the return of the cue ball.

Because of the use to which such tables are subjected, it has been found that dirt builds up in the feed channels, and foreign objects are sometimes deposited therein which either adversely affects the rolling motion of the balls or partially or completely obstructs their passage. This problem can be obviated by regular service and cleaning but such service and cleaning is difficult and expensive and does not overcome the problems caused by removing the table from use whilst this is attended to.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a games table of the kind defined wherein said channels include a main feed channel having an outlet end in communication with said ball separator and further feed channels extending between said pockets and said main feed channel, said main feed channel comprising a structure having a base and side walls, said base having a recess therealong whereby longitudinal edges of said base bounding said recess define rails along which said balls can roll.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows an end perspective view of a central feed channel and ball racking arrangement for a games table according to the invention such as is shown in Figure 7; Figure 2 shows a perspective view from the front and side of part of the racking arrangement of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side elevational view of the rack of the racking arrangement of Figure 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a ball collection pocket and feed channel; Figure 6 shows a section along the line B-B of Figure 1; and Figure 7 shows one form of a games table according to the invention.

The games table of Figure 7 is generally conventional and comprises a floor-standing cabinet or housing 40 having a top surface 41 defined by a sheet of slate with a green baize covering. The top surface is bounded by cushions 42 containing six ball collection pockets 43. The housing has a ball outlet 44 in one side wall and a coin mechanism 45 in a further side wall. These pockets 43 comprise boots moulded from synthetic plastics material and are connected to a central connection feed channel 1 by means of respective channels 2 (see Figure 5). Each channel 2 comprises sections composed of four rods 3 extending between pairs of rod supports 4. -The rods 3, which are either zinc plated or synthetic plastics material coated steel, are arranged so that the lowermost one provides a base for a ball running in the channel and the outermost ones provide lateral support for the ball.The upper rod prevents the ball jumping out of the channels. Each rod support is a moulding of synthetic plastics material.

The moulding is of generally annular form and defines four equi-distantly spaced recesses 5 and a spigot 6 on its base. In assembly the channel rods are clipped into the recesses 5 and then the spigots are plugged into complementary locating recesses.

Complementary locating recesses are referenced 7 in the central channel 1 (see Figure 1) and the end of each feed channel 2 remote from the boot (referenced 8 in Figure 5) is fixed to the central channel by the engagement of the appropriate spigots in these recesses 7. As can be seen in Figure 1 the walls of the central feed channel 1 are formed to accommodate these ends of the channels (see feed channel shown in dotted outline in Figure 1).

Each channel 2 is also connected to the corresponding boot by the rods 3. The free end of three of these rods engage in recesses 9 moulded into the boot 8. The boot 8 is also formed on its base with a spigot 10 to enable location of the boot 8 on the remainder of the table. The slate of the table surface is supported on wooden cross-members 11 (dotted outline in Figure 1) and these cross-members provide fixing points for the central feed channel 1 disposed below them. The formation of the recesses 7 and of the channel walls to accommodate the ends of the channels is such that the channels can join the outside channel 1 at any one of a number of angles so as to allow for differing table sizes. The spacing of the rods 3 in the channels 2 is such as to retain the balls therein but allow foreign objects to fall through to prevent an obstruction occurring.The point contact of these rods 3 with a ball rolling on them inhibits the build-up of dirt and grease thereon as the curved surfaces promote self-cleaning. The waisted shape of the boot 8 promotes rapid settling of a ball deposited in it and prevents the ball flying out.

The channel 1 is vacuum-formed from synthetic plastics material. A section through it along the line B-B is shown in Figure 6. The base of the channel is formed with a longitudinally extending dependent recess 19 the edges 20 and 21 of which form two rails down which a ball can roll in a controlled manner. There is a gradual fall in the base of the channel along its length in the direction towards the racking arrangement which is referenced generally 30 in Figure 1. Any small, particulate dirt which manages to pass through the channels 2, perhaps by adhering to the balls, collects in the recess 19 and does not impede the ball. The walls of the channel 1 are formed high to prevent balls jumping out and curved to guide balls under control down to the edges on rails 20 and 21 and prevent stacking.

Reference 22 indicates the platform on which the end of the channel 2 sits. In most cases balls delivered to the central channel 1 lose momentum immediately on entry due to impact with a channel wall. Where this does not occur, one or more stops 23 are provided to siow down the ball on entry to the channel 1.

Balls are delivered from the central feed channel 1 to the racking arrangement 30. This comprises a feed rack 31 and a storage rack 32. An extruded aluminium twin ramp arrangement connects the feed rack 31 to the storage rack 32. Both racks 31,32 are of extruded aluminium and comprise a pair of rails 33 on which the balls roll. Thus each ball is guided accurately along the same path. The two ramps, referenced 34 and 35, having differing gradients. The ramp 35 is disposed within the ramp 34 and both ramps are within the rack 32. Ramp 34 has the smaller gradient and leads over an aperture 36 formed in the rack 32 through which the smaller cue ball can fall. Ramp 35 leads to the aperture 36.

This racking arrangement operates as follows.

When an object pool ball is delivered to the rack 31 via a channel 2 and the central feed channel 1 it rolls down the large width ramp 34, across the aperture 36 and is stored on the rails 33 of the rack 32. All object balls follow this path from a boot to the rack 32. If, before all the object balls are pocketed, the cue ball enters a boot it is also fed to the rack 32 via the channels 2 and 1. In contrast to the object ball, however, the smaller cue ball rolls down the steeper gradient smaller width ramp 35 and through the aperture 36 to be delivered back to the player through the ball outlet 44. When all the object balls are on the rack 32 the last racked object ball partly obscures the aperture 36 thus preventing the cue ball, when next delivered to the rack 31, from falling through the aperture.All balls are then locked in position and can only be released by releasing the rack 32.

Rack 32 release is provided for by pivotally mounting the rack for pivotal movement along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rack. The pivotal mounting can be locked and the lock released on operation of the coin mechanism 45 to enable the rack 32 to be pivoted to deliver all the racked balls back to a player at the outlet 44. The rack 32 is provided with a canopy 37 to prevent the balls being shaken out of the rack.

It will be appreciated that the precise axial alignment of the object balls by the rails 33 on the rack 32 enables the precise length of all the stored object balls to be predetermined. This in turn enables the aperture to be precisely positioned and constructed so as to prevent return of the cue ball when all object bails are stored.

It will also be appreciated that the balls always run on edge structures and that as a result build-up of dirt, which occurs on a flat surface, is inhibited.

Claims (16)

1. A games table of the kind defined wherein said channels include a main feed channel having an outlet end in communication with said ball separator and further feed channels extending between said pockets and said main feed channel, said main feed channel comprising a structure having a base and side walls, said base having a recess therealong whereby longitudinal edges of said base bounding said recess define rails along which said balls can roll.

2. A games table according to claim 1, wherein said main feed channel is vacuum-formed from synthetic plastics material.

3. A games table according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said main feed channel is curved towards said ball separator adjacent said outlet end.

4. A games table according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said main feed channel has side openings which accommodate ends of respective said further feed channels.

5. A games table according to claim 4, wherein said openings have recesses into which fit spigots at the ends of the respective said further feed channels.

6. A games table according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein one said side wall of said main feed channel has a stop on the inner surface thereof for slowing down balls entering said channel.

7. A games table according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein there is a gradual fall in the base of said main feed channel towards said racking arrangement.

8. A games table according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each said further feed channel has four rods extending longitudinally between and held in spaced disposition by supports, said rods comprising for each said channel a bottom said rod defining a single said rail along which in use balls can roll, two side said rods respectively at opposite sides of and above said bottom rod to provide lateral support for said balls, and a top said rod above and between said side rods to prevent said balls jumping out of the channel; each said support comprising a member of annular cross-section having an inner surface thereto in which there are circumferentially spaced recesses which accommodate respectively said rods.

9. A games table according to claim 8, when dependent on claim 5, wherein each said member has an integral mounting said spigot projecting downwardly therefrom.

10. A games table according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in combination with a smaller diameter cue ball and larger diameter object balls wherein said rack has means for aligning balls along a single axis, and said ball separator comprises feed means for feeding balls to said rack and a ball-receiving aperture between said feed means and said rack through which said cue ball but not said object balls can drop, the arrangement being such that when all object balls have been fed to said rack to be aligned thereon, the last obJect ball blocks said aperture and thereby prevents said cue ball dropping therethrough.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein said rack has rails therealong.

12. The combination according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said rack can be pivoted to release stored balls for delivery to said outlet.

13. The combination according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein said rack is provided with a canopy.

14. The combination according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein said feed means comprises an elongate structure with rails thereon.

15. The combination according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein said feed means is connected to said rack by a first downwardly inclined ramp for the larger diameter object balls defined by spaced-apart rails and there is a second downwardly inclined ramp for the smaller diameter cue ball defined by spaced-apart rails connecting said feed means with said aperture, said rails of said second ramp being below and between and of steeper inclination than said rails of said first ramp.

16. The combination according to claim 15, wherein said last object ball is arranged to hold said cue ball on said second ramp whilst said last object ball is on said first ramp.