GB2180165A - Pool-type triangle - Google Patents

Abstract

A triangle for a pool table has a piece of cloth (10) fixed at one edge to one side (1) of the triangle. The cloth (10) is free to hang down from the side (1) of the triangle and can be folded under the triangle to act as a protective cover between the table top and balls in the triangle. The cloth (10) may be clamped between the triangle side wall (1) and a fixing strip (8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pool-type triangle This invention relates two frames which are of gener allytriangularform and are used for positioning a plurality of balls in a triangular arrangement on a table surface for use in playing a game such as pool, snooker or the like. Such a frame is conventionally referred to as a "triangle" and this term will be used hereinafter.

When balls are placed in a triangle on the surface of a billiards or pool table this may be done with one side ofthetriangle positioned against a cushion of the table. In this case it will be appreciated thatthe balls within the triangle adopt positions at which the balls contactthetable surface at set distances from the cushion dependent on the thickness ofthe side wall of the triangle and the diameter of the balls.

There is therefore a tendencyforthe table surface to become worn at positions corresponding to said set distances more rapidly than at other positions on the table surface.

With a view to avoiding or reducing this wear ofthe table surface it has been proposed, in our earlier British Patent No. 1,502,725, to provide a triangle having at at least one side thereof at least one projection for engagement with a cushion of a pool or billiards table so as to maintain the cushion and theside ofthe triangle in spaced disposition, the projection being arranged to permitthe associated said side to be spa cedfromthecushionata different angle and/orata different distance relative to the cushion than is the case with at least one of the other sides.

With this arrangement wear of the table surface can be reduced in sofarasthetrianglecan be placed in contactwith a cushion in a numberofdifferentdispositions so that balls in the triangle contact different parts ofthe table surface.

This previously proposed triangle is effective and in many respects most satisfactory. However, accelerated wear or damage to the table surface can still arise in some circumstances due to the tendency for players to throw or drop balls onto the table sur facewhen the balls are placed in thetriangle. With this in mind it has been known to provide a piece of cloth attached at one edge to the top end cushion of a pool table, the arrangement being such that the cloth can be moved into a position atwhich it covers the region ofthe table surface adjacent the top end cushion where the triangle is most commonly positioned during collection ofthe balls.When all balls have been placed in the triangle, the filled triangle is moved offthe covering piece ofthe cloth and the lat teristhenfolded back to hang down at the top end of the table. In this way the table surface can be protected againstwearand damage during filling ofthetriangle. However, this solution is not generally accept- able since the hanging cloth can beunsightlyandob- structive. Also, the cloth is, of course, only effective if voluntarily used by players and this may not always be the case due to the inconvenience involved.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved form oftrianglewith which damage and wearto a table surface caused by dropping orthrowing balls into the triangle can be avoided or at least appreciably reduced in an effective, convenient and aesthetically acceptable manner.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a triangle, for a pool or billiards table, having a piece of flexible sheet material which is fixed at one edge to one side of the triangle whereby said sheet is free to hang from said side and also to be folded to extend beneath the triangle.

With this arrangement, the table surface can be protected whilst the triangle is being filled with balls by firstfolding the sheet beneath the triangle so asto be interposed between the ball-receiving region of thetriangle and thetable surface. When thetriangle has been filled, thetriangle and balls can be moved, by sliding over the table surface, such as to cause the sheetto be folded back away from the triangle and thereby allow the balls to contact the table surface.

protection can thereby be achieved in a particularly effective and convenient manner.

Since the sheet is attached to the triangle, its use for protection purposes is facilitated and encouraged and indeed the arrangement may be such that the sheet automatically tends to position itself at least partially in the protective position when the triangle is placed on the table without any appreciable deliberate contribution in this respect being required by the player.

After use and removal ofthetriangle,thesheet, being attached to the triangle, is also removed from the table whereby problems of unsightly appearance and obstruction of play need not arise. In any case, having regard to the factthatthe sheet need only be of a reiatively small size and can be readily replaced, if necessary by replacing the entire triangle, should it becomesoiledordamaged, itwill be appreciated that it is feasible to ensure that the sheet is main tainedsubstantiallyatalltimesin a neat or even attractive condition, and indeed the sheet may be suitably aesthetic appearance. Moreover, the sheet can provide a convenient surface for the display of advertising matter and/or information.Thus, and in accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment, the sheet may have advertising and/or decorative matter on that face which is use contacts the table surface beneath the balls, and/or information, for example, constituting guidance as to the order of balls in the triangle, may be provided on the opposite face ofthe sheet. In the latter respect there is a requi- red orderofthe coloured balls in thetrianglewhen playing competition pool and this order can be printed on the sheet e.g. in the form of coloured marks at the respective positions.

With regard to the material ofthe sheet, this may be of any suitable nature. Conveniently a cloth of nylon orothertextile is used and preferably this is of astrong structurewhich does notreadilytearorladder if cut or snagged. The sheet is required to grip frictionally the table surface to permitsliding ofthe balls off the sheet. If desired, to promote this, the sheet may comprise a cloth with a raised nap or may otherwise have a roughened surface. However, in most cases, special surface roughening will not be necessary especially bearing in mind the usual pres enceofa na p on the table su rface.

The sheet is preferably fixed along all orsubstanti- ally all ofthe said edge thereof to the associated side ofthe triangle. This fixing may be achieved by clamping the edge portion ofthe sheet between the side ofthe triangle and a fixing strip which is fastened in position with rivets or other fixing devices. However, other fixing methods involving bonding, screwing, clamping, clipping, moulding orthe like may also be used. The mode of attachment may be permanent or detachable as desired.

The sheet may be of any suitable size and shape.

Preferably it is large enough to extend overall orat least a major part of the triangle. In a particularlypre ferred embodimentthe sheet istriangularor gener- ally triangular and is large enough to extend beyond all sides ofthetriangle.

Preferably also, the sheet is fixed to the side ofthe triangle at a position spaced above the bottom edge of said side whereby there is free sheet material which can facilitateformation of a loop or fold asthe balls slide off the sheet. To furtherfacilitate such loop or fold formation there is preferably a rearwardly projecting structure atthe bottom edge ofthe said triangle side which acts to deflectthe path ofthe sheet. Moreover the arrangement may be such that the sheet extends along the side of thetriangleto which it is fixed beyond the ball-receiving region of the triangle at such side. Thus the sheet may extend along the entire (or substantially the entire) length of the said side and the adjacent corners ofthe triangle may be squared off or otherwise constricted or shaped to restrict entry of balls therein.

With regard to the sides ofthe triangle these may comprise upstanding walls and a projecting flange may be provided at the bottom edges thereof to define a planar base. Said flange may provide the aforesaid projecting structure at the rearsidewall. The walls and any said flange may be defined by a onepiece plastics moulding. However, other materials and other modes of construction including jointed wooden members, may also be used.

If desired the present invention may be combined with the invention ofthe aforesaid Patent 1,502,725 by provision of a suitable projection in the side ofthe triangle to which the sheet is fixed. In particular a centrally disposed rounded projection, permitting rocking of the triangle about a contact zone between the cushion and the projection, may be provided.

The invention will now be described further byway of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure lisa plan view on the line A-A of Figure 1 showing the triangle in two different conditions of use; Figures2 and 3 are sectional views on the line A-A of Figure 1 showing the triangle in two different conditions of use; Figures an end view ofthe triangle in the direc- tion of arrow B of Figure 1; Figure 5is a plan view of an attachment for modifying an existing triangle; Figure 6 is a side view partially opened ofthe attachment of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative form of a triangle according to the invention; and Figure 8 is an exploded sectional view on the line B-B of Figure 7.

The triangle shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings comprises a rigid one-piece plastics moulding having three upstanding side walls 1,2,3 and a peripheral flange 4which extends per pendicularly to the side walls atthe lower edges thereofand provides a planar base for the triangle. At a front end of the triangle the adjacent side walls 2,3 merge with each otherviaa rounded corner 5. Atthe opposite rear end of the triangle the rear side wall 1 merges with the adjacent side walls 2,3 via slightly squared-off corners 6, 7.The flange 4 extends around the entire periphery of the triangle and projects out wardlyofthesidewalls 1,2,3 except in the region of the squared-off corners 6,7 where, as shown in Figure 1, it projects inwardly.

A rigid strip 8 extends along the entire length ofthe rear side wall 1 on the outer surface thereof. The strip 8 is level with thetop edge ofthe side wall 1 and is approximately one half the width of the latter. The strip 8 and the side wall 1 are fixed firmlytogether with rivets 9 and one edge portion of a generallytriangular piece of cloth 10 is clamped securelytherebetween. The cloth 10 is generally similar in appearance to the usual cloth used on a pool or billiards table and is preferably formed from a suitable strong hard-wearing material which does not readilytearor ladderifcutorsnagged.

As can be seen from the drawings, the cloth 10 can hang freely down from the rear end ofthetriangle (Figure4) and also can befolded beneaththetriangle so as to cover the entire bottom thereof and extend siightly beyond the side walls 1,2,3 and flange 4 (Figures 1 and 2). The face ofthe cloth which is lowermost when in the position of Figures 1 and 2 maybe printed with decorative/advertising material. The other face ofthe cloth may be printed with balllocating guidesyetto be described.

When not required for ball-positioning purposes the triangle can be stored as desired. For example, with a coin-operated pool table where it is common to have an opening in one end of the table for storage ofthetriangle, such opening may be arranged sothat the triangle can be stored with the cloth hanging downwardly in an exposed position externally ofthe table enabling the aforesaid decorative/advertising matter to be clearly seen.

When required for use, the triangle is placed on the playing surfaceofthe pool orbilliardstablesothat the cloth lOis folded underthetriangle (as shown in Figures 1 and 2) and is trapped between the flange 4 and the table surface. Itwill be appreciated thatthe cloth tends readily to fall into this position when the triangle is placed on thetablewith little or no contribution being required bythe person usingthetri- angle.

Balls 11 can now be placed in the triangle in the usual manner. As indicated in Figure 1, the balls at the rearend are spaced slightly awayfrom the per ipheries ofthe squared-off corners 6,7. During positioning ofthe balls 11 the cloth 10 protects thetabie surface sothere is littletendencyfordamageorwear to occur even if the balls are dropped orthrown into the triangle. As mentioned, the face of the cloth which is uppermost at this stage may be marked with ball-positioning guides. Such guides may comprise coloured spots showing the required location of the various coloured balls when playing competition pool.

When all balls (10 or 15 as appropriate) have been placed in the triangle, the triangle is moved to the right (as seen in Figures 1 to 3) so that the body ofthe triangle and the balls slide off the cloth 10. The cloth 10 readilyfolds (as shown in Figure 3)) to permitthis because of the high friction between the cloth and the tablesurface(especiallyduetotheusual nap on the table surface) and also because of the manner in which the cloth 10 is fixed to the triangle.In the latter respect it will be noted that: the cloth lOis fixed at a position spaced above the bottom edge ofthe rear wall; the cloth 10 is already folded because it hasto pass around the portion oftheflange4which pro jectsfromtherearwall 1; and the ends of thefixed edge ofthe cloth 10 project well beyond the assembly of balls in the triangle duetothe arrange- ment ofthe squared-off corners 6,7. The cloth therefore readily folds with little or no tendency to be dragged with the triangle.

With this arrangement, protection ofthe table surface can be achieved in a particularly effective, convenient manner and aesthetically acceptable manner.

Figures 5 and 6 show an attachment which can be used to convert an existing triangle into a triangle in accordance with the invention. The attachment is essentially an elongate box structure 20 having a rear wall 21 which is shaped to fit in intimate contact with the rearwall 22 ofthetriangle. The box structure 20 is held in position by bolts 23 passed through the walls 21,22. The box structure 20 has top, bottom and end walls 24-26 which are integral with the rearwall 21 and there is a frontwall 27 or fixing strip which is hinged to-the top wall 21 along its upper edge. The inner surface ofthefrontwall 27 has pairs of projecting ridges 28 which interfit on opposite sides of ridges 29 which project on the inner surface ofthe rearwall 21 when the front wall 27 is hinged to a closed position.The front wall 27 is fixed in the closed position by means of screws 29a. A cloth (not shown), like the cloth 10 Figures 1 to 4 is clamped in convoluted conformation along its top edge between the ridges 28,29. Instead of using a hinged arrangement, the front wall 27 may be wholly detachable.

Figures 7 and 8 show an alternative triangle structure. The triangle 30 has an integral rearwardly projecting rim 31 along the bottom edge of its rearwall 32, and this has a pair of upwardly directed ridges 33, 34. An elongate strip 35 is provided and this has a downwardly projecting ridge 36 with a slot 37 therealong. The ridge 36 fits between the ridges 33,34 and the strip 35 is fixed securely to the rim 31 by screws passed through holes 38 in the rim 31 and engaging the slot 37. A cloth 39, like the cloth 10 of Figures 1 to 4 is clamped in convoluted conformation along its top edge between the interfitting ridges 33,34,36.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only.

Claims (7)

1. Atrianglefora pool orbilliardstablecharacterised in that it has a piece of flexible sheet material which is fixed at one edgeto one side ofthetriangle whereby said sheet is free to hang from said side and also to be folded to extend beneath the strip angle.

2. Atriangle according to claim 1, characterised in that the sheet has advertising and/or decorative matter on the face which in use contacts the table surface beneath the balls.

3. Atriangle according to claim 1 or2,characterised in that the sheet has information on the face of the sheet which in use is opposite to the face which contacts the table surface beneath the balls.

4. Atriangle according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the sheet is fixed along all or substantially all of the said edge thereof to the associated side of the triangle.

5. Atriangle according to claim 4, characterised in that said fixing is achieved by clamping the edge portion of the sheet between the side ofthetriangle and a fixing strip which is fastened in position with fixing devices.

6. A triangle according to claim 5, characterised in that the fixing strip and the side of the triangle have interfitting configurations between which the sheet is clamped in convoluted conformation.

7. Atriangle according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as il I ustrated in the accompanying drawings.