GB2188245A

GB2188245A - Snooker balls triangle

Info

Publication number: GB2188245A
Application number: GB08607741A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Sidney Rich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-03-27
Filing date: 1986-03-27
Publication date: 1987-09-30
Also published as: GB8607741D0

Abstract

A triangle for positioning the balls for a game of snooker is provided with a floor (3), preferably pivoted to one corner of the triangle, which in the closed position underlies the triangle and keeps balls placed therein out of contact with the table, and when swung to an open position allows the balls to fall through, and rest on the table, so that the triangle can be removed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Snooker Balls Triangle This invention relates to an improved triangle for the positioning of balls on a table in snooker, billiards, pool and similar games.

At the start of a game of snooker the balls are positioned in equilateral triangular formation in the centre of the table. This is achieved by the use of a triangular frame into which the appropriate number of balls fits exactly in regular array. The triangle is placed on the table, the balls placed in the triangle, and the triangle is then lifted carefully leaving the balls in formation ready for the start of the game.

Known triangles are generally made of wood and consist simply ofthree sides of equal length joined to form an equilateral triangle. When the balls are put into the triangle they are placed directly on the cloth of the table. Where a table is much used, as in a club or a bar, it is found that the cloth in the centre of the table suffers rapid wear from the balls the triangle and the hands of the players removing the triangle at the start of the game. Unless precautions are taken, it is then found that the centre of the cloth wears out while other areas scarcely wear at all, thus necessitating replacement of the whole cloth.

Various precautions against this uneven wear are known, for example the provision of an additional piece of cloth which is laid over the centre of the table, and on which the triangle and the balls are placed, and which is then carefully withdrawn from under the triangle and the balls before the triangle is removed. This is inconvenient and is ineffective to the extent that it does not prevent wear to the cloth when the triangle is removed.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved triangle which avoids or reduces this uneven wear on the cloth.

According to my invention I provide a snooker balls triangle characterised by a floor mounted on the underside of the triangle and movable between a closed positionin which balls placed in the triangle rest on the floor and an open position in which such balls are-freeto fall through the triangle and lie on the surface on which the triangle rests.

In a preferred-embodiment the floor is itself generally triangular and is pivotally mounted to one corner ofthe triangle. In this embodiment the floor, in the closed position, underlies the triangle and extendsv-ery-little beyond it, and can be swung into the.open position wherein it lies almost entirely outsidetlie triangle.A preferred feature ofthis ernbodirnent is the provision of a supporting bar extending along the underside of the side of the triangle opposite the corner to which the floor is mounted,the upper side of the bar and the lower edge of the said side ofthe triangle together defining a slot in which the floor moves and is supported by the bar. In the absence of such a bar or similar support the weight of the balls on the floor may be too much for the pivot.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference of the drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 show, in isometric view, the embodiment with the floor respectively closed and in an intermediate position.

Figure 3 shows the embodiment in plan view with the floor in the closed position.

Figure 4 shows the embodiment from the underside with the floor in the closed position.

Figure 5 shows the embodiment from the underside with the floor in the open position, and Figures 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c) show the embodiment in use.

Turning first to Figures 1 to 5, the embodiment comprises an equilateral frame of wood shown generally at 1 resting on feet 2. Pivoted about a vertical axis to the underside of one corner 'A' of the triangle is a floor 3 which may conveniently and advantageously be made of polymethyl methacrylate, polyester, or some other rigid transparent plastics material. This floor is of generally triangular shape but along one side has a cut-out4to enablethefingers of the user to grasp the side 'AB' of the triangle comfortably and also to ensure that in the open position the floor clears the inside of the triangle.The side 5 opposite the pivot is curved on the pivot as a centre. Underneath the side 'B'-'C' of the triangle is a supporting bar 6 (shown in broken outline in Figure 3); side5 of the floor moves between bar 6 and the underside of side 'B'-'C' and the weight of floor 3 is at least partially supported by bar 6. The corner of floor 5 which underlies corner 'C' in the closed position is formed with a hook 7 to engage foot 2.

Figures 6(a) to 6(c) show how the preferred embodiment is used. Figure 6(a) shows the triangle according to the invention placed on a snooker table with the floor in the closed position. The triangle is then filled with balls 8 which rest on the floor of the triangle rather than the cloth. When the balls are all in position the floor 3 is swung to the open position and the balls fall through the plane of the triangle to rest on the table. The triangle can then be carefully lifted clear of the balls in the usual way and play can commence.

It is within the invention to use other shapes of floor attached to the triangle in other ways. For example a sliding rather than a pivoting floor may be used. While prior art snooker triangles are generally made of wood, the triangle according to the invention may be made of wood, plastics or metal and likewise the floor may be made not only of a transparent plastics materials as mentioned above but also of an opaque plastics material, light metal or plywood. The one essential feature of the material is that is should have sufficient rigidity to support the not inconsiderable weight of the balls.

1. A snooker balls triangle characterised by a floor mounted on the underside of the triangle and removable between a closed position in which balls placed in the triangle rest on the floor and an open position in which such balls are free to fall through the triangle and lie on the surface on which the triangle rests.

2. The triangle of Claim 1 in which the floor is generally triangular and co-extensive with the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Snooker Balls Triangle This invention relates to an improved triangle for the positioning of balls on a table in snooker, billiards, pool and similar games. At the start of a game of snooker the balls are positioned in equilateral triangular formation in the centre of the table. This is achieved by the use of a triangular frame into which the appropriate number of balls fits exactly in regular array. The triangle is placed on the table, the balls placed in the triangle, and the triangle is then lifted carefully leaving the balls in formation ready for the start of the game. Known triangles are generally made of wood and consist simply ofthree sides of equal length joined to form an equilateral triangle. When the balls are put into the triangle they are placed directly on the cloth of the table. Where a table is much used, as in a club or a bar, it is found that the cloth in the centre of the table suffers rapid wear from the balls the triangle and the hands of the players removing the triangle at the start of the game. Unless precautions are taken, it is then found that the centre of the cloth wears out while other areas scarcely wear at all, thus necessitating replacement of the whole cloth. Various precautions against this uneven wear are known, for example the provision of an additional piece of cloth which is laid over the centre of the table, and on which the triangle and the balls are placed, and which is then carefully withdrawn from under the triangle and the balls before the triangle is removed. This is inconvenient and is ineffective to the extent that it does not prevent wear to the cloth when the triangle is removed. An object of my invention is to provide an improved triangle which avoids or reduces this uneven wear on the cloth. According to my invention I provide a snooker balls triangle characterised by a floor mounted on the underside of the triangle and movable between a closed positionin which balls placed in the triangle rest on the floor and an open position in which such balls are-freeto fall through the triangle and lie on the surface on which the triangle rests. In a preferred-embodiment the floor is itself generally triangular and is pivotally mounted to one corner ofthe triangle. In this embodiment the floor, in the closed position, underlies the triangle and extendsv-ery-little beyond it, and can be swung into the.open position wherein it lies almost entirely outsidetlie triangle.A preferred feature ofthis ernbodirnent is the provision of a supporting bar extending along the underside of the side of the triangle opposite the corner to which the floor is mounted,the upper side of the bar and the lower edge of the said side ofthe triangle together defining a slot in which the floor moves and is supported by the bar. In the absence of such a bar or similar support the weight of the balls on the floor may be too much for the pivot. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference of the drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 show, in isometric view, the embodiment with the floor respectively closed and in an intermediate position. Figure 3 shows the embodiment in plan view with the floor in the closed position. Figure 4 shows the embodiment from the underside with the floor in the closed position. Figure 5 shows the embodiment from the underside with the floor in the open position, and Figures 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c) show the embodiment in use. Turning first to Figures 1 to 5, the embodiment comprises an equilateral frame of wood shown generally at 1 resting on feet 2. Pivoted about a vertical axis to the underside of one corner 'A' of the triangle is a floor 3 which may conveniently and advantageously be made of polymethyl methacrylate, polyester, or some other rigid transparent plastics material. This floor is of generally triangular shape but along one side has a cut-out4to enablethefingers of the user to grasp the side 'AB' of the triangle comfortably and also to ensure that in the open position the floor clears the inside of the triangle.The side 5 opposite the pivot is curved on the pivot as a centre. Underneath the side 'B'-'C' of the triangle is a supporting bar 6 (shown in broken outline in Figure 3); side5 of the floor moves between bar 6 and the underside of side 'B'-'C' and the weight of floor 3 is at least partially supported by bar 6. The corner of floor 5 which underlies corner 'C' in the closed position is formed with a hook 7 to engage foot 2. Figures 6(a) to 6(c) show how the preferred embodiment is used. Figure 6(a) shows the triangle according to the invention placed on a snooker table with the floor in the closed position. The triangle is then filled with balls 8 which rest on the floor of the triangle rather than the cloth. When the balls are all in position the floor 3 is swung to the open position and the balls fall through the plane of the triangle to rest on the table. The triangle can then be carefully lifted clear of the balls in the usual way and play can commence. It is within the invention to use other shapes of floor attached to the triangle in other ways. For example a sliding rather than a pivoting floor may be used. While prior art snooker triangles are generally made of wood, the triangle according to the invention may be made of wood, plastics or metal and likewise the floor may be made not only of a transparent plastics materials as mentioned above but also of an opaque plastics material, light metal or plywood. The one essential feature of the material is that is should have sufficient rigidity to support the not inconsiderable weight of the balls. CLAIMS

2. The triangle of Claim 1 in which the floor is generally triangular and co-extensive with the triangle, underlies the triangle, and is mounted to the undersurface to one of the apices of the triangle to pivot about an axis perpendicularto its plane.

3. The triangle of Claim 2 comprising also a support bar beneath the side of the triangle opposite the said axis and underlying the floor to support the same.

4. The triangle of Claim 1 or 2 in which the floor is of transparent rigid plastics material.

5. The triangle of any preceding claim in substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

5. The triangle of any preceding claims substantially hereinbefore described in the drawings.

New Claims or Amendments to Claims Filed on 26.3.87 Superseded Claims 1-5 New or Amended Claims:

1. A snooker balls triangle comprising a frame defining a triangular area and adapted when placed on a horizontal surface to receive and retain balls in a triangular array and a floor extending across all or substantially all the said area underlying the frame and pivotally mounted to one corner thereof for rotation about a vertical axis between a closed position in which balls placed in the frame rest on the floor and an open position in which such balls are free to fall through the frame and rest on the surface on which the frame rests.

2. The triangle of Claim 1 comprising also a supporting bar underlying the side of the frame opposite to the corner to which the floor is pivotted upon which an adjacent part of the floor rests when the floor is in the closed position and over which it slides when the floor is moved towards the open position.

3. The triangle of Claim 2 in which the edge of the floor opposite to its pivotted corner is curved on the axis as a centre and rests on the supporting bar.

4. The triangle of Claim 1,2 or 3 in which the floor is of transparent rigid plastics material.