GB2196864A - Practice table for snooker - Google Patents

Abstract

A snooker table for practice purposes comprises a rectangular playing surface having pockets at least at a pair of corners of a shorter side, and opposed pockets at each of the longer sides, the opposed pockets being spaced from respective corner pockets by a conventional distance and spaced from respective other corners by a lesser distance. As shown, the said other corners are also provided with corner pockets. Suitably the table is formed of three standard slates, the conventional full-size table being made from five standard slates each having a major width of 6ft 11 DIVIDED 2 inches (18669 mm) corresponding to that of the full-size table and a minor width of approximately 22 DIVIDED 5 ft (7315 mm) corresponding to one-fifth of the length of a full-size table. The top end of the table is spotted in conventional manner with black, pink and blue spots and suitably also in mirror image to a conventional table with yellow, green and brown spots. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Practice table for snooker This invention relates to a practice table for the game of snooker.

Conventional tables which are supplied for the games of billiards and snooker are supplied in various sizes known as full, half, etc but of the same configuration as regards pocket positions and proportions, and the balls used for playing the games on the tables are proportioned accordingly.

Difficulty is presented, particularly with full size tables which have dimensions of the playing surface of 12ft x 6ft 1-1/2 inches in providing a room with adequate space to accommodate a table and the relevant player/cue space therearound. As a result the opportunity of playing these games in domestic facilities is limited and to play the games it is generally necessary to utilise public or club facilities.

Since the game of snooker is one which requires considerable experience to develop the necessary skills and also considerable practice to maintain those skills, the opportunity for potential players to develop and for skilled and professional players to practice are clearly severely restricted.

It is an object of the invention to provide a table which offers the opportunity for practice and which may be accommodated in lesser space than a conventional table.

According to the invention a snooker table for practice purposes comprises a rectangular playing surface having pockets at least at a pair of corners of a shorter side, and opposed pockets at each of the longer sides, the opposed pockets being spaced from respective corner pockets by a conventional distance and spaced from respective other corners by a lesser distance.

Suitably the said other corners are also provided with corner pockets.

In a preferred embodiment the width of the rectangular playing surface and the conventional distance correspond with those of a fullsize table, namely so that the practice table presents playing conditions corresponding to those of a full size table.

Suitably the table is formed by three standard slates, the conventional full-size table being made from five standard slates each having a major width of 6ft 1-1/2 inches corresponding to that of the full-size table and a minor width of approximately 2-2/5 ft corresponding to one-fifth of the length of a fullsize table. Thus the practice table has a fullsize width, but a length of approximately three-fifths of that of a full-size table, the "middle" pockets at opposite sides being disposed a standard distance from the end-pockets at one end but only one-third of that distance from the end pockets at the other end.

Since in the game of snooker the majority of scoring shots are played at the top end of the table around the pink, black and red balls, particularly at professional levels of play, the table according to the invention provides playing space to practice such shots as if on a full-size table.

The table is suitably laid out with conventional spot position for the blue, pink and black balls and for accommodating the conventional triangle of red balls at the end of the table having the middle pockets spaced therefrom by the conventional distance.

In order to allow for the yellow, green and brown balls there is suitably imposed yellow, green and brown spots at the said top end of the table, i.e. in mirror position in relation to the centre pockets and blue spot to that occupied on a conventional table.

Thus for practice purposes the table may initially be set up without the yellow, green and brown balls, and when the red balls have been potted and removed from the table in conventional play manner, the yellow, green and brown balls may be spotted to enable practice with the full range of colours to take place.

A table according to the invention is useable with balls and cues of full size and thus to provide substantially all of the playing conditions of a full-size table.

Although intended primarily to reproduce the conditions of a full-size table the invention may be applied to tables of lesser size for those who wish to practice for normal play on reduced size standard tables with the advantage that such practice tables are more readily accommodated.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying partly diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a table according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the table of Figure 1 with an optional 'D' shown on the playing surface, Figure 3 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 2 but with snooker balls in an initial playing position, and Figure 4 is a plan view corresponding to Figures 2 and 3 but with the coloured balls only in position.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 the table 1 has a conventional base construction but due to its shortened nature, four supporting legs 2 are used compared withtheeightrequired by a conventional full-size table. Corner pockets 3 of conventional form are provided at the four corners and 'centre pockets' 4 are provided at a pair of opposite, longer sides 5 at a standard distance from the 'top' end 6 of the table. The table playing surface 7 suitably measures 7 feet along the sides 5, and between these sides has a width of 6 feet 1 1/2 inches. Cushions 8 and support rails 9 of conventional form are provided in conventional manner, the cushions 8 projecting over the surface 7 by between 1-1/2 and 2 inches.

The height of the table from the floor to the top surface of the cushion rails 9 is between 2 feet 9-1/2 inches and 2 feet 10-1/2 inches.

Spots 10 to 12 are positioned in conventional manner for the blue, pin and black balls, and spots 13 to 15 are positioned in a row transversely between the sides 5 between the spots 11,12 in mirror image position in relation to the blue spot 10 compared with the conventional position of the yellow, green and brown spot positions on a conventional fullsize table. Thus the row of spots 13 to 15 is spaced 29 inches from the face of the top cushion 8.

A 'D' 16, shown in Figure 2, is optionally provided, and is of reduced form compared with the conventional 'D' and disposed between the blue spot 10 and the bottom cushion to define a space for positioning the white ball on game commencement or should the white ball inadvertently be pocketed during play.

As shown in Figure 3, the triangle of reds 17, the blue, pin and black balls may be initially positioned conventionally in relation to the top end of the table. For initial purposes the yellow, green and brown balls being discarded.

To commence a game, or practice the white ball may be positioned within the space behind the blue ball or, within the D 16 if that is provided. The game or practice may then be played in conventional manner, save that the yellow, green and brown balls are omitted, until the last red and its nominated colour are potted. Thereafter the omitted balls may be placed on the spots 13 to 15 as shown in Figure 4 and the game or practice continued through the colours in conventional manner until the final black is potted.

Thus the table according to the invention allows for the majority of scoring shots to be played as if on a full-size table and also allows for a normal game to be played in slightly modified form if desired.

If desired, in order to play a game with all of the balls initially on the table, the yellow, green and brown balls may be positioned along the front of the 'D' of Figure 2 at their normal lateral spacing. The front of the 'D' is suitably positioned two inches behind the blue spot, and the arc of the 'D' suitably has a radius of nine inches, centered on the blue spot.

Claims (8)

1. A snooker table for practice purposes comprises a rectangular playing surface having pockets at least at a pair of corners of a shorter side, and opposed pockets at each of the longer sides, the opposed pockets being spaced from respective corner pockets by a conventional distance and spaced from respective other corners by a lesser distance.

2. A snooker table as claimed in claim 1 in which the said other corners are also provided with corner pockets.

3. A snooker table as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 in which the width of the rectangular playing surface and the conventional distance correspond with those of a full-size table, so that the practice table presents playing conditions substantially corresponding to those of a full size table.

4. A snooker table as claimed in any preceding claim which is formed by three standard slates, the conventional full-size table being made from five standard slates each having a major width of 6ft 1-1/2 inches corresponding to that of the full-size table and a minor width of approximately 2-2/5 ft corresponding to one-fifth of the length of a fullsize table.

5. A snooker table as claimed in claim 4 which has a full-size width, but a length of approximately three-fifths of that of a full-size table, the "middle" pockets at opposite sides being disposed a standard distance from the end-pockets at one end but only one-third of that distance from the end pockets at the other end.

6. A snooker table as claimed in any preceding claim in which the top end between the "middle" pockets and the corner pockets spaced therefrom by a standard distance are spotted in the manner of a conventional table and having a conventional spot position for the blue, pink and black balls and for accommodating the conventional triangle of red balls at the end of the table having the middle pockets spaced therefrom by the conventional distance.

7. A snooker table as claimed in claim 6 in which in order to allow for the yellow, green and brown balls there is imposed yellow, green and brown spots at the said top end of the table in mirror position in relation to the centre pockets and blue spot to that occupied on a conventional table.

8. A snooker table substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.