GB2351239A

GB2351239A - Cue ball retention mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2351239A
Application number: GB9914860A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Green
Original assignee: WEST MIDLANDS LEASING Ltd
Current assignee: WEST MIDLANDS LEASING Ltd
Priority date: 1999-06-25
Filing date: 1999-06-25
Publication date: 2000-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-25
Also published as: GB2351239B; GB9914860D0

Abstract

A ball management and retention system for a pool table (or the like) comprises a first runway accessible to both cue and object balls leading to a storage rack, a second runway which can only be accessed by the cue ball and a gate for preventing the cue ball from being returned which is activated to obstruct the runway in response to a signal from a sensor at or near the ball storage rack. Preferably the gate is located upstream of the second runway and is activated in response to a sustained signal indicating that the last object ball is in its storage position. Optionally the sensor can be adjusted to suit the number of object balls in a particular game. The gate may be pivotally mounted over the runway and raised away from obstructing the runway during the course of the game.

Description

2351239

CUE BALL RETENTION SYSTEM Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cue ball retention system for a pool table, billiards table or the like.

Backwound to the Invention As will be intimately familiar to the many who have played pool or billiards in a public house or other public venue, the table is provided with a system for retention of the object bails in turn as each is potted but adapted to release the cue ball throughout the course of a game if it is accidentally potted, retaining it only once game play has been concluded. Indeed, retention of the cue ball at the end of game play is not essential for game play but it is highly desirable for the lessor or owner of the equipment to prevent loss or theft of the cue ball.

In order that the mechanism of the table is able to differentially retain the object balls during game play and only retain the cue ball at the end of game play a number of prior systems have been proposed. However, none of these is optimaily simple, straightforward and cost effective to manufacture and maintain.

European patent application EP 0 077 605 in the name of Brunswick Corporation discloses a cue ball detection and separation assembly that relies upon detection of the cue ball by incorporating into it a metal insert to trigger magnetic sensors which will actuate a deflector to divert the cue ball into a locked compartment. A counter is provided to count the number of object balls that have been retained in the ball rack to determine when the last object ball has b een potted and retained and there upon to remove an inhibit signal on the cue ball deflection member to enable the cue ball to be deflected to the locked compartment for retention.

1 1 US patent US 4 378 114 describes a ball separator for a billiard table that relies upon the relatively higher level of light reflectance of the white cue ball to trigger a deflector to continuously return it throughout game play. As in EP 0 077 605, the fifteen object balls are counted into the ball rack and once all have been potted and racked the solenoid for the deflector will be de-energised, enabling the cue ball to be racked as well.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a ball management and retention system for a cue ball of a pool table, billiard table or the like, which system comprises a first runway for the object balls and cue ball that have been potted and leading to a storage rack; a second runway diverging from the first runway and which is accessible to the- cue ball alone to return the cue ball to an access point for continued game play, there being provided a gate which may be moved by a motor to obstruct the first arsecond runway to prevent the cue ball from being returned, the gate normally being held in a retracted state during game play but being activated to obstruct the runway in response to a signal from a sensor at or near the ball storage rack.

Preferably the gate is located upstream of the second runway in the first runway to prevent the cue ball from entering the second runway.

Activation of the the gate is preferably in response to a signal from a sensor at the ball rack which is positioned a distance from the end stop of the ball rack which corresponds to the storage of the fast object ball to directly sense the presence of the last object ball in its storage position. The sensor preferably sends a signal only after a sustained presence of the ball has been sensed. Suitably after a period of 8 seconds, for example. The sensor may be a pressure-sensitive micro switch or may be a photo sensor, for example. The position of the sensor may be adjustable to suit the number 2 of object balls for a given game. Accordingly, for pool where the number of balls played is conventially fifteen the sensor is set to the 15th ball spacing from the end stop of the ball storage rack. For other games having different numbers of object balls the position of the sensor is suitably re-set for the corresponding number of object balls.

A preferred configuration of gate comprises a flap that is pivotally mounted to swing into and out of position in order to obstruct the runway. In a particularly preferred embodiment the flap is mounted over the runway and raised away from obstruction of the runway during game play. Alternatively, for example, the gate might comprise one or more pins that extend across the runway vertically or horizontally or at any other suitable angle.

Brief Description of the Drawims

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a ball runway with the cue ball retention mechanism operative; Figure 2 is a schematic end elevation view of the runway and retention mechanism.

Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation view of the runway and associated, or integral, ball storage rack; and Figure 4 is a schematic plan view from above of the runway illustrating the gate blocking the cue ball upstream of the point where the cue ball may enter the second, lower, runway.

3 Description of the Preferred Embodiment

With reference to Figure 1, this illustrates a first runway 1 of the ball management system of a pool, billiard or snooker table or the like. All balls, including the fifteen or so object balls and the cue ball will pass down this runway 1 before being diverted either to the ball storage rack 2 (see Figure 3) or being returned to game play via a second runway 3 (see Figure 4).

The ball management system includes a retention mechanism for the cue ball which comprises a gate flap 4 that is pivotally mounted by a pivot 5 above the first runway 1 and raised or lowered into place by an actuation arm 6 moved by a motor 7.

When lowered, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the gate flap 4 obstructs the first runway 1 to prevent the cue ball 8 from rolling further down the first runway 1 to enter the second runway 3 and be returned to game play.

During the course of game play the motor 7 is controlled to hold the gate flap 4 raised away from the runway 1 to allow continuous return of the cue ball 8.

The relatively small cue ball 8 would normally be repeatedly returned to game play by failing through an opening 9 in the floor of the first runway 1 to enter the second runway 3 rather than being directed along with the object balls to the ball storage rack 2.

As the game progresses the object balls 10 will accumulate in the ball storage rack 2 behind the stop wail 11 at the end of the ball storage rack 2.

A sensor 12 is positioned at the ball storage rack 2 remote from the stop wall.11 and adjacent the p oint at which the fast object ball 10 will come to rest when the ball rack 2 has been filled with all of the object balls 10. This sensor 12 incorporates a micro switch which will be triggered by the arrival and resting of the last object ball 10 and will, after a short delay of, for exampie, 8 to 20 seconds to ensure that the ball is 4 static, send a signal to the controller of the motor 7 to cause the motor to move the actuation arm 6 and bhng the gate flap 4 down into its operative position to block the cue ball 9 from passing down to the return passage, second runway 3.

At the start of a new game the motor will be reactivated to raise the gate flap 4 and release the cue ball 9. This may suitably be in response to insertion of the required coins or tokens into the coin/payment box of the tables operating mechanism.

If the players wish to play a game involving a greater or lesser number of balls than the conventional 15 the position of the sensor 12 may be reset appropriately.

Claims

1 A ball management and retention system for a cue ball of a pool table, billiard table or the like, which system comprises a first runway for the object balls and cue ball that have been potted and leading to a storage rack; a second runway diverging from the first runway and which is accessible to the cue ball alone to return the cue ball to an access point for continued game play, there being provided a gate which may be moved by a motor to obstruct the first or second runway to prevent the cue ball from being returned, the gate normally being held in a retracted state during game play but being activated to obstruct the runway in response to a signal from a sensor at or near the ball storage rack.

2. A ball management and retention system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gate is located upstream of the second runway in the first runway to prevent the cue ball from entering the second runway.

3. A ball management and retention system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein activation of the the gate is in response to a signal from a sensor at the ball rack which is positioned a distance from the end stop of the ball rack which corresponds to the storage of the last object ball to directly sense the presence of the last object ball in its storage position.

4. A ball management and retention system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensor sends a signal only after a sustained presence of the ball has been sensed.

5. A ball management and retention system as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the position of the sensor is adjustable to suit the number of object balls for a given game.

6 6. A ball management and retention system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the configuration of gate comprises a flap that is pivotally mounted to swing into and out of position in order to obstruct the runway.

7. A ball management and retention system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flap is mounted over the runway and raised away from obstruction of the runway during game play.

8. A ball management and retention system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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