GB2431989A

GB2431989A - Levelling a cue sport table, eg a snooker table, using a laser

Info

Publication number: GB2431989A
Application number: GB0522521A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Bernard Jones
Original assignee: TRUE LEVEL Ltd
Current assignee: TRUE LEVEL LIMITED
Priority date: 2005-11-04
Filing date: 2005-11-04
Publication date: 2007-05-09
Also published as: GB0522521D0

Abstract

An apparatus 20 for levelling a playing surface 32 of a cue sport table 30 comprising a laser 12, eg a rotatable laser, emitting a laser beam 20, at least one reference target 14 for placing on the playing surface 32, and having a laser beam detector 22 for determining the height of the laser beam 20 above the playing surface 32. The at least one reference target 14 is locatable at each of, a plurality of selected points on the table 30, eg above each of the eight legs 36, and outputs a signal containing height data at each selected point. Processing means, eg in a laptop computer, are provided for receiving, eg wirelessly, the height data from the reference target 14, processing the height data, and outputting profile data indicating the profile of the playing surface 32.

Description

Apparatus and Method for Levelling a Cue Sport Table The present

invention relates to an apparatus and a method for levelling a cue sport table.

Traditionally, cue sport tables such as snooker tables are levelled by means of a precision spirit level placed on the playing surface of the table. If the playing surface is not sufficiently level, shims are placed under one or more of the legs of the table as required. The normal variation in the level of the playing surface of tables which are levelled by this method is between one and two millimetres when carried out by experienced fitters using an engineer's precision spirit level.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome at least one problem associated with the prior art whether referred to herein or otherwise.

In particular, an aim of the present invention is to provided an apparatus and method for levelling a cue sports table which results in a higher degree of accuracy

in the levelled table than the prior art.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus and method as set forth in the appended claims. Preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for levelling a playing surface of a cue sport table comprising: a laser emitting a laser beam; at least one reference target for placing on the playing surface, and having a laser beam detector for determining the height of the laser beam above the playing surface, wherein the at least one reference target is locatable at each of a plurality of selected points on the table and outputs a signal containing height data at each selected point; and processing means for receiving the height data from the reference target, processing the height data, and outputting profile data indicating the profile of the playing surface.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a single reference target.

Preferably, the laser beam detector may be an infra-red detector.

Preferably, the laser is a rotatable laser. The rotatable laser may be a continuously rotatable laser.

The rotatable laser may be self levelling.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises adjusting means for adjusting the level of the playing surface in accordance with the profile data to achieve a substantially level playing surface.

Preferably, the adjusting means comprises leg adjusting means for adjusting the height of one or more legs of the snooker table. Preferably, the leg adjusting means are shims, one or more of which are placed under n each of the one or more legs to be adjusted. The leg adjusting means may alternatively comprise one or more discs, each of which is adjustable in height, and each of which is placed under a leg to be adjusted.

Preferably, the reference target sends data wirelessly to the processing device.

The processing device is preferably a lap-top computer. The processing device preferably generates a 3 dimensional image of the table or a contour map.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for levelling a cue sport table comprising the steps of: (a) placing a laser adjacent the table such that a laser beam is emitted horizontally above the level of edges of the table; (b) placing at least one reference target having a laser beam detector at a selected point on the table; (c) transmitting data about the height of the laser beam relative to the reference target to a processing device; (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) for one or more further selected points; (e) creating a profile of the surface of the table from the height data by means of the processing device; (f) determining whether the level of the playing surface is acceptably level and (g) adjusting the level of the playing surface in accordance with the profile.

Steps (b) through (g) may be performed until it is determined in step (f) that the profile of the table is such that the playing surface is acceptably level. n

Preferably, step (b) comprises placing a rotatable laser adjacent the table.

Preferably, the step (g) of adjusting the level of the playing surface includes adjusting the height of one or more legs of the table. Alternatively or additionally, the step of adjusting the level of the playing surface includes adjusting the level of one or more slates of the playing surface. Preferably the step of adjusting the level of one or more slates is achieved by planing the playing surface of each of the one or more slates.

Preferably, in step (b) a single reference target is placed in turn at each of the selected points. However, two or more reference targets may be placed simultaneously at two or more selected points. The selected points may be above each leg.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings that follow, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rotatable laser device, a detection means and a processing means according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a snooker table which is being levelled using the rotatable laser device and the detector of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top view of a snooker table showing the preferred location points for the detector. fl

As shown in Figure 1-3, the levelling apparatus 10 comprises a continuously rotatable laser 12, a reference target 14, a data processor 16 and adjustment means 38.

Figure 1 shows the rotatable laser 12 which emits a horizontally directed laser beam 20. Rotatable lasers are known in the art and the rotatable laser 12 chosen preferably rotates through 360 degrees and is preferably self levelling. The laser beam 20 is detected by an infra-red detector 22 of the reference target 14 each time the beam 22 crosses the detector 20 during its rotational cycle. The detector 22 produces a reading containing height data relating to the height of the laser beam 20 above the base of the reference target 14. This height data is transmitted wirelessly to a data processor 16, such as a laptop computer.

Figure 2 shows a typical snooker table 30 having a playing surface 32, edges 34, eight legs 36 and shims 38.

In order to achieve a level playing surface 32, it is desirable to ensure that at least the portions of the playing surface 32 above each leg 34 are level with each other.

In use, in order to determine whether the table 30 is substantially level, i.e. substantially horizontal, the rotatable laser 12 is positioned adjacent the table 30 such that a laser beam 20 is emitted horizontally above the edges of the table to fall on the detector 22 of the reference target 14 placed on the playing surface 32. The reference target 14 is placed in turn at positions on the playing surface 32 above each of the eight legs 36. At each position the detector 22 determines the height of the fl laser beam 20 with respect to the base of the reference target 14 and hence the playing surface 32. A reading is taken from the detector 22 at each position and sent to the data processor 16. The accuracy of these readings is typically 0.02mm.

The data processor 16 collates the readings and produces output data such as a 3 dimensional image of the playing surface or a contour map. From this output data, an operator of the apparatus 10 can determine whether the playing surface 32 is acceptably level or not. If the data indicates that the playing surface 32 is not acceptably level, then it is determined whether the playing surface as a whole is sloping, or whether the playing surface is uneven or "dished" meaning that one or more slates of the playing surface is not level.

If it is determined that the playing surface as a whole is sloping, then leg adjusting means such as shims 38 are placed under the appropriate leg(s) 36 or removed from under the appropriate leg(s) 36 to raise or lower the appropriate area of the table 30. The data processor 16 may indicate the thickness of shim(s) that is required and under which leg(s) 36 it is required.

Once the playing surface as a whole is level it may be desired to level out unevenness within the playing surface. Typically, the playing surface 32 of a snooker table comprises three slates that are supported on the long sides 42 of the frame of the table. As a consequence the slates may sag in the middle, resulting in a dished playing surface. n

In order to check whether the playing surface 32 is dished, it is be desirable to take additional readings from the detector 22 at various points over each slate of the playing surface 32 to build up an accurate contour map of each slate. This data forms the basis for analysis by the operator to determine whether any of the slates need to be replaned to reduce the dishing to acceptable levels for play.

The procedures described above may be repeated as many times as needed to ensure that the playing surface 32 is acceptably level.

The use of a single reference target 14 is sufficient for the levelling apparatus 10 to operate. However, it will be appreciated that more than one reference target 14 may be used simultaneously.

Figure 3 illustrates the use of a single reference target 14 in a first position for taking a height reading above a first leg and also in seven other positions above each of the remaining legs (shown in broken lines) where further readings will be taken. However, as mentioned above, the invention is not limited to taking a height reading above each leg. Height readings may be taken at any desired point on the playing surface 32. Indeed the reference target 14 can be placed at as many positions as desired over the playing surface 32 of the snooker table to build up the required profile of the playing surface 32. The more readings that are taken, the more detailed the generated profile of the playing surface 32 becomes. fl

The levelling apparatus of the present invention thus provides an apparatus and method of levelling a cue sport table, which provides a far more accurately levelled playing surface than the traditional method of using a spirit level. The term cue sport table is intended to cover snooker table, pool table, billiards table, bar billiards table, American billiards table and the like.

Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification

(including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. An apparatus for levelling a playing surface of a cue sport table comprising: a laser emitting a laser beam; at least one reference target for placing on the playing surface; and a laser beam detector for determining the height of the laser beam above the playing surface; wherein the at least one reference target is locatable at each of a plurality of selected points on the table and outputs a signal containing height data at each selected point; and the apparatus further comprises processing means for receiving the height data from the reference target, processing the height data, and outputting profile data indicating the profile of the playing surface.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reference target is a single reference target. I. * S *eS.

3. An apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, wherein *5*5 the laser beam detector may be an infra-red detector.

* **..* * * 4. An apparatus according to any of claim 1 to 3, wherein the laser is a rotatable laser. **SS S. eS * * S *

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rotatable laser is a continuously rotatable laser.

6. An apparatus according to claims 4 or 5, wherein the rotatable laser is self levelling.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus further comprises adjusting means for adjusting the level of the playing surface in accordance with the profile data to achieve a substantially level playing surface.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the adjusting means comprises leg adjusting means for adjusting the height of one or more legs of the cue sport

table.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the leg adjusting means are shims.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein one or more of the shims are placed under each of the one or more legs to be adjusted.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the leg adjusting means comprises one or more discs, each of which * *S* is adjustable in height, and each of which is placed under a leg to be adjusted. * .

12. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the reference target sends data wirelessly to the *IS' processing means.

13. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing means is a lap-top computer.

14. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing means generates a 3 dimensional image of the table or a contour map.

15. A method for levelling a cue sport table comprising the steps of: (a) placing a laser adjacent the table such that a laser beam is emitted horizontally above the level of

edges of the table;

(b) placing at least one reference target, having a laser beam detector at a selected point, on the table; (c) transmitting data about the height of the laser beam relative to the reference target to a processing device; (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) for one or more further selected points; (e) creating a profile of the surface of the table s. from the height data by means of the processing device; I4* * SS* (f) determining whether the level of the playing surface is acceptably level; and (g) adjusting the level of the playing surface in * :. accordance with the profile.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein steps (b) through (g) are performed until it is determined in step (f) that the profile of the table is such that the playing surface is acceptably level.

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17. A method according to claims 15 or 16, wherein step (b) comprises placing a rotatable laser adjacent the

table.

18. A method according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the step (g) of adjusting the level of the playing surface includes adjusting the height of one or more legs

of the table.

19. A method according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the step of adjusting the level of the playing surface includes adjusting the level of one or more slates of the playing surface.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the step of adjusting the level of one or more slates is achieved by planing the playing surface of each of the one or more slates.

21. A method according to any of claims 15 to 20, : wherein in step (b) a single reference target is placed in

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turn at each of the selected points. S8*

22. A method according to any of claims 15 to 20, wherein in step (b) two or more reference targets are placed simultaneously at two or more selected points.

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23. A method according to claims 21 or 22, wherein the selected points are above each leg.

24. The apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. The method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * S. * * S *

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