GB2439150A

GB2439150A - Ball rack allowing triangular or diamond ball formation

Info

Publication number: GB2439150A
Application number: GB0612011A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zoran Zecevic
Original assignee: STEPASHEAD Ltd
Current assignee: STEPASHEAD Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-17
Filing date: 2006-06-17
Publication date: 2007-12-19
Also published as: GB0612011D0

Abstract

Game ball rack 2 is configured to set first group of balls 12 in a triangle formation or second group of balls 22 in a diamond formation. Rack 2 has a modified triangular shape having three apexes A, B, C and three sides 4, 6, 8. Base side 4 of the rack includes a convex portion defining an extra apex D opposite apex B. In use, first group of balls 12 are set in a triangular formation bounded by the sides 4, 6, 8 with no balls being positioned in extra apex D. Alternatively, second group of balls 22 are set in a diamond formation defined by apex B and extra apex D and sides 6 and 8, with no balls being positioned in apexes A or C. First group of balls 12 may comprise 15 balls for playing a two player game and second set 22 may comprise 16 balls for playing a three player game. The rack 2 may be of a unitary construction, may be made of plastics material, and/or may be intended to set the balls 12, 22 for a pool type table game played with a cue.

Description

Ball Rack This invention relates to a ball rack for ball games played

on a table with a cue. In particular the invention relates to a ball rack which can be used to a group of balls into a first triangle-shaped configuration and into a second diamond-shaped configuration balls.

Ball games which can be played on a table with a cue, such as billiards, snooker or pool, are conventionally two player games. These two player ball games often involve the use of one set of balls containing two subsets of differently marked balls. For example, two player fifteen pooi uses two differently marked subsets of seven balls (e.g. spots and stripes or reds and yellows), a black ball and a white cue ball.

At the beginning of the game, the set of balls is placed within a conventional triangle-shaped rack. The rack is dimensioned and shaped to receive the set of balls and to arrange the balls in a triangle-shaped formation. Continuing the example of two player fifteen ball pooi, the rack is dimensioned to receive all fifteen balls and is shaped so as to arrange the balls in a triangle-shaped formation. Once the balls have been placed within the rack, the is rack is moved to the desired location on the surface of the ball game table and then removed before the game begins, leaving the balls in the triangular arrangement.

A conventional ball rack cannot easily accept a third subset of balls to allow a third person to participate in a ball game. A second ball rack is therefore required to enable a third person to participate in the ball game. The second ball rack would need to be shaped and dimensioned to receive the three subsets of balls together and the black ball. Hence, in order to enable both two player and three player ball games to be played on a single ball game table, each ball game table would need to have a ball rack for the two player ball game and a ball rack for the three player ball game. This leads to extra complexity, cost and difficulties. For example, the ball game table would require additional storage space in order to accommodate both racks. Further, there is also an increased risk of one of the ball racks being lost.

The present invention therefore provides a single ball rack which can be used for both two player and at least three player table based ball games.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a ball rack for shaping a first group of balls into a triangle-shaped configuration and a second group of balls into a diamond-shaped configuration, in which the ball rack has a generally triangular shape having a first apex and includes a base having a convex portion with a second apex opposite the first apex, the ball rack defining an interior space, and in which the ball rack defines a triangle-shaped part of the interior space which is sized to receive the first group of balls and the ball rack also defines a diamond-shaped part of the interior space which is sized to receive the second group of balls.

As the ball rack is shaped and configured to allow two groups of balls to be arranged in different formations, the same ball rack can be used to set up the balls for both two player and more than two player ball games.

The ball rack of the present invention has the advantage that the ball rack enables the set of balls to be selected and arranged in two different configurations using a single rack. The players can therefore arrange the set of balls within the rack to have the required configuration for a particular game. The invention therefore has the advantage that a single ball rack can be used for more than one type of ball game played with a cue on the playing surface of a ball game table. The ball rack can be used to arrange sets of balls for both two and three player ball games. In particular, the ball rack can be used to arrange either a set of balls containing 15 balls or a set of balls containing 16 balls. The set of fifteen balls for a two player game can be arranged within the rack in a first triangle-shaped configuration. The set of sixteen balls for a three player game can be arranged within the rack into a second diamond-shaped configuration. The required configuration for a particular ball game will depend on the number of players and the number of subsets of balls in the set.

For example, a set of balls containing 15 balls (e.g. two differently marked subsets of seven balls and a black ball) can be used in a two player game. At the beginning of the two-player ball game, the set of 15 balls can be placed within the first triangle-shaped portion of the interior space of the ball rack to arrange the 15 balls in a triangle-shaped configuration.

The triangle-shaped configuration of the 15 balls when placed within the first triangle-shaped of the ball rack is identical to the triangle-shaped configuration of the 15 balls provided by a conventional triangle-shaped rack.

Each of the side members has an inner surface and an outer surface. The balls are arranged within the first triangle-shaped cavity of the rack so that the inner surfaces of each of the three apexes of the triangle formed by the end portions of each of the three side members is in contact with a ball. The inner surfaces of the second and third side members are each contacted with three further balls which are positioned between the balls positioned in contact with the inner surfaces of the apexes of the rack and aligned parallel to the inner surface of the side members. Three balls are positioned between the balls positioned in contact with the inner surfaces of the apexes of the rack formed by the end portions of the first side member and aligned parallel to a line joining the end portions of the first side member. Three further balls are arranged in a triangle configuration and positioned in the centre of the first triangle-shaped cavity.

The dimensions of the first triangle-shaped cavity provided by the ball rack depend on the dimensions of the balls, for example snooker balls or billiard balls, used in the ball game.

The length of the inner surface of each of the side members of the ball rack, when measured along a line extending between two apexes of the triangle-shaped cavity, is generally slightly greater than about five times the diameter of the balls of the ball game.

For example, a full size snooker ball has a diameter of about 52.5 mm. A rack for a game of snooker can therefore provide a first triangle-shaped cavity having a length when measured along a line joining two apexes of the cavity of at least about 262.5 mm, for example about 270 mm. A billiard ball has a diameter of about 57.2 mm. A rack for a game of billiards can therefore provide a first triangle-shaped cavity having a length when measured along a line joining two apexes of the first triangle-shaped cavity of at least about 286 mm, for example about 290 mm. The length of the cavity when measured along a line joining two apexes of the cavity is equal to the length of the inner surface of each of the side members of the ball rack.

For a two player ball game, the ball rack is placed on the playing surface of the ball game table. The fourth apex of the ball rack is positioned to point towards a first end of a ball game table. The player places fifteen balls within the first triangle-shaped cavity of the ball rack and arranged into a triangle configuration. The player then slides the rack into position on the playing surface of the ball game table. The rack can be positioned by sliding the rack so that the fourth apex is brought towards the first end of the ball game table. By sliding the rack along the playing surface of the ball game table any spaces between adjacent balls can be minimized. Once in position, the player lifts the rack vertically above the surface of the ball game table so as to provide the balls in a triangular configuration at the desired location on the playing surface of the ball game table.

A set of balls containing sixteen balls can be used in a three player game. Each player has a differently marked subset containing five balls. The sixteen balls (eg. the three subsets is of five balls and the black ball) are placed within the diamond shaped portion of the interior space of the ball rack so as to be arranged in a diamond-shaped configuration.

The balls can be arranged within the rack so that three balls are placed in a triangle-shaped configuration within the second triangle-shaped cavity of the rack and thirteen balls are placed within the first triangle-shaped cavity. The thirteen balls placed within the first triangle-shaped cavity are arranged so that the apexes formed by the end portions of the first member with the end portions of each of the second and third side members are not contacted with a ball. For example, the player can arrange the sixteen balls into a diamond-shaped configuration within the rack by initially placing fifteen of the balls in a triangle-shaped formation within the first triangle-shaped cavity of the rack. The sixteenth ball is placed within the second triangle-shaped cavity. The two balls which are in contact with the apexes which are formed by the end portions of the first side member with the end portions of each of the second and third side members are removed from the first triangle-shaped cavity and placed within the second triangle-shaped cavity of the rack so that the sixteen balls are arranged in a diamond-shaped configuration.

For a three player ball game, the ball rack is placed on the playing surface of the ball game table. The fourth apex of the ball rack is positioned to point towards a first end of a ball game table. The player places the sixteen balls within the rack in the diamond configuration. The player then slides the rack into position on the surface of the ball game table. The rack can be positioned by sliding the rack so that the fourth apex is brought towards the first end of the ball game table. By sliding the rack along the surface of the ball game table any spaces between adjacent balls can be minimized. Once in position, the player lifts the rack vertically above the playing surface of the ball game table so as to provide the balls in a diamond-shaped configuration at the desired location on the playing surface of the ball game table.

The dimensions of the second triangle-shaped cavity depend on the dimensions of the balls. The second triangle-shaped cavity is dimensioned to receive three balls in a triangle-shape configuration.

The rack can be formed as a single unit, that is it can have a unitary construction.

Alternatively, the rack can be formed from a plurality of separate components which connect together to form the rack. The rack can be made of any suitable material such as plastic, metal, such as, for example, stainless steel, or wood. Preferably the ball rack is made of a moulded plastic.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for playing a first ball game and a second ball game, comprising a first group of balls arrangeable in a triangle shaped configuration; a second group of balls arrangeable in a diamond shaped configuration; and a ball rack according to the preceding aspect of the invention.

The apparatus can further comprise a table on which a ball game can be played with a cue.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of arranging balls for a ball game comprising placing a ball rack according to the first aspect of the invention on a playing surface; and placing a group of balls to be used in the ball game within the ball rack.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a view from above of a ball rack according to the invention being used to arrange fifteen balls for a two player ball game; and Figure 2 shows a view from above of the ball rack of Figure 1 being used to arrange sixteen balls for a three player ball game.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the ball rack 2 is formed as a single unit comprising first 4, second 6 and third 8 side members. The ball rack has a generally triangular shape with a base portion 4 including a convex part which defines a concave triangular part of the interior space of the rack. Strictly speaking, the ball rack can be described as a concave simple hexagon. The ball rack 2 is dimensioned to receive fifteen or sixteen standard sized pool balls. The rack 2 is moulded from a plastics material. The first, second and third side members 4, 6 and 8 have first end portions 4a, 6a and 8a and a second end portions 4b, 6b and 8b respectively. The side members 4, 6 and 8 are interconnected at their end portions 4a, 4b, 6a,6b, 8a and 8b to form three apexes A, B and C of a triangle.

The first side member 4 is shaped to provide a fourth apex D positioned directly opposite apex B which is formed between the first end portion 6a of the second side member 6 and the second end portion 8b of the third side member 8. The fourth apex D extends in the opposite direction to apex B. Each of the first 4, second 6 and third 8 side members has an inner surface 4c, 6c and 8c respectively. The inner surfaces 6c and 8c of the second 6 and third 8 side members of the rack together with a line L joining the end portions 4a and 4b of the first side member 4 provide a first triangle-shaped cavity 10. The first triangle-shaped cavity 10 is dimensioned to receive fifteen snooker balls 12 comprising two differently marked subsets of seven balls together with a black ball.

A second triangle-shaped cavity 14 is provided between the portion of the inner surface 4c of the first side member which forms the fourth apex D and a line L joining the first 4a and second 4b end portions of the first side member 4. The second triangle-shaped cavity 14 is sized to receive three snooker balls in a triangle formation.

In use, the player selects the number of subsets of balls to be used depending on the number of players taking part in the game. For example, the first game can involve two players. The player therefore selects fifteen balls 12 comprising two differently marked subsets of seven balls and a black ball.

The player places the ball rack 2 on the playing surface of the ball game table. The fifteen balls are placed within the first triangle-shaped cavity 10 of the ball rack 2. The inner surfaces of each of the three apexes A, B and C of the rack 2 are each contacted with a pool ball 12.

The inner surface 6c and 8c of each of the second 6 and third 8 side members is contacted with a further three balls 12 which are positioned between the two balls 12 located adjacent to the inner surfaces of apexes A and B or apexes B and C. A further three balls 12 are positioned parallel to a line Ljoining the end portions 4a and 4b of the first side member 4 and located between the two balls 12 which are adjacent to apexes A and C. These twelve balls 12 form the outer perimeter of the triangular configuration of the balls 12.

A further three balls 12 (including the black ball 16) are placed in a triangular configuration within the gap provided between the twelve balls 12 forming the outer perimeter of the triangular configuration of the balls 12.

Once the balls 12 have been arranged in the triangular configuration within the rack 2, the player moves the rack 2 to the desired location on the playing surface of the ball game table generally in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. Once in position, the player removes the rack 2 in a generally vertical direction from the table surface leaving the balls 12 in the required triangular configuration for two player pooi.

The second game can involve three players. The player therefore selects sixteen balls 22 comprising three differently marked subsets of five balls and a black ball.

The player places the ball rack 2 on the playing surface of the ball game table. Thirteen pool balls 22 are placed within the first triangle-shaped cavity 10 of the ball rack 2. The inner surfaces of each of the three apexes A, B and C of the rack 2 are each contacted with a ball 22.

The inner surface 6c and 8c of each of the second 6 and third 8 side members is contacted with a further three balls 22 which are positioned between the two balls 22 located adjacent to the inner surfaces of apexes A and B or apexes B and C. A further three balls 22 (including the black ball 26) are positioned parallel to a line L joining the end portions 4a and 4b of the first side member 4. A further three balls 22 are placed in a triangular configuration in the concave triangular space below the twelve balls 22 so that the sixteen balls 22 are arranged in a diamond-shaped configuration.

Once the balls 22 have been arranged in the diamond-shaped configuration within the rack 2, the player moves the rack 2 to the desired location on the ball game surface of the ball game table as generally indicated by the arrows in Figure 2. Once in position, the player removes the rack 2 from the balls 22 in a generally vertical direction from the playing surface, leaving the balls 22 in the required diamond-shaped configuration for three player pool.

An example of using the ball rack to allow a two player pooi game or three player pooi game to be played has been described above. However, it will be appreciated that the invention does not have to be limited to any particular type of table based ball game. It will also be appreciated, that the invention is not limited to 15 ball and 16 ball configurations only or to two player and three player games only. Rather, the invention can be used with any numbers of groups of balls which can be arranged in triangular and diamond formations respectively to allow different numbers of players to participate in the same game.

Claims

Claims: 1. A ball rack for shaping a first group of balls into a

triangle-shaped configuration for a two player ball game and a second group of balls into a diamond-shaped configuration for a three player ball game, in which the ball rack has a generally triangular shape having a first apex and includes a base having a convex portion with a second apex opposite the first apex, the ball rack defining an interior space, and in which the ball rack defines a triangle-shaped part of the interior space which is sized to receive the first group of balls and the ball rack also defines a diamond-shaped part of the interior space which is sized to receive the second group of balls.

2. A ball rack as claimed in claim 1, in which the first group of balls comprises fifteen balls and the second group of balls comprises sixteen balls.

3. A ball rack as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ball rack comprises: first, second and third side members which are connected to form three apexes of a triangle, and in which the first side member provides the base and is shaped to provide the second apex directly opposite to and extending in the opposite direction from the first apex of the triangle which is formed by the end portions of the second and third side members.

4. The ball rack as claimed in claim 3, in which the triangle-shaped part of the interior space is defined by a line joining the ends of the first side member and the second and third side members.

5. The ball rack of claim 3 or 4, in which in which a second triangle-shaped part of the interior space is defined by a line joining the ends of the first side member and the convex portion of the first member.

6. The ball rack of claim 5, wherein the second triangle-shaped part cavity which is sized to receive three balls of the second group of balls.

7. The ball rack of any preceding claim, wherein the ball rack has a unitary construction.

8. The ball rack of any preceding claim, wherein the ball rack is made of a plastic.

9. An apparatus for playing a first ball game and a second ball game, the apparatus comprising: a first group of balls arrangeable in a triangle shaped configuration; a second group of balls arrangeable in a diamond shaped configuration; and a ball rack as claimed in any preceding claim.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and further comprising a table on which a ball game can be played with a cue.

11. A method of arranging balls for a ball game comprising: (i) placing a ball rack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 on a playing surface; and (ii) placing a group of balls to be used in the ball game within the ball rack.

12. A ball rack substantially as hereinbefore described.