GB2234914A - A snooker triangle - Google Patents

Abstract

A snooker triangle comprises a substantially triangular former (1) adapted, in use to loosely accommodate a pack of snooker balls, and a wedge member (3) adapted in use to be removably inserted between one side of the former and the pack of balls. The wedge member 3 may include a cushion material. The member 3 may be secured to the former 3 such that it can pivot about its longitudinal axis from a position in which it extends outside the former 3 to a wedge forming position inside the former 3 (Figure 4). <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION SNOOKER TRIANGLE The present invention relates to an improvement in snooker triangles.For the avoidance of doubt the snooker triangle of the present invention may be used in the games of snooker and pool.

At the start of a game of snooker the red balls are shaped into a triangular pack with sides of equal length (in the full size game each side of the triangle is five balls in length) which is then positioned immediately above the pink ball spot towards the top end of the table. The balls must each be touching their immediate neighbours in the pack, with no one ball standing proud of the sides of the pack, and, ideally, should be evenly compacted together throughout the pack. In order to shape the red balls into a triangle a snooker triangle is used. In a conventional snooker triangle each side of the triangle is slightly longer, perhaps O.5cms, than the sides of the pack formed by the red balls. This is considered to allow sufficient clearance for the snooker triangle to be removed from around the red balls.

Using a conventional snooker triangle when the balls are racked the snooker triangle must be moved back and forth over the surface of the table to force the balls into one corner of the snooker triangle. If this is not done with care the balls will not each be touching their immediate neighbours.

In any event, using this technique, it is virtually impossible to ensure that the compaction of balls is even throughout the pack. Although the snooker triangle is slightly oversized to facilitate its removal from around the pack it is not uncommon for one or more of the red balls, particularly those at the corners of the pack to be disturbed. \lhffl this occurs the red balls should be reracked. Often, however, this is not done because the degree of disturbance of the red balls is not readily apparent, although the effect on the balls when the pack is split at the start of the game often is.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a snooker triangle which provides sufficient clearance to allow it to be removed from around the red balls without disturbing them and yet ensures that the balls are always evenly compacted together.

According to the present invention there is provided a snooker triangle comprising a substantially triangular former adapted, in use to loosely accommodate a pack of snooker balls, and a wedge member adapted in use to be removably inserted between one side of the former and the pack of balls.

In use, the balls are placed within the triangular former and the wedge member is then inserted between one side of the triangular former and the pack of balls to compact the balls towards the opposite apex of the triangular former. The wedge need not be pressed in hard to compact the balls together, its own weight will generally be sufficient. It will be understood though that the extent to which the wedge member is impacted between the balls and the side of the triangular former will determine the degree of compaction of the balls in the pack. Now that the balls have been shaped into a triangular pack the wedge member can be removed to leave a clearance between one side of the triangular former and one side of the pack.This clearance allows the triangular former to be slid forward over the table top until it is clear of the pack on all sides, whereupon it can be lifted away to leave the pack in position and undisturbed on the table.

Preferably, the length of each internal side of the triangular former is at least one ball longer than the length of each side of the pack of balls to be formed. It has been found that this provides sufficient clearance for the triangular former to be removed without disturbing the pack, and it also allows the six colur balls used in snooker to be stored with the red balls in the triangular former.

Preferably, the wedge member comprises a flap which is connected to the triangular former by means of a hinge or pivot,thereby enabling the flap to be moved into and out of engagement with the pack of balls without becoming separated from the triangular former.

Preferably, the flap is hinged or pivoted about its longitudinal axis relative to one side of the triangular former.

Preferably, the wedge member is cushioned to prevent the balls from being damaged in any way as it is wedged between the balls and the triangular former.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a snooker triangle according to a first embodiment of the present invention with the wedge in position; Fig. 2 shows a plan vie of the snooker triangle of Fig. 1 with the wedge removed; Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the wedge of the snooker triangle of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 shows a plan view of a snooker triangle according to a second embodiment of the present invention with the wedge pivoted out of engagement with the balls.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings there is shown a snooker triangle embodying the present invention comprising a triangular shaped former 1 for shaping a plurality of balls 2 into a triangular pack, and a wedge member 3. The sides of the triangular former 1 are each of equal length and are approximately one ball greater in length than the sides of the triangular pack formed by the balls 1. Otherwise, the triangular former 1 is very much the same as a conventional snooker triangle.

As can be seen in Fig. 3, in section the wedge member 3 defines an inclined face 4 which is covered with a soft cushion material 5. This cushion material provides inclined face with a degree of resilience and ensures that the balls are not damaged or scratched by it. At its widest point the distance between the inclined face 4 and the opposite side 6 of the wedge member 3 is greater than the diameter of one of the balls 1.

The length of the wedge member 3 is slightly less than that of the sides of the triangular former 1 and the wedge member 3 is adapted to be received within the triangular former 1 between a side thereof and the pack of balls 1. A hook member 7 at each end of the wedge member 3 enables it to be lifted in and out of the former 1 and to be hung up after use.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 the method of operation of the snooker triangle embodying the present invention will now be described.

Initially, balls 2 are loosely positioned within the triangular former 1 and the wedge member 3 is then inserted between one side of the former 1 and the balls 2 to force the balls 2 into the opposite corner of the former 1. In this way the balls are tightly compacted into a triangular pack between the inclined face 4 of the wedge member 3 and the opposite sides of the former 1. The wedge member 3 need not be pressed in hard to compact the balls 2 together; its own weight will generally be sufficient to force the balls 2 together.

Obviously, however, the extent to which the wedge member 3 is inserted determines the degree of compaction between the balls 2 in the pack.

Once the balls 2 have been shaped into a triangular pack the wedge member 3 is removed to leave a clearance between the triangular former 1 and the pack of balls.

This clearance allows the triangular former 1 to be slid forward of the pack of balls 2 until it is clear of the pack on the other two sides, whereupon it can be lifted away to leave the pack in position and undisturbed upon the table.

.The snooker triangle of the present invention ensures that the balls are always evently compacted together, with each ball touching its immediate neighbours.

Moreover, the extra clearance between the rear face of the pack of balls and the opposing side of the former, made possible by the use of the wedge member, ensures that the former can always be lifted clear of the pack without disturbing the balls.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings there is shown a snooker triangle according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The snooker triangle comprises a triangular shaped former 8 for shaping a plurality of balls 9 into a triangular pack and a wedge member in the form of a flap 10 which is mounted on a pin 11 pivotally secured at each end in a respective side of the triangular former. The flap 10 can be pivoted about the longitudinal axis of the pin 11 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to a position in which it lies within the triangular former 8, and is of sufficient width to ensure that its forward edge 12 rests on the back row of the triangular pack of balls 9 contained within the triangular former 8. This pushes tfle balls 9 forward and compacts them towards the apex of the triangular former 8. In order to prevent the balls 9 from being damaged by the flap 10 it is covered with a soft cushion material- 13.

Claims (6)

1. A snooker triangle comprising a substantially triangular former adapted, in use to loosely accommodate a pack of snooker balls, and a wedge member adapted in use to be removably inserted between one side of the former and the pack of balls.

2. A snooker triangle according to claim 1, wherein the length of each internal side of the triangular former is at least one ball longer than the length of each side of the pack of balls to be formed.

g. A snooker triangle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wedge member comprises a flap which is connected to the triangular former by means of a hinge or pivot, thereby enabling the flap to be moved into and out of engagement with the pack of balls without becoming separated from the trinagular former.

4. A snooker triangle according to claim ), wherein the flap is hinged or pivoted about its longitudinal axis relative to one side of the triangular former.

5. A snooker triangle according to any preceding claim, wherein the wedge member is cushioned to prevent the balls from being damaged in any way as it is wedged between the balls and the triangular former.

6. A snooker triangle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.