Billiard ball rack

Abstract

A device for racking 15 regulation billiard balls includes a frame of substantially equilateral triangular shape having a forward apex and an oppositely located rear wall which pivotably supports an elongated compression plate adapted to be forced manually upon the rearward row of balls confined within the frame. The compression plate applies a downward and forward force upon the rearward row of balls, causing all the balls to be driven toward the forward apex in intercontacting relationship. The frame is dimensioned such that, when the balls are forwardly driven, a clearance space is formed between the rearward row of balls and the back wall. The clearance space permits slight forward movement of the device during its removal from the balls.

1 ) A billiard ball rack device comprising: 
 a) a frame comprised of two straight side walls which converge at a 60 degree angle to produce a forward apex, and extend rearward to divergently separated rear extremities, and a straight back wall which joins said rear extremities in coplanar juxtaposition with said side walls to produce a frame of substantially equilateral triangular shape defining an enclosed interior region which accommodates 15 regulation billiard balls in closely packed formation wherein a rearward row of 5 balls is positioned adjacent said back wall,    b) an elongated flat compression plate disposed against the interiorly directed surface of said back wall and bounded in part by a straight upper edge located above said back wall, and a lower edge pivotably joined to said back wall in a manner permitting forward and downward rotative movement of said compression plate in an arcuate path orthogonal to the plane of said frame, and    c) restoring means interactive between said back wall and compression plate and biasing said compression plate toward said back wall, whereby    d) manual pushing force applied to said compression plate causes said compression plate to contact said rearward row of balls with a downward and forward force in a manner which drives all the balls within said interior region toward said apex and into intercontacting relationship.    
   
   
       2 ) The billiard ball rack device of  claim 1  wherein said frame is dimensioned such that, when said billiard balls are driven toward said apex by said compression plate, a space is caused to exist between said rearward row of  5  balls and said back wall, said space permitting slight forward movement of said device upon removal from said intercontacting balls.  
   
   
       3 ) The billiard ball rack device of  claim 2  wherein said restoring means is two spaced apart coil springs.  
   
   
       4 ) The billiard ball rack device of  claim 3  wherein said frame is of continuous integral construction.  
   
   
       5 ) The billiard ball rack of  claim 3  wherein said compression plate contacts the forwardly driven rear balls at an angle between 60 and 70 degrees from horizontal.