snooker, pool or billiards ball rack

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device such as a snooker, pool or billiards ball rack for setting such balls in a formation for play. The device comprises a frame for receiving said balls and positioning the balls in formation. A display member is also provided which has indicia provided thereon and which is mountable to the frame to display said indicia. The indicia is typically in the form of commercial advertising indicia and/or corporate trade marks and/or logos, but may also convey a variety of information to the players and/or spectators of the game of snooker, pool or billiards.

1 . A device for arranging pool, snooker or billiard balls, the device comprising; a frame for receiving said balls; and a display member having indicia provided thereon and mountable to said frame to display said indicia. 
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises at least one wall member arranged to form a cavity into which said balls are received. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one wall member has at least an inner and an outer surface. 
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 3 , wherein the display member is detachably mounted to the outer surface of the at least one wall member. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the display member is a body bearing commercial advertising indicia and/or corporate trade marks and/or logos. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the body is made from a flexible material adaptable to conform to the outer surface of the at least one wall member. 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the flexible material extends around at least a part of the frame. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the flexible material is cardboard, paper or similar material upon which the indicia is applied. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein a retainer element is provided to extend at least partially over the display member. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the retainer element retains the display member in position substantially against the outer surface of the at least one wall member. 
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the retainer element engages with the at least one wall member to retain the display member in position substantially against the outer surface of the at least one wall member. 
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 11 , wherein the retainer element is disengagable from the at least one wall member to facilitate removal and/or replacement of the display member. 
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the retainer element is made from a clear plastic material such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA or Perspex®). 
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the display member is a clip element detachably mountable to at least a portion of the frame. 
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the clip element is configured to receive a body bearing indicia, such as commercial advertising indicia and/or corporate trade marks and/or logos. 
   
   
       16 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the body is a strip of flexible material. 
   
   
       17 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the flexible material is cardboard, paper or similar material upon which the indicia is applied. 
   
   
       18 . A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the clip element is arranged such that said indicia is provided integral with the clip element. 
   
   
       19 . A device for arranging pool, snooker or billiard balls, the device comprising; a frame for receiving said balls; and a cleaning member, said cleaning member being connectable to at least a portion of the frame. 
   
   
       20 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein the frame comprises at least one wall member arranged to form a cavity into which said balls are received. 
   
   
       21 . A device according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one wall member has at least an inner and an outer surface. 
   
   
       22 . A device according to  claim 21 , wherein the cleaning member is connectable to the outer surface of the at least one wall member. 
   
   
       23 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein the cleaning member comprises a brush member 
   
   
       24 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein the cleaning member comprises a wiper member. 
   
   
       25 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein the cleaning member comprises a combination brush member and a wiper member. 
   
   
       26 . A device according to  claim 23 , wherein the cleaning member is detachably connectable to said frame. 
   
   
       27 . A device according to  claim 26 , wherein said frame comprises a receiving means to receive the cleaning member. 
   
   
       28 . A device according to  claim 27 , wherein the receiving means includes one or more elongate runners configured to engage with one or more corresponding channels provided on said cleaning member. 
   
   
       29 . A device according to  claim 28 , wherein the one or more corresponding channels are slidably received by the one or more elongate runners to connect the cleaning member to the frame. 
   
   
       30 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein the frame is a triangular frame and the cleaning member extends from a first end to a second end of one side of the triangular frame. 
   
   
       31 . A device for arranging pool, snooker or billiard balls, the device comprising; a frame for receiving said balls; a display member mountable to a first portion of the frame to display indicia; and a cleaning member connected to a second portion of the frame.