Billiard rack

Abstract

A cue sport ball rack comprises a frame and at least one protector that protrudes in at least two directions from the frame for shielding the frame from damage if the frame is dropped. The protector may have portions protruding in opposite directions generally transversely to the centerplane of the frame, and also preferably in directions parallel to the centerplane and out beyond outermost side surfaces of the frame. The frame may have corners, with a protector at or near each of said corners. The protectors may be part of, or attached to, the connectors that rigidly and securely connect bars together in a triangular shape. The protectors may be detachable and replaceable, for repair or replacement and to alter the appearance/style of the rack and/or indicia on the protectors.

1 . A cue sport ball rack comprising:
 a frame surrounding an interior space for receiving balls to be racked;   a protector assembly connected to the frame and extending at least two directions from the frame and comprising at least one removable and replaceable knob to shield the frame from impact.   
     
     
         2 . A rack as in  claim 1 , wherein the frame has a centerplane and an outermost surface and said protector assembly comprises two of said removable and replacement knobs, and wherein a first of said knobs protrudes from the frame generally transversely to the centerplane and a second of said knobs protrudes from the frame generally transversely to the centerplane of the frame in a direction generally opposite of said first knob, and wherein both of said first and second knobs also extend generally parallel to said centerplane away from the interior space and beyond said outermost surface, to further protect the frame from impact. 
     
     
         3 . A rack as in  claim 1 , wherein the frame has an outer perimeter with corners and one of said protector assemblies is connected to the frame at or near each of said corners. 
     
     
         4 . A rack as in  claim 2 , wherein the frame has an outer perimeter with corners and the rack comprises multiple of said protector assemblies, wherein one of said protector assemblies is connected to the frame at or near each of said corners, so that said protector assembly of each corner comprises a first knob and second knob that extend generally transversely to the centerplane in generally opposite directions from the frame and that also extend generally parallel to the centerplane out beyond the outer perimeter. 
     
     
         5 . A rack as in  claim 3 , wherein said protector assemblies are connected to the corners by a first pin that has threading at least at its ends, and that extends through the side bars of the frame at each of said corners. 
     
     
         6 . A rack as in  claim 5 , further comprising a second pin that is press-fit into the frame at each of said corners to hold the side bars of the frame together at said corners. 
     
     
         7 . A rack as in  claim 1 , wherein said knob has a smooth platform surface facing away from the frame for being placed on a horizontal surface for supporting the frame a distance above the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         8 . A rack as in  claim 4 , wherein said first knobs and said second knobs of each of said protector assemblies each has a smooth platform surface facing away from the frame so that the rack is adapted to be placed on a horizontal surface in a first position with the first knobs supporting the frame a distance above the horizontal surface, and in a second position 180 degrees from the first position with the second knobs supporting the frame a distance above the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         9 . A rack as in  claim 8 , wherein the distance above the horizontal surface is the length of the protectors assemblies measured from the rack in a direction transverse to the centerplane of the frame. 
     
     
         10 . A rack as in  claim 4 , wherein said first knob and said second knob of each of the protector assemblies are selected from the group consisting of: a knob with a stem and a cap, the cap comprising a platform surface upon which the rack is set; a spherical knob; a conical knob; a truncated conical knob; and a cylindrical knob. 
     
     
         11 . A rack as in  claim 10 , wherein the first knob and second knob are the same shape and size. 
     
     
         12 . A rack as in  claim 10 , wherein the first knob and second knob are different shapes or sizes. 
     
     
         13 . A rack as in  claim 4 , wherein the frame is triangular and has three corners, with one of said protector assemblies being connected to the rack at each corner. 
     
     
         14 . A rack as in  claim 13 , wherein the frame is made of three elongated bars, each bar having a tab at each end of the bar, and the tabs are connected by at least one pin. 
     
     
         15 . A rack as in  claim 14 , wherein said at least one pin comprises a first pin at each corner that comprises threading at least at its ends and that connects the first knob and the second knob of the protector assemblies to the frame, and a second pin that is press-fit into the tabs of the bars at each of said corners. 
     
     
         16 . A cue sport ball rack comprising:
 a frame surrounding an interior space for receiving balls to be racked, the frame having a top side, a bottom side, a centerplane, and an outer perimeter;   a protector assembly connected to the frame, the protector assembly comprising a first knob extending upward from the top side of the frame and a second knob being directly below said first knob and extending downward from the bottom side of the frame, where each of said first knob and said second knob also extends outward from the frame beyond the outer perimeter of the frame in a direction generally parallel to the centerplane of the frame to shield the frame from impact.   
     
     
         17 . A rack as in  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of said protector assemblies spaced around the frame. 
     
     
         18 . A rack as in  claim 17 , wherein the frame is triangular and has three corners, and wherein one of said protector assemblies is at each of said corners. 
     
     
         19 . A rack as in  claim 18 , wherein the first knob is detachable and replaceable with a third knob that extends upward and outward from the frame, and the second knob is detachable and replaceable with a fourth knob that extends downward and outward from the frame. 
     
     
         20 . A rack as in  claim 19 , wherein at least a plurality of the knobs comprise a surface having indicia. 
     
     
         21 . A rack as in  claim 18 , wherein the triangular frame is made of three elongated bars connected together at the three corners, each bar having a longitudinal axis, a planar inside surface, and opposing ends that each comprising a tab extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar, and wherein the tabs of the bars are fastened together to form the corners of the frame by at least one pin. 
     
     
         22 . A rack as in  claim 21 , wherein the at least one pin fastens the knobs to the frame. 
     
     
         23 . A cue sport ball rack system comprising a rack that comprises:
 a triangular frame surrounding an interior space for receiving balls to be racked, the frame having a top side, a bottom side, a centerplane, and an outer perimeter that is generally triangular;   a plurality of protector assemblies connected to the frame at the corners, each protector assembly comprising a first knob extending upward from the top side of the frame and a second knob being directly below said first knob and extending downward from the bottom side of the frame, where each of said first knob and said second knob also extends outward from the frame beyond the outer perimeter of the frame in a direction generally parallel to the centerplane of the frame so that the rack rests in a first position wherein the first knob of each protection assembly is on a horizontal surface and holding the frame horizontally and above said horizontal surface, and in a second position flipped 180 degrees from the first position wherein the second knob of each protection assembly is on the horizontal surface and holding the frame horizontally and above said horizontal surface.   
     
     
         24 . A rack system as in  claim 23 , wherein the first knob and second knob of each protector assembly are threadably connected to the corners of the frame by a threaded pin extending through the corner of the frame so that the first knobs and second knobs are detachable for replacement with alternative knobs having different shapes, color, or indicia. 
     
     
         25 . A rack system as in  claim 23 , wherein the rack comprises three elongated bars connected together at their ends to form said triangular frame, the bars having apertures through the bars from the top side to the bottom side of the frame, and the rack system further comprises a mounting bracket having a bracket plate for being connected to a generally vertical surface, wherein the bracket plate further comprises multiple posts received in said apertures for hanging the rack on the mounting bracket, and wherein the posts comprise a non-metal surface contacting the rack to prevent damage of the rack. 
     
     
         26 . A rack system as in  claim 25 , wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a front plate connected to the bracket plate so that it is in the interior space of the rack, wherein the front plate comprises indicia that is visible through the frame of the rack.