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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to racks for organizing balls at the beginning of a cue sport game or contest, and, more particularly, to racks for placing the balls in a compact and consistent grouping prior to the break shot, which is the first shot of the game/contest. The invention relates to a very accurate and precise rack that is adapted to include corner members that may serve multiple purposes. The corner members may protect the main rack structure, for example, in the event of the rack being dropped. Also, the corner members may be removable and interchangeable, for example, for repair, for changeable display of indicia such as graphics or words for advertising or award/trophy purposes, and/or for enhancement of a stylistic or ornamental effect.

2. Related Art

Many cue sports, also called “billiard games” including traditional billiards, pocket pool, and other cue games, typically utilize a rack for organizing the balls in a predetermined arrangement at the beginning of the game. In many of these games, the balls are grouped in a triangular arrangement, and a cue ball is used to impact and break apart the group to begin the game. Traditionally, many racks are simple, open-top and open-bottom triangular shape, typically made of wood, some having one or more outwardly-curved edges for being grasped by the user. Some more recent designs include complex mechanisms for forcing the balls into a tight grouping and/or for aligning the rack relative to the edges of the billiard table. In some racks, small gliders are placed on the bottom side of the rack, or legs on placed on the bottom side of the rack (Sardelli U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,919), but the diameter of the sliders and legs (including the “feet” of the legs) are so small that they do not protrude to the side any significant amount and do not protrude out beyond the outer perimeter of the rack.

Mounting of conventional ball racks on a wall or other vertical surface is typically done with a single peg over which a corner of the rack is placed. The rack hangs on the peg and may swing parallel to the wall plane, due to the rack loosely receiving the peg in its relatively much larger, triangular, interior space.

There is a need for an extremely accurate and precise billiard rack with protective structure, which may be used with confidence that the accuracy and precision will remain intact even if the rack has been dropped or bumped. There is a need for such a rack that has a sleek and modern appearance and/or additional structural features that allow addition or changes in style, indicia, and trophy/award features. In addition, there is a need for an improved mounting system that may be optionally used for hanging the rack on a wall or other vertical surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invented cue sport ball rack comprises a frame surrounding a space for receiving balls, and at least one protector that protrudes in at least two directions from the frame, for shielding the frame from damage. The frame may be made of multiple sections joined at connections, and the at least one protector may be at or near said connection(s). The frame may be of various shapes, for example, triangular, diamond-shaped, circular, hexagonal, or other shapes, and of various sizes, as desired for a particular game depending on the number and size of balls and the arrangement of the balls at the time of the break shot.

The frame is typically a generally flat frame much wider and deeper than thick, and so may be said have a frame plane, which, when lying on a horizontal table, is also horizontal. As the frame has some thickness and the thickness is generally consistent, one may describe a frame centerplane as the plane extending through the frame half way between the top surface of the plane and the bottom surface. The at least one protector has portions protruding in generally opposite directions generally transversely to the centerplane of the frame, specifically in generally opposite directions beyond the upper surface and the lower surface of the frame. Preferably, said protector portions also protrude generally parallel to the centerplane of the frame, out beyond the outermost side surface of the frame. Therefore, when the frame is resting in a horizontal position, where the frame centerplane is horizontal, said portions may be described as protruding upward and downward from the frame and also horizontally out beyond the outermost extremity of the frame. This way, the protector portions protrude in multiple directions beyond the frame, protecting the frame from direct impact if the rack is dropped or bumped.

In many embodiments, the frame is formed in a geometric shape, such as a triangle or a diamond that has corners, wherein the at least one protector is at or near at least one of said corners. The corners may be of various angles, for example, in the range of 20-160 degrees and more typically 45-135 degrees. A preferred rack that may be used in billiards or pocket pool, for example, comprises an equilateral-triangular frame, with three equal corners, that is, three 60 degree corners. Alternative racks may include corners of different angles, for example, a diamond-shaped rack for a 9-ball game typically has two 45 degree corners and two 135 degree corners.

The especially-preferred equilateral-triangle rack comprises three bar members rigidly connected at the three corners, and protectors that are connected to the frame at each of the corners. Preferably, the protectors are part of, or attached to, the connectors that rigidly and securely connect the bars together in the triangular shape. The especially-preferred protectors comprise portions that protrude vertically up above the upper extremity of the frame and vertically below the lower extremity of the frame, when the frame is in its horizontal orientation, and also beyond the outer side planes of both “adjacent” side bars (meaning the side bars forming the corner). This way, when the rack is dropped or bumped, one or more protectors are more likely to hit or be hit than the bars, and the frame is substantially protected from direct impact of the side bars.

In most embodiments, the protectors are detachable and replaceable, so that the protectors may be replaced if gouged or otherwise damaged. Also, protectors may be replaced or interchanged to change the appearance/style of the rack, as desired, and/or so that different indicia on one or more of the protectors may be added or changed.

In many embodiments, the protectors comprise a first and a second knob protruding in opposite (180 degrees opposed) directions from each of the corners of the frame. In certain embodiments, each knob has a cap portion having a generally rounded or otherwise smooth platform forming an upper or lower extremity of the knob (when viewed with the frame horizontal). This way, the rack may be placed on a billiard/pool table in two positions for use in racking the balls, that is, in a first position with the first knobs of each corner on the table/surface, or in a second position flipped 180 degrees with the second knobs of each corner on the table. This way, the shape of the preferred frame and protectors is the same, regardless of whether the frame is “right-side-up” or “upside down”. With the rack resting on said smooth knob platforms, neither said resting or movement of the rack will damage the table/surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the invented ball rack for a cue sport.

FIG. 2A portrays the rack of FIG. 1 resting vertically on example two protector assemblies on a table.

FIG. 2B portrays the rack of FIG. 1 being dropped on a table, wherein one of the protector assemblies protects the frame of the rack.

FIG. 3 is a partially-exploded, perspective view of one corner of the rack of FIG. 1, wherein the upper knob and the lower knob have been screwed off of the frame.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the corner of FIG. 3, wherein the frame bars and fasteners/pins are also detached from each other.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the rack of FIG. 1 resting on a billiards table, wherein the lower knobs of the three protector assemblies rest on the table and balls in dashed lines are included for illustration of how the rack would be used. Note that the frame is raised above and does not touch the table due to the protector assemblies extending downward to support the frame.

FIG. 6A are perspective partial views of various, but not all possible, embodiments of protector assemblies provided on a corner of a rack frame.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an alternative rack that includes apertures through the frame from top to bottom.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the rack of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the rack of FIGS. 7 and 8, viewed along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the rack of FIG. 1, wherein dashed-line circles are included to suggest that various apertures, recesses, mounds, or protrusions may be provided on the bars of the frame.

FIG. 11 is a top view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a rack similar to that in FIGS. 10 and 11, except showing an arrangement with an alternative number and spacing of apertures, recesses, mounds, or protrusions on the frame.

FIG. 13 is a top view of a rack similar to that in FIGS. 10-12, except showing an arrangement with an alternative number, spacing, and shape of apertures, recesses, mounds, or protrusions on the frame.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a rack with recesses, mounds, or protrusions on a side surface of the frame.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the frame of FIGS. 7-9, combined with an embodiments of a mounting bracket for mounting the rack on a vertical service.

FIG. 16 is a front view of the combination of rack and bracket of FIG. 15, as if the bracket is attached to a wall and the rack is temporarily hung on the bracket posts.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the rack and bracket combination of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a front view of the bracket of FIG. 15.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the bracket of FIG. 15.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, there are shown several, but not the only, embodiments of the invented ball rack for organizing cue sport balls into a grouping. FIG. 1 shows the preferred rack in perspective view, and FIG. 2A shows the rack resting with its plane (and, for that matter, its centerplane) vertically on a table or other horizontal surface, wherein the plane/centerplane are parallel to the paper sheet of the figure. It may be seen in FIG. 2A that the preferred protectors protrude beyond the outermost-extremity/outermost-perimeter of the frame, so that it is the protector assembly knobs that are resting on the table in FIG. 2A rather than any of the bars. The term “outermost-extremity” of the frame means the farthest-out surface or point of the frame in a particular direction from the center-axis of the frame. For example, in the triangular frame, the outside wall surfaces 18 and the outside corner surfaces 19 of the frame may be understood to form the outer perimeter of the frame and form the outermost extremities of the frame. FIGS. 2B and C show how the rack is substantially protected from impact and damage of the frame bars by the position, size and shape of the protectors of the rack. FIGS. 3 and 4 show details, including an exploded view of the preferred corner connections/assemblies of the preferred rack. FIG. 5 shows the rack in a side view, wherein one may see that the preferred protectors protrude beyond the outermost corner extremity of the rack. FIGS. 6A-F illustrate some, but not all, embodiments of protector assemblies, including alternative knobs for the protectors, and including protectors wherein the 180-degree-opposing knobs on a given corner may be the same or different. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate an embodiment that includes apertures through the rack frame from the top surface to the bottom surface of the frame. FIGS. 10-14 illustrate several but not all alternative apertures or recesses; the alternative apertures/recesses may be of various numbers, spacing, shapes, depths, and locations in one or more bars. FIGS. 15-18 illustrate the combination of the rack of FIGS. 7-9 with one embodiment of a bracket for mounting a rack on a wall or other generally vertical surface. FIGS. 19 and 20 show to best advantage the details of the mounting bracket embodiment of FIGS. 15-18.

Now specifically referring to the Figures and the call-out numbers thereon, preferred ball rack 10 is a triangular rack comprising a triangular frame 11 having three side bars 12 that surround an interior space 13 for receiving the balls. The side bars 12 may be connected together at corner joints or other connections, or alternatively may be integrally formed together in the triangular shape. Preferably, the side bars are separate bars, and each bar is machined to have an extremely-accurately-flat and -straight inside surface 17 and is adapted at its ends for extremely accurate and secure connection to the other bars. This way, the frame may be constructed so that each inside surface 17 is a flat plane that is vertical when the rack is on a horizontal surface, with any variance from a perfectly flat-plane surface being less than 2 thousandths of an inch. This way, there are no, or only extremely slight, “waves” or other irregularities in the inside surfaces 17 of the bars. Also, the accurate and secure connections between the bars do not allow the bars to shift, move, or wobble relative to each other. Thus, the accuracy of the surfaces that contact and contain the balls during racking, and their stability in position relative to each other at the appropriate distance, provide extremely accurate and precise racking, that is, placement of the balls in a perfect or nearly-perfect triangular grouping of balls in contact with each other that may be consistent and repeatable each time the rack is used.

Each bar 12 has inside surface 17, as described above, outer side surface 18, upper surface 32, and lower surface 34. The outer side surfaces 18 and upper and lower surfaces 32, 34, if not for the preferred protectors discussed below, would be exposed to damage upon nearly any significant dropping or impact of the rack. It is most important that inside surface 17 be very flat and smooth, as discussed above. The other surfaces 18, 32, and 34 in are also preferably flat and smooth and continuous, but in alternative embodiments may have curvature, grooves, ridges, recesses or apertures, etching, engraving, indicia, and/or ornamentation as desired. In use, only inside surfaces 17 normally contact the balls, as is illustrated in FIG. 5.

At each corner is a protector assembly 14 that includes first and second knobs 20, 20′ wherein each of the first and second knobs protrude generally transversely from the frame, that is, generally perpendicular to the centerplane FP of the frame, in generally opposite directions. (See FIG. 5.) Preferably, each of the first and second knobs 20, 20′ has a stem 22 that is threadably connected to threaded shaft 30, a cap 24 with a slightly rounded or otherwise smooth platform surface 25, and an outer perimeter edge surface 26 that is the outermost surface of rim portion 28 of the cap 24.

The cap 24 of each knob 20 preferably is sized and positioned so that the rim portion 28 extends generally parallel to the centerplane FP away from the center axis of the frame, the center axis of the frame extending equidistantly from the corners and being vertical when the frame is horizontal. This way, the rim portion 28 extends beyond the planes (side plane SP) of the outer side surface 18 of each of the two adjacent bars 12. Thus, as may be seen to best advantage in FIGS. 2A and 5, that rim portion 28 of each knob 20 protrudes beyond the side planes SP of the two bars 12 that connect at or near the corner of the frame where the protector assembly is provided.

In should be noted that the terms “generally transversely”, “generally perpendicular”, “generally parallel”, and “generally opposite” include approximately and also exactly transversely, perpendicular, parallel and opposite, respectively. “Approximately” in some embodiments, includes within a range of +/−30 degrees, or more preferably within a range of +/−20 degrees from exactly transversely, perpendicular, parallel and opposite, for example.

By referring to FIG. 2A, one may note that the rack may rest on any two protector assemblies on a table T or other generally flat surface, when the frame is vertical. Rim portions 28 of each knob 20 preferably protrude the same extent beyond the side planes SP, so that rack 10 may rest vertically without tipping over. All the knobs on the top of the rack are the same length, and all the knobs on the bottom of the rack are the same length, with these lengths preferably being the same. As may be seen in FIG. 5, the rack will rest on all the knobs on either the top of the rack or the bottom of the rack (depending on which way it is flipped) when the frame is horizontal.

FIGS. 2A-C illustrate example orientations in which the frame may fall and hit a surface, such as a table, the floor, or the ground, and illustrate how the knobs will hit the table instead of the bars 12 or outer surface 18. If a rack is dropped so that a bar hits a corner or other item smaller than the distance between protector assemblies, a region of that bar, between its corners (and therefore between the protector assemblies), may hit the item and be damaged, but this will be rare in a typical billiard room or other game setting. Optionally, one or more additional protector assemblies may be provided along the length of one or more of the bars. For example, an additional protector assembly may be provided midway along the length of each bar, for example, by being threaded onto a shaft or pin that extends from top to bottom through the bar. Such an embodiment would increase the protector assemblies by three, with the resulting six assemblies being closer together than when three only are provided.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a detail view of a corner of the rack 10. Two adjacent bars 12 are visible, with their ends being joined at a connection between mating end tabs 16, 16′. A threaded shaft (hereafter, pin 30) extends through holes (a bore) through each of the tabs 16, 16′ to align the holes in the bar tabs, and connect the bars 12. Threaded pin 30 threadably connects to the knobs, but preferably is slidably fitted in the holes of the tabs 16, 16′ and does not threadably connect to the bars 12; this way, when one or more of the knobs are detached from pin 30, pin 30 (and one attached knob, if any) can be slid out and away from the bars. Optionally, pin 30 may be threaded only at its ends, and not in the middle. Optionally, pin 30 or a pin that is threaded only at its ends, may be press-fit through the holes in tabs 16, 16′, for further securement of the bars together. An optional-but-preferred additional pin 31 (FIG. 4) is press-fit in a hole in each tab 16, 16′ to connect the bars 12, and, due to the tight engagement of the pin 31 with the surfaces of the holes of the tabs 16, 16′, the bars are further secured together at the corners. In the case wherein pin 30 is not press-fit or otherwise tightly engaging the holes through the tabs 16, 16′, pin 31 may serve as an important fastener/connector of the bars.

The two knobs (upper and lower knobs 20, 20′ in FIGS. 3 and 4) are screwed and tightened onto threaded pin 30. Preferably, the knobs 20, 20′ may be screwed all the way toward the bars until the stems 22 are tight against the tabs 16, 16′, respectively. Pin 30, optional pin 31, and the interfitting of tabs 16, 16′ in notches 32, 32′, helps the bars mate and stay immobile relative to each other during use and during storage. The mating/interfitting of tabs 16, 16′ in notches 32, 32′ comprises abutment of tabs 16, 16′ against notch shoulder surfaces 35, 35′. With each of the three bars 12 being fixed in this way at both of its ends to other bars, the bars are secure and immobile relative to each other.

Optionally, the knobs of each protector assembly may be connected together by other fastener(s), or the knobs of each protector assembly may be connected to the frame but not directly connected to each other. For example, two threaded pins, or two other fasteners, may be used, each one fastening one knob to the frame. Therefore, the term “assembly” in the context of the protectors may mean that a pin or other fastener extends between and contacts both knobs, or may also mean that multiple pins/fasteners are used and no single pin/fastener extends between and contacts both knobs.

Other secure and immobile connections are possible and included in certain embodiments of the invention, for example, various combinations of bolting, pinning, welding, adhesive, and/or other connections to make a fixed and rigid connection. However, the connection system shown in the Figures is a preferred connection because the metal components may be machined accurately and efficiently and has been found to be an excellent connection method for accurate assembly and reliable long-term use. The preferred connection also may be unfastened for replacement of one or more bars if necessary.

As may be understood from FIG. 5, the rack is placed on the billiards table, typically by the user grasping two protector knobs, one in each hand, to hold and manipulate the rack. The user may individually place the balls B inside the interior space 13 of the rack, or the user may arrange any balls B that were surrounded by the rack when the rack was first placed on the table, and then add the rest of the balls in proper location in the space 13. Due to the relative size of the balls and the interior space 13, the balls fit tightly together in the rack 10, for example, in a well-known arrangement of 15 balls wherein one ball is at a first corner, two balls are in the next row, and three, four and five balls are in the rest of the rows. One may note from FIG. 5 that the frame, elevated from the table by the knobs resting on the table, surrounds and contains the balls preferably at their equators.

FIGS. 6A-F portray multiple embodiments of protector assemblies, which are shown installed at the corners of a frame and may therefore also be called “corner assemblies”. The protector assemblies may be fastened at various locations on a rack frame, but preferably are fastened to the corners, and most preferably to all corners with the option for other locations in addition to the corners. FIG. 6A shows the protector assembly of FIGS. 1-5, wherein the knob platform surface 25 is only slightly rounded and provides a large surface area for support and movement of the rack on the billiard table. FIG. 6B shows a protector assembly with spherical knobs 120 on both top and bottom sides of the rack. FIG. 6C shows truncated conical knobs 220, FIG. 6D shows cylindrical knobs 320, and FIG. 6F shows a combination of a spherical knob 120 on the top side of the rack and a platform-style knob 20 on the bottom side of the rack. All of the FIGS. 6A-D and 6F protector assemblies feature knobs that protrude upward or downward from the rack frame, and out beyond the side plane of the adjacent side bars, in effect, protruding out horizontally or “sideway” in at least two directions. The knobs are typically, but not necessarily symmetrical, and also protrude inward to some extent from the pin (30) axis toward the interior space 13. As one may see in FIG. 2A, the perimeter edge surface 26 only reaches to, and not past, the corner created by inside surfaces 17. As the knobs do not need, in most embodiments, to protect the inside surfaces 17 of the rack frame, the knobs may not extend very far from the pin (30) axis toward the space 13, and/or may be asymmetrical or mounted asymmetrically to extend farther outward from the center axis of the frame than they extend inward toward the center axis. For example, an oblong knob may be shaped and/or have an offset-mounting that causes the knob to protrude out past the side planes of the bars 12, but does not protrude significantly reach or extend past the planes of the inside surfaces 17. Also, for example, partial and odd shapes may be used, for example, a half cone may be used with the curved side of the cone extending outward from the rack and the flat side surface facing toward the central axis of the rack. Also, for example, polygonal shapes such as square, pentagon, or hexagons may be used.

FIG. 6E portrays a protector assembly wherein only one knob protrudes out beyond the outer sides of the bars and a fastener 420 or other structure is provided on the opposite side (180-degrees-opposed) side of the frame. Such structures are included in certain embodiments of the invention, but are not preferred, as they may cause some scratching of the billard table surface if flipped 180 degrees.

FIG. 7 portrays an embodiment that includes apertures 230 through the bars from the top surface 232 to the bottom surface 234. The apertures 230 may provide an artistic effect, and/or also lighten the weight of the frame, and/or serve as holes for enabling the rack to be mounted, for example, on the mounting bracket 900 of FIGS. 15-20. Alternative aperture, recess, or protrusion numbers, spacings, and/or shapes may be used. For example, dashed circular areas 330 are shown FIGS. 10 and 11 to portray that apertures, recesses, or even mounds or other protrusions may be placed on the top surface 332 and/or the bottom surface 334 of the frame. Likewise in FIGS. 12-14, dashed circular areas 430, dashed oblong areas 530, and outer-side-surface dashed areas 630 show that alternative numbers, spacings, shapes, and/or locations of said apertures, recesses, mounds, or protrusions may be provided in one or more surfaces of the frame. In FIG. 14, the dashed areas 630 are shown on the outer side surface 618 of the frame, but preferably, the areas 630 represent recesses or protrusions, and not apertures that extend all the way to the inside surface (17). This is because the inside surfaces 17 of the frame should be smooth, flat and continuous, and preferably no apertures, recesses, mounds, or protrusions are provided that reach to the inside surfaces 17 of the frame, as these would interrupt/interfere with said smooth, flat and continuous surface 17.

The frame of FIGS. 7 and 8 is shown cooperating with a mounting bracket 900 in FIGS. 15-17, for allowing the rack to be stored and/or displayed on a wall or other surface. The mounting bracket 900 has a bent or curved bracket plate 902 that connects to the rack and a triangular front plate 914 connected to, but distanced forward from, the bracket plate 902. Plate 914 may be for stylistic/ornamental effect and/or for receiving indicia such as graphic, writing, or color.

The bracket plate 902 includes a rear plate 904, side plates 906, and connector tabs 908 with posts 912 that will extend forward away from a wall when the mounting bracket 900 is attached to a wall. The posts 912 preferably include at least one post on the right and left sides of the bracket 900, and more preferably two on each of the right and left sides as shown in the Figures. To mount the rack on the bracket 900, the rack is brought near to the bracket, so that each of these posts 912 slides into a different aperture 230 in a bar of the frame of the rack. Each post is preferably sized to be smaller than the diameter of the aperture 230, and preferably coated or encircled by a rubber or slightly resilient material, thus allowing the rack to be safely temporarily hung on the bracket but also allowing the rack to be easily removed when purposely desired to do so.

As may been seen to best advantage in FIG. 16, when the rack is hung on the mounting bracket, the triangular shape of the rack is aligned with the orientation of the triangular plate 914, with space between the rack frame inside surfaces (17) and the plate 914 perimeter edge. This alignment and the space create an interesting visual effect, while safely hanging the rack on a wall or other vertical surface for the next use. The space may be, for example, 0.1-6 inches but more preferably 0.5-2 inches on each side of the triangle plate 914.

The triangular plate 914 has an aperture 916 at its center, which also provides an interesting visual effect and/or lighter weight for the bracket 900. Note that the triangular plate 914 provides a surface for indicia, such as a logo or trademark, art, or photos, for advertising, memorabilia, or trophy or award-purposes, for example.

Note that the mounting bracket 900 connects to the bars of the frame, typically about midway along the length of two of the bars. Note that the bracket 900 includes no pegs, pins, or other hangers at any of the corners of the rack, and particularly no peg/pin at the top (apex) of the rack as it hangs on the wall. Therefore, the rack will not swing or sway, and the rack will not move from its position on the mounting bracket 900 until someone purposely pulls the rack forward off the multiple posts 912. The posts 912 preferably have a non-metal outer cylindrical surface, so that there is no metal-metal contact between the rack and the mounting bracket, in order to protect the rack.

Preferably, the rack frame is made of metal bar, for example, aluminum bar such as ⅝ inch 6061—T6 aluminum bar, which is an aircraft aluminum that is hard, smooth and yet easy to machine. Preferably the protector assembly knobs are made of a durable/non-brittle polymer or other non-metal material, such as the material that billiard balls themselves are made of, for example, phenolic plastic. Alternatively, the knobs may have a cushioning or resilient characteristic, for example, being made of a hard rubber or a dense polymer, and/or having a cushioning cover or sleeve, including a replaceable cover or sleeve. The mounting bracket may be made of metal or other material, but it should be durable and non-warping so that the posts do not place damaging or warping pressure on the rack.

Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

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.