Abstract: An improved rack for forming fifteen pool balls into a compact triangular formation with the ball serving as the apex of the triangle lying over the white spot on the pool table. The rack includes a conventional oversized rack, a strip of resilient material such as rubber attached to the inside surface of the apex of the rack, an elongated pusher panel normally positioned against the inner surface of the rear wall of the rack, means including a pair of helical springs under tension for biasing the pusher panel against the inner surface of the rear wall of the rack, and a rear panel connected to the pusher panel and designed to apply pressure causing the pusher panel to move forward to push the fifteen pools balls into a compact triangular formation.

Abstract: A billiard rack wherein balls are compressed towards the center of the rack from all sides of the rack simultaneously. The billiard ball rack has a retractable actuator that activates packing bars to compress the balls, and resets the packing bars to their original position after compression. The packing bars have an angled edge for seating the balls into the table surface when the retractable actuator is actuated. Additionally, a method of compacting balls by urging the balls from at least three sides to the center of a frame.

Abstract: A rack assembly for use in racking billiard balls on a billiards table. The rack assembly has a racking frame made of rail elements that define a periphery of a given shape into which the pool balls are to be arranged. The bottom edge of each of the rails terminates in a common plane. As such, the racking frame is capable of laying flush on the flat surface of the pool table. A rotator handle is coupled to the racking frame. The rotator handle is a rocker element having a first end, a second end and a curved surface disposed between the first end and the second end. The first end of the rocker element is joined to the racking frame. The curved surface of the rocker element intersects the plane shared by the bottom of the racking frame at a tangent. As a result, when a generally downward force is applied to the second end of the rocker element, the rocker element rocks in one direction along the curved surface.

Abstract: A billiards ball rack for displaying information and for assisting a user in racking billiards balls on a billiards table is disclosed. The billiards ball rack preferably includes a bottle cap shaped shell having a circular outer wall with a plurality of ridges. A display wall extends inwardly from the outer wall and terminates in a ball rack portion. The ball rack portion includes side walls arranged in an appropriate configuration to rack the billiards balls prior to initiating the game.

Abstract: A billiard ball rack for shaping a group of billiard balls on a pool table having leg members which when in a storage position enables the rack to be used as a standard triangular fifteen ball rack yet when moved to an alternate position such leg members in combination with other rack portions enables the rack to be alternately used as a diamond shape nine ball rack.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of manganous chloride solutions using copper as a redox intermediate in the reaction between manganese and chlorine. Treatment of manganese-containing materials with a copper solution results in oxidation and dissolution of the manganese and the formation of elemental copper. The copper is in turn dissolved by reaction with cupric or ferric ions, which are then regenerated by chlorine oxidation.