Abstract: The present invention relates to a snooker table (10) having a conventional rectangular outer frame opposed major sides (12, 14) and minor sides (16, 18). The playing surface (20) is non-rectangular, in that a pair of arrowhead or ‘V’ shaped projections (22, 24) extend inwardly from respective major sides (12, 14). The playing surface (20) thus has an hour glass-type shape, and is bounded by a conventional cushion (26). Pockets are provided at opposite corners of the table, as in conventional snooker table. The projections (22, 24) terminate in similar pockets (30A, 30B), which are located along the same center line as the middle pockets of a standard snooker table, but which are spaced inwardly relative thereto. The snooker table provides for a snooker type game which is both versatile and challenging.

Abstract: The Bumper Pocket Billiard Table in a preferred embodiment of the invention has a circular playing surface bounded by a circular cushion-and-rail assembly with a plurality of circular pocket openings positioned in the perimeter portion of the playing surface equidistant from adjacent pocket openings, and having at least one adjustable bumper post positioned on the playing surface adjacent to but spaced-apart by a selected dimension from the lip edge of an associated pocket opening, and with a selected constant dimension that is equivalent to the value of a predetermined width of a ball corridor or passageway so that the selected constant value is intended to complement the playing skill of a bumper pocket billiards player.

Abstract: A rack for a billiards table includes an indicator that produces an indication signal when the rack is properly positioned on a billiards table. The rack may include a device that produces a light beam. The rack may also include a diffuser or a photodetector that creates a signal when it receives a light beam. The light beam may be reflected back from an element positioned on the table or may emanate from the table.

Abstract: An upper wood frame member carrying a slate bed is spaced apart from and in parallel to a lower wood frame member. An upper plate is affixed to the bottom surface of the upper frame member with screws through mounting holes. A lower plate is affixed to the upper surface of the lower frame member with screws through mounting holes and has a threaded aperture aligned with a bore through the lower frame member. A vertically adjustable support screw extending downward into the bore is threaded through the threaded aperture and has an axially aligned pin extending upward which fits into a congruent cavity in the upper plate open to the bottom surface. The vertically adjustable support screw has a cap head at the bottom end disposed within the bore through the lower frame member upon which torque may be exerted with a socket wrench.

Abstract: A portable pool/golf game includes a plurality of rails each having first and second rail ends and a plurality of ball pockets, each ball pocket being arranged between adjacent ones of the plurality of said rails. A plurality of male/female connectors couple the plurality of rails and the plurality of ball pockets together. The connected plurality of rails and plurality of ball pockets define a boundary. A playing surface member has a top surface, a bottom surface and lateral edges. The boundary formed by the plurality of rails and the plurality of ball pockets is arranged at the lateral edges on the top surface of the playing surface member. A fastener is arranged on a bottom surface of the plurality of the rails to secure the boundary to the top surface of the playing surface member.

Abstract: A height-adjustable billiard table includes a table body and legs. The table body has a bottom portion. Securing plates are disposed at four corners of the bottom portion and have respective support screw rods secured thereto. Each support screw rod has a gear in the form of an umbrella disposed at a top end thereof. The legs have screw rod seats at top ends thereof for receiving the support screw rods that connect the securing plates to the top ends of the legs. A transmission shaft having opposed worms provided at two opposite ends thereof is disposed at the bottom portion of the table body to extend in a longitudinal direction. Two worm shafts are disposed at front and rear ends of the bottom portion of the table body. The worm shafts are transverse to the transmission shaft and parallel to each other.

Abstract: A billiard table corner construction and method of assembly comprising a table leg having an upper portion with first and second horizontal openings perpendicular to each other, a first sill subassembly including a second horizontal opening therethrough aligned with the table leg second opening, a second sill subassembly normal to the first sill subassembly including a second horizontal opening therethrough aligned with the table leg second opening, a first rod extending through the first horizontal opening in the first sill subassembly and the first opening in the upper portion of the leg sufficiently to intersect the second opening in the leg, the first rod having an inner end, an outer end, and a transverse threaded opening therein adjacent the inner end, a second elongated threaded fastener extending through the second sill subassembly and leg, and aligned with and engaging the threaded transverse opening of the first rod for threaded connection thereto such that the second sill is forced tightly against

Abstract: A kit for converting a pool table to a surface that other games, such as "craps" can be played on. The kit contains a game playing surface that can be placed on top of the pool table surface and a vertical boundary layer that can be secured around the periphery of the game playing surface in order to cover the pockets in the pool table so that items will not fall into the pockets on the pool table.

Abstract: An illuminated pool table comprises a pool table having a playing surface, a light generator, and a plurality of optical fibers which are arranged to receive light from the generator and illuminate the playing surface. In one embodiment, the optical fibers are arranged in a channel formed between the pool table playing surface and a rail of the pool table.

Abstract: A queuing system is provided for gaming apparatus such as a billiards table. The system uses a remote consol (16) that is coin operated and has a key-pad (58) for players to enter theft names in a sequence of players. The consol dispenses a ticket (76) with a unique identifier (78) marked on the ticket, corresponding to the player name. A display (18) associated with the apparatus, for example above a billiards table (12), displays the name or names of the persons playing. When a game is completed, as by pocketing the black ball in a game of snooker, the apparatus detects this condition and signals the main processor through an infrared link that the game is over. The apparatus is then locked up, as by locking a ball collector (32), until the next player enters the correct ticket at the consol to release the balls from the collector. A tournament mode of play omitting the tickets and providing for two sequences of players is also provided.

Abstract: A device designed to attach to the side of a pool table. The device includes a plate which screws onto the side of the pool table and has a hole cut out of the center of it. One or more depressible stop members are mounted about the perimeter of the hole in the middle of the plate.A ticket dispensing wheel is rotatably mounted within the hole. The ticket dispensing wheel has a center aperture, or hub, and the wheel is enclosed by a cover. The cover includes a disc with a sleeve extending perpendicularly from the center thereof. The sleeve is capped on the end of the sleeve opposite the disc so that the cover can be mounted on the pool table. The sleeve fits within the center aperture of the ticket dispensing wheel and the wheel has an opening in the upper portion of it communicating with the axial cavity of the sleeve.The ticket dispensing wheel is generally pie-shaped and has a thickness proximating the thickness of the axial length of the sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a device that is clamped to the pool table slate through the opening in either of the table's side pockets. The invention also incorporates a threaded shaft which passes through a threaded element to which the principal portion of the device is attached. The lower end of the threaded shaft is fitted with a pilot pin. The pilot pin engages a pivot point formed within the upper surface of a device that is clamped to the pool table edge at the site of the opening of the side pocket. The other end of the threaded shaft is fitted with a handle for rotating the shaft. Depending on which direction the shaft is rotated, the slate can either be raised or lowered.