Billiard Rack With Cam Surface For Precise Ball Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current billiard sports lack an efficient and versatile mechanism for racking billiard balls in various configurations, which can lead to inconsistencies and inefficiencies in gameplay.
Innovation Solution
A billiard rack with a frame that includes a cam surface extending around an interior space, allowing for the precise arrangement of billiard balls in different geometric patterns, such as triangular and rhombus shapes, ensuring each ball is in contact with at least two neighbors, and accommodating different numbers of balls through adjustable openings and surface geometries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional racking methods are used, then the process is simple, but the consistency and precision of ball arrangement is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved cam surfaces instead of flat surfaces to interact with the spherical billiard balls. The cam surface is specifically designed with a curvature that matches the spherical geometry of the balls, allowing for precise contact and control during the racking process. This curved surface geometry enables consistent ball arrangement by translating the downward motion of the rack into precise lateral positioning of each ball.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the change in geometric parameters during the racking process. The cam surface is designed with specific angular parameters (cam angle) that control the force distribution and ball positioning. By carefully selecting and adjusting these geometric parameters, the system achieves precise ball arrangement while maintaining a relatively simple rack structure that operates through a single downward motion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed rack design is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different ball configurations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the rack with a universal cam surface configuration that can accommodate multiple ball arrangements (triangular, square, rhombus, and other geometric patterns). The cam surface geometry and rack dimensions are specifically engineered to work with different numbers of balls and various starting configurations, allowing a single rack design to serve multiple racking needs without requiring adjustment or modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack incorporates dynamic elements in its design, particularly in the cam surface geometry that adapts to different ball configurations. The cam angle and surface profile are designed to naturally guide balls into the desired formation regardless of the initial arrangement, allowing the rack to dynamically respond to different input configurations and produce consistent output patterns.
3Productivity
If manual ball arrangement is used, then no special equipment is needed, but the time consumption and gameplay interruptions are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is designed to perform preliminary positioning action on all balls simultaneously through a single downward motion. The cam surface geometry is specifically configured to contact and position multiple balls at once, pre-arranging them into the desired formation before the rack is removed. This preliminary action eliminates the need for sequential manual adjustment and significantly speeds up the racking process.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack design allows the billiard balls themselves to serve as the positioning mechanism. As the rack is pressed downward, the balls naturally roll and settle into their final positions guided by the cam surface geometry, without requiring external forcing or adjustment. The system uses the balls' own movement and interaction to achieve the arranged formation, eliminating the need for complex mechanical positioning mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The billiard rack facilitates quick and consistent racking of balls, reducing gameplay interruptions and enhancing the accuracy and fairness of billiard games by ensuring uniform ball contact and alignment, while also being adaptable to various ball counts and patterns.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one cam surface corresponds to a linear cam and the followers correspond to the billiard balls
Data Source
AI summary
A billiard rack is provided that includes a frame that extends around an interior space that is configured to receive a set of billiard balls resting on a bed of a billiard table. A bottom side of the frame includes a lower opening in which the upper portions of the set of billiard balls are able to extend therein. The frame also includes an inner wall having at least one cam surface that extends at least partially around the interior space and that tapers inwardly in directions from the lower opening to an upper opening. When the frame is placed on the set of billiard balls resting on the bed of the billiard table, the at least one cam surface is configured to contact all of the peripheral billiard balls of the set of billiard balls; and urge the set of billiard balls together without the rack contacting the billiard table.