Pocket reducer for a pocket billiard table

A pocket billiard table is quickly and easily converted to a snooker table by a removable pocket reducer. The pocket reducer includes a pair of rail assembly extenders 20, 22 substantially identical in cross section to a permanent rail assembly 18 extending about the periphery of a playing field 16. An elongate flexible strap 30 interconnects the rail assembly extenders 20, 22 and conforms to the interior wall of the pocket. Further, end portions 32, 34 of the strap extend below the rail assembly extenders 20, 22 and contact the edge of the playing field 16 to inhibit the extenders from being displaced onto the playing field 16. A leaf spring 38 arcuately connects the rail assembly extenders 20, 22 and biases the rail assembly extenders 20, 22 against the permanent rail assembly 18 to aid in maintaining the rail assembly extenders 20, 22 in their desired position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to pocket billiard tables, and more 
particularly, to an apparatus for reducing the size of a billiard table 
pocket to convert a pocket billiard table into a snooker table or as a 
practice aid intended to sharpen the skills of pool shooters. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
In the field of pool table conversion inserts it has commonly been 
suggested that standard pocket billiard tables may be converted to snooker 
and billiard tables by the use of plugs which extend the rails at least 
further into the pocket and sometimes across the pocket. 
These devices have typically been of a fairly permanent nature, being 
attached to the table by drilling and through the use of screws. For 
example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,949, issued Mar. 8, 1977 to Lee discloses the 
use of a pair of plug assemblies affixed to the ends of the rails adjacent 
the ball entry portion of the pocket. These plug assemblies, however, are 
attached to the rails by wood screws extending through the plugs and into 
the rails themselves. Despite Lee's claims that the plugs are easily 
installed and easily removed the alteration is more in the nature of a 
permanent change. While these plugs are admittedly removable, the 
difficulty of initial installation and the time required for later removal 
and installation makes this solution undesirable in that it precludes 
quick and easy conversion between pocket billiards and snooker. 
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems 
as set forth above. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The primary objective of the invention is to provide a pool table pocket 
reducer which is easily and quickly inserted and removed. 
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a pool table 
pocket reducer which retains proper orientation without being permanently 
affixed to the pool table. 
To attain these and other objectives, an apparatus is provided for use with 
a pocket billiard table which has a playing field, permanent rail 
assemblies extending about the periphery of the playing field, and a 
plurality of pockets disposed about the periphery of the playing field 
interrupting the permanent rail assemblies. The apparatus includes first 
and second rail assembly extenders having a lower surface contacting the 
playing field, an outer surface contacting the interrupted permanent rail 
assembly, and a ball striking surface substantially similar to the ball 
striking surface of the permanent rail assembly. An elongate flexible 
strap has first and second end portions respectively connected to the 
first and second rail assembly extenders. The first and second end 
portions extend below the lower surfaces of the first and second rail 
assembly extenders and contact the outer periphery of the playing field 
whereby the first and second rail assembly extenders are restricted 
against displacement onto the playing field. Biasing means urges the first 
and second rail assembly extenders in directions generally toward the 
permanent rail assemblies.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative 
forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in 
the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be 
understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the 
particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover 
all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit 
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now to the drawings and referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1,2, and 
3 the apparatus 10 is shown positioned within a pocket 12 of a pocket 
billiard pool table 14. A playing field 16 is generally constructed of a 
slate bed which can be, for example, approximately one inch thick covered 
by a single layer of felt material. The playing field is generally 
rectangular in configuration with small arcuate sections removed therefrom 
immediately adjacent each pocket 12. Disposed about the periphery of the 
playing field 16 is a permanent rail assembly 18 encompassing the entire 
playing field 16 except for those sections interrupted by the pocket 12. 
The permanent rail assemblies 18 are, for example, generally constructed 
of a wood base and resilient cushion covered by a felt material similar to 
that covering the playing field 16. The cross section of the permanent 
rail assembly approximates a triangle with one apex of the triangle facing 
into the playingfield 16 at a height approximating the mid point of 
playing balls used on the playing field 16. 
The pocket 12 is of a generally cylindrical configuration and extends 
through the permanent rail assemblies 18 and onto the playing field 16 
along a pair of parallel lines extending tangentially from the circular 
pocket 12 at an angle of approximately 45.degree. with the permanent rail 
assemblies 18. Accordingly, the permanent rail assemblies 18 are cut at an 
approximate 45.degree. angle at the interface with the pocket 12. 
The apparatus 10 includes first and second rail assembly extenders 20, 22 
which have a lower surface 24 resting on the playing surface 16. An outer 
surface 26 of the rail assembly extenders 20, 22 contacts the interrupted 
permanent rail assembly 18. A ball contacting surface 28 faces outwardly 
onto the playing surface 16 and is preferably substantially similar in 
configuration to that of the permanent rail assembly 18. The ball 
contacting surface 28 and outer surface 26 are preferably formed at an 
angle of approximately 45.degree. . This angle matches the angle at which 
the permanent rail assembly 18 is cut by the pocket 12. Accordingly, the 
ball striking surface 28 forms a substantially identical extension of the 
permanent rail assembly 18. 
An elongate flexible strap 30 has first and second end portions 32, 34 
respectively connected to the first and second rail assembly extenders 20, 
22. An outer surface of the elongate flexible strap 30 is substantially 
contiguous wit the outer surface 26 of the rail assembly extenders 20, 22. 
Accordingly, when the apparatus 10 is placed in the pocket 12, the 
elongate flexible strap 30 generally conforms itself to the circular 
configuration of the pocket 12. The outer surface of the rail assembly 
extenders 20, 22 and the outer surface of the elongate flexible strap 30 
are in substantial contact with the outer surface of the pocket 12. 
Further, the elongate flexible strap first and second end portions 32, 34 
extend below the lower surface 24 of the rail assembly extenders 20, 22 
and contact the outer periphery of the playing field 16. It should be 
appreciated that the rail assembly extenders 20 and 22 are capable of 
absorbing the force of a ball striking its ball striking surface 28 and 
rebounding that ball in much the same manner as the permanent rail 
assembly 18. Accordingly, it is preferable that the rail assembly 
extenders 20 and 22 have a substantially similar configuration as that of 
permanent rail assembly 18 as well as be relatively fixed in position. 
The vertical height of the rail assembly extenders 20 and 22 is maintained 
by the lower surface 24 resting on the playing field 16. Further relative 
displacement into and out of the pocket 12 is controlled by the first and 
second end portions 32, 34 of the elongate strap 30. For example, the 
combination of the elongate strap being conformed to the pocket 12 and the 
first and second end portions 32, 34 of the elongate strap 30 contacting 
the outer periphery of the playing field 16 effects a relatively stable 
positioning of the rail assembly extenders 20 and 22. For example, a ball 
striking the rail assembly extender 20 generates a force tending to move 
the rail assembly extender 20 in a direction into the pocket 12. This 
force is transmitted through the elongate strap 30 to the second end 
portion 34. However, because the second end portion of 34 is contacting 
the playing field 16, the elongate strap 30 is prevented from moving. 
Likewise, the rail assembly extender 20 is similarly restricted against 
movement. Thus, the ball is rebounded in much the same manner as a ball 
striking the permanent rail assembly 18. 
In order to further aid the apparatus 10 in retaining its desired position, 
a biasing means 36 urges the first and second rail assembly extenders 20, 
22 in directions generally toward the permanent rail assembly 18. It is 
preferable that a relatively tight fit be maintained between the rail 
assembly extenders 20, 22 and the permanent rail assembly 18. 
In the preferred embodiment, the biasing means 36 includes a leaf spring 38 
connected to the rail assembly extenders 20, 22 and extending therebetween 
to form an arc over the ball entry path into the pocket 12. The height of 
the arc formed by the leaf spring 38 is sufficient to provide clearance 
for playing balls and to prevent interference with a ball entering the 
pocket 12. It is envisioned however, that the leaf spring 38 could be 
replaced by forming the apparatus 10 from a plastic having a stiffer 
coefficient such that bending the elongate strap 30 to conform to the 
pocket configuration 12 produces a sufficient springing effect to force 
the rail assembly extenders 20 and 22 toward the rail assemblies 18. 
Alternatively, the apparatus 10 could still be formed of a flexible 
plastic, however, the leaf spring 38 could be formed into the elongate 
strap 30, thus the spring 38 would extend around the interior of the 
pocket 12. 
Other aspects, objects, and advantages of this invention can be obtained 
from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.