Patent ID: 7731596

Claim:
A rack for positioning billiard balls, said rack comprising: a frame defining a generally triangular shaped open frame having a center and a plurality of frame walls, each of said frame walls having an upper end and a lower end and each of said frame walls being angled such that said upper wall end is positioned closer to said frame center than is said lower wall end, and wherein each of said walls includes an opening to receive a compression member; a plurality of retaining plates, said retaining plates forming a substantially thin elongated body adapted to mount to an external surface of said frame walls, and wherein at least two of said retaining plates include a fin protruding substantially normally from said plate to form a handle, and wherein at least one of said retaining plates includes at least one foot protruding from said plate, said at least one foot including an alignment mark; a plurality of compression members, each of said compression members defining a substrate comprised of a resilient foam having an outer skin and forming an elongated bulbous member connected to at least one retention flange; a plurality of fasteners adapted to fasten said retaining plates to said frame; wherein each of said compression members is inserted into a frame wall slot such that said bulbous portion protrudes inwardly towards the center of said frame, and wherein each of said retaining plates is mounted to a frame wall external surface such that at least one compression member retention flange is retained between each of said retaining plates and said frame, and such that said retaining plates handles extend outwardly from said frame.