Billiard Rack

A method of using a billiard rack that includes:

• a frame that extends around an interior space,
• wherein the frame is formed in one piece,
• wherein the interior space has a size and shape that is configured to receive therein upper portions of a set of billiard balls resting on a horizontal planar surface of a bed of a billiard table,
• wherein the frame includes a top side and an opposed bottom side,
• wherein the bottom side includes a lower opening into the interior space in which the upper portions of the set of billiard balls are able to extend therein,
• wherein the top side includes an upper opening into the interior space that is larger than a billiard ball and is smaller in area than the lower opening,
• wherein the frame 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 the upper opening,
• wherein the method comprises:
• a) placing the frame on the set of billiard balls resting on the horizontal planar surface of the bed of the billiard table;
• b) contacting with the at least one cam surface, all of the peripheral billiard balls of the set of billiard balls;
• c) urging with the at least one cam surface, the set of billiard balls together;
• such that each billiard ball is in contact with at least two other neighboring billiard balls and no portion of the frame comes closer than one third of the diameter of one of the billiard balls to the horizontal planar surface of the bed of the billiard table upon which the billiard balls are resting;
• and
• d) lifting the frame off of the set of billiard balls.

A billiard rack comprising:

• a frame that extends around an interior space,
• wherein the frame has a circular shape, wherein the interior space of the frame has a shape that is operative to receive and rack sets of billiards balls in a ring arrangement;
• and
• a disc, wherein the disc has an outer diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the frame, wherein the disc includes a circumferential outer side surface that extends between a top side and a bottom side of the disc and that tapers inwardly in directions from the bottom side to the top side of the disc, wherein the top side of the disc includes a central aperture having a diameter that is less than the diameter of a billiard ball.

A billiard rack comprising:

• a frame that extends around an interior space,
• which space has a size and shape that is configured to receive therein upper portions of a set of billiard balls resting on a horizontal planar surface of a bed of a billiard table,
• wherein the frame includes a top side and an opposed bottom side,
• wherein the bottom side includes a lower opening into the interior space which is configured such that the upper portions of the set of billiard balls are able to extend therein,
• wherein the top side includes an upper opening into the interior space that is larger than a billiard ball and is smaller in area than the lower opening,
• wherein the frame 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 the upper opening,
• wherein the frame is configured such that when the frame is placed on the set of billiard balls resting on the horizontal planar surface of 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,
• such that each billiard ball is in contact with at least two other neighboring billiard balls and no portion of the frame comes closer than one third of the diameter of one of the billiard balls to the horizontal planar surface of the bed of the billiard table upon which the billiard balls are resting,
• wherein each billiard ball has a spherical shape with an outer diameter of between 2.0 inches (50.8 mm) and 2.5 inches (63.5 mm), wherein the at least one cam surface is tapered inwardly toward a center of the frame and has a cross-sectional width of at least 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) in a plane that is perpendicular to the cam surface and the bottom side,
• wherein the interior space of the frame has a shape that is operative to receive and rack sets of billiards balls with different numbers of billiard balls for each set, such that each set extends into the lower opening with the at least one cam surface configured to contact all of the peripheral billiard balls of each set of billiard balls and urge each set of billiard balls together, such that each billiard ball is in contact with at least two neighboring billiard balls,
• wherein the frame and the upper and lower openings have a circular shape, wherein the interior space of the frame has a shape that is operative to receive and rack sets of billiards balls in a ring arrangement with different numbers of billiard balls for each set including a set of ten billiard balls, and a set of nine billiard balls, such that each set extends into the lower opening with the at least one cam surface configured to contact all of the billiard balls of each set of billiard balls and urge each set of billiard balls together, such that each billiard ball is in contact with at least two neighboring billiard balls,
• wherein the frame includes a circumferential outer side surface that extends between the top side and bottom side of the frame and that tapers inwardly in directions from the top side to the bottom side of the frame;
• and
• a disc, wherein the disc has an outer diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the upper opening of the frame, wherein the disc includes a circumferential outer side surface that extends between a top side and a bottom side of the disc and that tapers inwardly in directions from the bottom side to the top side of the disc, wherein the top side of the disc includes a central aperture having a diameter that is less than the diameter of a billiard ball.