An apparatus and a method to locate a three dimensional object and to execute a predetermined operation on said object, such as playing carom is disclosed. The apparatus includes a robot (200) having an end effect or (202) mounted on a gantry frame. The apparatus further includes a plurality of imaging sensors mounted at predetermined positions in said gantry frame. A data processing system (computer) (214) is provided in communication with said robot (200) and said imaging sensors. Further a controller 216 connected to said data processing system (214) to regulate the functions of said data processing system. The end-effect or (202) provided in the robot (200) consists of at least two degrees of freedom, one for rotational (302) and other for transmitting force (306a).

A handheld pool game clock apparatus suited for timekeeping pool/billiard games is presented. The handheld pool game clock apparatus contains a clock body, at least one display, a processing unit, at least one switch, and a control panel. The at least one display is distributed around the clock body. The processing unit and the at least one switch are connected within the clock body. The control panel is connected adjacent to the clock body. The at least one display, the control panel, and the at least one switch are electronically connected to the processing unit.

A treadmill can include a deck, a first pulley incorporated into the deck, a second pulley incorporated into the deck, a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley, a drive motor in mechanical communication with at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley to move the tread belt in a first direction, a runaway load component in electrical communication with the drive motor. The runaway load component draws electrical power generated by the drive motor during a runaway motor condition.

A configurable butt for a cue stick comprising a body comprising an elongate chamber having an internal thread and a movable weight coaxially located within the elongate chamber and having an external thread, the movable weight being threadingly coupled to the internal thread of the elongate chamber. An internal shaft extends through the movable weight is adapted to rotate the movable weight within the internally threaded chamber thereby causing the movable weight to move between respective ends of the elongate chamber by virtue of the threaded coupling for adjusting a centre of gravity of the cue stick. An indicator arrangement is coupled to the internal shaft and adapted to provide an indicate of the location of the movable weight within the elongate chamber.

Disclosed are systems and methods of calculating projected impact generated by sports and gaming implements. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a measurement from a sensor associated with a subject of impact; receiving a measurement from a sensor associated with an object of impact; wherein the at least one received measurement includes one or more characteristics of movement of the subject in response to an external stimuli and one or more characteristics of movement of the object in response to the impact by the subject; calculating, by a projection tool, a projected impact of the subject on the object before the actual impact; and calculating, by a modeling tool, a model of movement of the object in response to the impact by the subject based at least on the projected impact and one or more rules defining a movement of the object based on the projected impact by the subject.

An adjustable billiards bridge device may comprise a body having a first end and an opposing second end with one or more central cue surfaces disposed on the body. A first leg may be pivotally coupled to the first end of the body, and the first leg may have one or more peripheral cue surfaces. A second leg may be pivotally coupled to the second end of the body, and the second leg may have one or more peripheral cue surfaces. A coupler may be positioned on the body between the first end and the second end. The coupler may be configured to couple the device to a positioning stick which may be used by an individual to position the device on a billiards table. The first leg and second leg may be individually movable relative to the body to enable the device to assume a plurality of configurations.

A method of providing feedback for a piece of cue-sport equipment, a cue ball or cue stick, during a game play first collect spatial positioning and orientation data from a plurality of measurement sensors that is integrated into the cue-sport equipment. Then, the collected data is analyzed to generate a virtual movement model of the cue-sport equipment as the virtual movement model includes a calculated impact force diagram, an animated travel path, and a calculated absolute orientation for the cue-sport equipment. Then, the player can view the virtual movement model through an external computing device to improve their cue-sport skills effectively and efficiently.

A mallet for use in a game includes a shaft connected at one end to a mallet head. The mallet head includes a first planar strike face being parallel to that of the shaft axis and a second planar oblique strike face also parallel to the shaft axis, the angle between and first and oblique planar strike faces being between 0 and 90 degrees.

A constrained frequency resonator is incorporated into the shaft of a striking implement for transferring and, advantageously, amplifying momentum from a striking end to a gripped end of the striking implement, thereby amplifying the sensation of a strike felt at the gripped end. The resonator has a substantially hourglass shape, with wide ends and a narrow waist, and is made of stainless steel or another very hard material. The shape of the resonator causes it to act as a vibration frequency filter that transfers and, preferably, amplifies a certain frequency or band of frequencies. The striking implement may be a golf club, pool cue, or other implement in which frequency transfer to a gripping section is desired.

An adjustable billiards bridge device may comprise a body having a first end and an opposing second end with one or more central cue surfaces disposed on the body. A first leg may be pivotally coupled to the first end of the body, and the first leg may have one or more peripheral cue surfaces. A second leg may be pivotally coupled to the second end of the body, and the second leg may have one or more peripheral cue surfaces. A coupler may be positioned on the body between the first end and the second end. The coupler may be configured to couple the device to a positioning stick which may be used by an individual to position the device on a billiards table. The first leg and second leg may be individually movable relative to the body to enable the device to assume a plurality of configurations.